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Heron-mark SwordIn the world of Robert Jordan's "The Wheel of Time" series, heron-mark swords are traditionally presented to those who have earned the title of Blademaster. These individuals are unrivaled in their mastery of the sword, and are accordingly rare. Originally, swords of this type were made using the One Power, which produced blades that never required sharpening or other conventional forms of care associated with such weapons. But after the Three Oaths were established, fordibing Aes Sedai to (among other things) use saidar to forge implements of war, the number of blademasters eventually began to outstrip the number of Power-wrought blades, necessitating the creation of heron mark swords of a more conventional nature. The weapons themselves vary in the particulars of their design, but all are identifiable by the image of a heron etched into the blade just above the crossguard. One of the most famous of these swords belonged to Laman "Tree-killer" Damodred, former king of Cairhien. In an effort to revitalize his House's standing, he cut down Avendoraldera, a sapling taken from the legendary Avendesora and given to Cairhien as a gift by the Aiel. He had wanted to create a throne that could not possibly be duplicated by any other ruler, but by destroying the Aiel's token of thanks, he inadvertently incited what came to be known as the Aiel War (976-978 NE), in which he ultimately lost his life. His sword was originally thought lost, but eventually found its way into the possession of Rand al'Thor, better known as the Dragon Reborn.
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