Completed [Sultros Blades via Ironworks] New Steel

[Ethan Ironhorse]

14th Day of Summer The Ironworks If someone had to say what one of Syliras' biggest industries were, armor and metalwork would definitely have to The Ironworks and the sheer amount of metal products produced there. Since Ros Vizerian also owns the The Lykolav Iron Mine, one of the largest in Mizahar, it also seems fitting that it was named for his mother who discovered it ages past. Now, fully supplied by its own prime source of iron, the Ironworks is the single largest forge in the region or even neighboring regions (outside of Kalea). The Ironworks was a normal result of the needs of the Syliran Knights, who demand a huge amount of armor, barding, and weaponry to keep at their task of re-establishing civilization in a world gone mad with disaster. However, the Ironworks aren't just about weapons and armor. Syliras has a great deal of agriculture and requires farm implements, iron for the outside of wagon wheels, and all sorts of fixtures, fasteners, and things like nails for building - rasps for farriers, horseshoes, and even bits for bridles. The Ironworks makes all of this and more. With the capacity for ten forges going at one, The Ironworks employs over fifty full time workers, most highly skilled. Ethan spent his time divided between Windmount Stables and the Ironworks. As a farrier, his skills were needed down in the stables to tend to horseshoes, bits, and bridles. The small forge set up there was to do the quick work needed for shoeing. It was never meant to service the needs of the city. Nay the Ironworks was where all the major forging and metalwork was done. Ethan was helping moving a vat of steel out to the molds. The head metalworker supervised the six apprentices as the pulled on chains that were anchored to the glowing red vat. Ethan felt every muscle and vein strain as he and two others began to anchor their feet and pull backward. Slowly the large vat began to lumber forward making its way to the master pouring cup/sprue, it was a large metal barrel that was as large as an ale cask. Connected to the sprue were multiple channels to all the liquid steel to pour and form bars. One every thirty days a vat of steel needed to be poured for the city. Raw steel bar stock was sold to weaponsmiths, trade goods, or was kept on hand in the Ironworks for general use. Slowly step by step Ethan moved across the stone floor. As the weight of the liquid began to work with them, the metalsmith called off apprentices to the chains on the back of the vat. As the angry hot beast was pulled only by Ethan and one other apprentice, the back chains began to tighten into place as the apprentices began to slowly add resistance to the forward moment. It seemed almost comical that six men had been needed to start the beast forward, but only after three or four body lengths four men were struggling to slow it down. Of course, though it seemed like a waste of energy, the truth was far from it. The hard stop that the vat travelled on could very well pour the molten metal out onto unexpecting victims. Chains tightened and the soft metal squeal could be heard as the gentle back pressure began to slow the progress of the vat. Even with the skill of the metalsmith and apprentices working as a team, the vat halted on the hard stop as a splash of metal came over the lip onto the floor. Strong journey men took long hooked poles and threaded them into rings on the side of the vat. Ethan joined the other apprentices at the side chains attached to a pulley system. The men began to rapidly pull on the chains, as the vat slowly began to tip. The lead metalsmith began calling out orders as the vat began to turn. The molten metal slowly began to pour, the dull gray of cooled metal film sat on top as bits and pieces broke off into the sprue cup. Like a tune instrument, music of work began to set in, as the metal poured out into channels and finally into cavities where steel bar stock would be made. Apprentice with long poles were set like farmers moving the liquid back and forth, and stirring the occasion bar for bubbles. Unlike several of the other apprentices, Ethan was waved off from the mixing team to the vault team. Orders of steel stock were being loaded on wagons and moved throughout the city. Ethan took his place in a long line men passing bars to each other and filing wagons and carts with the steel. The labor was intense and hard, as the bars were an almost constant flow of from each person’s hands. After a long time, Ethan was able to rest, while the carter teams were broken into. A teamster would drive the wagon to the appropriate place while a team of two men would be issued to each wagon to help in the offloading. Even though Ethan had been stuck with first year apprentices, his luck did hold and he was being sent to Sultros Blade’s for their monthly delivery. The weapon shop was often a treat for aspiring apprentices. Swords and armor being fashioned by some of the finest smiths in the city, and the little peak into the shop would occasionally see a knight. The shine of the armorers and weaponsmith’s had left Ethan several years ago. Though it was simple to make a shoe or fix a plow blade, he had started to realize that those things mad more impact on the people of Syliras then any armorer. So Ethan rested in the cart bed as the young apprentice with him asked questions about the Shop. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Move to Sultros Blades Located on the third tier of Stormhold Castle, the forge known as Sultros Blades can often be found by following the noise of hammer on anvil echoing down the passageways around it. No sign is hung upon the open door, but the shortest glance inside reveals a shop in which iron work glints in the subdued light. The wagon rolled up to the back of the shop where the large forge area was at. Ethan called out, “Steel delivery, need some help!” As he jumped out of the bed.

[Hadyn Skellig]

"You overgrown drunk piece of shyke," the weaponsmith growled at the retreating form of Yorick as he offered a wave in response. Shaking her head, the woman turned away from him and stared at the mess he'd left. While he'd certainly been pulling his weight lately, Hadyn couldn't help but feel a surge of annoyance as the man shoved off for a break without bothering to help clean up. Grumbling to herself, she began picking up the display pieces littering the ground, a frown on her full lips. The stand upon which these items lay buckled once Yorick rested the final longsword on the surface, the poorly made legs giving out and sending all the pieces asunder.

Bundling the sharp edges in canvas, the woman wrestled to keep them within her arms as she kicked the door to the forge open and struggled through the doorway. A voice called out from the back, though the words were sufficiently muffled. The furnace burned eternally but the place was empty save for her, the dearth of noise settling somewhat strangely in a place known for the clink of hammer strikes and hiss of water on steel. Dropping the bundle of weapons with a loud clank, Hadyn made haste to the back of the smithy. Stepping into the alley, the weaponsmith hailed Ethan with a wave and apologetic grin.

"Sorry 'bout that, mate," she intoned, brushing her hands against the leather apron. She cocked her head in pause, taking in this delivery man. He was familiar, no doubt, but she couldn't place him. An apprentice of Ironworks but this was her first encounter with him at Sultros. With a disarming smile, Hadyn nodded to the men and gave a gentle pat to the nearest horse before rounding the wagon to help them unload.

[Ethan Ironhorse]

Ethan smiled to Hadyn and nodded as began to unlatch the gate of the wagon. Jaffery, the younger metalsmith apprentice still sat on the wagon watching Hadyn with his mouth slightly opened. As the gate came down, Jaffery seemed to come out of his daze and started to leap over the wagon rail toward the street. It was apparent that he was trying to impress Hadyn by doing a one handed vault over the rail while looking at her. Ethan looked up to see the young man hit one of his boots on the rail and fall to the street with a great thud. “Jaffery! You idiot!” Ethan ran over side of the wagon to see that Jaffery was rolling on the ground. The stones hadn’t been kind and bruises began to appear on his head and arm. Ethan kneeled down and quickly went over the apprentice checking for broken bones. With nothing broken, but Jaffery moaning like he had drunk some horrible rot got, Ethan closed his eyes, “Jaffery, I swear if there was a God or Goddess that protected horny fools, you would be their high priest.” Ethan helped Jaffery back into the wagon, essentially just dumping him in the back. Ethan looked about to check on Hadyn, “Sorry, I suppose I will be acting as senior apprentice today. Well Miss Hadyn, I believe the shops order has arrived.” Ethan showed her the back of the wagon. “Let’s see…” Ethan looked at the stamps on each bar. “We have twenty full high steel bars, weighing forty pounds each.” Each seemed to reflect the light and were as long as his forearm. The stamp had a sword on the middle of each to show that the steel was hard enough for weapons. “Looks like twenty half bars, and fifty quarter bars. In addition, thirty half bars of mild steel and twenty-five half bars of pig iron.” Stamps of a hammer were on the bars of mild steel, looking almost tarnish grey. While the pig iron was simply black with white chalk marks, Ethan pulled out a grey slate with chalk writing and checked the order. “Seems like half the mild and high steel bars are for the knighthood, would you like them placed somewhere else?” Ethan smiled a little bit, “You don’t remember me do you? My father was Ortias Ironhorse. When we were about six, my father got drunk with your father and had a brawl. I played with you and your brothers for the day afterwards while our mothers talked it out. My name is Ethan.”

[Hadyn Skellig]

A grin lit her features as the boy reacted with all the exuberance of his youth, though he didn't quite stick the landing. She took a step toward the lad but his superior was already at his side, nearly tossing the useless Jaffery into the wagon. Hadyn returned her attention to the items, an eyebrow raising over dark eyes as the man required no introduction from her. The brunette was well known among the Ironworks smiths, being the only female at Sultros but the tone this man equipped implied familiarity. She stared at him contemplatively as he rattled off the order. Nodding to his question she pitched her head toward the smithy.

"On the far table, if y'wouldn't mind," she replied before opening the second wooden door to allow for easier access. Watching him as he spoke once more Hadyn frowned trying to dig up the memory he conjured. After a tick, recognition lit her face as a smile pulled warmly at the corners of her lips, canting her head slowly as she spoke.

"Ethan Ironhorse," she addressed him with a grin before giving him the once over. "I remember well for you were t'unforunate soul Ioan shoved out the window. Near broke your arm, didn't he, the bastard?"

The woman laughed fondly as she began removing the items from the wagon bed, casting a glance over her shoulder at Ethan. Gathering the half bars of mild steel, the weaponsmith began moving them into the forge, setting them on row of tables pushed against the wall separating the smithy from the shop. Turning back to Ethan, the brunette smiled again.

"Seems the years have been good to you, Ethan. Still slappin' irons on the hooves of horses? or do they have y'playin' delivery boy til the next Ironworks master croaks of ol' age?"

Her accent was not the heaviest, tempered by a need to be understood by her customers. But there was no disguising the casual tone and clipped verbs denoting her upbringing in the working district of Syliras. It was reminiscent of the patois served by her brothers as well. She tossed Ethan a wink as she passed him to collect more pieces.

[Ethan Ironhorse]

Ethan picked up the full bars of steel and started the trek into the shop and back to the wagon. He laughed as Hadyn spoke about Ioan. As Hadyn set some of the mild stock down on a table, Ethan went over to her for a moment, “If I right recall t’were for pulling on his sis’ hair. Now a’days, I ask ‘fore I pull.” Ethan gave her a saucy look and then burst into laughter. As he let her go for another load getting back to his own job. “Aye, the irons hot and hooves ‘till need attending. Got the M’ster to recognize that I have a fair hand at working the ‘nvil. ‘Et I be trying a new hand at a ‘hing or two, got philtering ‘quipment now, brewing up some mess of ‘hings.” Ethan didn’t mention that he was also learning magic. People tended to frown on such things, philtering was as close to the magic arts that were accepted in Syliras to practice. “What ‘bout you? Is Ioan ‘till protecting his sis’ virtue? Hear' ‘bout your dad a while back, sorry for the lost. Grand yous’ to say that he was a fair man and did a bit of good work on ‘nvil.” Ethan started to pick up the pig iron, since it was the denser stock and continued to work as he looked at Hadyn. She as well had done a bit of growing and filled the leather smith’s apron quite nice. Ethan couldn’t get over her eyes though, something in them wanted laughter and a tenderness when needed. Yet he also got the feeling that if the heat between them rose, he better be prepared to leave the tenderness behind them, yet still keep the laughter. Before returning to the wagon, Ethan went over to the broken sword stand, seemed the carpenter had either used a rotted board and tried to shave off the rot, or the heat of the forge couple with someone putting water on the leg had cause the wood so expand and pulp. Looking around Ethan saw a wedge used in opening channels. Sticking in under the stand to provide support where the leg was missing, Ethan then lightly rested the fallen sword back on the stand. After all he was getting tired of moving around them. Looking around the tables Ethan saw that most of the heavy stuff had been moved and only the quarter bars were left. Removing his own apron, Ethan began filling the middle of it with quarter bars. Pulling up the ends like a big stack Ethan was able to move about fifteen of them at a time.

[Eanos]

Eanos frowned as he entered the shop, a frown that quickly turned into annoyance at the mess someone had made of the place. If he hadn't known better he would have thought that the apprentices from the Ironworks had made their home here, and it certainly didn't reflect well upon the standards that the Knights expected of the Isurian smith. Voices came from the workshop and he dropped off the leather bag of his travelling tools by the door and stepped through. It seemed a delivery was in progress, so some things were working properly at least. He waited until he had the attention of the pair who were working on the unloading. He nodded at the man who seemed to be making the delivery. "Thank Ros for me when you return, I appreciate his services as well as any man can." Hadyn though, of course it was Hadyn, who else? "At least you are working," he commented with a nod, not yet ready to apportion blame for the state of his shop. "And a glad sight that is too." There was more to be said, but never in front of strangers, though he suspected from the little that he had overheard that the two were well enough acquainted.

[Hadyn Skellig]

Hadyn continued her labor, smiling every so often at Ethan. Quite frankly she wasn't entirely sure what to make of him. Better off asking her brothers than letting any childhood judgements determine his worth. But as far as she could see he turned out alright. She couldn't help but smirk inwardly as Ethan dipped deep into his own Sylirian roots, their accents nearly matched. Good to know he was still the same boy she'd met all those years ago.

"Ioan," she replied, hefting a bar across her arm before adding another, "is off on some a'venture. Been gone a good six summers, I reckon. Not returnin' for all his talk of bein' a homebody." The woman glanced over her shoulder at him with a nod of appreciation. "Thank y'for t'condolences."

Returning to the task the two fell into silence as they continued. Hadyn was admittedly pleased to see Ethan again, especially given his chosen profession. Though Brody and Ioan imagined Ironhorse would rebel his father's ways and take off on the long road, Liam always believed the boy was destined for the smithy, in one capacity or another. And from this brief encounter it seemed Ethan had done well for himself. As he paused to take a breather, she cast a quick glance in the bed of the wagon to check on poor Jaffery. Satisfied, the brunette joined Ethan in the forge. She was ready to comment on his work ethic when the pair was joined by familiar face.

"Eanos," Hadyn greeted him with a respectful cant of her head. Wiping her hands on a rag, the female smith gave the Isur a smile before looking at Ethan.

"Couldn't leave this one to do all t'work his'elf," she replied with a grin. "Wouldn't want t'poor lad to break a nail on these ol' things."

Ever one to break the ice with a jest, Hadyn moved space on the final table for Ethan to set the quarter bars. Standing back to give him space the woman looked to the Isur before casting a disenchanted glance about the forge. Eanos would not be thrilled with the state of the place and she'd likely hear about it later. Yorick and the other boys would owe her many a pint at the Stallion for the sorry state they left her in. Brushing a dark strand of hair behind one ear the brunette waited for Ethan to finish unloading before delving into payment.

[Ethan Ironhorse]

Ethan laughed that it had been Ioan deciding to take off and adventure. He had always know that Liam would stay here in Syliras and continued the work of his father. That was the expectation of every first born male and daughter, almost as if their destiny was set in the stones that paved the hallways. It was often the youngest that felt the travelling bug, and would set out to find their fortune. Ethan had been lucky in that fact that his grandfather had taught him the care of horses. Yet no matter how much he tried, he never could spark the love and approval of father. Ethan felt awkward after offering his heartfelt condolences to Hadyn. He didn’t really know what to say to bring about the playful banter they had earlier enjoyed. Though he smiled to Hadyn as he worked Ethan wondered if he had over stepped his bonds. Ethan was laying out the quarter bars on the table from the apron playing a stack. Metal dust that always came from new forge bars seemed to fill the cracks of the heavy leather apron, as well as, cover his hands. He wanted to do something playful with Hadyn to bring back conversation from earlier. Well if he was honest with himself he want to lightly smack her buttock leaving a metal dust palm print. However, he worried about his reputation, a weaponsmith apprentice held better standing then a simple farrier in the trade. So he settled on waiting till Hadyn came close enough to him when he wasn’t carrying anything, and taking his finger to leave a long strip down her nose. The chance never came. As Ethan was done stacking one of the quarter bar loads, he looked up from the table to see an Isur man, the famous Master Eanos, owner of Sultros Blades. Ethan bowed his head as Eanos told him to thank Ros. Ethan continued about his task feeling that the Master of the Shop was not happy about the overall state of things. In truth he wanted to stay and talk with Hadyn for a little bit more, see if he couldn’t persude her to take off the apron for a bit… Ethan shook his head at the fancy filled dream as he was loading the last load of quarter bars. It seemed that even Ethan was immune to Hadyn charms. Focusing on his task, Ethan set the last load down on the table and began to stack the last few bars. Once done he began putting the lead loop of leather about his head as Hadyn cracked her joke. His felt flushed with heat as he was embarrassed in front of a shop owner. Though the apron was dirty, he was a blacksmith after all and he simply brushed his hands on the apron getting most of the grit and dust off of them. Ethan bowed to Eanos as he spoke, “As I told Hadyn, the order was for twenty full high steel bars, twenty half bars, and fifty quarter bars. In addition, thirty half bars of mild steel and twenty-five half bars of pig iron. From what Master Ros, told Jaffery and myself half the mild and high steel bars were added due to orders from the knighthood. Apparently, there have been quite a raise in orders and it overwhelm Master Ros’ shop, so he include the extra steel, since the orders will be routing to you. As always payment is to be routed through the Order’s Quartermaster.” The strong feeling of wanting to stay, kept his feet from wandering back to the wagon, but he really didn’t have anything else to keep him here.

[Eanos]

Eanos returned the nod from Hadyn but he couldn't fail but to notice the change in atmosphere that his arrival had caused. He was never sure whether to be amused or irritated by it but it seemed that it was the natural state of affairs, and these were humans after all, a race whom it seemed were rarely serious enough about anything. The thought of the Ironworks being overwhelmed with orders was one that once would have brought a smile to his face but now he nodded. "Thank you, I will add it to my ledger and confirm with the Quartermaster." He walked over to the new metal and pulling out a thread of his personal djed ran his fingers over the metal. He probed into it with his mind, testing the aura and seeing how the crystals were structured. Nothing was out of place, not that he expected anything else considering the source but it was good to see that the apparent demand had not caused short cuts to be taking with the quality. He spoke out as he finished and wandered over to the forge where he ran the fingers of his right hand through the red hot coals, crumbling the smaller pieces absently. "If the Ironworks are overwhelmed then I think it is time that some of those who currently work here found new employment there. Clearly they have not the appreciation of the opportunity that they have been given here, and I have not the inclination to teach the work ethic to those who think that a job half done is one finished." He faced Hadyn. "You manage the shop well when I'm busy and I will be spending some time in research and crafting. I will leave you to finishing up the delivery but then I want you to consider who stays and who goes. Beyond yourself, all are expendable and I will hold you accountable for those who stay. On the other hand you will have my support when you need it, and I do intend that we will work on some projects together." He broke his face into a small smile and gave a nod to the pair before retiring back into the shop itself where he would sit at the table and pull parchment from his bag and start revising the notes that were written there.

[Hadyn Skellig]

The woman watched in studious silence as the Isurian Master examined the bars with a trance-like focus. As many bells as she spent honing her skills and increasing her intuition on the integrity of metals her abilities would fall ever short of Eanos. But she gleaned every tiny bit of knowledge she could from watching him. Dogged determination was her middle name and she aspired to find a place in the Master's eyes beside her father and brother.

A curt nod was given after Eanos' directive was spoken. She knew well this ukase was a long time coming, the lads what called themselves weaponsmiths having become lazier and lazier as the seasons lapsed. But each one called Hadyn friend and she was loathe to deliver the news that their antics and poor judgement resulted in Eanos' ire. They should've known better.

"As you wish," she replied, her gaze trained on the Isurian. His stated intentions honored her deeply but experience told her over-excitement would receive a bemused stare. So she opted for a kind smile and gracious cant of her head as Eanos quitted the forge. Release a quiet breath, the brunette's expression faltered only a moment before she turned to Ethan.

"Y'picked a brilliant moment to come waltzin' back into my life, Ironhorse," she stated congenially with a wink before crossing the floor to rummage for the predetermined payment. Yorick left it somewhere on this mess of a table. Finally locating the bag of Miza, hopefully counted beforehand and correct, the woman turned to face her companion.

"What'll it be then for your time? Y'chargin' by the chime now?"