David's Wooden Staff

David's Wooden Staff is the divine weapon that David gave William before William entered the Cycle of Reincarnation. It ordinarily looks like an unremarkable wooden walking staff, but its hidden form is the Sword of the Strange Hangings. (Chapters 6, 1473)

History

A god's parting gift

David arrived at the Cycle of Reincarnation carrying the staff, then handed it to William as a memento before sending him through the Silver Portal. The weapon accompanied William from birth and became his usual close-combat implement. (Chapter 6)

The revealed sword and farewell

The staff withstood Surtr's world-destroying sword because it was indestructible. During their later battle, its wooden surface peeled away and William drew out its true sword form. After the war, William recalled that this form had appeared only twice, blessed the weapon with his blood, and released it to find another worthy wielder. (Chapters 1184, 1460–1461, 1473)

Abilities and properties

• The staff is indestructible: it blocks divine weapons and Surtr's Sword of Ruin without snapping. (Chapters 1184, 1460)
• Its hidden form is the Sword of the Strange Hangings. Revealing that form is conditional: the narrative says only someone able to bring out its true form and possessing the resolve to use it well can wield its power. (Chapters 1461, 1473)
• In staff form it functions as a two-ended melee weapon and can channel William's aura and combat arts. Those techniques belong to William, not intrinsically to the staff. (Chapters 192, 330, 1177)
• The corpus does not provide a numerical stat bonus, range, or ordinary activation command for the weapon.

Ownership and custody