Item from The First Law by Joe Abercrombie
An ancient weapon of mass destruction created by the Maker — the nuclear option that Bayaz used to devastate half of Adua and kill thousands, because winning matters more than what's left after you win.
The Seed is the First Law's nuclear weapon — a device created by Kanedias the Maker during his war with Juvens, capable of channeling the destructive power of the Other Side into the physical world. Bayaz retrieved it from Aulcus and used it to devastate Adua's western districts during the Gurkish siege. The detonation killed thousands of Union civilians — the people Bayaz was supposedly protecting. It won the war. It proved Bayaz's willingness to sacrifice anything for victory. And it poisoned everyone who was near it, including Collem West. The Seed is Abercrombie's thesis on power: the weapon that wins the war is never worth the cost of using it, and the people who use it never pay the price themselves.
A small, unassuming object of ancient craftsmanship — dark, dense, and humming with contained power. Its physical appearance belies its destructive potential. It feels wrong to hold — too heavy, too warm, too present.
Also known as: The Seed