Like the title suggests, what is a shehai? I know it is some kind of ethereal sword made from the soul of the weilder, but is it an actual blade they hold in their hand when needed, or some kind of raw energy that forms around their arm? I have always thought of it being just a wild energy that starts around the elbow and engulfs the entire arm. The reason I ask is I am making a character for the a fan faction rp.

It's a psychic lightsaber.

...

Okay, okay.

I'm not an expert on Yoku/Hammerfell lore, but as I understand it, a Shehai is a sword formed from from the intent and the will of its creator. The Shehai is apparently unique to each individual, and only the masters of the Way of the Spirit Sword can actually use it as a weapon, other than just a visual projection of their psyche.

I hate this anology... but think of it as the Patronus charm.

I'm not really the one to ask, though.

Recommended reading:

http://www.imperial-library.info/dfbooks/b086_divad.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/dfbooks/b004_redguard.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/dfbooks/b022_memorystone.shtml

That is the best possible anology. It is at its basic a thought-derived lightsaber formed from the spirit of the wielder. It can cut through anything and cannot be taken from the wielder as it is attached to their mind/soul... It generally takes some bit of magickal skill to perform...

There's a decent picture of what it'd probably look like somewhere, though I think it's fan-made... I'll see if I can find it...

A bit of magical skill? I thought only the super-master sword-singers could wield it, and only after very long training.

edit: Or I'm just to tired to understand the subtleness of an understatement? :dance:

Both. A long training combined with some magical skill, though I think the general idea is it isn't magical so much as it is mental. Otherwise it would just be a lame bound weapon of a different kind.

http://www.imperial-library.info/dfbooks/b004_redguard.shtml learn through their intense training and devotion to the gods of war and way of the sword, the forms of discipline that allow the creation of the spirit sword. This is a simple form of magic or mind mastery where by a image of a sword is formed from pure thought. The sword singer forms the sword by concentrating, and it takes shape in his hand - usually a pale thing of light, misty and insubstantial, a thing of beauty perhaps, a symbol of devotion to the Way and the gods, but no weapon. However, those Ansei of the highest level and sensitivity and those with talent in magic, can at times of stress, form a spirit sword, the Shehai which is far more than light and air - it is an unstoppable weapon of great might, a weapon which can never be taken from the owner without also taking his mind.

http://www.imperial-library.info/dfbooks/b022_memorystone.shtml, of all the Brothers and the Maidens, I only possessed the unique qualities, the faint but strong enough flicker of magicka to call forth the Shehai. Many times I called it, seldom would it become substantial enough to be a weapon. To be a Ansei of the first level you just need to be able to call it, and that I could, so I became the first Ansei from our local hall in two generations.

When you think of it, it does sound a bit CHIMish. Forming the world around you with your thoughts, and all that. "There is no spoon", to use someone else's (I don't remember who said it right now) Matrix anology.

I imagine it being different for everyone, Crazy joker. I have my own Ansei character in a roleplay, and his Shehai I have appear as a claymore.

Others may have them in the way you described, which makes me think of this: http://www.allgamewallpapers.com/data/media/42/soul_reaver2.jpg

Others may appear and be wielded in manners similar to actual swords.

Sooo, would the power of the sword be based on the users magicka, in the same manner as the more magicka you have means you can cast more powerful spells? Thus the better a sword singer you are, the more powerful the weapon?

Not quite, I think.

Rather, there are two levels of power. First, which is when the Shehai can't even be used as a proper weapon. Second, it is a weapon. The strength would depend on how well they know how to use it. You'd have to know certain sword techniques, etc. to be stronger. It's use is similar to that of any other sword. Only it cuts through just about anything.

I have always though them to be like the Soul Reaver you mentioned, although I guess they could be actual swords also. I think I will go with the Soul Reaver concept for my character though.