Starside Steel (Paladian) – Symbol of Hidden Strength and Divine Power
What Is Starside Steel (Paladian)?
Paladian is the immortal name for the rarest and most powerful metal in the world of Starside. Mortals call it Starside steel. The blacksmith in the Traveling City tells Aris that Paladian is a “sparkling metal,” stronger than any mortal high metal, and is “only found where the gods live.” It can contain limitless magic. A blade forged from Paladian is called a godsword – a weapon that once belonged to one of the original gods and holds their power.
The metal appears as a shimmering, otherworldly silver, often described as “melted-down stars.” It is so rare that even among immortals it is the highest tier. When Aris first sees Harlan Raker’s full Paladian sword in Chapter 1, she notes it is “the only one currently claimed this side of the gates.” Her own dagger is also Paladian, though she does not learn its true nature until much later.
Where It Recurs in the Story
Paladian steel appears at key moments in the narrative:
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Aris’s hidden dagger – Stellan gives her a dagger made of Starside steel when she is a child. She keeps it concealed beneath her clothing throughout her life. In Chapter 1, she uses it to shatter a silver sword and save a starving boy, revealing its extraordinary strength to the crowd.
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Harlan Raker’s greatsword – The most famous knight on Stormside carries a massive Paladian blade. Its presence alone parts crowds; its “sparkling, otherworldly silver” marks Raker as a figure of lethal authority.
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The blacksmith’s workshop (Chapter 30) – Aris visits a blacksmith blessed by an original god. He identifies her dagger as a godsword made of Paladian. He explains that godswords “hold great power … and great power is a poison.”
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The stolen dagger – In Chapter 2, Stellan’s Paladian dagger is stolen before his murder. The theft signals how coveted the metal is and underscores the danger tied to it.
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Lord Rodin’s trap (Chapter 38) – Aris learns that an oath sworn on her Paladian blade prevents her from harming her host. The metal’s magical properties bind her will, showing that ownership of a godsword comes with constraints, not just strength.
How Its Meaning Changes
Initially, Paladian is a symbol of hidden strength. Aris keeps her dagger secret for years, using it only when necessary. The metal represents her unacknowledged potential – a girl from a destroyed town who carries a weapon worthy of a god.
When the blacksmith reveals the blade is a godsword, the meaning shifts. Paladian becomes a mark of divine connection and burden. Aris now understands why hunters and immortals are drawn to her. The metal is not just a tool; it is a target. It makes her a prize for gods and Great Houses alike.
By the later chapters, Paladian embodies the cost of power. The oath that binds Aris in Lord Rodin’s forge shows that the metal enforces rules. It can be turned against its wielder. The metal also links characters: Stellan’s stolen dagger, Raker’s sword, and Aris’s blades all point to a deeper network of allegiance and betrayal. In the final confrontation, Aris wields two Paladian swords, suggesting she has become a vessel for both vengeance and the metal’s ancient legacy.
Character and Theme Connections
Characters
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Aris – Her relationship with Paladian mirrors her journey from hidden rage to open defiance. She carries the metal because it chooses her, not because she seeks it. The godsword claims her, binding her to a fate she never wanted but now must fulfil. Stellan’s last gift – the dagger – symbolises his sacrifice and her responsibility.
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Harlan Raker – His full Paladian sword marks him as the most dangerous mortal on Stormside. The sword’s silence and perfection reflect his own cold, impenetrable demeanour. When Aris later learns Raker is the God of Death, his sword becomes a symbol of his true nature: death made physical.
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Stellan – He returns from the Questral with only a Paladian dagger, not the goblet of magic. The metal represents his ruin and his refusal to exploit its power. For him, Paladian is a badge of failure – but also of integrity. He teaches Aris to forge and fight, passing on the metal’s legacy even as he warns her away from it.
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The blacksmith and the original gods – The existence of Paladian points to a forgotten divine history. The blacksmith speaks of an “original god” and other ancient beings. The metal thus symbolises the lost age of true gods, now corrupted or withdrawn.
Themes
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Hidden strength – Aris’s concealed Paladian dagger mirrors her concealed identity and rage. The metal is a secret she must eventually expose to survive.
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Sacrifice and loyalty – Stellan gives Aris the dagger at great personal cost. Raker later offers to unite their twin Paladian swords to destroy the gods, a plan that requires him to abandon his own safety.
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Trust and betrayal – The blacksmith betrays Aris to Lord Rodin because he must protect his son. Yet he leaves the door open, a small act of loyalty. The Paladian oath system forces trust: once an oath is sworn on the metal, the wielder cannot break certain rules. This makes the metal a tool of both deception and protection.
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Power and hierarchy – Paladian sits above all mortal and immortal metals. It defines the hierarchy of blades. Those who carry it are instantly feared or envied. The metal thus dramatises the struggle for power at the centre of the Questral.
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Memory and identity – Aris’s dagger is the last tangible link to Stellan and to her childhood in Silverside. Its sparkle reminds her of the stars her home once saw. The metal becomes a repository of memory, even as she forges a new identity as a god-slayer.
4 Study Questions with Answers
1. Why does the blacksmith call Aris’s sword a “godsword,” and what does this reveal about her role in the story?
The blacksmith explains that a godsword is a blade that once belonged to an original god and holds its power. Aris’s Paladian dagger is a godsword, meaning it was forged for a divine wielder. This reveals that Aris has been chosen by a weapon of immense ancient power, implying her destiny is greater than mere revenge. It also explains why she has been hunted: mortals and immortals sense the metal’s pull. The revelation shifts her self‑perception from a survivor to someone carrying a fragment of the divine, which both empowers and endangers her.
2. How does Paladian steel function as a symbol of both protection and constraint?
Paladian protects Aris because it can shatter lesser metals and has magical properties. In Chapter 1, her dagger allows her to defeat enemies who wield ordinary blades. However, the metal also imposes constraints. In Chapter 38, she discovers that an oath sworn on her Paladian sword prevents her from harming Lord Rodin or his men. The metal enforces its own laws, independent of Aris’s will. This duality shows that great power comes with limitations; the sword binds its wielder as much as it serves them.
3. In what way does the theft of Stellan’s Paladian dagger reflect the theme of vengeance versus humanity?
Stellan’s dagger is stolen just before his death. The theft is a violation of the one person who cared for Aris. The loss of the metal mirrors the loss of Stellan himself. When Aris later retrieves his dagger (or seeks revenge), the metal becomes a symbol of her choice to pursue vengeance at the expense of her humanity. She could honour Stellan’s memory by not killing, but instead she vows to avenge him. The stolen Paladian thus represents the turning point where her grief hardens into a quest for blood.
4. How does Harlan Raker’s Paladian sword establish him as a larger‑than‑life figure before his true identity is revealed?
In Chapter 1, Raker’s entrance parts the crowd without a word. His “enormous sword” of Starside steel is the first one “currently claimed this side of the gates.” The metal’s rarity and beauty make him appear almost supernatural. Aris notes that “ancient, powerful swords choose their wielder,” so Raker’s possession of a full godsword suggests he is not merely a knight but something more. This moment builds mystery around him, foreshadowing his eventual reveal as the God of Death. The sword becomes an extension of his authority: cold, silent, and absolute.