The Great Bazaar and Other Stories (12 page)

Combat wards siphon
magic from a demon, weakening its armor at the point of contact, and redirect
that magic as offensive force. This force can manifest in many different ways.
Some examples:

Combat ward:
Bludgeoning/impact

First appeared:
The Warded Man/The Painted Man

Description:
This ward turns coreling magic into concussive force. The stronger the original
blow, the more power generated. It can be placed onto any blunt weapon.

Combat ward:
Cutting

First appeared:
The Warded Man/The Painted Man

Description:
This ward, when etched along the length of a blade, can enhance its sharpness,
allowing the weapon to cut cleanly through even coreling armor and flesh.

Combat ward:
Pressure (Arlen's palm ward from avatar)

First appeared:
The Warded Man/The Painted Man

Description:
Pressure wards exert a crushing force that builds in heat and intensity the
longer they remain in contact with a demon. The Warded Man has one on each
palm, and has been known to squeeze a demon's head with them until it bursts.

Many recorded wards
have no known use, their purpose lost to antiquity. Because testing requires
bringing them in contact with a demon, volunteers to conduct the research are
understandably scarce. Some examples: