Diwa ng Talim
Several decades into the future, the islands known collectively as the Philippines are sapped of life, literally and figuratively. There are people on these islands still, but they can hardly be called living in their current conditions.Despite this, an organization called the Eventide Assembly continues to protect this land. Its members consist of Babaylan from all time periods: past, present and future. Although their responsibilities are not the easiest to notice, they uphold their responsibility, protecting the correct flow of history and its events from those who believe that changing it is the only way to move forward.NOTE: This carrd is still a work in progress so not all links may be working, sorry for the inconvenience!
Talim
The talim are the swords personified to assist the baylan in their time protecting duties. Connected to the babaylan through their spiritual powers, they are much sturdier than a normal human. They typically come with knowledge and insight based on the era, group and/or owner they belong to.
“Babaylan”: people who serve as the bridge between human society, and that of the supernatural. By combining magic and tradition, both of which are practiced and refined over many generations, they have gained the ability to travel back and forth through time in order to carry out their duties.
BONIFACIO
Bonifacio's BoloRegion of Origin - Tagalog Region, LuzonEra - Late 1800's*Bolo knives serve both as weapons and everyday tools, making them favored by both fighters and farmers alike. Andres Bonifacio, the "Supremo" of the Katipunan, is famously depicted in art with both a bolo and revolver at his hip. Whether or not he actually used the knife is up for debate, as he is known to have preferred the use of the latter.There are various claims stating that they own the Supremo's blade, however none are verifiable as legitimate.* (The shape of the bolo itself is precolonial in origin; however, this particular specimen is thought to be the very one used by Bonifacio during the Philippine Revolution.)
Bonifacio's bolo, being deeply entwined with the period when people sought great changes, is somewhat of an emotional sort of talim. It is easy to tell how he feels about a certain thing or person, but the reasons as to why he feels that way is can be a bit more difficult to understand. A humble, simple blade at his roots, it is his perseverance allows him to shine through all sorts of situations.General dynamic with the Babaylan
Bonifacio will go to great lengths to fulfill his babaylan's requests, believing that in doing so he is able to secure his place by their side and avoid being discarded. (His previous owner and namesake had apparently said that carrying a bolo knife around was too troublesome.) Even if the task at hand may be a bit too much to handle on his own, his loyalty pushes him to see it done.General Dynamic with other Talim
Bonifacio is distrustful towards his fellow talim, coming from an environment where treachery was all too common. He tries to keep to himself, and may come off as accusatory in tone when speaking to others. This causes quite some tension, and usually it is up to the other talim (in coordination with the babaylan) to accommodate Bonifacio's attitude.
Talibong
Talibong
Region of Origin - Panay Island, Visayas RegionEra - 1800-1900's*Designed for thrusting and slashing motions, the Talibong is an effective hunter's tool, perfect for cutting grass to clear the way and slaughtering game when captured. It saw prominent use from the Pulahan, (a religious group whose beliefs were a blend of indigenous animism and Catholicism) that participated in efforts to drive Spanish and American colonists out of the archipelago.* (This specimen only; the Talibong is thought to be as old as the people's settlement itself.)
Influenced by the use of the Pulahanes, people described to be so ruthless and wild in battle that even other natives were wary of them, this talim's physical manifestation can certainly be said to be intimidating. Relatively tall with a loud, boisterous voice, and an impressive set of shark teeth above bright red eyes, Talibong tackles problems fearlessly, rushing headlong to the front lines. He does indeed have a wild, impulsive nature on the field, but away from the heat of battle, he is thoughtful and protective to those around him. In accordance to the Pulahanes' beliefs, he may even offer an anting-anting (protective amulets) to his allies on occasion.General dynamic with the Babaylan
Talibong will jump on any opportunity to lend the babaylan a hand, expressing an enthusiasm that one might compare to a small puppy. He wants only the best for his summoner, and will try not to fall to his impulses and follow their directions.General Dynamic with other Talim
Talibong's kindness extends to the other swords, bringing a warm and and optimistic disposition to any squad he is assigned to, regardless of who the other members may be. His wild nature may be a bit worrisome for others, but he will always be acting with everyone's safety and the mission's success in mind.
Matidto
Matidto (Straight Kris/Kalis)Region of Origin - MaguindanaoEra - 19th-20th century*Built primarily for combat, this straight-edged variation of the kris is carried by the more common members of society, in contrast to the wavy, ceremonial ones seen held by datu.* (Many local examples are from this timeframe, however the form has existed for far longer, originating from Indonesia)
Being the most battle-skilled of the three starters, Matidto comes off as particularly stern and quiet, especially when compared to the other two, Bonifacio and Talibong. Matidto's confidence in his experience is apparent, yet does not come off as arrogant. Being more accustomed to following directions, he can get a bit flustered when put into leadership positions by the Babaylan, but will do his best to meet their expectations.
General dynamic with the Babaylan - A blade of the common warrior, he is quite fastidious towards the Babaylan's commands, but a quiet eagerness for his tasks can be heard in his voice when addressing his summoner. He speaks with a formal choice of words, but simply isn't the best at hiding his warm emotions towards them. When working with more inexperienced babaylan, he is gentle in guiding them wherever he can, but will also be waiting and willing to take on their commands at all times.
General Dynamic with other Talim - Despite being easily found in everyday society, he knows little about conversation topics outside of fighting, since he wasn't used for much else outside of that. Matidto can also be a bit awkward and embarrassed when speaking with Talim from different regions outside of his own, but is actively working to overcome his social ineptness. At the very least, he isn't one to cause fuss amongst their ranks.
Balisong
Balisong (Butterfly knife)Region of Origin - BatangasEra - Early 1900'sThe Balisong is a folding knife where the tang is concealed between a pair of grooved handles. In the hands of an experienced user, it can be quickly opened with a flick of the wrist.It is surrounded by debate and urban legends, particularly with its name and origins. It is thought that the original butterfly knife design comes from France during the 1500's, eventually being brought to the Philippines either by Spanish or American soldiers. From there, it is adopted and improved on by the locals. However, others claim it has roots in the Kali martial arts from 800AD.
A visibly more youthful talim, Balisong is mischievous and energetic, often playing harmless pranks or showing off knife tricks in the stronghold. This extends to his flashy fighting style, but it is not all just for show; his wits are just as fast as his feet, able to quickly adapt to any situation he finds himself in. The unclear nature of his origins as a weapon doesn't bother him, and Balisong is simply happy to manifest with a physical form.General dynamic with the Babaylan
Balisong is very cooperative and behaved around the babaylan, setting aside his usual antics. Eager to showcase his skill and reliability, he rarely complains about his assignments.General Dynamic with other Talim
Balisong's pranks can be a source of complaint from the other talim, often bringing this up with the babaylan in hopes of getting him to tone it down. Being far younger than most of them and testing their patience, it is a source of relief for his teammates when they realize that Balisong would never pull a prank during a mission, knowing the difference between work and play.
Sable De Mando de aguinaldo
Sable de Mando de Aguinaldo (Aguinaldo's Command Saber)Region of Origin - Toledo, Spain
Era - Spanish RevolutionSable de Mando (Command Saber) are a sign of rank within the military, this one in particular being owned initially by Spanish General Ernesto de Aguirre, before being dropped in the Battle of Imus (September 1-3, 1896) for General Emilio Aguinaldo to claim for himself.
Sable de Mando de Aguinaldo is loyal, calm and observant, excelling at the more subtle aspects of fighting a war thanks to his sword function and previous masters' influence. He often has an air of planning something. (Or scheming, according to some)General dynamic with Baylan
de Aguinaldo prioritizes the Babaylan's wishes and goals, and will do most things in order to see them realized. Even if it is not by their request, de Aguinaldo will take actions behind the scenes if he believes doing so will benefit the Babaylan.General Dynamic with other Talim
de Aguinaldo puts in the effort to have a positive relationship with the other talim. He is aware of how his Spanish origins and former master's actions is a bit of a cause for awkwardness and tension, especially when speaking with the swords of the Katipunan, but he doesn't let this bother him much. He simply does his best to show that he is on the same side as everyone else, and maintains an understanding point of view when others may occasionally lash out at him for his previous master's actions, despite the fact that he had no say in how things turned out at the time.
Sable de Mando
Sable de MandoRegion of Origin - Spain(?)Era - Spanish RevolutionSable de Mando (Command Saber) are a sign of rank within the military; this talim is representative of the collective ones used by the Philippine Revolutionaries.
He exhibits many qualities that would be found in good leader figures: observant, focused and loyal to the cause, with an added air of charisma owing to the generals of the revolution's individual little quirks. He knows to get the job done, but is not as serious as one would expect; he is talkative and sociable, reflecting his nature as an item meant to show off one's rank and status.General dynamic with Baylan
Mando keeps the babaylan's well-being in his best interests, offering encouragement and motivation both through words and actions, believing that keeping them in high spirits will result in better strategic decisions for everyone. He keeps close by whenever it is his turn to be their attendant. He is somewhat of a poor liar towards the babaylan, as he believes generals should be honest with their leader.General Dynamic with other Talim
Being meant to be held by people who command others, he has a tendency to view most of the other talim as "lower" than him in rank. He does not say this outright, but it can be apparent with how he will supervise them closely, underestimating them and assuming that they may need further assistance. At times, he may even do tasks himself if he finds that the other talim is being too stubborn about the assignment provided by the babaylan.
San Bartolome
San Bartolome (Sangbartolome, Sinanbartolome)Region of Origin - Tagalog (Apalit, Pampanga?)Era - Spanish RevolutionNamed after Saint Bartholomew, this blade bears similarities to the Moro's Kris and its wavy form, making it a rather unusual style in the Tagalog region. According to oral tradition, this is the Katipunan's favorite blade, especially amongst members of the Magdiwang faction.
San Bartolome can be somewhat reserved when it comes to personal matters, keeping his answers vague and short. He simply would rather keep to himself, reflecting the nature of the Katipunan as a secret society. He seems to prefer taking orders rather than leading (despite his similarities to the kris, whose wave forms signify rank or royalty), but has a sense of confidence nonetheless.General dynamic with Baylan
San Bartolome keeps his relationship with the babaylan fairly professional. As one of the talim who manifested from the shape of the blade itself, rather than an association with a specific person or story, he does not feel an urge to hover around them often, or try to win their favor too hard. He does however, trust them, perhaps even to a fault. He will take every task assigned to him regardless of whether or not he feels like he is suited to the job. He would keep any difficulty he encounters in the job to himself, but will admit to it with some embarrassment if asked. He thinks that the admission is something that the babaylan could be disappointed in him for.General Dynamic with other Talim
He does not particularly dislike anyone and maintains an air of neutrality whenever there is conflict. However, it can be said that he would prefer it if everyone got along better, and may try to subtly influence things in that direction.
Gunong
Gunong (Punyal de Kris)Region of Origin - MaranaoEra - Early 1900'sThe Gunong is a short knife that may be straight or wavy with a practical double-edge. Kept sharp at all times, it is carried by both men and women for self defense as well as general utility, such as for cutting up food. Considered to be a miniature of the Danganan*, the pistol grip is a more recent design change from the American occupation of the Philippine Archipelago.*The Danganan is a ceremonial sword whose length ranges from two to three meters.
Gunong, considered to be more of a utility item, has a more practical and "human" skillset compared to most other talim. He is sociable, casual and even a little curious, creating a contrast to his rather regal appearance. Beneath all this is an analytical nature that makes it easy for him to learn and pick up new skills, thanks to the wide range of use the talim has experienced; from mundane housework to ceremonial practices.General dynamic with Baylan
He enjoys keeping the babaylan company, offering a lending hand whenever possible. Gunong's normally cheerful behavior may shift dramatically however, if he senses any sort of hostility towards his master. The babaylan can ask him to stand down, and Gunong will do as he's asked as a show of faith in them.General Dynamic with other Talim
Being a more contemporary iteration of the blade form, this talim enjoys holding conversation with the others, taking in their stories with great enthusiasm. Unlike the ceremonial blades of their region, such as Budiak and Seko, Gunong does not feel a need to flaunt himself amongst other talim, making him an enjoyable presence to pass the time with.
Budiak
BudiakRegion of Origin - MaranaoEra - 19th centuryA favored weapon of the Moro people, this spear was regarded both as a fierce weapon and a beautiful work of art. Regularly sharpened and cleaned, this talim represents a variation of the the spear with a wavy form, implying a more ornamental purpose compared to the straight-edged counterpart.
Manifesting with a large, imposing figure, tall enough to tower over most other talim, Budiak carries himself with a sense of vanity, taking great pride in his pristine condition. This specific spear was kept more as a status symbol and put on display; which means despite being an effective weapon by design, he does not actually have any fighting experience. Nevertheless, he shows an enthusiasm for battle, jumping at any chance to try and prove himself in practical use.General dynamic with Baylan
Being treated as a prized possession by the Moro people, Budiak expects the same treatment from the babaylan. He is more than glad to stand by their side for ceremonial occasions or to be simply admired; conversely, he may become irritable if he feels that he is not getting the attention he thinks he deserves. Unfortunately, his pride will prevent him from actually bringing this up with the babaylan and would instead keep those thoughts to himself.General Dynamic with other Talim
The combination of Budiak's inexperience and large ego can be a source of friction between him and the other talim. It does not help his case that he sometimes looks at others as if sneering at them, and can come off as lazy and stubborn when it comes to performing tasks outside of combat.
Seko
SekoRegion of Origin - MaranaoEra - Early 20th centuryOwned by datu and passed down as heirlooms, it is considered a full, double-edged sword by length, as opposed to the Javanese, dagger-sized kris.
Boasting a wide, wavy form considered both beautiful and deadly, Seko enjoys being the center of attention. Being owned by datu, he has an excellent judge of character, and is used to being treated with reverence by those around him. Despite being mostly symbolic, he is more than happy to show off his skills in battle, having some experience from the previous occasions that he was wielded by those datu.General dynamic with Baylan
He would prefer if the Babaylan is someone who has an air of authority, plus the skill and experience to bring him to his full potential. However, he will still be obedient and cooperative towards a Babaylan he does not see these qualities in, making decisions on their behalf in situations they aren't well-versed in yet. He may even offer to teach them if he sees that they have the initiative to learn. Seko has a particular desire for physical touch, as he was mainly kept as a display piece rather than kept and held by one's side for practical use.General Dynamic with other Talim
Seko acknowledges that under the babaylan, he is on equal standing with the other talim and will do his best to treat them accordingly. However, he still has a bit of a bossy streak, and sometimes finds himself expecting them to bow in respect towards him, but won't make such demands. This may be a source of friction between him and other swords of authority, particularly Sable de Mando who may underestimate others. Seko is rivals with Minasbad, whose form is designed specifically to be a counter to that of the kris.
Panabas
PanabasRegion of Origin - Maguindanao*Era - 1990's, early World War II **Panabas features a long handle, acting as counterweight to its wide, flat blade. Meant to be wielded with both hands in a cleaving motion, it is used to clear the way through dense forest, or for cutting meat and fish. It is also a symbol of power, being brandished by the datu in order to intimidate, as well to execute enemies in battle.*The blade can also be found in other regions such as Negros and Cotobato.**Refers to this specimen only; the form has existed for far longer
A talim of few words and large stature, he believes that his actions will be enough to express his intent. Panabas is very work-oriented, and can even be described as stony-faced. Able to perform a variety of tasks, he also possesses good leadership qualities picked up from his time with the datu, making him a rather reliable figure in most situations.General dynamic with Baylan
He is not particularly attached to the babaylan, but will keep close by to provide assistance when needed. While he may not complain about his assignments, Panabas would still like to be taken care of and valued by the babaylan. He would enforce discipline amongst the other talim, believing that this is what leaders would generally want. Because of this, some babaylan may want to ask him to be less strict with everyone.General Dynamic with other Talim
Panabas keeps to himself, fully aware of his intimidating presence. When spoken to, his replies are short and straight to the point, which may be misinterpreted as being disinterested by whoever is speaking to him. This is untrue; he simply prefers to look out for everyone else at a distance, and would sometimes intervene in his own way to ease tension between other talim.
Minasbad
MinasbadRegion of Origin - BicolThis sword is still undergoing revisions. Please look forward to the final design and characterization.
Sinawit
Sinawit (Kalinga Head Axe)Region of Origin - CordilleraThis sword is still undergoing revisions. Please look forward to the final design and characterization.
