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Not all consecrations succeeded. Some weapons seemed ill-fated from the beginning—breaking at inopportune moments, causing injury to their wielders, bringing misfortune rather than protection. These were understood as cursed, either through improper consecration or through some malevolent influence that had infected the metal.
Cursed weapons required special handling. They could not simply be discarded (the curse might follow whoever touched them) but needed ritual cleansing or destruction. Some were reforged, the metal melted and reformed in hope that new shape would escape the curse. Others were destroyed entirely, broken and buried in unconsecrated ground or thrown into deep water where they could harm no one.
The warrior who realized his weapon was cursed faced difficult decision. Abandoning it might be seen as cowardice or failure. Continuing to use it risked death or dishonor. The solution often involved consulting seers or wise elders who might determine whether the curse could be lifted or whether the weapon must be destroyed.
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