[Location] The Rage Forge

[Zim Rage]

A relitivly old but large building in the trade district came alive with the sound of hammers once again. Previously called the "Jolly Hammer," as one abandoned stored away sign read, was under new management. Zim Rage- The dracon discuised as a half-elf.

From the outside the building was made of old cobel stone, cracks had made thier way around the building from the wear and tear of the weather and probibly a decaying foundation. However the build was just as sturdy as the rock it was made from. Outside of the building there was a sign reading "The Rage Forge."

Inside of the forge was no different then the outside. Old and showing it's age. A rug had been put out on the floor but now ruined by the trampeling of muddled feet. The rug ran from the door all the way to the front desk and one could tell that it was obviously supposed to be a firey red color. Around the room were racks of weapons produced there, on display. Though these particular ones on the walls were not for sale, as they had been bolted down to the walls to prevent them from being stolen. They were simply decoration, infact Zim didn't even make these ones, they were remaining weapons from the last owner.

Beyond this front room and beyond the wooden desk one could see into the forge which was a standard forge with only one furnace, but room for more. Beyond the forge there were five other rooms. Each was equiped with a work area and had room for thier own furnaces.

Behind the counter was Zim Rage, waiting to happily help you through your purchasing process. Marked on a peice of fine parchement was a pricelist with everything on it that the forge currently sold.

2-ball Flail (11 1/2" chain, spiked) 66.3
Ataa Sword (29.5" Blade) 84.8
Balanced Axe 42.6
Balanced Knife 23.5
Ball and chain (8” chain, iron ball) 75.5
Ball mace (26" Length, 2" long spikes) 75.5
Bardiche (6 “ length) 75.5
Bastard Sword (42" Blade) 75.5
Battle axe (31 1/2" Length, chain attached) 66.3
Brandistock (5 “ length) 42.6
Brass Knuckles 32.9
Broadsword (29 3/4" Blade) 75.5
Butterfly Sword (19” long, 3” wide, 2 lbs blade) 42.6
Caltrop 30.6
Cane sword (36" Length, 21 3/4" Blade) 42.6
Cavalry Sabre (4 “ handle, 26" Blade) 42.6
Chained axe (8” chain, double-bladed axe head) 66.3
Chakram (5" ring-shaped razor discus) 42.6
Clawed whip (100” long) 51.7
Claymore Sword (42" Blade) 66.3
Concealed Dagger (6” Blade, runs flush with hilt when sheathed) 35.2
Cossack Dagger (8" Blade, curved blade) 35.2
Crusader Sword (28" Blade) 75.5
Curved Sickle (4" handle, 8" Blade) 51.7
Cutlass (27" Blade, basket hilt) 42.6
Dacian Falx (43" Blade, two-handed) 75.5
Dart 30.6
Dirk (11 1/2" Blade) 51.7
Double-bladed battle axe (18" Blade, 32 1/2" Length) 66.3
Elvish Longknife (17" Blade) 35.2
Falchion (26" Blade) 42.6
Flame Dagger (8" Blade, curvy edges) 35.2
Flanged mace (26" Length, 4 sides) 75.5
Francisca 42.6
Gladius sword (14-18" Blade) 51.7
Halberd (5 “ length) 75.5
Harpoon (5 “ length, barbed tip) 42.6
Hatchet (26" Length) 42.6
Hook Sword (38" long) 51.7
Hunting Knife (10" Blade) 51.7
Iron-banded warclub (25" Length, spiked) 75.5
Javelin (6 “ length) 51.7
Jitte (16” sha”, 3” tine) 51.7
Kama (16” handle, 5” blade) 51.7
Katar (16" blade) 51.7
Kemite Dao (27” Blade, wide blade) 42.6
Khopesh (19” Blade) 42.6
Kris (10" Blade, wavy edge) 51.7
Kusari-Gama (Kama w/ 18” chain and iron weight) 75.5
Lance (6 “ Length, barbed tip) 75.5
Flamberge Sword (4 1/2 Feet Blade) 75.5
Lochaber axe (19" Blade) 85.2
Military Pick (24" Length, Wide at one end and pointed at the other) 42.6
Morning star (10" chain) 75.5
Naginata (28” blade, 40” handle) 42.6
Nekodes (climbing claws) 51.7
Nunchaku (12” handles, 3“ chain) 51.7
Pike (5 “ length) 51.7
Pilum (6 “ length) 51.7
Poignard (6 " blade) 51.7
Sabre (30" Blade) 42.6
Sai (11” sha”, 4” tines) 51.7
Scimitar sword (36" Length) 42.6
Scythe (6 “ Length) 75.5
Short sword (24" Blade) 51.7
Spear (6 1/2 “ Length, with crossguard) 51.7
Spetum (5 “ length) 75.5
Spiked metal knuckle (4 ringholes for fingers, 1" spikes) 35.2
Stilleto (7" blade) 51.7
Swept-hilt rapier (35" Blade) 42.6
Swordbreaker Dagger (10" Blade, strong teeth traps blades) 51.7
Tachi (46" blade, 350 fold) 75.5
Three-sectioned staff (30” handles, 2” chains) 42.6
Tonfa (aka Nightstick, 16” Length) 42.6
Trident (6 1/2 “ Length, 3 pointed tips) 75.5
Trident Main Gauche (11 1/2" Blade, blade trapper) 51.7
Twin Bladed Sword (two 28” blades, connected by hilt) 85.2
War maul (35" Length, metal head) 85.2
Warhammer (29" Length, with spike) 66.3
Zatoichi (27” blade, appears as a walking stick when sheathed) 42.6
Zweihander (8 “ Length) 80.3

------------Customization--------------
Hymm Stee x1.5l
Fae Steel x1.5
High Grade Steel x1.6
Elven Steel x2.7
Silver x2.7
Dwarven Steel x9.5
High Grade Dwarven Steel x24.3
Sweat-absorbent wooden hilt 5
Jagged edges 2.5
Extra spikes, studs, hooks 5
Additional chain 2.5
Ring for belt latching 2.5
Any coloring 25

[Zim Rage]

As the aedile had promised the workers would show up to the forge in a brightening from when Zim talked to him. There they stood, three dwarves stout and proud. A leather worker, a jeweler, and a woodworker.

The first through the door was a dwarf named Urlond. With a long black beared that any dwarf would be proud of. Braded into three and held together and held down with three gold bands. His eyes were blue and his skin was pale. With the contrast between his hair and skin it gave Zim the impression that he was practicly a ghost. However, the life in his eyes confermed to anyone that he was infact liveing. "Ser'al sir," Urlond greated.

"I am Urlond yur leath'r work'r," He gave a dwarven bow and then turned to the others and nodded them forward, "These are me broth'rs, Glanel an' Ofik. We are the sons of Whurten, tripplets. And we're proud to work fur ya... fur a price of cource."

Glanel was a redhead, with longer hair then either of his brothers. It was pulled back into a pony tail to keep it out of the way of his work. His beard also braded into three was tucked under his belt, he hadent yet had the opertunity to purchase the weighted beads that his other two brothers had. He also had the same ghostly eyes. "Ser'al sir, I'll be yer jeweler."

Next was the blond and youngest twin, he was younger then his other brothers by three brightenings time, his mother went through hell trying to push his fat head out. It's no wonder she died from complications, and it was no wonder why it took three days. His head seemed to be much larger then the others. To try and hide this he wore his beard unbraided and flaired out, hopeing to catch the attention of the viewers eyes before they got to the size of the head. Zim was unfortunite to think that it was not working all that well. Again the same pale blue eyes looked out from his pale skin. "Ser'ale, I am Ofik," he started of. His voice was still horse like his brothers but it was soft non-the less, "I'll be your woodworker. Though, not to question you, but what does a forge need a woodworker for?"

"Serale to you all as well, and of cource we'll discuss payments, just as soon as my other two men arrive. I have an armor smith and a gadgeteer comeing yet. As for the usefullness in a weapons forge? Well we have more here then just weapons now. Now we will have armor, and we will have leather goods, and we will have wood goods, and gadgets and so on and so forth. This is an industrial complex now, not just a forge. Your job is just as important as theres, just becuase you don't craft with steel doesnt mean you don't have a place here," Zim said with a smile. As he finished what he said a man came in through the door and in his hand was a gnome.

"Serale sirs, how can I help you today?" Zim greated them as they came through the door, "I am Master Zim Rage, owner of this forge."

"Serale sir," the human said, "I am Eric Maegus. Guild Master Nicholas said that you were in need of an armor and a gadgeteer. Well here we are, I'm the armorer, and this here is the gadgeteer." Haveing said that he gave a bow, keeping his hand flat and steady so that the Gnome could bow also. The human was tall, and muscular. No doubt that he had done some hard jobs in his life. On the visible skin on his arms were cuts and scratches from either combat or dealing with sharp objects. His hair was brown, but it was pushed down under a cap that he wore, with scruffy facial hair sprouting out around his chin and jaw line.

The gnome took his bow and said, "Serale, I am Beegin. I'll be your gadgeteer." He was a wee little guy at four inches tall and he also had brown hair. Infact he kind of looked like a much scaled down version of the human carrying him.

Zim looked between the two of them compairing thier similarities and shrugged throwing it up to it just a coinsidence. "Serale to you two as well. These are your co-workes; Urlond, Glanel, and Ofik sons of Whurten. They are Leather work, Jeweler, and woodworker respectivly."

The gnome looked at the dwarves and rolled his eyes at them, "Is there something wrong Beegin?" Zim spotted the role of the eyes and a look of shock rolled over his face.

"Uh, well sir it's just that Gnomes and Dwarves don't always get along. As well, I'm the smallest guy here you'll all trample me while your working away at whatever else you'll be doing. This place just isnt safe for me here. I refuse to work here!" Beegin confessed.

"Well then you'll be happy to know that there is enough room here for you all to have your own workspace and enough matterials. If you don't have your own tools let me know, I'll buy them for you," Zim said this to the whole group, "Unfortunitly right now I only have one furnace in here. But thats alright, after I show you around and we talk about pay options I'll fill you in on my project."

They all nodded in agreement and zim lead them through the forge telling each of them what it was they were seeing and being told where they would work. All of the rooms were the same size except one, which was only about half the size, which beegin said he would take with out a problem. That was a good thing, as Zim had already decided that he would be the one working that room.

"So, how does 75 crowns a cycle sound to each of you? I am a master smith and the city has contracted me to work for them and I am getting paid that much. So that is a generous pay for apprentice level workers, no?" Zim offered.

"Sounds good to us," the tripplets said after looking between each other.

"Aye," said the gnome, still being held into the air by his human companion.

"Sounds good to me," Eric the human said.

"Now there are benifits to working for me as well. Matterials are paid for, tools are paid for, if you need a place to live I can provide that, if you want training in nearly anything I will pay for that as well. The only things I wont pay for training for are the dark arts and forbiden or banned things. Other then those things, I encourage you to learn as much as you want. Though I'd prefer it if your focus was in your specific trades."

"Now, as for the project..." Zim then proceded to tell his entourage about the project of creating 500 swords in 2 cycles time. They said things along the Lines of Zim being daft and that it was imposible. With a smile Zim said, "I've done 100 in one brightening working with fewer people and I had to mix my own alloy for it while doing it. I'm going to go to the smelters guild and ask them to make my alloy for me. While I am gone, go ahead and get aquanted with each other better, make a list of supplies and such that you'll all need. I'll be back soon!" Zim grabbed his book with the instructions on how to make his alloy and headed out of the door. After he closed the door and started to walk away Zim said under his breath, "wow that Ofik has a big head."

[Malkaer Andares]

Timestamp: Late Ioannes, Summer of Era XIV PF

It was unbearably hot in the final apex of the Aelyrian summer this era. People were carrying themselves with languid moves, their clothes wet of their own sweat. The warmth of the suns itself was not really the problem, but the moisture of the air made living in Taralon at this time of the pattern a formidable task. Even Malkaer, who tried not to let the climate have any effect on his schedule or routines, had decided to forgo riding out this brightening, instead choosing the relative comfort of moving about the city in the Thanal coach. Work in Taralon had stalled to a slow trudge, except maybe in the Rage Forge, where the Thane was heading with his entourage.

A cycle after the master smith visited his offices had passed and Malkaer was curious how his order was proceeding. The Thane stepped inside after his bodyguard. The natural heat of the forge was not so bad now that the entire bloody city had turned into one.

[Zim Rage]

"Serale, Lord Thane, Welcome to my forge," Zim greated the city official with a bow, "I'm glad to see you found my forge alright, have a hard time of it or was it fairly easy to locate? I imagin you probibly know the city through and through and knew just where it was that I was going to open up my shop. If you've come to see me work, you've come just in time. My men have just come back from the smelters guild with my alloy. They've put together enough of my alloy for 500 swords plus more, in the event of thier being manufcatory errors. You'll have to wait around while the furnace heats up high enough, if you want to watch me work. Perhaps in the mean-time I can show you around, introduce you to my team, or perhaps set you up with a custom order. I don't have anything all that special made just yet, but If you put your faith in me your order will be perfect or I'll redo it until your satisfied. Or, I'll give you your money back."

[Zim Rage]

It was time to get to work. Who knew when the orcs would make thier attack. Zim slammed his hammer on the anvil, and got the attention of his workers. "Alright, You know what you need to do! We've prepaired for this over the last cycle while we waited for our order, premakeing the molds, and running a few tests through on the system. Now the furnace is hot and so is the steel. It's time to work. We have an amount and a deadline. 500 swords in a cycles. Thats a little less then 100 a day if everyone of them comes out the way they are ment to! Now to your stations and lets get this going!" Zim hollard over the forge. He looked over his shoulder at Malkaer and his body guard as he went off to work.

Each went to thier station, Beegin to the furnace to keep the belows going, Eric to the squenching station, Ur'long to the sharpening wheel, Glenel to the pouring station to fill the molds with molten steel, Ofik to the hilt station, and Zim to the anvil to straiten and form the blades. And then started a complex assembly line process of transfering unfinished works.

OOC: More to come soon!

[Malkaer Andares]

“Thank you master Rage.” Malkaer took an admiring look at the weaponry displayed around him. “No problem; the Aedile informed me of the location of your shop.” And even so the Thane did not choose the way to the workplace himself. That was done by his bodyguards. The elf was still a relative newcomer to Taralon and while he had a good general view of the city he did not move about town that frequently to know which road was faster than another.

It was good to hear the order was coming on. Unfortunately the esh’lahier did not have the time to wait for the furnace to heat up; such as monstrosity probably took its time. Nor was he particular interested in meeting Zim’s apprentices as they might be dwarves. When he was reminded of the custom order a thought struck Malkaer and he asked the smith: “I have a question master Rage. How does your Hymn steel alloy and Elven steel compare to each other in terms of weight and strength?”

[Zim Rage]

OOC: we'll pocket this before I started working on the swords.

IC: "Hymm steel is stronger and heavier. While it is lighter then regular or high grade steel, it is only slightly so. Enough to make a difference on a long haul at anyrate. As well, the way I have worked the hymm steel when makeing weapons makes it much more flexable then regular steel and elvish steel. Flexing is good becuase it prevents irrepairable damage. It will bend and come back into place before it folds or breaks. I tell you what though, I am going to develop another alloy soon, as I have access to more matterials here then I did in the other towns. I think that this alloy will be much lighter then regular steel if all plays out the way I intend it to. It will be based high in silver and chromium, so it will be a very white reflective metal, resistant to weather and dirt, and if the legends are true extremely effective against the undead. If you would like, I could make you your order from that if you so choose to order from me, once I've perfected the alloy and finished off these swords."

[Malkaer Andares]

The Thane nodded. ”I realize then the Hymm alloy is far superior for the forging of weapons, but what about armour?” In that case the benefit of flexibility was a lot less important and weight more of a factor. The former sword instructor was not an expert on arms and armour but as he had encountered many a blade or plate on his travels he could tell bad quality from good. The esh’lahier listened intently to the smith’s new proposal for an alloy. The scarred esh’lahier was rather skeptical about using silver for sword blades though, especially on a large scale.

”Well I fought not a small number of undead back in the day, from weak animated skeletons which practically fell apart as they walked to lightning fast ghouls the size of half-giants. From experience I can tell that I rather have a trusted steel sword in my hands facing one of those than a weak blade of silver, never mind its alleged legendary qualities. Besides the troops are unlikely to face such enemies, or at least not without a significant portion of mortal enemies against which your Hymm steel weapons are far superior. Besides, mass production of silvered blades would be far too expensive”, the Thane concluded. ”No master Rage I am content with your current alloy. I am quite positive that there will be further orders after this one is completed.”

[Zim Rage]

"I never suggested this new alloy for this current project. That is an alloy that will come after I have completed your swords. There isnt enough time to guarentee that I can produce a working alloy for those. So I am only useing what I know will work. With the help of the smelters guild I am now ready to get manufactory going. In reguards to Hymm steel in armor. Well it wouldnt take a hammer blow and keep it's luster. However it will certianly take the cutting edge of a sword and the point too. You see, it isnt a soft metal like silver or gold. It is still just as hard and ridged as steel, the flexability would make it easier to dent and ding, yes, but the wearer of such armor is going to feel less of the impact. Though I will not decieve you, sir, I am an expert at makeing swords and other weapons. Armor is not my forte, While I am capable at doing the job there are other people in this city that are more experienced. However, I do have an apprentice armorer working here for me. Given due time, and the proper guidence He'll be the best damned armor you'll ever meet," Zim said. He pointed over his shoulder at the human in the forge, "I'll let you in on some more information, thane. You know how elvish steel is made. True Elvish steel?" Not leaveing time for Malkaer to answer Zim moved on, "From what I read the elves push magic into the steel. I know that the people of Teralon frown on magics and such, Now I havent done much research on the subject yet but I believe that they were useing elemental magic to produce the qualities that they recieved. I intend to produce another steel useing different types of arcana. I'm hopeing for sorcery. The magic of force. I tell you this because you seem like an inteligent and insightful charicter who might just be interested in something like this. I don't know what it will do, I might just die in an explosion- oh don't worry this will be occuring somewhare not in this city- and you'll never here from me again. However, if you like I can keep you informed on the status of this new metal?"

[Malkaer Andares]

The Thane nodded; apparently he had misunderstood the smith as the silver alloy was merely presented as an option and not a suggestion. Then he was being treated a college armour making for newbees on top of a beginner class for business. Aside from being a knowledgeable smith Zim Rage proved a shrewd businessman, always allowing more options to be explored by the potential customer.

Malkaer did not know the forging of elven steel required arcana. If this was so then a large proportion of the weapon- and armoursmiths who offered items forged in elven steel were certainly not living up to their promise. The esh’lahier smiled vaguely as he was being commended for his intellect. Even though he was indeed an intelligent elf Malkaer was not immune to flattery.

”Please do.” An armour forged with the aid of sorcery sounded like a truly powerful artifact. ”Do you have a name for this new metal?” Malkaer asked.

Taralon’s first citizen had another question. ”During our conversation in my offices you brought up the construction of trebuchets. While I was not enthusiastic about purchasing such siege engines before I have reconsidered. If you can make some drawings and cost estimations of trebuchets the city might want to purchase some.”

[Zim Rage]

"I don't have a name for it just yet, that will depend on the results I get. I didn't name hymm steel until after I created it and found that it was very resonant. In contrast I created Fae steel with the insperation of one Llanywn Sionodel, a very dear fae friend of mine. Though Fae steel isnt usable for combat outside of for fae's. Far to light, it is stronger then copper or bronze and silver, but it wouldnt take an impact from a sword very well. As far as trebuchets go, I'll have my gadgeteer do most of the planning for that, but I'll have an estamate for you. Though, if I may ask, would you want them permanent or temporary? Becuase I can have them designed to be taken apart and stored or so that they are imbeded directly into the ground as a permanent fixture, or even ones that ar more permanent just made on wheels so that they can be moved."

[Chargul]

15th Brightening of the Second Cycle of the Month of Junctior in the season of Autumn; Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIV Post Fractum.

It was early morning when Chargul, the violet-eyed esh'lahier, entered The Rage Forge. Having just completed a journey and being about to get a new job, he felt it important to also get some equipment and skills that complemented the job better. Seeing as how he was an architect and considering that he was probably going to be working for the Aelyrian military, he felt it would be important to be in the same position that archers were going to be in. However, he didn't much like bows. He just didn't have the strength to use them properly.

Crossbows however, now there was something he could use. It just needed a good loading mechanism and lots of firepower to complement his otherwise weak stature.

Walking up to the counter he spoke "Serale! I am in need of an arbalest or anything closely resembling such. Any heavy crossbow will do, so long as it has a good loading mechanism. I'm willing to pay extra if it needs to be custom-made and it is important that any steel parts of it are made with elven steel." He paused for a moment and then continued. "I'll need bolts too, for practice and actual use. Purely wooden would be preferable, although I will need a number of steel-tipped bolts as well... I don't suppose you might be able to get me a large batch of those as well?" Chargul finished off with a simple enough inquiry "How much would that be, approximately?"

[Zim Rage]

Zim looked to the customer and said simply, "Why elvish steel, for the weight? There are lighter metals out there you know. I myself have created an alloy that is lighter then elvish steel. It isnt as strong, but you don't need strength for a crossbow. Anyways, the name of the steel is Fae Steel."

[Chargul]

The Esh'lahier considered this. He didn't honestly know much about the actual fabrication of weapons, so decided it was probably best to trust the person with more authority on the subject. "Fae steel will do finely thank you. It is indeed lightness I seek, although it should be no issue for the weapon to be heavy. Still, the less ackward it is to carry around, the better, as long as it still packs the same punch."

[Zim Rage]

"It will indeed keep the same punch. Set up this way, I can sell it to you for about 250 crowns. It'll be ready for you in a cycles time. If you like, I can try and make something with even more of a punch, but I am going to be very busy here shortly and I cannot guarentee when it will be finished. However, sence it is an experiment, I will give it to you."