The Story of Wind Walker:

Few Rangers inhabited the lands of Illantul, but those that did were said to dwell deep in the forests well south of the human city of Tarth. Not much for interactions with city dwellers, Rangers were only known to travel far east and north of Tarth to meet with the Eastern elves regarding the health of the forests and the surrounding lands.  On one such occasion the elves gifted the Ranger, Alard, with a long sword that they forged in consort with their woodland spirits.  With its pommel cast in the form of a Dryad, the Ranger’s Blade was endowed with the tree spirit’s ability to travel on the wind.  So long as Allard possessed the blade, he was able to travel great distances unseen, in a fraction of the time it would take the swiftest of birds.  The elves claimed the blade gave its owner the power of a Wind Walker.      

Actual Design and Construction:

I designed this weapon as a long sword.  The blade was produced by Hanwei forge using 5160 mar quenched spring steel.  I created the guard from copper tubing and inset whitetail deer antlers threaded onto a steel bolt and pinned to the copper.  The wooden handle is carved from wenge and encases the top half of the copper tubing.  The pommel depicts the head of a Dryad, cast from steel infused resin by another artist. 

Specifications:

Blade length: 32 inches

Overall length: 40.25 inches

Hand grip length: 5 inches

Blade width at widest point: 2.125 inches

Guard width: 15.5 inches

Weight: 2 pounds, 7 ounces

Balance point: 6 inches in front of the guard

Scabbard Construction:

The scabbard is constructed entirely of southern yellow poplar lined throughout with deer hide. There are carved recessed sections for affixing a scabbard belt, and a brass inlaid leaf scene along with the elven runes for the name, Wind Walker, on both sides.