[X] Elemental mithril forging VS Arcane mithril forging Vs both of them at once.
[X] Order enough mithril to forge one mace for each method and a bit more so you have enough to make a second mace using each method if you make a mistake and need to redo one.
[X] Get an elemental forge set up and schedule for a mage to come in so you can test the arcane forging method and doing both of them at the same time.
[X] Look around to find a blacksmith that can forge mithril to see how the metal is forged affects the weapon. Preferably one that uses the arcane method and ask for their opinion on everything. Make sure to credit the blacksmith for their help.
[X] Look one around to find someone that knows maces well enough to tell how different forging methods affect the metal it is made from.
[X] Total cost is (24 gold + 8 Backup) (15/28 segments :+5 Fatigue)
[X] Side Project - Javelin's: Planing Stage.
-[X] We have an idea for a new piece of standard equipment for alliance footmen, but require some information first. The idea is based around a short throwing spear we occasionaly saw at home in use by fishermen and some hunters.
-[X] Ask to be supplied a full set of Footman armor(borrowed, not permanent) as well as if possible a set of standard orc armor - give both sets of armor a once over, one to find a way for a footman to easily carry a javelin without being in the way and the other to see what kind of tip the javelin will need. If possible access to a veteran that knows standard orc and troll tactics would also be appreciated.
--[X] If access is given to a veteran ask the man/woman questions relevant to general armor designs of the enemy as well as tactics - only generalities rather then specifics on top of tactics. Also inquire how adverse soldiers would be to carry javelins into a fight if they are small and practical enough to carry.
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First order of business is to get your self situated and check out the eats. That's actually fairly easy cause you have the sum total of a bag and tools to your name. You end up dithering around in the new room for a bit anyway. The novelty of having your own place is quite something. But you can't admire the room forever, so you head out. After a quick stop in the bathroom, you head out to the inn. There you grab a very filling and tasty potatoes and meat of some sort.
Then you go straight towards your forge. Staying still and admiring the sights isn't your thing. You are here to work, and work hard. You forge needs some setup first.
First is getting the forge elemental set in. A few sketched sigils around the place, and you light it up. Feed it just enough to wake up the fire, and then listen.
It takes time to do this. Not something you can just light and be done with. The elementals can form out of any materials, but they take time and mana. Your sigils focus it, but you have to push it in yourself. After a long moment, you hear a contented rumbling, and see the flames flicker unnaturally.
"Ya' feeding well?" You ask conversationally as you force a bit more mana into the forge. Not too much, flames love getting big, and eating things.
"I feeeeed." The fire elemental whispers back.
"Good. You're a forge elemental. That means you stay in this and I feed ya. You get out and I put you down hard." You rap on the metal with a knuckle. "Then scatter tha ashes around the lake just so ya stay out."
"As you wiiish." The fire elemental goes down to a low flicker.
Bit stupid things really. Your first lesson in this technique was to never let them out. Could apparently explode the entire building if you were an idiot about it.
"All right then." You smile and arrange your tools.
Then out of the workshop and to your superior's office. You poke your head in and see her writing something.
"Specialist Wayland." She gives you a cool glance. "Do you need something?"
"Well, three bars o' mithril, three spans of oak, and an Arcane mage to setup that arcane thingy." You frown a bit. "Or access to a forge wit' it. Somone who does it that way normally would help."
"Getting to work already?" The officer raises an eyebrow, and you nod. "All right. Fill out these forms for the materials. You can speak to Specialist Ray about the rest. He's been working on standard enchantments, and is probably the foremost expert on them. He's also the only other one we have easy access to who works Mithril. His forge is arcane, and he has some free time. He can fill you in on how to do reports."
Here she pauses and taps on the table. "In fact, he can work with you on this. You could use a guide on how we do things. I will inform him to speak with you tomorrow while I get the mithril."
"All right." You shrug. Half the day's still around, but you know how supplying things works.
You head to the inn again. There are a few vets hanging around there, and you figure it'd be good to get a feel of what they could use.
It takes a bit to find one that's willing to talk with you, but for the price of a good beer, he's pretty talkative. His name is Brayden, and he's apparently a crossbowman.
"Was there when we fought at the marsh." He leads off. "See Orcs are big and broad things. Nasty little light be damned things that howl and charge when they spot you. Don't care about pain, and takes a good half dozen arrows before they go down."
You whistle and look down at the crossbow next to the man. It's a hefty thing. You are pretty certain that it could pierce standard steel plate at two hundred yards.
"Yeah." The vet gets a far away stare. "Most humans fold when they get an arrow to the gut. Orcs just sorta bull through it. Saw some of em just rip the arrows out and laugh. Worse, the savages sprint fast, and don't seem ta get tired."
"How'd ya take em down then?" You ask, morbidly curious.
"Hit em in the eye and they flinch. Hit em in the leg and sometimes it's enough to make them stagger." Brayden snorts at that. "Real way of doing it is having a good footman between me and the beast. He pins it with the shield and sword, and I can aim. I can't believe I'm saying it, but I miss the damned trolls. They just regenerate."
You shake your head. "So you need better penetration on the arrows?"
"Might help, but don't think so. They stick pretty well. Just need more damage." Brayden takes a drink of the beer.
"Hm." You tap your fingers on the table. If they would just rip out the arrows or ignore them, you do wonder if hand thrown javelins would do anything. The idea doesn't seem good without something more hefty backing the strike.
"Worse is when they get the magic users on the field. If there was ever proof that they were cursed by the light, those things are it." Another stare, this one accompanied by a shudder.
"Something about Fel magic? I heard some when I came here, but I didn't get much." You actually sort of missed the chance to clarify.
"Green fire that sticks. Worse, the flesh it hits goes bad." The vet shudders worse. "Gotta take off the entire limb, or they start getting funny in the head. Body shots are the worse. Either get a cleric, or you are dead."
"All right." You shake your head. "I think I owe you another drink fer that."
"Damned right you do. If you need anything else though, I'm here for the rest of the month." The soldier salutes you with the mug of beer.
You head off after a few beers, and then go to bed.
The next morning you meet Ray. He's a nearsighted man with the thickest glasses you've ever seen. A bit bumbling, but very smart, and rather interested in this project.
He guides you through the paperwork and how to do the reporting. As far as jobs go, this one is actually fairly quick and easy. Well, the first part is. Where you forge the hammers out of mithril.
It's once you are done that you have to examine what could be different. Which requires a very large battery of test. Some you barely have any clue about. Arcane resonence, elemental affinity. Stress testing. Other, more exotic examinations.
All told, it takes roughly two weeks. A week to forge, and another one to do the testing. Ray gives you pointers, and what your reports should focus on. The formats of it.
A loooooot of paperwork. Which is just a bit unpleasant.
But once you are done, you have a set of results. There is a slight difference. Not much, but notable. Mithril done in arcane resonates better with Arcane. Done in elemental, and it seems to resonate with something else. Elemental of some sort, but you don't get more than that with the tools you have available.
That basically finishes your project though, and you need to think up something else.
[]
You gain 1 Mithril hammer. (Your extra, in case you can think up more tests.)
On a free day, you can double the recovery of fatigue at the Inn by ordering a few drinks. This will cost .1G.
At the end of each week, you have to spend the day writing up and giving a report to your superior.
You will be paid 6G in 14 days.
Blacksmithing +10
Enchanting +10
New enchanting perk:
Reduces the time cost of two enchantments at once to 4