Randolph's Falchions

Randolph's Falchions are the paired curved swords used by Randolph Clovis. His defining weapons are the Clovis heirlooms called Rain Sword, marked with howling wolves and recovered from the elder lich's dungeon after more than a century.

History

Mercenary blades and recovered heirlooms

Randolph first appears fighting with a falchion in each hand, using twelve rapid cuts to dismember a ghoul wyvern and leading the Wandering Wolves through Giovanni's undead. These early blades establish the two-sword style he already possesses before recovering his family's weapons. (Chapters 43 and 48)

Inside Giovanni's dungeon, an undead knight carries the lost Clovis swords and uses the same horizontal stance Randolph recognizes from his lineage. After the elder lich is defeated, the skeleton drops the pair and Theodore returns them to Randolph. The weapons bear lifelike wolf patterns, have exceptional mundane workmanship without an identified magical process, and are valuable to Randolph as both arms and family heritage. He says he will not give them up before death. (Chapters 49–51)

Rain Sword and master-level combat

After a year of training with the heirlooms, Randolph names or invokes them as Rain Sword during the duel for Charlotte's Necklace. He reproduces Thunder Stroke, the Clovis triple-lightning technique lost for two centuries, and splits the Orcus Company's death knight through its armor. The swords thereafter accompany his advance to master level and the development of his Aura Ability, Pursuing and Overtaking. (Chapters 132–135)

As a sword master, Randolph uses the paired falchions in the Northern war and his confrontation with Prince Fermut. Their short, independent blades support techniques built around multiple near-simultaneous paths: Kill the Hydra answers eight spatial stabs with nine slashes, Kill the Arachne multiplies his attack pattern, and Wolf's Frenzy cuts through a group of knights. These results arise from the swordsman's technique and Aura Ability rather than a separately stated enchantment in the metal. (Chapters 264–265 and 274)

Properties and techniques

• Paired design: The two curved blades suit Randolph's simultaneous offense and defense, rapid changes of angle, and preference for speed over meeting heavier weapons directly. Their shorter reach remains a disadvantage against polearms and large swords. (Chapters 43, 133, and 274)
• Clovis heritage: The wolf-marked swords belonged to Adolf of the Clovis family and preserve the physical tradition through which Randolph restores techniques lost for two centuries. (Chapters 49–51 and 133)
• Rain Sword — Thunder Stroke: Randolph performs a thrust, diagonal cut, and horizontal finishing slash in a sequence described as three lightning strikes. The technique depends on a gap in the opponent's defense and his ability to wield both blades independently. (Chapters 133–134)
• Hidden-technique combinations: At master level, Randolph uses the pair for Kill the Hydra, Kill the Arachne, and Wolf's Frenzy, producing more attack paths than a single sword can normally defend. Pursuing and Overtaking lets his motion catch or exceed an opponent's pace. (Chapters 265 and 274)
• Exceptional but not identified as artifacts: The corpus calls them excellent swords comparable to the best blades despite lacking a magical manufacturing process. Their demonstrated power cannot be separated from Randolph's aura and skill. (Chapter 51)

Ownership and custody