And I have a third story - again set in Pathfinder, though this tale is set on the continent of Tian Xia, aka the Pathfinder 'Asian' equivalent.
***
Deep in the Forest of Spirits, on the continent of Tian Xia, lived a hermit. This Elven blacksmith hailed from the Elven nation of Jinin, but left their lands long ago and came to enjoy the quiet of the forest, where he practiced his craft.
At the same time as the Shining Crusade on Avistan against the Whispering Tyrant Tar-Barphon, another lich had raised up their own army to threaten the continent of Tian Xia. Their forces proved formidable, and it was all the ruling empire of the time could do to hold him at bay.
One day, the hermit was approached by a young girl. A daughter of Tian-Min royalty, who rejected the sheltered, pampered life she was living and sought to protect the land. She was willing to try. She was willing to fight. And the elven hermit could see her passion and drive shining through as they spoke.
The girl just needed a blade.
Wood 0, Fire 0, Earth 0, Metal 0, Water 0
Destiny: 20
Bones of the Blade
No ordinary metal would do for this blade, however. It needed something special. And so, the hermit sent the princess to find a metal with layers of minerals, much like the rings of a tree. It was an arduous task, but she managed to acquire the material.
Rolled 4 Dice: 1 (Wood)x3 - 1
Wood 2, Fire 0, Earth 0, Metal 0, Water 0
Destiny: 20 - 4 = 16
Heat and Hammer
With the metal delivered to the forge, the smith got to work. He used his forge to heat the metal, carefully watching it as he hammered it into the shape. He hammered the metal into the shape of a large heavy sword, with a long, straight blade.
Rolled 4 Dice: 3 (Earth)x3
Wood 2, Fire 0, Earth 3, Metal 0, Water 0
Destiny: 16 - 4 = 12
Bathe the Blade
Once the blade was heated and shaped, it needed to be quenched, so it was durable enough to handle the stresses the princess would put it through. He quenched the blade in the tears of a sea dragon, which the princess gathered for him in the process of acquiring the metal
Rolled 4 Dice: 6 (Energy)x2
Wood 2, Fire 0, Earth 3, Metal 0, Water 1
Destiny: 12 - 4 + 2 = 10
Stone and Edge
Now it was time to sharpen the blade to a razor’s edge, which the elven smith had the patience and endurance to handle as he ground the blade against a shining rock with a seam of mysterious metal running through it. The princess peeked in every so often to check on the smith, but lacked his endurance in the task. She brought him food and drink when needed, though, which he appreciated
Rolled 5 Dice: 4 (Metal)x2
Wood 2, Fire 0, Earth 3, Metal 2, Water 1
Destiny: 10 - 5 = 5
The Power of a Name
With the blade almost finished, the smith gave it a long handle to let the princess wield the heavy blade with two hands, as well as a cross guard. But now it needed a name, as well as the magical power to give it an edge against the lich and his minions. He sat with the blade in his lap, meditating for several days and nights in a process the princess complained wasn’t a ritual at all - until a servant of Shizuru appeared to touch the blade with a conferred blessing.
Rolled 5 Dice: 6 (Energy)
Wood 2, Fire 2, Earth 3, Metal 2, Water 1
To Battle
Tsuchi no Mamoru (Guardian of the Earth) is a Consecrated Greatsword with a heavy blade that never dulls. It is not quite harmonious enough to be a proper ‘Holy’ blade, but is greater than most other magical blades, and will never allow its edge to harm the innocent.
The princess used Tsuchi no Mamoru to great effect to end the lich’s campaign of terror, and it became an heirloom of her family line. On the topic of said family line, the princess was found to be with child soon after she put an end to the lich. She never named the father, only stating that he was very important to her, and of appropriate standing to be a father to royalty. Much speculation was had, especially as the child was revealed to be a Half-Elf upon birth, but none ever determined the child’s paternal parentage.
***
Getting three 1s on Bones of the Blade was... well, I wasn't expecting it. Then came Heat and Hammer where I got three 3s, and I was on a roll. I was truly expecting to make an actual Holy Sword... then I got two 6s, a 4, and a 3 on Bathe the Blade. If ANY of those had been a 5, I might have actually made a proper Holy Sword for the first time. Instead, I had to go with Energy, which at least helped me with the last two steps.
I hope you enjoy, and I look forward to feedback. Though please, no flames.