[Sultros Blades]A Smith's Attention[Eanos]

[Lynes]

A Smith's Attention 54th of Summer, 512 AV Lynes found himself walking through the inside of the Syliran castle, searching for a smith. He had signed up to go on a quest to assist the knights that were resident here. In order to do such combat he desired some armor, but he fought as a wolf, so he would need someone to craft him the armor to fit his wolf form; he would also need someone to put it on him now that he thought about it, as he couldn't do it himself in the morning. Finding himself walking had become a common thing, he had come to the realization that he was constantly moving, that he would never just relax and take in the world around him. He was either asleep, or on the move; constantly doing something productive. Today he found himself strolling through the variety of stores, looking for one that appeared like someone that would craft Kelvic armor to fit, perhaps even for a fairly low price. As he walked his mind began to wander, he thought that perhaps he should really seek out someone to bond with, he needed that company, that companionship. Maybe he wouldn't find it here, in a city full of knights, bound by their honor and their rules. There may have been a city out there that lacked the honor and the rules, one that he could find someone to bond with. To leave his home city in search of a bond mate may be his next true adventure. He found himself looking at a short blacksmith pounding away on a heat treated piece of metal laid upon an anvil. This would be his choice, if the man turned him away then so be it, if not then he was up one set of armor, although he still would need someone to put the plates on him. Maybe it wasn't the best choice to ask a weapon smith to make him armor plating, but perhaps it would cheaper that way. On Lynes' waist sat a brown bag, containing six hundred mizas, all that Lynes had, although he was unaware of how much this would generally cost. The short male stood with his left arm forward, holding the metal, the arm was a charcoal color with bright veins running through it; his bare torso was no different, although the veins were less defined. He had red hair, like that of the mountain people, pulled into a ponytail. He had a patch of hair at the bottom of his chin as well as brown eyes. The man had broad shoulders and a built body, he looked everything like a blacksmith and maybe that's why he was the one that Lynes had chosen. Lynes approached this stout man, but stayed far enough away to not interfere with his metal crafting. Trying to speak up louder than the pounding of the hammer Lynes chimed in, “Scuse me sir, I was looking to get some armor smithing done and thought you would be the man for the job. Is that true?”

[Eanos]

In his minds eye Eanos watched as the hammer strikes bent and deformed the structure of the metal, though he would have been hard put to describe how much of that was vision and how much a sense of touch from his right hand which cradled the metal and turned it as needed. A voice spoke from behind him, though he''d already become aware of the presence, glowing as it did with the vitality of life in the corner of his minds eye. He straightened unhurriedly and laid the metal aside on the edge of the forge where it would keep warm and sat the hammer down beside the anvil. Kelvic, his Auristic sense told him as he allowed the last shreds of that sense to fade away. He scrutinised this potential customer as he answered, for it was a request that he didn't get very often given that the Ironworks were where most went. "It is true enough," he answered, "though of course that would depend on exactly what it is that you would be wanting. Is this your first set of armour or are you replacing something that you already have?" Armour. He ran through the possibilities in his mind, though it had yet to occur to him that this request would be more unusual than he might expect. Still though there were many types of armour and many ways of constructing it. The mans answer would be the first guidepost as to where the conversation would flow to.

[Lynes]

Lynes had thought about what he had wanted, but sadly, he was truly unaware of what it should be crafted out of. He, however, was aware at how odd his request would be, he just hoped that this strange man could complete the task. After all if this man couldn't do it then there may not be too many other choices. He looked around the man's shop, taking in all the weapons displayed on the walls, each unique and surprisingly well crafted. “This would be my first set of armor as I have never had a previous set, although I will say I have thrown a kink into the mix. I need the armor to be fitted to my Kelvic from, yes, I am a Kelvic. My primary form is a wolf, do you think that you could do something like that?” He looked into the man's eyes in hopes that he would say yes and that Lynes could sleep a tad easier at night. It would be far better if he could fight armored instead of exposing his bare skin.

[Eanos]

The mans race came as no surprise, though the request was surprising for he would have assumed that the armour would be for the human form. Still though that was not his problem. So he nodded. "Aye, that I can do." Of course since this would be the first set of armour then there would be a good deal more difficulty in creating it since all of the decisions would now need to be made and no experience existed to tell the Kelvic how he might need the armour configured. "Well then I guess we had better get started on it." He made no mention of price for it was too early to begin to even guess what that might be. He glanced at the iron on the forge and was satisfied that it was not going to cool too much, then drew up a slate and started making notes. "So, tell me more and take yourself a seat unless you wish to stand. Have you fought in armour before? Do you know what sort of armour that you want? Do you know what you want armoured and what left free for movement?" He cocked an eyebrow for he needed his prospective customer to start talking a little so that he could start designing exactly what would be needed.

[Lynes]

The fact that the man could do it lifted a huge weight off of his shoulders, Lynes sat down opposite the man. “I've never fought in armor before, no. I also don't know of any of the materials or what such armor should be made out of. I would like my torso and head to be protected, but assume that should leave my legs open to allow for movement. Would like me to just shift here and you can tell me what you think? I can always shift back to continue discussing the situation.” Lynes was very comfortable with idea, especially since he fought better in his shifted form anyway, it was not like this man would attack him he hoped. If he did then he would just be losing a valuable future customer. “Do you have any knowledge about what material you should use to craft armor intended for combat?”

[Eanos]

Eanos always preferred it when his customer sat, it meant on the whole that they relaxed and would be more open. "Aye, I'll need you to shift for the measurements, but we don't need it just now." He considered the problem of how to present the alternatives and decided to take it back to basics. "Armour can be made out of different materials, and even then can be made in different ways. To put it in the most simple way, armour is going to slow you down, so what sort of armour you choose will depend on how you fight." "An armoured knight on horseback can afford to use heavy plate. He needs this because he is a target for ranged weapons and he can get away with it because the horse will carry the weight. Others fight on horseback with minimal armour, so that they can be more flexible and faster. If you fight as a wolf I would imagine that speed is important, so the armour needs to be light. The most basic armour is boiled leather. It's light and it's tough enough to turn a lightly driven blade. You can upgrade it by attaching plates, either a number of small ones, or larger ones to protect the vital points." "Alternatively you could go with chainmail or with scale. These are heavier than leather and can again be reinforced with plates." He considered the issue once more. "There are no right answers to this, at least until you have tried something, and then you can look to improving it. So tell me, so far what has made sense to you? I have some ideas in mind, but I need to be sure that you are in agreement as to the basics before I make any suggestions."

[Lynes]

Lynes listened to what the smith had to say, he had no idea that their were so many options for what the armor would be crafted from. The leather seemed like the correct answer although he doubted it's durability. Another point was that his body type was based primarily on strength and less speed, although the smith was right, being a wolf in general required mobility and swiftness. "I'm afraid I'm stuck at a decision between two of the materials. When I am shifted I am rather large and not particularly fast, which makes me believe I should go with chainmail, as I doubt the durability of leather. Although, as you said, just being a wolf in general in combat means that my movement would need to be free. So, since you are the smith with the knowledge; I turn to you for guidance yet again." Lynes hoped the man could understand his dilemma and either elaborate on the two of them or as a smith decide which he believed would work better for that fighting style. "Lastly I don't believe we ever exchanged names, mine's Lynes, yours?"

[Eanos]

The latter made Eanos smile, so he dealt with it first. "Good to meet you Lynes, my name is Eanos." He used the time to consider a little more the request. "Then chain it will be, with I think some plate work. Chain is a very flexible material and it can be made in many sizes and patterns." He did think that the man had made the right choice, though chain was not the cheapest material as it took so long to make. "I know that you asked for head protection, and we will do that, but I would suggest that one of the most important pieces to include is protection for your throat." He rubbed his chin. "I think the time has come for you to change so that I can see what there is to do and where we need flexibility and where enhanced protection." He realised as he spoke that this was going to be a somewhat complex and difficult job.

[Lynes]

"Nice to meet you Eanos." Lynes said as he was given the smith's name, happy that he was so friendly. "Thank you for the decision making, once I shift I will be able to understand what you are saying although you won't be able to understand me. Thank you again for taking my request, now let's figure out what's next." Lynes quickly removed his shirt, folding it and placing on the chair behind him. He followed it by removed his pants and his undergarments, folding both and placing them on top of his shirt. He then stretched his arms and morphed. Within an instant a rather large wolf stood before the smith. With brown hair bearing silver streaks within the fur, he stretched out his back legs first, followed by his front legs. He then turned to the smith, making eye contact.

[Eanos]

Eanos watched the transformation with interest for it was the first time that he'd seen the process at such close hand. Considering the pile of clothing he began to understand some of the concerns that Lynes might have had regarding the armour because it was clear that once in wolf form it would not be possible to dress himself in the armour, at least in the conventional way. It bore thinking about in case there was a way that it could be done. For humans, standing upright was a large part of the way that armour was designed and attached. And even horses who were also armoured ran to the same logic as they remained upright. He'd never seen wolves fight but he'd seen it with dogs and it now confirmed that chain was indeed the best solution. "Very well, let's start," he said, his musing at an end. He walked over to a box by the wall and after rummaging for a moment produced a ball of string that had a number of knots tied along it's length. Writing down the results he took a large number of measurements, noting down not only heights and the lengths of various body parts but also with a request for permission, checking how much movement there was. "Thank you," he said eventually, putting aside a second slate of measurements. "You can change back if you wish." He waited Lynes to decide and to dress if he did before continuing. "I will give the matter some thought as to how I make the armour, but first the question of price. What I'm going to suggest is that we first make this in simple steel. This will give you protection and allow you to know if it works in the way that you wish it to. If it does then I would suggest that you come back to me and I can remake it in Isurian steel which will give you the best protection. I would also suggest that it would be possible to give you some steel claws if you wish it." "The process will be that I will need to make up a lining over which the chain will be worn, should you wish it. We will make this lining to fit you and this will give me something to then build the armour to. This will take several fittings to get right. The basic price for steel will be two hundred and fifty crowns."