
In the First Law series, the Father of Swords is a mythical sword wielded by Whirrun of Bligh, a famous Named Man from the utmost North. The sword is said to have been dropped by God and is worshipped by the people in the northern valleys. It is described as an impossibly large two-handed sword that never dulls and always cuts, regardless of whether it has been sharpened or not. After Whirrun's death, the sword was buried with him, as per his dying wish.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the sword | Father of Swords |
| Carried by | Whirrun of Bligh |
| Type of sword | Two-handed sword |
| Sharpness | Very sharp |
| Rusting | Doesn't rust |
| Markings | Single letter stamped near the hilt |
| Superstition | If drawn, it must be blooded |
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What You'll Learn
- Whirrun of Bligh, the wielder of the Father of Swords
- The Father of Swords is one of the Maker's blades
- The Father of Swords is passed down from Daguf Col to Whirrun
- Whirrun is killed by a spear and asks to be buried with the sword
- The sword is described as a dull grey metal with a single letter stamped near the hilt

Whirrun of Bligh, the wielder of the Father of Swords
Whirrun of Bligh is a famous Named Man from the utmost North, who wields the Father of Swords, a large two-handed sword. He is a member of Curnden Craw's dozen, a group of warriors on a mission beyond the Crinna, looking for a mysterious object. Whirrun is described as tall and lean, with a strange valley accent, and acts like an oddball, with most of the crew considering him mad. He has a fearsome reputation as a dangerous fighter and is known for his love of war and killing. He claims to be able to read the future with runes, although his predictions are cryptic and useless.
The Father of Swords is a sword with a rich history, said to have been dropped by God and worshipped by the people in the valleys of the North. It was passed down through the generations, eventually reaching Whirrun from Daguf Col as he lay dying. The sword is also known as the Maker's sword, with a letter stamped near its hilt, and is said to never dull, as it cuts through even the finest blades.
Whirrun's story comes to an end when he is killed during a fight with Bremer dan Gorst, stabbed by a random spear. In his dying moments, he asks Craw to bury the Father of Swords with him, acknowledging the sword as both a blessing and a curse.
Whirrun of Bligh, with his unique character and deadly swordplay, has left a memorable impact on readers, with some considering him one of their favourite characters in the First Law series by Joe Abercrombie.
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The Father of Swords is one of the Maker's blades
The Father of Swords is a legendary weapon in the First Law series by Joe Abercrombie. It is a two-handed sword of immense size, said to have been dropped by God and worshipped by the people of the North. The sword has changed hands many times, passed down from one warrior to another, with Whirrun of Bligh being its most recent wielder.
The Father of Swords is believed to be cursed, requiring bloodshed whenever it is drawn. In battle, despite Whirrun's fearsome reputation as a dangerous fighter, he is killed by a random spear before the sword tastes blood. As he lay dying, Whirrun asks to be buried with the sword, acknowledging the blessing and curse it has been.
The sword is also identified as one of the Maker's blades. Kanedias, also known as the Master Maker, was the second son of Euz, who was granted the gift of the Art of Making—the ability to shape worldly materials into otherworldly artefacts. The Father of Swords, like Logen's sword, bears the mark of the Maker: a single letter stamped near the hilt. This connection to the Maker adds to the sword's mystique and perceived power.
The sword's edge is incredibly sharp, capable of cutting a steel shaving from a Calvez blade, which is considered the finest in the land. Furthermore, the sword never seems to dull, as it requires no sharpening, further supporting the belief that it is a Maker's blade.
The Father of Swords, with its mysterious origins, supernatural qualities, and connection to the Maker, is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing and formidable weapons in the First Law universe. Its reputation and impact extend beyond its wielders, shaping the beliefs and legends of those who know of its existence.
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The Father of Swords is passed down from Daguf Col to Whirrun
The Father of Swords is a legendary weapon, said to have been dropped by God and worshipped by the people of the North. It is a large two-handed sword, with a dull grey finish and a single letter stamped near the hilt, believed to be the mark of the Maker. The sword is said to never dull and never needs sharpening. It is also known to be exceptionally durable, shaving metal off Gorst's Calvez-made sword.
The Father of Swords was passed down to Whirrun of Bligh, a famous Named Man and dangerous fighter from the North, by Daguf Col as he lay dying. Daguf Col had received the sword from Yorweel the Mountain, who had it from Four-Faces, and so on, until the world was young. Whirrun carried the sword into battle, but was killed by a random spear. He was buried with the sword, as per his dying wish, where he referred to it as a blessing and a curse.
The sword is believed to be cursed, as it must be blooded once drawn, and Whirrun died before this could happen. However, this is likely just an urban legend, and some believe that the sword's need for blood is simply a tradition.
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Whirrun is killed by a spear and asks to be buried with the sword
Whirrun of Bligh, also known as Cracknut Whirrun, is a famous Named Man from the utmost North. He is a tall and lean man with a strange valley accent and a fearsome reputation as a dangerous fighter. He is known for wielding the Father of Swords, an impossibly large two-handed sword that is said to have been dropped by God and worshipped by the people in the valleys of the North.
Whirrun meets his end on the third day at the Heroes when he is stabbed with a random spear while fighting Bremer dan Gorst. As he lies dying, he asks Curnden Craw to bury the Father of Swords with him, acknowledging the sword as a curse:
> "Bury it with me. Time was I thought it was a blessing and a curse. But it’s only a curse, and I ain’t about to curse some other poor bastard with it. Time was I thought it was reward and punishment both. But this is the only reward for men like us. [...] This or … just living long enough to become nothing worth talking of. Put it in the mud, Craw."
Whirrun's request highlights his complex relationship with the sword, recognizing its weight as a burden that only grows heavier with time.
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The sword is described as a dull grey metal with a single letter stamped near the hilt
The Father of Swords, a sword said to have been dropped by God, is wielded by Whirrun of Bligh, a famous Named Man from the utmost North. Whirrun is killed in a fight with Bremer dan Gorst, and the sword is buried with him.
Gorst describes the Father of Swords as:
> dull grey metal gleaming with rain, a single letter stamped near the hilt.
The sword is said to be impossibly large, requiring two hands to wield it, and is rumoured to never dull, as Whirrun never sharpens it. It is also said to be exceptionally high quality and durable, as it shaves some metal off Gorst's Calvez-made sword.
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Frequently asked questions
Whirrun of Bligh carried the Father of Swords, a sword said to have been dropped by God.
The Father of Swords is a giant sword that never rusts or dulls. It is also said that if the Father of Swords is drawn, it must be blooded.
Whirrun was killed in a fight with Bremer dan Gorst and was buried with the Father of Swords.
The Father of Swords is an impossibly large two-handed sword made of dull grey metal. It has a single letter stamped near the hilt, which is thought to be the mark of the Maker.





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