The Cryptforge Relics

The story behind these weapons

Deep beneath the ruins of long-forgotten battlegrounds, where the echoes of war still linger in the cold stone halls, lies the Cryptforge, an ancient, eldritch forge that does not burn with fire, but with the restless souls of the dead. It is said that this place was never built by human hands, but rather formed from the twisted remnants of a long-dead civilization, a cursed sanctum where warriors and sorcerers once sought to defy death itself.

The Cryptforge does not create weapons, it reshapes the bones of the fallen, binding them with cursed runes and the remnants of eldritch power. These weapons, known as the Cryptforge Relics, are not merely tools of war, but entities unto themselves, whispering with the voices of those who perished in battle, yearning to be wielded once more.

The Nature of the Relics

Each Cryptforge Relic is crafted from the remains of legendary fallen warriors, their essence forever bound to the weapon:

• Bonegrinder – A cursed chainsaw sword forged from the fused vertebrae of a fallen warlord. Its jagged bone teeth grind endlessly, tearing through armor and flesh while whispering the hunger of the damned.

• Graveborn Guard - A weathered wooden shield reinforced with eldritch runes, its centre adorned with a grinning skull that radiates a sinister aura. Cursed enchantments linger within, warding off attacks while whispering forgotten incantations to those who dare wield it.

• Undead Crown - A cursed crown of fused bone and scorched iron, hovering above its wearer like a spectral omen. Eldritch runes glow between its jagged remains, whispering the voices of lost monarchs. Those who don it gain insight into the realm of the dead, but risk becoming part of it.

• Throne of the Undying - A towering throne sculpted from the fused remains of long-forgotten rulers, its skeletal frame pulsating with eerie, spectral energy. The cursed throne binds its occupant to undeath, granting dominion over lost souls while eroding their humanity with every command.

These weapons are not simply worn or wielded, they bond with their wielder, feeding on their strength and offering power in return. But such power comes at a cost, for the longer one carries a Cryptforge Relic, the more their soul intertwines with the remnants within.

Why These Weapons fit in Games

The Cryptforge Relics are designed to seamlessly integrate into Elden Ring, The Legend of Zelda, and Sea of Thieves without feeling out of place:

• In Elden Ring, they could be the remnants of a lost kingdom that fell to an eldritch plague, their weapons now cursed by the gods.

• In Zelda, they might be ancient relics buried deep within forgotten temples, waiting for a hero brave enough to claim them.

• In Sea of Thieves, these could be the cursed treasures of an undead pirate lord, buried in the deepest reaches of the sea, waiting to be unearthed.

These weapons don’t feel like random additions, they feel like they belong. 

That’s what makes thematic weapon design so powerful.

Elden Ring

In Elden Ring, the Cryptforge Relics would fit as remnants of a lost kingdom, ravaged by an eldritch plague that twisted its rulers and warriors into undying husks. These cursed artefacts would be discovered within crumbling catacombs or guarded by spectral knights, offering unique abilities to Tarnished warriors brave enough to claim them.

Bonegrinder: This weapon would function as a Colossal Greatsword, with its jagged, grinding bone teeth dealing both bleed and stagger damage. Its special ability, Maw of the Forsaken, would unleash a charged attack where the blade revs violently, dealing rapid consecutive strikes that ignore shields. This would fit Elden Ring’s theme of brutal combat and high-risk, high-reward weapons.

Graveborn Guard: As a Greatshield, this artifact would provide exceptional curse resistance, blocking both physical and magical attacks. Its ability, Wraithbound Barrier, would let players absorb incoming damage and retaliate with a spectral explosion, making it ideal for a tank build against bosses and invading players.

Undead Crown: This headpiece would function as a unique talisman or helm, granting insight into the unseen. It would boost necrotic incantations and sorceries, while also applying a debuff where prolonged use gradually lowers the player’s resistance to madness, creating a trade-off between power and sanity.

Throne of the Undying: This would be an interactive world element, possibly placed in a forbidden mausoleum or deep within a hidden royal crypt. Players who sit upon it could gain a temporary buff to summoning undead spirits but at the cost of health regeneration. This dynamic aligns with Elden Ring’s risk-reward mechanics and immersive world-building.

The Legend of Zelda

In Breath of the Wild, the Cryptforge Relics would be ancient artefacts buried in Hyrule’s lost temples, forgotten by time but still holding immense power. Link would have to solve puzzles, defeat cursed guardians, and navigate dangerous dungeons to wield them.

Bonegrinder: This sword would act as a two-handed weapon with a spinning, saw-like attack, capable of breaking enemy shields and staggering larger foes. It could feature a durability mechanic where, after a set number of hits, it briefly overheats before cooling down, balancing its destructive potential.

Graveborn Guard: A medium shield imbued with ancient protective runes, capable of deflecting projectiles back at enemies with perfect timing. It would also pulse with necrotic energy, briefly stunning foes upon successful parries.

Undead Crown: As a mystical headpiece, this item would grant Link the ability to temporarily see and interact with spirits, uncovering hidden paths, secret messages, and even unlocking special ghostly side quests. However, prolonged use would attract ethereal enemies, forcing players to balance its power.

Throne of the Undying: This would serve as an environmental storytelling piece, hidden in an abandoned temple. If Link sits upon it, a wave of undead Bokoblins could rise from the ground, forcing a gauntlet-style fight before rewarding the player with a rare item. This aligns with Zelda’s tradition of interactive world elements that deepen its lore.

Sea of Thieves

In Sea of Thieves, the Cryptforge Relics would be legendary cursed treasures tied to an undead pirate lord. They would be hidden in sunken ruins, shipwrecks, or skeletal fortresses, with players needing to decipher ancient maps or fight off ghostly crews to claim them.

Bonegrinder: A melee weapon with a charged revving attack, dealing massive damage to enemies and even damaging ship hulls in close combat. Its curse would cause it to emit eerie wails, attracting hostile skeletons whenever it is unsheathed, adding a risk-reward dynamic.

Graveborn Guard: A defensive artefact used to block pistol shots and cutlass strikes, with a unique ability to reflect bullets back at enemies. Holding the shield for too long, however, would cause ghostly hands to appear and drain the wielder’s stamina, preventing excessive turtling.

Undead Crown: A mystical item that allows players to see hidden ghostly figures and long-lost treasure markers, making it valuable for puzzle-solving. However, it also increases the likelihood of being hunted by supernatural forces, adding a layer of tension during voyages.

Throne of the Undying: This would be a world event location, found deep in a secret cave or atop a skeletal fortress. Sitting upon it could trigger a wave-based battle against spectral pirates, offering players a high-risk, high-reward scenario where surviving long enough yields rare treasure or special abilities.

A Cohesive Aesthetic Across Worlds

The Cryptforge Relics are designed to seamlessly fit across multiple games because they adhere to consistent aesthetics, mechanics, and themes. Each of these games features undead enemies, supernatural artefacts, and weapons imbued with curses, making these relics feel like natural extensions of their worlds. Their skeletal inspiration ties them together as part of a thematic set, ensuring they remain visually and narratively cohesive regardless of the universe they inhabit.

Moreover, the mechanics of these relics align with the core gameplay elements of each game, high-risk, high-reward combat in Elden Ring, puzzle-driven discovery in Zelda, and dynamic emergent storytelling in Sea of Thieves. By respecting the lore, mechanics, and visual identity of each game, the Cryptforge Relics can exist across these vastly different worlds without breaking immersion or feeling out of place. They are not just weapons; they are cursed echoes of the past, waiting to be claimed by those brave enough to wield them.