Origins of Stormbringer

[black_meteor]

My first question (after searching the FAQs and reading the rules) is there any origin story of Stormbringer? I was watching a history channel episode about samurai swordmaking, with stories how the master swordsmith's would meditate for a year under a waterfall before forging a sword, and thought of the origin of Stormbringer and Mournblade.

Have there been any accounts of how demon/sword were folded together? Perhaps some treachery from an ancient Melnibonean emperor. Black Carbon was folded into steel by ancient swordsmiths to strengthen the blade, and I thought it would be great to read an account of how the Black Demon essense had been folded into a sword, perhaps at first as a flattery, but in fact, as a cruel Melnibonean trick or trap?

Perhaps the iron itself had been harvested by theft from some black-stone reveered by some lost religion. This could fulfill the need for a blasphemy as part of the ritual of forge-welding the demon to rune-blade? Perhaps the demon was seduced by the Melniboneans, or the demon beguiled the Melniboneans himself? Or some past emperor had to agree to a curse upon his race's future in order to bind the soul-stealer to the black iron?

To even explore the question becomes a task both epic and mythological, knowing the nature of the Black Sword across the multiverse, and in this spirit, I can image that Mr. Moorcock has considered the tale at least.

Regards,

William

[Mario]

Let's try this again.

The Dragon Sword, containing the spirits of the Phoorn, was forged from the Balance by unknown parties, and given to the Eldren/Merynii. It was later broken on the Iron Round, freeing the Phoorn.

The two blades, Stormbringer and Mournblade were forged from the shards by the ancient smiths of Nihrain, to use as a weapon against chaos (sort of a "fight fire with fire" idea). However, Stormbringer was possessed by the being known by many names, including "Saytunn". It was put on trial, and buried in "black rock", where it was later recovered by the Merynii. (MotS #1, tho they treat it as the same as the Dragon Blade, so it may take place before the reforging)

In one future, all those slain by the Black Sword will be used to re-ignite the sun, and the Sword will be abandoned, only to be taken to Tanelorn and used to destroy the Balance.

[silverhand]

Off on a slight tangent, I've recently finished Colin Prior's books "Britain B.C." & "Britain A.D." and one of the possible origins he gives for the legend of the sword in the stone is the difference between bronze & iron technology. An iron sword was pressure welded, whereas a bronze sword was cast & drawn from the mould, "the stone"?

[Morgan Kane]

From my memory:

In Quest for Tanelorn, Stormbringer is an entity who given a choice, choose to become the blade .....

[Michael Moorcock]

Sounds right, Morgan. Other stuff about the sword is, of course, in Making of a Sorcerer, soon to be completed!
I don't follow the game scenarios and these, of course, have to be judged as apocrypha, as far as I'm concerned. They're done without reference to me...

[Mespheber]

Neither did Deep Purple, so I heard... Just to turn an blade in a old wound.

[Mario]

Sounds right, Morgan. Other stuff about the sword is, of course, in Making of a Sorcerer, soon to be completed!
I don't follow the game scenarios and these, of course, have to be judged as apocrypha, as far as I'm concerned. They're done without reference to me...

I took most of my history from Dragon In The Sword and The Skrayling Tree, with bits of Silver Warriors/Phoenix in Obsidian and Quest for Tanelorn. There may be more details in White Wolf's Son, but I don't have a copy handy.

[Governor of Rowe Island]

Damn!

After reading this thread and Oren's questions on 'White Wolf's Son', I realise I need to read all these books again. Thanks a lot, you guys!

By the way,Mike, I can understand why you can't recall too many details of your stories. I've not that long ago read the books mentioned by Mario, and the details have slipped my mind. Some of these stories probably haven't been read by you since you proof-read them and passed them on for initial publication. It's a wonder you can remember anything of them.

[Miqque]

Mike-

Did ALL aspects of Stormbringer come together at the end of White Wolf's Son? Or were there two, as suggested by Mario, one going to Tanelorn and one igniting a sun?

Confusticated,
-M.

[Michael Moorcock]

I do my best and listen to readers who have points to make but it's true I don't remember that many details. |'ve only ever reread Elric of Melnibone relatively recently an not havin WWS here can't yet answer Ouren's questions. I hope I get the chance to look at proofs of WWS pb and if so will check to see if I've already dealt with the problems or if they need explaining. Keep me posted, Ouren. I'll try to check with you when (if) I get proofs. Most of my books I wrote in first draft, sent to the publisher and didn't even read in proof. Technically, therefore, I've NEVER read some of them. Others, of course, I've written and rewritten almost obsessively, including the later Elric books and the Pyat books, usually depending on the level of complication and ambition.

[Mario]

That's inaccurate, Miqque, or I said it wrong.

In QfT, the Captain specifically mentions picking up the Black Sword from the ice, where it was left at the end of Phoenix in Obsidian

[HellHound]

what came first
the ''soul'' or the ''soul taker?''

ill ask phoorn,
i seem to be dating his daughter.

[black_meteor]

I took most of my history from Dragon In The Sword and The Skrayling Tree, with bits of Silver Warriors/Phoenix in Obsidian and Quest for Tanelorn. There may be more details in White Wolf's Son, but I don't have a copy handy.

Great. I've just finished Dreamthief's Daughter so I'll get to some more Stormbringer lore in the next two books. Thanks.

[Michael Moorcock]

What came first ? Well, of course, BOTH came first...
You're a stranger to this multiverse, are you, son ?

[Michael Moorcock]

Oh, and both came last, too, of course.
Intratemporality. A multiverse where space is a dimension of time and where everything happens at the same instant.