What I see:

> shape broadsword to stave icy

>You reach out with your will and reshape your broadsword into a quarterstaff.
>Roundtime: 5 sec.

I was also logged into another character standing in the same room, and he saw:

>Aithan concentrates for a moment and riste he is holding is replaced with an icy quarterstaff.

It always says "riste" (without an article) no matter what weapon type I am shaping from.