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Abraia had finally decided to make some armor and weaponry for her dragon and adopted daughter. It was a long time coming. She had avoided doing it because she was pregnant. Then she avoided it because she thought she could get ahold of better materials. It was becoming clear that she would not get any better materials.
She was in her workshop with lots of material beside her. Her order had come in just that morning. She had so much to do, so little time. There was no way of knowing when they would need the armor but sooner was better than later.
She sent word for the dragon to join her. She had some things to tell him and tasks to give. Sjal was sent for as well.
"I have so much for those two to do. I hope they are ready for a busy winter and then spring."
Caelum was glad to see that Abraia was back to work. He wished she had taken some more time to recover from her delivery, but it couldn't be helped with a busy bee like her. He had done his best to heal her up as much as his abilities allowed him to, but he could see that Crest had allowed her get back into the swing of things much more quickly than expected.
"You called for us?" He asked, motioning to himself and Sjal as they stepped into the workshop. They were both wearing casual clothes since it was fairly early in the morning. He could see the materials, so it was obvious to him that the woman was planning to make a lot of stuff.
"Finally, some new armor and weapons," Sjal blurted out, "I am so sick and tired of the old garbage that I've been wearing for years and years."
"Yes, I called for you two and yes I want to make things for you both. It will take a lot of time but it will be done. I wanted you here so I can take measurements. Dragon, as much as I appreciate you being here, I want you to return tomorrow in your dragon form. I want to make armor for that, not your human form."
Her vision was for father and daughter to fly and fight together. It was not going to be possible unless they had appropriate armor.
"I need you to both be ready for the threats to come. I know the dragon does not fully appreciate how dangerous these lands are so we must be ready when the time comes."
She did not want to sugar coat it. She had a feeling in her heart that things would go bad one day.
Caelum frowned but nodded, understanding that Abraia was serious about the dragon bound suggestion she'd brought up not too long ago.
"I will return, then. You'll probably have your hands full with Sjal today anyways." At that, he flew off. It would take his full concentration to transform as quickly as possible. He had been working on reducing this time, but he simply could not get it down to less than a day. In his opinion, that was the main thing preventing him from properly defending this place.
"Does he even need armor?" Sjal asked, "I thought he would have scales." It made sense and was true, but his scales couldn't compare to quality steel. They were more like iron in durability, not weak but certainly not strong enough to face a threat like a felinog. Even a sword was likely to give him trouble, if he didn't incinerate the wielder first.
Abraia was not expecting to work on Cae's armor today anyway. She wanted to merely inform of her intentions. Sjal would be plenty to work with. A single piece of equipment could take a week to make or more.
"He does. Dragons like him can be put down by a skilled spearman. If you are to fight together then you will need better protection than that. I wish to send you after mammoths next. They will be much more dangerous than a rabbit."
She got up and stretched as far as she could. She enjoyed her body once again. Her crest made her look skinny and beautiful. Very different.
"Come, I will get your measurements."
She held out a length of rope and some scissors. She could tell a lot about someone just by looking at them but to be precise she needed to use tools. Especially when she cared about the customer.
Sjal frowned at that and stepped forwards to get her measurements taken. She'd always pictured her father as being a little more powerful than that.
"The way he talks about his grist, I always assumed he would be a little more durable. I figure he was vulnerable in his human form but as a dragon... I don't know, I just expected more."
She didn't truly understand how dragons grew, and she supposed it didn't really matter. Knowledge was always good to have, however.
"So, what are you planning on making for me? How long do you think it will take?" She was rather impatient. To her, she'd already felt like she'd waited a whole year to get an upgrade in equipment. She didn't know why her father hadn't at least made her a wooden sword… perhaps he didn't know how to make a good one? There was much about him that she didn't know.
Abraia took her time measuring every limb and around her chest and stomach. She measured her wrists and ankles too on top of her feet length.
"Your body is annoying. You will grow and I will need to make adjustments. Why could you not come when you were a little older"
She spoke rhetorically. She did not actually want the girl to have come later. She had come at a perfect time when they needed some more muscle.
When she was done she would address Sjal's comments. There was a lot to cover. Abraia did not know everything about dragons but she knew enough for the simple questions.
"Dragons are strange. He is an adult dragon. Until he becomes an elder dragon, he will be rather weak defensively. As for your armor, I am not certain. I will probably take at least half a season to finish all the things I wish to make. Do not rush these things."
"Fair enough," Sjal said with a shrug. She supposed that if her father was stronger than steel then he wouldn't need a bodyguard to begin with. That, or maybe he would spend more time patrolling.
"So, do you need help making everything? I would love to learn or help... It'd be a lot more fun than doing whatever the hell father assigns me to." He had still yet to give her anything interesting to do.
She thought for a moment then took in Abraia's appearance again, "You're looking good, by the way. I know you have a magic that affects your appearance but I didn't know it could make you look this skinny after pregnancy. I kind of wish I could do something like that, maybe look a little older." She didn't actually envy having to go through whatever process it took to get a magic, but she did like the abilities that they granted.
"I could use some help. I cannot get in the way if your father needs you for something but you can help in your free time. An extra hand or two would not hurt. As for my appearance, the magic is called Crest. I do not even fully understand it but I can change my appearance and the appearance of things I make. It is useful as you can see."
"Alright, I have your measurements. We will start with the blade. The katana, your weapon. It is fortunate that you have no money because now I can fully dictate how your weapon will look, feel, sound."
Abraia pulled out some material then started heating up the forge but then she looked at Sjal.
"Your first task is to help load fuel into the forge. Be quick we haven't all day."
It would be hard work that Abraia did not want to do herself.
Sjal had held her breath while her measurements were taken. When she'd last been measured for armor, the blacksmith had gotten mad at her for fidgeting. She didn't want to make Abraia mad, so she stayed stock still until the crafter was done.
She let out her breath and inclined her head, "I'm sure whatever you come up with will be perfect. I hear you're quite good at what you do. And sure, I'll get to loading it up." Her eyes searched the workshop for what the woman could have possibly meant by fuel then she spotted a pile of wood.
She went over to the wood next to the forge and started putting it into the fire. She was fit enough for the task to not bother her too much. She didn't know exactly how much to fill it, though, so she would keep going until Abraia told her to stop.
"
Abraia spent the half hour getting ready. She told Sjal to stop after that.
"It is hot enough. Now watch and learn."
She did not need the forge necessarily. The first step was to make the steel.
"We mix iron sand and charcoal into this boiler. That makes steel. Then we will work on the sword."
She did the work without speaking much. It took lots of focus to create a good product. This would go on for many hours. Eventually she would have to send Sjal home.
At the end of the day she said "it will take a week to make this sword so do not lose patience."
Over the course of the week she would take the steel and put it in the forge. She would hammer it out and fold it until she had the blade. If the girl decided to stay and help she would see just how much it took to make a sword.
Sjal did end up watching and learning. She didn't quite understand everything that was going on, but she learned how steel was made and that heating it up and smashing the hell out of it was part of the process. She couldn't be there every day but she tried to spend as much time as possible assisting, as needed.
She liked being able to witness the process and learn for knowledge's sake. By the time the week was over, she was excited to actually try the weapon out. She was extra excited to throw away the trash weaponry she'd been using.
Caelum would also make his way around with his full dragon form so his measurements could be taken. Days after that, Sjal would knock on the workshop door one morning and say, "Mother? It's me, Sjal. I was just wondering if the sword was done yet." It had been exactly one week, but she realized that the crafter might have just been giving an estimate and might not have literally meant 'one week.'
"Daughter, good to see you. Come come I have finished your sword."
The sword was on the table. It was made of exceptional quality, as was to be expected. It was a red katana with a matching sheath. Its handle was pitch black and the blade looked extremely sharp. She had used her crest to add these features. The handle would feel sturdy and welcoming. The edge would feel like burning.
She would let Sjal figure out all the effects on her own. It would not make a sound when drawn or swung and smelled like nothing at all.
"I will work on your armor next. I am not that good at working with leather but I can mimic what you usually wear. A mix of metal and leather should be good, reliable, flexible."
She was already at work on the set of armor and expected to be done in a few weeks.
"This is… incredible," Sjal said as she walked up to the sword. She drew it from its sheath, noting that it didn't make a sound at all. She didn't think she'd ever seen a more magnificent sword in her life.
"This color, how did you do that? Oh, magic, I almost forgot," she said more to herself than to Abraia. She liked how perfectly it fit in her hand – it truly felt like a masterwork creation.
"I owe you for this," she said with a nod. "I can't wait to see what you do with my armor. I don't suppose there's anything I can do to help you out? I want to pay you, but I don't really have money." She felt guilty about using the woman's services when her work could demand quite a bit of money if she wanted it to.
Sjal busied herself with strapping the sheath to her side and putting the katana in it while waiting for Abraia's response.
"Yes. Magic, it took quite a bit of spell reserves to accomplish but it was easy enough. Do not expect your armor to be so extravagant. I am partial to weapons and like to put more effort into those. Armor is a bit boring."
Abraia had plans to throw in an effect or two but cared more about protective than pretty armor for Sjal.
"You owe me nothing for now. Surviving and serving me and your father well is payment enough. I will let you know when I have a task for you. Go, and leave me to my work."
She wiped her brow. She looked as pretty as ever but was sweating. She had been working hard without many breaks. She had not even left her workshop in a week. Meals were brought to her and she slept on a cot in the corner. Her life had only revolved around this. She needed to make up for lost time from when she was pregnant.
Sjal was a little disheartened to hear that her assistance wasn't needed for the armor, but she could understand the crafter's desire to work alone. It seemed as though time was a pressing matter and hand holding a novice through the process was counterproductive. Even if Sjal learned how to make gear, it was unlikely that she would actually make anything when her passions lied elsewhere.
"Thank you for all you've done for me," Sjal said before leaving.
When she got outside, she let out a deep sigh. "I've got a good sword, now I wonder what I can do with it… Might be time to go spar someone. Perhaps Lakali's around… though knowing him he would just freeze me before I could get close."
She wouldn't be able to find the gnoll, however, because a couple women came up to her and told her that her father had requested her presence. "Great, now I have to deal with whatever this is…"
Abraia makes a katana for Sjal. Sjal kind of helps.
Expected Rewards:
+12xp for both Caelum and Abraia
Caelum: +1 Katana. Steel x1 hardness made by a grandmaster smith. Crest effects: Produces no sound when drawn or swung, feels sturdy at the handle, edge feels like burning, the blade looks red, smells like nothing
