Solo Forging and Dogs

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Center of scholarly knowledge and shipwrighting, Zeltiva is a port city unlike any other in Mizahar. [Lore]

Forging and Dogs

Postby Alija on January 8th, 2015, 10:22 pm

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1st Winter 514

The store seemed empty as Alija entered the blacksmith's, no living being in sight. It was a strange feeling for someone who was used to the playful chitter-chatter of Donovan, or the sound of Rals crafting something, metal and metal echoing in the room. There wasn't even a customer, examining the fine products in the show-room, some of which Alija was proud to call her own. But on that dark, cold winter day, not many ventured out, and those who did had set purposes and goals, not to be broken by interest in the metal tools the Armed Scholar had on display. Donovan had taken the day off sick, like many in the city, the cold weather getting the better of them. Rals had disappeared into the-room-behind-the-locked-door, a place that had always gripped the young blacksmith with interest, but never seemed inviting enough to enter. Or maybe it was just the fear of the consequences Rals would enforce if, or rather when, he discovered. That left Alija to run the store, although thankfully with little to do.

When she entered the actual blacksmith room hidden at the back, she realised that no one had ventured in there that season. The fire-place contained little but ashes, not even coal or wood lining the base. She set to work, piling on the fuel, before setting it alight. It took a few tries to get it to catch into flame, but before long a large fire was roaring in the place of what was nothing. Alija pulled out several tools, taking the broken sword in the corner. Might as well fix it if she had nothing else to do.

She examined the two parts. It was a clean snap, nothing too hard to fix. She rummaged through the forge, searching for the equipment she would need. A wire brush. She brushed both ends, scraping the dirt off them. Alija realised that most the actions were a habit, requiring little thought or planning. Now the ends were clean, she held them in turn into the fire, allowing the ends to heat up to an orange-yellow colour, before removing them. Her father had taught her a technique once, to join two parts of a sword. Taking the hot chisel, she made a slit, perhaps an inch or two long down the middle, before separating the two halves a little. When she was ready to weld, they would slot into each other, forming a nice shape to secure. Dipping it into coarse sand after giving it a final brush, the two sword pieces returned to the fire to continue their heating.
Last edited by Alija on March 1st, 2015, 4:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Alija
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Forging and Dogs

Postby Alija on January 8th, 2015, 10:24 pm

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She used the same wire trick as the one she used to demonstrate her skill to Rals. That day seemed so long ago yet so close. Distracted by her thoughts, she almost over heated the metal, so it was a fierce white. Moving with haste, the blacksmith slotted the two ends together, twisting them to become one. Sharp, fast blows of the hammer quickly flattened them completely, but the sword would still be weak. In a process of reheating and hammering, Alija joined the two pieves completely, first flattening the lump. Using almost sideways hits, she spread the metal along the sword, allowing it to become the same thickness everywhere. Satisfied, she pushed the sword into a bucket of cold water, finishing it.

But it wouldn't do much as a sword. All the welding had meant the edge had dulled, no longer the sharp, deadly weapon of before, although broken. She didn't have much experience in sharpening swords, but she was going to give it a try. The file Rals used was thrown into a corner, so she quickly retrieved it. Using short diagonal stroked on the sword edge, she filed it away, watching as the point grew finer and finer. The young woman had no idea, however, of how thick the edge should be, so after what seemed days of repetitive filing, she stopped, certain that the sword would be able to do some harm. She placed it delicately back where she had found it, not certain to whom it belonged and what to do with it. She would ask Rals, if he came out.

Bored, she returned to the front room. It was still dead, but the pale winter sun meant that the dark and cold wasn't unbearable. A hurried man rushed into the shop, startling Alija. He glanced round, swore in anger before running out again, slamming the door behind him.
Rude, she thought peering out off the shop watching as the man walked off briskly. She glanced around, assuring herself that she would be gone for a few seconds, before hurrying out after him. The Bonesnapper wind whirled around her as she struggled to keep up. The man was fast, but she managed to keep up enough to watch as he stormed into a house in an alley leading to East Street.
Last edited by Alija on March 1st, 2015, 4:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Alija
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Forging and Dogs

Postby Alija on January 9th, 2015, 10:14 pm

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She tried not to think about the business associated with East Street, avoiding the - lower class citizens of Zeltiva carefully. Only the occasional lost sailor or traveller stumbled upon this street by accident - all others were assjmed customers. Ignoring the looks given, she entered the house, smell kf rotten fish immediate to her nose.

The place was a small wooden shack, appearing to be made of an old boat. The smell of fish lingered everywhere. It clung to the walls and the floors, and the source wasn't hard to distinguish. Barrels and barrels of fish lined the room, only gap in the wall the door to what seemed to lead to the kitchen and a small rickety staircase leading up to darkness.

Lounging on several chairs lay a man, watching his kelp beer swirl in its glass, the foul liquid sloshing out over him. He appeared to have been in that position for days, sweat, beer and drool caked to him like a second layer of skin, beard thick and bushy displaying the contents of his last few meals. He spat at the floor with regular rhythm, only breaking him routine to start the slow, slurred song of a drunken sea shanty. Alija stood frozen for several moments, unsure what to do next. The man she had followed broke her thought.

"Ain't this a place for a girl like you, eh? Did JoJo here call fa ya?" he slurred, voice more drunk than the swears before, "Ain't got na money, no petching money. Stupid Petch won't buy da dog, thinks he's a worthles, petching hound. True, ain't it JoJo?" Alija shrunk back, scared. Why did she venture down there in the first place? "Won't fight, stupid runt. No money, either way. Na money!"

He threw a bottle at the wall, narrowly missing a large dog's head. "Stupid, petching, worthless..." he mumbled heading up the stairs, stumbling from side to side. The noise died down, silence to be broken by the man named JoJo, who started to hum another one of his songs. She used it as an excuse to examine the dog, sitting head drooped in the corner.
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Alija
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Forging and Dogs

Postby Alija on January 10th, 2015, 3:18 pm

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The dog was a dark brindled brown, muscles clearly defined, but instead of looking like the majestic creature it should have, the dog was in a terrible state. His coat was messy, mud clinging to the coarse hairs, and as it shuffled slowly to a more comfortable position, Alija could see that his leg was badly injured. The right ear was bloody and torn, eyes holding n image of violence and sadness. She took a deep breath, clearing her thoughts. Letting the Djed focus, the aura came into view, a dark green fog spiralling around the animal. It was a green: not the fresh light green of nature, but a murky sewage green, full of sickness. Alija watched as the fog swirled down, the dog lowering his head. Behind it, she just made out another faint, white aura. She focused on it, letting the other stay on her mind, knowing she could at least concentrate on two.

It appeared to be another dog, smaller than the first. The pale aura wasn't as much of a fog or mist, but a skeleton, bone white. Starved, malnourished, this dog was no more thana bag of bones, and its aura reflected that. It shook with sudden trembles, white shifting side to side, hidden behind the larger dog.

A wave of exhaustion came over Alija and she let go of her sight, eyes closing as she sunk to the ground. She took a few moments to regain herself, taking slow deep breaths. Rising again, she decided to not let her session end like that. She slowed her breathing, allowing herself to find the man's aura, from upstairs. The ceiling was relatively easy to see through, and the aura had a distinct smell of alcohol, which managed to wind its way towards her. The aura shifted, other facts unclear. It moved slowly, shuffling, back towards the stairs. She dropped it, feeling the effects already.
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Alija
Blacksmith and Aurist
 
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Forging and Dogs

Postby Alija on January 10th, 2015, 3:22 pm

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The man stumbled back down the stairs, casting a confused but angry look at the young woman. "Still here? Whatchya want? Ain't got no money!"

"The dogs... what are they called?" she asked, curious. She had to help them, she had to.

"Those mutts? Big one is Stupid, 'cuz he ain't fightin'. The little rat has no name, just Rat. Stupid thing. Followed me home, and won't shoo. Stupid won't stop protecting her. He'd have my hand off! But no more use. Thinks I'm gonna take 'em to da sea, in a nice knotted bag." Alija gasped, realising his intentions. Of course! A man like him would care about the dogs, only feeding them to drain every last penny through their fights. If they wouldn't fight...

"I'll buy them. Both," she nodded, feeling for her purse.

"Both? These mutts! Useless lot. Give you them for 50 mizas," he growled, snorting.

"Thought they were useless. 20."

The man laughed, "20 ain't enough to buy one! Not from me, an'way."

Alija shook her head, "30 mizas. My final offer. For a dog in that condition and a puppy that's just skin and bones..."

The man shook his head, but soon realised she wouldn't budge. Reluctantly, he agreed, biting each coin to check its authenticity. Alija looked at the dogs, wondering what she had got herself into. She whistled, with no response. She crept closer, unwinding the lead the man had so hurriedly thrown at her before running off with his new-found wealth. A small white Sykanis and Deerstalker, the larger fighting dog. She slipped the rope over the larger dog's head, starting to pull. He didn't even growl in anger, but stayed rooted on the spot.

"I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to help," she smiled, speaking softly. She gave him another tug, and he relucantly rose, trotting slowly behind her. Just as she expected, the Sykanis followed promptly after. "Stupid and Rat. No. Not those names."

She led the dogs home, watching them collapse to the ground.

"Rosco," she smiled at the larger dog, "Trump, you little girl." The little dog barked at her new name, tail wagging. The scraps of breakfast had brought her to life, unlike Rosco, who still lay a mess on the floor.

"I won't abandon you, I will always give you the care and love you need," she smiled, more as a promise to herself. Then:

"Petch! I still should be at work!"
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Alija
Blacksmith and Aurist
 
Posts: 507
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Joined roleplay: November 11th, 2014, 6:35 pm
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Forging and Dogs

Postby Zandelia on February 4th, 2015, 1:11 am

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Alija :
Skills
Auristics – 1
Blacksmithing – 3
Observation – 3
Endurance – 1

Lores
Blacksmithing Tech: Setting A Forge Fire
Blacksmithing Tech: Wire Brush Cleaning Of Broken Edges
Blacksmithing Tech: File Sword Sharpening
Blacksmithing: Raw Sand Uses
Auristics: Can See Through Solids
Rosco & Tump: New Companions


Extras
-30 GM from Ledger (if not done already)
+ 1 Sykanis Hound
+1 Deerstalker Hound


Notes :
Nice thread, liked the blacksmithing section particularly. Nice descriptions. Auristics could have used a bit more in-depth, would have possibly given more xp then. But very good. Keep it up!


Any questions or concerns please PM me. As always, keep writing!
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