RP:A Job in the Clouds

From HollowWiki

 Summary: Answering a public posting, Nikola travels to Schezerade to conduct smithing business with the avian known as Uriphiel-Shar.

Date of Writing: March 14th, 2020. 










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A Job in the Clouds


 Topiary Garden, Shezerade
Just like the covered walkway that leads to this garden and the other garden beyond that walkway, this topiary garden appears to be tended to with the utmost care. Shrubs and trees are carefully clipped so they’re shaped into various animals --winged creatures, mostly-- and even a few people of varying race. Children can be seen playing hide-and-seek among the massive plant sculptures, filling the tranquil garden with childish laughter.



  • [Uriphiel] The sun shone high above College Grounds and not a single cloud was in sight; Blessed rays of the celestial orb filtered through the foliage that decorated the topiary garden before the College grounds. The position of the shadows indicated that it was just after the noon hour, meaning that traffic to and from the College was quite busy with students going for their lunch break. Uriphiel sat outside in the courtyard upon a stone bench, situated on one side of a marble table nestled near the windows that peered into the mess hall. He wore a light grey dress shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbow, a pair of cream colored pants and a pair of black military boots. He was a well groomed man. Clean shaven. Blonde hair slicked back with nary a single strand out of place. The golden winged avian had been sitting with one leg crossed over the other, nursing a cup of tea while he basked in the loving glow of the radiant sun. He was waiting. The prior morning, Uriphiel had sent a message out to a stranger named Nikola; A stranger that had contacted him in regards to the blacksmithing job that the man left tacked to the public notice board in Kelay Tavern. He had written back and offered a place of meeting, hoping to look further into their services and see if they were the right fit for the job. Every now and again, when someone had entered the topiary garden from the city entrance, Uriphiel would pull himself from his gentle musings to see if they were the ones he had indeed been waiting for. So far, no luck.


  • [Nikola] Dwarves hated them as when dragons are aground as they make their way into caves. If they are airborne however, its Avians who wish their demise. Its not that difficult to imagine how creatures of flight wish to be the masters of the air. Dragons are creatures of power and they tend to do whatever they wish, garnering hatred from various races in the process still not all of them are evil... not that one would even bother to 'check'. The warsmith hefts around a crate on her shoulder as she make her way through the city. It is has a while she was able to visit this place, remembering the last time ending in quite a ruckus. Still, even in her human form, the scent and aura of the beast lingers on her regardless of how hard she tries to hide it. Making her way to the college grounds and finally to one of the side gardens to meet this man. Uriphiel. A knight of sort she would imagine, countless times in history and fable, a dragon meeting an avian knight tend to result in a clash which typically result into bloodbath. Many other avians around her do look upon the dragon with fear, bewilderment or anger but none approached. Though wearing no armor at all, one could only imagine her person's durability. Weapons are also missing from her form aside from a smithing hammer, wearing a mere blouse and pants with a harness for tools. All sorts of tools of trade hangs on her tool belt as she finally moved herself before the man, "Are you the one who is mad enough to invite me here?" He was looking around, as if waiting for someone so the dragoness assumed it was him.


  • Uriphiel was pulled from his lackadaisical daydream by the question posed. Eyes of glimmering gold turn toward the new arrival and he quickly rises to his feet to greet her, simply to reply, “I am.” The pervasive scent of her true nature soon reached his nostrils and he inhaled it deep. It had been a very long time since he had met with someone with saurian blood coursing through their veins. “Uriphiel-Shar,” he said, wasting no time. “And you are Nikola, I presume?” The avian brought a fist to his chest; An honorable form of greeting used rather than a handshake. He gestured to the stone bench on the opposite side of the table. “Please, sit. Can I have the staff bring you anything?” Uriphiel would wait for the woman to seat herself or reject the offer, taking his turn to then lower himself back onto the bench. “I apologize for the meeting place if it causes you discomfort. I was not aware that the tensions between our people had not diminished over the millennia. Rest assured that you are my guest and none shall bother you in my company.” The avian pauses, tasking a sip of his tea. “Now, to business?” Uriphiel reached down under the table where a small brown leather satchel had been stashed, pulling free a rolled piece of parchment. He placed it next to his cup of tea and set his attention upon the saurian. “I am in need. Dire need. A suit of armor that is very specifically designed. It may require work or material outside of your specialty - then again, I do not know your specialty. I am also in need of a set of weapons, two in total, but those are not quite as specified in design. At least, they are not as important as the armor.” Uriphiel places both hands before him, with one rested atop the other. The right hand was the one on top, making it certain that the sapphire studded signet ring was on prominent display. “Might I ask you to tell me about yourself? About your experience as a ‘smith?”


  • Nikola nodded at the man as he bowed, it’s not exactly a dragon's nature to bow down to beings that they perceive as small or weak but the Warsmith is different, having lived amongst the mortals for so long now, she have a complete grasp of how these interactions come and go, sadly she cannot bow at the moment, mostly because she could feel eyes glaring upon her back. She expected this, but wasn't exactly going to lower her guard and bowing so, one might find an opening. "I am." she finally replied as she make her way toward the seat the man has pointed at, lowering the crate she is carrying nearby. The crate wasn't light, at all. It rumbled as soon as it hits the ground, though with utmost care the dragoness tried and it still disturbed nearby objects. She idly smiles at the man as if trying to ignore what just happened. When finally offered something to drink, "I'll have to pass for now, though my host assures my safety, I don't exactly feel that welcome and have to respectfully decline." clearly not wanting to stay long. Listening to the man speak, she nodded and said, "Such lifespan both of our races have, it’s quite impressive how long some could keep a grudge." Though of course dragons live longer but she prefers not to mention that as it might offend him. Listening to his request and inquiry, she raises a brow and looked upon the parchment. "An interview? It has been a while." she smiles and fixes the way she seat. "Quaint." she comments before looking for something in the bag she is carrying, not looking at the man she began to speak. "Normally when one learns about me, they just rush themselves into my store and buy anything in my shelves. If I was some sort of fiend, I could've sold them all garbage and they'll think it is the most powerful relics in the world." finally finding what she is looking for, "Luckily for them... I wasn't." It was an enchanted parchment; she slides it across the table for the man to reach. The paper itself is of high quality, the magic lingering upon it mostly resembles something of a healing spell, as if to ensure the piece would remain intact regardless of age or damage. There are purple and gold trims on its borders. Though the certificate itself was written and embossed on a foreign language, one cannot deny that it is also filled in every direction with seals and insignias from various sources, most of which are from faraway lands or unknown kingdoms, one however is the indistinguishable Royal Seal of the Larketian King. "Would this fit as proof?" resting her back once again on the bench as she said, "You could always ask the King of Larket if you wish to verify." It was not in her nature to brag but one does feel satisfaction when another appreciates her work. "I am a blue dragon; my power is originally is of lightning. Though having lived amongst with the smaller kind for a long while, I began learning blacksmithing. Infusing my powers with the metals made me develop a new magic, Electromagnetism. Through my long years, I have lived amongst the dwarves in every corner of the world, though currently I am staying near the city of Craughmoyle. They hated my guts just as your people does but the hard headed mountain dwellers crave knowledge of metal more than anything else. I learned from them and they learned from me." She knew that ring has some sort of magic that one would detect falsehood; countless times she has seen something similar. She always doubt if those things actually work against dragons especially the resistances they naturally have. But she doesn't mind. She did not lie anyway and it'll probably put the man's mind more at ease.


  • Uriphiel was not often the kind to smile. A judgmental, serious tone is what strangers were often afforded, but the woman’s bold proclamation tickled something deep inside. “How humble of you,” he replied, ignoring the initial disturbance of the heavy crate. He took the offered parchment and looked it over, not really knowing of the kingdoms in which the seals originated; Not even the one from the nearby Larket. “No, I am sure this is enough. These seals look quite official. That is, one would have to be quite underhanded to pull off so many forgeries for a bit of work.” In truth, even if there was a possibility that she was lying, he was more than willing to give Nikola the benefit of the doubt to extend the branch of trust first. The ring upon his finger was sadly not the sort that would reveal any lies, nor did it hold any sort of magical ability. It most likely held no real significance to anyone in this day and age, lest they had a connection to the past from which it came. It was a simple band of gold with an emblem upon its face and sapphires on either side of the emblem all the way around the ring. The emblem itself seemed to be in the shape of a heater shield with a sword striking through its middle and a series of ancient characters lining the edge of the shield. It was the mark of a long forgotten division of Knights that once upheld law and order across Lithrydel. He lifted his cup of tea with one hand, partaking in the lukewarm drink as he listened to the saurian’s history. Surprise filled the avian’s face when it was revealed that she was in fact a blue dragon; This was quite the coincidence - surely a sign from the Diving Three! “Electromagnetism?” he interjected in a curious manner. He didn’t mean to interrupt the woman, but he had not heard such a term in his limited experience with the arcanum. Once she finished speaking, the golden winged avian would reach for the scroll he had originally set upon the table, sliding it over to Nikola as a means of getting to business. “This is what I am in need of, should you choose to accept this job. I shall procure whatever funding you need, as well as any required material if your stock is low. It is important that this armor be crafted exactly as it was designed.” When Nikola unrolled the parchment she would find a rather intricate blueprint for a suit of armor, showcasing every fine detail that went into creation. The innermost layer was a suit of blue iron chainmail. Above this layer sat a few pieces of dragon-scale mail, coincidentally, from a blue dragon. These pieces would cover the upper chest, neck, upper arms, hips, and thighs. The main body of armor was made from an amalgamation of mithril and pyrisil, otherwise known as True Steel, an extremely light but durable metal. There were twenty components in all, from helm to sabatons and everything in between. There were some details that stood out above others. The winged helm bore a resemblance to a mighty eagle, with eyes above a thin viewing slit and a golden beak coming over the brow and under the chin. The design made note of several settings to be used throughout the armor that one may insert enchanted gems. One in each of the eagle’s eyes on the helm. One rather large cut upon each pauldron. One centered in the chestplate - the only trillion cut design. Four above the knuckles in each gauntlet. Two upon each winged ankle guard of the sabatons. One in the shield. On the underside of each piece of armor a runic shape is to be engraved. The blueprint even went into specifics of coloring the armor and the trim around most pieces, and even the heraldic design for the shield. “If you have any questions or concerns, I can answer to the best of my ability. If there are any terms or conditions, then we can negotiate as you like.”


  • Nikola took the parchment and looked upon it from her side of the table, her eyes unenthusiastically looked back and forth upon it after saying, "So a Blue Iron chainmail, then a dragon scale mail... then True Steel armor. Typically one wears a padded suit before the chainmail... and scales are also attached on a padded suit..." Staring at the man, even frowning a bit even as she try to confirm this insanity before her. Does that mean the man wants to wear suit-chainmail-suit-scalemail-armor? frowning at him, it is quite typical for customers to not know what they want or they don't understand that what they are planning is outright impossible. Then again, it is the craftsman's job to persuade them otherwise. "That'll be quite heavy... Would be quite difficult to fly with all that weight." the design did say True Steel and Mithril but that doesn't change the fact that he is wearing far too much. She pulls out a notepad and pencil of her own and began drawing on it. "Blue Iron forging is a well kept secret amongst the giants and blacksmiths of Frostmaw. Procuring the metal isn't that difficult, mostly because not many wants it as they tend to deform and weaken when heated. But even with its smithing techniques is beyond me that doesn't mean I can't make one. Sometimes experience alone overcomes any obstacle and Nikola is has a lot of it. "I could, sew the scales on the chainmail itself, making it a hybrid. Typically combat friction causes heat that would deform Blue Iron but hiding it underneath extra layers of protections would do just fine I guess..." she still thinks this is too heavy. "The final pieces is easy enough, I have enough True Steel." maybe she should have not said that as most of her True Steel at looted from battlefields throughout her time. If she understands it correctly the hybrid would cover most of his form while the plates would be strapped around his body with countless numbers of leather belts... This would be a nightmare to don and doff. shaking her head as she finishes drawing, she exhales loudly before she began tapping the table with her pencil. "The plates, the shield, the scales are easy... the chainmail on the other hand, I don't have Blue Iron." it'll normally take months for a group of blacksmiths to finish this. Dragonscales are hard to comeby let alone to process. Most people go for wyvern scales instead as those are easier to procure... well easier instead of fighting dragons and provide excellent protection though inferior to dragonscales. There is also that hidden techniques of Blue Iron forging... Why does he want that anyway? His goal still escapes her. She finally sighs and places the pencil down. "A week. fifteen thousand gold." Her normal rate is ten but because her own scales would be used on it, that's a bit of an extra, added with the frustrations to make this thing. "You also mentioned weapons. Assuming I have materials at hand, I can make them now. For a separate price of course."


  • Uriphiel will admit, the design might have lost some things in translation as it had been quite some time since he wore the original suit, which was now scattered out among the world thanks to bothersome scavengers. He was also not the greatest artist in the world, which may have lead to some confusion, so he figured he should give a brief explanation. “The dragon scale portion of the armor is not a full suit. They are merely pieces to cover some exposed portions of my body.” He points to the upper arms of the diagram where one would generally wear a rerebrace and to the hips where one would normally wear faulds, the design has instead replaced those areas with dragon scale. He would not reveal exactly why he wanted the scales of a blue dragon or a blue iron chainmail, as he felt that such information may leave him exposed to potential future threat. “As for the rest, I quite understand. It is why I thought that perhaps you may require consultation from a fellow smith, as from what I can recall, the giants of frozen lands are not keen on giving away their well guarded secrets.” When the price of the armor was revealed, Uriphiel leaned over and reached under the table, fishing through the concealed satchel once again until he found the right coin purse. He set it upon the marble table with a hefty jingle and pushed it over to Nikola. “The price is not unreasonable. There is a total five thousand in that purse. I will deliver the rest upon completion of the work.” With the business of the weapons at hand, the avian nodded and said, “Yes, of course. I require two weapons. The first, a one-handed sword that is well balanced and durable for heavy use. The second, a partizan of exceptional quality. You may add whatever flair or signature you deem suitable, although I would request that such design stay true to the Avian race.” With his request issued, Uriphiel lifts his cup of tea to sip upon while he awaits the saurian's response.


  • Nikola adjusts her sketch as she followed the man's words. It would lower the weight quite a bit.. but barely. Typically chainmails are like a one piece dress that reaches the thighs but there are some who uses some sort of 'chain-pants' albeit uncomfortable, it seems the man is going for that one. She ponders a bit and said, "A single handed sword yet durable for heavy work... Like a Dadao?" she moves her hand to a cleaner side of the paper and began to draw what does that look like. "Oh wait, Dadao is a two handed sword.. uhm.. a Cutlass then?" and likewise she draw such as well. The 'heavy work' part is what she is focuses on and therefore began drawing Machete like weapons, most swords are light and thin and very few are actually made for 'heavy work' It has to be a single edged sword as so the back part would be wider in order to survive. Should the man want double edge, then the center would be too thick and might as well carry a two handed sword. She stops suddenly and looked at the man as if expecting him to request something weird. "Single edged or double?" as the craftsman herself, she knows the proper answer but of course the customer is always right. She could do a double edge single sword but it'll be heavy. "Partizan, the winged spear yes? I don't have any wood with me." and therefore that would be delivered at a later date. The sword would most likely be True Steel or Mithril, she imagined it would be the case and brought some of it with her. As she pretty much know what she is going to make, she started taking things from her crate and placed it on the table. Several ingots of metals of various colors, leathers and a small bag which seems to be containing sand. She slides the bag forward and reached for the coin purse at the same while. "Please hold onto this bag for a sec, it'll mold on your grip so I could personalize the handle of the sword." should the man do so, the bagged-sand would interact to his hand as if it was a grip of a sword and solidify in place so the craftsman would have a guide to work with.


  • Uriphiel once more corrects his wording when he has a moment to think it over. “My apologies. I merely mean something that will not break easily should I require it for combat. I’d prefer not to have to draw the weapon, but in my line of work it is simply inevitable. If they are still in fashion, I hold a fond sentiment for the arming sword, with its straight blade and dual edge. It was perhaps one of the first that I learned to use in youth.” The blonde man pauses to reminisce, thinking back to a time quite long ago. It brought a smile to his lips. “You are correct. The winged spear,” he replied, letting his pleasant thoughts return to the annals of history. “If it is possible, I would prefer the shaft to be crafted from metal. Not wood. I will happily compensate the work with extra pay.” When Nikola unpacked her crate and slid the sand bag for him to take, Uriphiel gave it a funny look. From the breast pocket of his shirt, he revealed a navy, silk handkerchief and slipped it over the bag like some kind of protective barrier. He then picked it up and held it with his right hand as if he were holding a sword. “Interesting technique,” he commented. “I have not seen such a thing before. Is this a new invention of more modern times, or something that is traditional to your people?” Uriphiel had not really been around too many blacksmiths, truth be told. Any that he was able to work with in the past were generally those of the avian race, who all had their own trade secrets. This was not among them.


  • Nikola blinks as the man had to cover it, a germaphobe? Maybe? Its not in her nature to delve deeper into the man's specifics and therefore drops the thought. "So the spear would be the main weapon and the sword would be sort of back up." She could work with this as she began drawing up a basic knight's sword. The man would most likely want wings for the guard and most likely an bird of sort in the pommel. She rotates the paper back and forth as if trying to look into it from a different angle as she replied, "Uhm.. no, that's metal dust. I just use my magic to 'feel' the location of every grain of it and therefore inform me of certain shapes. I was actually planning on opening that bag and take your body measurements by making the sand float around you so the armor to make it fit perfectly but it seems you are not fond of such." pointing at the fabric. When the man mentioned the shaft being metal, she stood up and began browsing the crate once again, "Let's see here... I mean.. I could.. I think.." the entire length of the spear made out of metal would mean several ingots, mostly of True Steel once again. Checking on the crate if she have enough, she begins to tap the table once again. "I could make the sword now... but it'll be of common weight." as the client is Avian, he would most likely prefer a lighter weapon but as all the armor he is already wearing, she thinks he doesn't mind. "A sword made out of pure True Steel would be very light making it 'springy' and resistant to breaking. However as light swords goes, it'll be difficult to use as a blocking weapon due to the vibrations it makes. This is why springy steel is alot more preferable on two handed long swords as those has enough length for blocking." She glances upon the armor she drawn up earlier and continued. "You use a spear so most likely the vambrace on your armor would act as your main shield and not having a secondary blocking tool would be dangerous. If I raise the weight a bit into 'common' weight, I could use Ghroundium from Gualon as the weapon's core. Typically Ghroundium is too heavy, mostly because of the difficulty to forge it and separate it from itself, however if I make a thin enough piece of it, it'll act as an anchor on the center of the sword, coating it with True Steel and finally a layer of Mithril to immortalize its shine. The combination of these metals would counteract the weight of Ghroundium into a 'common' weight. It'll be a strong blade that is capable of both blocking and attacking." The spear on the other hand require too much True Steel ingots that she does not possess at the moment. There are some at home ofcourse but trying to make it now it'll most likely be some sort of alloy, a mixture of Mithril and True Steel just to meet the length requirements.


  • Uriphiel mulls over his options, thumb and forefinger raised to the bottom of his chin for a rub. “Well. In some situations, perhaps. The partizan, I’ve found, is best used against rather large foes - those with a tougher hide, or when I need to keep enemies at a distance. Quite situational. The sword would be favoured for smaller affairs, paired with the shield. As I stated, I would much sooner not have to draw the weapon, but it is inevitable.” Golden irises flicker back to the bag containing metallic dust, the slender strands of his blonde brow slowly sliding upward with intrigue. “Interesting,” he stated. “If it helps your work, then I do not see anything that would have me deny its use to take measurements.” While Nikola started to muse about how she might make these weapons, Uriphiel peeked inside of the mess hall window and waved his hand until he caught the attention of one of the workers. The cold cup of tea was then lifted and shaken, indicating that he might like another. When he was certain that his nonverbal communication had been understood, he turned his attention back to his saurian guest. “That does not sound objectionable in the slightest. A common weight is easy to work with. In fact, preferable. I have used a few light blades in my time and they most certainly do not feel right in the swing. As for the partizan, I am fine with the wait. Until everything is completed, I am quite comfortable with using the Empire’s stockpile from the armory. As old and rudimentary as it is.” As his comments were coming to a close, a young ashen haired servant approached the table in which Uriphiel and Nikola had been conducting business, carrying a rectangular metal tray with a ceramic teapot and a few other items. “Fill your cup, Uriphiel-Shar?” she asked with a bright smile. The blonde avian nodded. “Please.” The young woman took the cup he had been sipping from and poured another helping of the steaming beverage. “Tea, madame?” the girl then asked Nikola. “Just leave the pot, thank you.” Uriphiel piped up. The girl set down the teapot and a couple of clean cups, as well as a bowl of sugar, some cream, and a few sugar cookies. She smiled and offered a bow, making haste in returning to the kitchen to complete her duties. “Lovely staff they have on the grounds,” Uriphiel stated, taking it upon himself to snatch one of those tasty looking cookies.


  • Nikola glances once again at the drawings and said, "Oh right... shield." She forgot about that one, maybe because she still doesn't know how the man would be able to wear all of these, thinking it would be just far too taxing for his form to carry. Then again, its maybe just her, unintentionally looking down on a smaller race perhaps? possibly. But it wasn't the saurian's intention, nor her thoughts even flowed toward that direction. Its just... too much armor. She shakes her head smiling and just told herself, just be done with it. Looking up to the waitress, shaking her head a bit. She realized she would be working on the man's weapon soon but she doubts she would perform such acts here as of course her powers would most likely scorch the very garden that surrounds them. She turns to the man and said, "Alright, then I'll take your measurements later. But for now, I wish to prove my worth." she turns to her crate and pulls out an ingot of black metal. "Ghroundium" she declares. This brick alone weighs several kilograms already, far heavier than most of the things inside her crate, "Ghroundium is one of the strongest metals on this land, rarely as weapons due to their weight but I personally believe its because the metal is too difficult to mold. To separate a tiny piece of Ghroundium from itself is a chore on its own, that's why its more popular as armor." if one flattens out a piece of metal and add leather straps on it, it'll pass for armor to ogres it seems. "Now." she holding the ingot both hands as scales began to grow from her arms. slowly transforming both limbs, blue tinge fingers and claws where her nails are supposed to be. She exhales loudly as energy began surging from scale to scale into her claws, holding onto the brick of Ghroundium as her claws slowly dig into it, brute-forcing her way into the heavy metal. Lightning licks around her, jumping mostly to nearby metal pieces but as most of the 'metals' are on her side of the table, she doubts the man would be struck with it. Soon finally pulling away a sixth of the bar. She releases the ingot back into the crate which landed loudly. "Okay. Now..." Holding the small piece if Ghroundium that she literally clawed out of the ingot. "You see my control of lightning has taught me many things over the years. For example. If I hold this piece from one side, and my other hand on the other," demonstrating so as she show the man the nugget. "My energy would flow from one side, and as it does that, I'll be able to learn everything there is to know about it as soon as it reaches my other hand." energy flows through the route of least resistance and in doing so, she is able to map out the intricacies of whatever she is holding. Its possible she could do the same with anything else, though of course the probability of such object surviving the ordeal would be quite low. So she sticks to metals as those actually conducts her powers properly. "Same reason why I was able to tear off this piece away, I could learn its weaknesses and exploit them, knowing what direction of the cracks are and how much pressure it would take to break through, its just a matter of time." she smiles and began working on her nugget. Sitting casually as she energy continues to spark every now and then between her fingers as.... a thin rod of Ghroundium slowly appears before her, she was basically molding the nugget into shape as she sat there. "Annealing is a technique of cooling a heated metal slowly in order to create matrices within the metals to ensure its strength. Metallurgy is a life long study so I won't blame you if you don't know what that is. But long story short, the strength of a metal is based on these matrices, if the bonds are too rigid, the metal would be too sturdy, but if its too loose, then it'll break easily. So blacksmiths tend to anneal their metals slowly and evenly to ensure the proper metal bonds. However, if you are... let's say a dragon who controls lightning and magnetism. You can basically just force those matrices in place without waiting." as she finishes her rant, the metal rod is done, completely using the nugget and placing the piece on the table before her. It'll serve as the weapon's core and is therefore of similar length. "Annealing is also one of the reasons why most blacksmithing jobs takes days to complete." The saurian does not need to wait for hers to cool down however as the matrices are already in place so there is no point in doing so. "I require a place to continue my work. You'll have your sword in a few hours time." it does not have to be someone's forge. She could do it right here. Its just that she is quite sure burning down the garden would do any good.


  • Uriphiel was enamored with the sugar cookies. He was unable to help himself from placing another in his mouth almost as soon as he swallowed the first, savouring the sublime saccharine treat for everything that it was worth. How long had it been since he had the honor of basking in such sweet delicacy? Nikola’s words were barely able to penetrate the blissful trance the blonde man found himself in - that is, until she started to show off her unique ability. The transformation had caught his attention and he looked on, marveling at the saurian’s might as she penetrated the hardened metal ingot. Such strength! However, marvel would switch to alarm when he realized that the energy coursing over the woman’s hands was of an electrical nature. Uriphiel nearly toppled backward as he scrambled to his feet, taking a good few steps away from the table while Nikola explained her ability. The avian seemed tense, eyes betraying a sense of panic as the reflection from the light show danced over pools of gold. “A-Ah, yes. Quite interesting. A unique, yet beneficial ability,” he remarked, attempting to mask his fear. As Uriphiel moved his hand to nervously caress the opposite wrist, a sense of sudden relief washed over him when he felt the loosely fit, Thunder-Rune bracelet he had purchased days prior. “Actually, I have some knowledge in the art, believe it or not,” the avian said, beginning to ease. He found great comfort in the discussion of crafting with metal. “Although my knowledge is nowhere as great as yours, I have experience in smithing to a degree. My family lineage is one of crafting - Jewellery to be precise. I spent much time in my youth working in the family business, crafting exquisite pieces that were sold to some of the largest kingdoms in the land. I am almost certain that if any heirloom pieces survived the last two millennia, you may find the Phandarion signature emblazoned upon them in some fashion.” Uriphiel bared a proud smile, his posture straightened so that he may stand tall. It was unlikely that his namesake had survived the centuries in any meaningful way, but he still took great pride in the work his family accomplished. “In any sense, this lightning and - magnetism, as you call it, is a fascinating technique.It seems like it cuts down on much of the waiting process. Other smiths in the land are surely envious.” Uriphiel reached for his cup of tea, still not having returned to his seating, and took a drink. “As in a forge? Or perhaps a workshop of sorts?” he asked, tapping a finger upon his chin. “If I am not mistaken, Northwest from here is the military compound. There is an armory located there that you may find useful. They should have a workshop you can use.” Bending over the bench in front of him, Uriphiel reaches down and pulls out the leather bag that had been concealed since Nikola’s arrival. He pulls out a piece of parchment, a quill, and a bottle of ink, making haste to jot something down. Once he was finished, he held out the parchment for the saurian to take. “This should grant you access, if you’d like. No one should bother you.”


  • Nikola simply blinks at the man's reaction, then again he wanted armor using her scales so the reason for such is not that hard to imagine. She receives the parchment from the man, checking its contents and said, "Alright. I shall make your sword then." the sword is easy to make and as she would be charging fifteen for the armor, she'd be charging less for the weapon. Though the material is quite rare, they are much easier to make. Typically she'll charge at least five for a weapon, thinking a twenty five would leave a hole upon the man's pockets, she decided to leave it to twenty. A discount. With the pouch of gold already in her pockets as initial payment, she goes to work on making the sword. Cleaning up her things from the table, making sure to place the papers on a secure envelope should she need to review them. She nods at the man and said, "Then I shall take my leave. In a few hours time, I'll ask someone to fetch you and then you'll have your sword. Or you could watch me make it. Your call." she smiles and hefts the crate from the table and began to walk out of the garden without waiting for the man's reply. She was never been good with formalities and as she doesn't exactly feel welcome in this town so she does not want to stay long.



That Evening


  • [Nikola] Walking quickly through busy avian streets as she finally found the military compound... where armed soldiers tried to stop her from entering, after showing them the man's parchment, she was able to gain access to the armor... of course after an officer inspected the note, hesitant to allow the saurian to enter the base. Without talking to anyone, the dragoness went straight to the workshop and set up her things. First pulling out two moulds from her crate, one is for a massive sword while the other is for a standard knight sword. She straps the smaller mould together with leather to secure it in place while use the larger moulds for other purposes, one half would be a casting basin while the other is a quenching tank. Ingots soon came out of her crate and she began melting them. At first curious onlookers wonders what she was doing as she was holding the ingots both hands. But as more energy surge upon her limbs, lightning began to escape her form, sending many of them screaming, yelping in surprise. She ignored them as the heat climbs more and more till the brick on her hand turns red hot before finally melting and dripping onto the casting basin. She only carries a few of such ingots but it was enough it seems as she melted several of them to have enough material for the sword. Stirring the molten metal with her scaly hand as she try to keep the temperature warm. Satisfied, she lifts the casting basin and begins to pour it into the smaller mould. The Ghroundium rod tied in place on the center as the woman pours the molten True Steel in. Weapon moulds such as what the warsmith have includes casting various other pieces such as the hilt and the guard, it'll be generic though, she'll have to shave them into shape afterwards. As soon as she pours it in, she sits down in a corner and wait. If only there was a quicker way to do this. If she quenches the metal right now, its bonds would be imperfect and so would be the weapon but annealing takes so much time and all she could is sit there on the corner while waiting. Hours she said, this task normally takes a day... that's because blacksmiths would not dare take the weapon out but for Nikola, all she need to wait for is for the blade to be in a semi solid state, as long as she could pull the sword without it breaking apart, that's all she could ask for. One would want to say 'In no time at all' but Nikola sat there quietly for six hours before finally making her move. She breaks the mould with her hand showing the sword, still red hot yet intact inspecting it as she put on her goggles and began rearranging the matrices once again. Unlike the nugget earlier, the saurian dug her nails into the blazing metal and forcefully moving it around as she inspects the blade mere inches from her face. It took her an hour more to finally be satisfied of her arrangement before quenching the sword into the tank she prepared before. The metal hardens in place securing the bonds she has sorted out herself. From her pocket, a cloud of metal dust soon flies out, controlled by her magnetism, she began to grind the blade into shape, scraping against the surface to remove excess parts, polishing it as well. The dust coiled upon the guard and the pommel as well, grinding them into shape as she try to copy the design of the arming swords the soldiers earlier are using. Satisfied with the sword's shape, strength, weight and sharpness, she wraps the handle with blue leather, the grip would the same as how the man provided her earlier, and hopefully the sword is to his liking. Eight hours, Blade is polished till it became silver, the wings-like guard and hawk-like pommel are heat treated till in change its color to gold and a blue leather handle. Its dimensions is the same as the other sword that she saw in this compound so far and the man would most likely find a spare sheathe somewhere. "Call Uriphiel-Shar." she declared.


  • Uriphiel most certainly declined the offer to witness the weapon in the making, as he would explain that he had intended to take his battalion out on a training exercise in the afternoon. It was in the middle of such an exercise that a messenger would fall from the sky, coming to land softly upon the quaint meadow, not far from Xalious Village, where the battalion had been training. “Uriphiel-Shar. You have been summoned by the Saurian, Nikola. Please go to the armory at your earliest convenience.” The sun was beginning to sink behind the glorious mountains of Xalious, signalling the approach of night fall. If there was ever a time to demobilize his troops, this would be it. “Thank you. Please let Nikola know that I am on my way.” The golden winged avian turned toward his regiment and placed his first against his chest. “That’s enough for today! Go, clean up, and take the time to rest. Do not forget, in two days time we will be venturing out to Gualon! You will be tested! You WILL be graded! Dismissed!” With nothing left to say, Uriphiel made his way up to Schezerade to meet with Nikola. He did not want to keep his guest waiting for long, so he would arrive still in his suit of armor; A platinum hued true steel ensemble that was on loan from the very armory he was walking into. As he entered the armory’s workshop, Uriphiel set his helm atop the nearest counter and turned his expectant gaze upon Nikola. “I hope you have not been waiting long. For what reason have I been summoned? Is it finished?”


  • Nikola didn't wait long, however it also didn't took her long to find trouble. As she has been sitting on the corner for hours, she has been inspecting other work station near hers. Apparently other blacksmiths work here but had to be moved because of her presence, civilians would be mere nuisance should the guards posted around her need to take action. Of course the disgruntled workers either take their work elsewhere or angrily walking back and forth as they wait for her to finish. When the sword finally finished, of course blacksmiths wanted her to leave already as she is delaying their work and as a response, Nikola began browsing through complete works within each station, sorting them out and throwing the improperly made ones to the ground. This quickly became a problem as smiths and their apprentices are always proud of their work and for somebody else to step upon their pride is quite literally an insult to their profession. She did dare those who complain to swing their sword against a nearby anvil. Two broke, four chipped, after seeing such results, the others simply walked away, angry of course but sometimes truth is painful. She turns to Uriphiel who finally approached her, "Oh hey... Here...” she was carrying the sword around and offered it to the man. He didn't really specify any designs for it so she simply made it looking as similar as the standard service issued arming sword. "The apprentices here need more training...” commenting on the poor blades she inspected earlier. She browses through her pockets and said, "I have received a partial payment of five thousand gold and I'll be making the rest back home." she pulls out a piece of paper from her pockets and give it to the man, a calling card. "Here is my address, just outside of Craugmoyle, city of the dwarves. You said you'd provide the materials that I don't have... Blue Iron, about half a dozen ingots." she reaches on her pockets once again and pulls out a familiar bag of metal dust, untying the securing knot, the dust began to flow out of it and hover before her, controlled by her magnetism as she said, "I need to take your measurements now. After that, I could go home, just have the goods delivered there, wait for a week and I'll have your gear ready for payment and delivery or you yourself could claim it. Your call"


  • Uriphiel caught the few scowls cast in his direction; The other smiths were a little upset that the golden winged avian would allow a saurian into their workshop. He did not know their disdain extended from hurt pride, so he did not offer nor attempt any sort of apology. The presented sword was taken in hand for closer inspection; Amazement already beginning to take hold as Uriphiel’s grip relaxed into the perfect mold Nikola had taken hours prior. He marveled at the contrast between the blue shagreen and the golden colored metal of the cross-guard and pommel. Everything about the sword was perfection - the weight, the length; From hilt to tip this was a creation of a master craftsman. “I am impressed. Your accolades have been well received, Nikola. And to have it finished so quickly; Thank you.” He attempted to fit it into the scabbard upon his hip, but the sword was a little loose inside, so he called over one of the leather workers and handed off the weapon with instruction as to what he required. “Well, in truth, they work with what they have,” Uriphiel replied when the blue dragon brought up the quality of the work in the armory. “If things go well, the Avian Empire will see growth again. It may very well become a nation of bartering, much like the cities of our past. I am sure that Schezerade could use more experienced smiths in its future; A future of production and export. It could be quite lucrative for whoever decides to head the manufacturing side of the enterprise.” While he did not say it outright, it sounded an awful lot like some kind of job offer - the expression on his face spoke of earnest sincerity. The avian would leave it there, something Nikola could mull over in her spare time, while taking the scrap of paper she had offered. Uriphiel would not be long to disrobe from his knightly armor so that measurements could be made, hardly a moment wasted when taking in the options the Saurian presented. “I’ll have the materials shipped out first thing tomorrow morning. As for the armor, if it's all the same to you, I’d sooner claim it in person. This armor is very much of utmost importance and I would sooner not leave it in the hands of a courier.” Down to a layer of form fitting clothing, Uriphiel stood ready and waiting for Nikola to work her magic.


  • Nikola smiles at the offer but knows she'll never be welcome here. Even though she has earned the respect of the dwarven smiths, she was never really welcome in their city proper where the rest of them are. Her workshop stands outside the city walls and she would assume she'll have the same treatment here should she accept such position. "Commerce is good, allows one to interact with the outside. The dwarves sealed themselves in the mountains they too took quite a while to convince that sometimes, outsiders do have knowledge they do not possess." looking back at him. Avians are proud people, it’s no surprise really especially as their last city was hovering in the sky, makes one feel 'above' than the rest and therefore not accept anything below them... which stagnates progress but it’s not her place to complain "In due time." she idly comments as the metal dust began flying toward the man, measuring the thickness of his arms, his legs, size of his torso, width of his shoulders and so forth. The dust is so fine that the man most likely not even sees them nor feels them as they continue flowing around him. While doing so, she makes a mental note of the man's measurements while multi-tasking, cleaning the items she used and piling them all back into her crate. When that's all done, the cloud of dust quickly moves back into its pouch, securing it with a knot before putting it back into her pocket. "A week. If It took me less time then I'll send a courier to fetch you." she already has an image in mind to what she would make. Typically she'll have to use a Ghroundium cage as shrt of rebar, just like how she did with the sword but with the amount of armor the man is wearing, she felt like doing so with the rest of his mail, it'll become far too heavy. She frowns a bit as she remembers how much weight the man would be carrying, 'I mean, he could have it enchanted' she told herself, it’s possible that weight altering magics are available somewhere in this world... or the man just has ogre like strength or something. She hefts the crate back to her shoulder and turned to Uriphiel. "If there is nothing else, I should get going." nodding slowly at the man, some sort of a light 'bow', in case the man has something else to say, she'll wait, otherwise. Return home to do her work.


  • Just like that, business this day would come to its conclusion; Saurian and avian parting ways until next they'd meet. Uriphiel would offer nothing more than a respectful salute, tapping his fist against his chest, and bid his guest farewell. It was now time to address the other blacksmiths and soothe over their anger in having their work space invaded by the haughty saurian warsmith without advanced notice. It would make for a long evening.

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