| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
Stormbringer is the name of a sword featured in a number of fantasy stories by Michael Moorcock.
The sword has an edge capable of cutting through anything but its most distinctive feature is that it is semi-alive, with a mind of its own, and feeds on souls. The blade's nominal "owner", the albino prince Elric of Melniboné, loathes the sword, but is dependent on it for the strength and vitality it gives him. The sword's hunger for souls is such that it frequently betrays him, turning in his hands and killing friends and lovers, adding to Elric's self-loathing as he feels their stolen strength and souls flooding into himself.
Stormbringer has a 'brother' sword, Mournblade.
Books by Moorcock about Stormbringer:
Stormbringer has featured in a number of Moorcock-derived role-playing games published by Chaosium; a previous edition of the Elric role-playing game was titled Stormbringer.
The band Hawkwind, who have had a long association with Moorcock, released an entire album about the story of Elric and Stormbringer, The Chronicle of the Black Sword ( 19851985 is a common year starting on Tuesday. Events January events January 1 Creation of the Internet's Domain Name System. January 17 British Telecom annouces they are going to abolish the famous red telephone boxes. January 23 A debate in the House of Lor). The song Black Blade by Blue Öyster CultBlue Oyster Cult is a psychedelic/ heavy metal band probably best known for their 1976 single "Don't Fear The Reaper" from Agents Of Fortune 1981 single "Burning For You" from Fire of Unknown Origin and appearing on the "Heavy Metal" movie soundtrack with is also about Stormbringer.
Stormbringer appears in the computer game Nethack, with much the same attributes (tendency to attack by itself, including friends; sucks the force of the living beings that it hits...).
Fictional swords Michael Moorcock's multiverse Series of books