Inspired by the latest shenanigans of my friends, I want to get the chance to also lore dump on Ferenir's smithing abilities further 👀
Now, Ferenir served as an apprentice under a very capable master blacksmith, and then he continued advancing his craft as his own after being forced to leave his village.
Additionally, his own innate connection to stone and metal makes his understanding of metalsmithing almost feel simple, there are things that just make sense to him without even needing to be told the information beforehand.
Now, as a very advanced blacksmith himself, he can craft everything a very advanced blacksmith could, weapons and armors and magical versions of them. He is not enchanter, mind you, he can't make your sword spout flames from simple steel ingots, but he can certainly forge that dragon tooth into a blazing spear instead.
Still, this isn't his specialty. His specialty, as mentioned already, is metals. Raw, simple, forward metalsmithing. He can craft iron and bronze and steel like few in the land, creating masterwork pieces of art so powerful that rival magical weapons themselves.
And furthermore, this specialty has given him access to working, with what I like to call, 'superior metals'.
These are metals that posess characteristics beyond the limitations of steel, and come in two categories. Heavy and Light. In fantasy, Adamantine and Mithral are common examples, but they aren't exclusive. Black iron or Sunsteal are also examples of heavy metals, and thing like Quicksilver or Glass are examples of light ones.
Heavy metals are more durable than steel for the same weight and density. They take an immense amount of strength to forge, and armors made of them are very powerful and nearly unbreakable. Weapons tend to have very fine edges that don't roll or snap, lincreasing their sharpness, or for blunt weapons, allow for heavier weapons that steel would not be able to structurally hold.
These are perfect for warriors.
Lighter metals instead are, well, lighter than steel, while holding the same toughness. Their unique property makes them cosy to wear, maneuver around and not lose stamina nor restrict your body. Those that need to stay light on their feet or don't possess the physical ability for very heavy armor, find armor made of lighter metals particularly useful, as they can get the protection of a full warrior without sacrificing their fighting style. Weapons made of them allow for quick and efficient strikes that don't tire the user and make it easy to find weak spots before the enemy can defend themselves.
Whether heavy or light, the type of metal, the amount, and even the purity, affect the finished artwork. But none as much as the blacksmith's skill.
Superior metals can not be further enchanted normally, not without losing their properties, as they contain magic in their very atoms that make them, which is what gives them their unique characteristics in the first place. Overloading them will either fail or ruin them.
They are simple, efficient, and powerful. And while Ferenir will not shy away from forging or appreciating magical items, he sees the creations of pure metal as the epitome of blacksmithing, and it's the peak he chases.
