In the village of Elderdale, nestled at the foot of the Mistwood Forest, there was a tale told by the elders—one that parents whispered to their children, and hunters murmured to each other when they gathered around campfires. It was a tale about a sword. Not just any sword, but one that had the power to choose its bearer.
The Cowardly Sword, as it was known, had once been wielded by a legendary warrior named Aldric the Bold. Aldric had been a hero of unimaginable strength, courage, and honor, a beacon of hope in a time of great darkness. But the sword itself... was a mystery. It was forged in the heart of a fallen star, its blade shimmering with an ethereal glow that could cut through anything, even the hardest stone. Yet, despite its potential, the sword had a strange reputation.
For it would only choose the weakest, the most fearful, the most uncertain of hearts. And once it chose you, it would remain loyal—but only as long as you proved yourself unworthy. Should the wielder show even a hint of bravery or conviction, the sword would rebel, retreating from their grasp as if it feared its own power.
When Aldric fell in battle, the sword disappeared, leaving behind only a legend and a peculiar prophecy: "The one who fears the sword will never master it, but the one who runs from it will hold it forever."