Completed [The Arma'Drex Smithy] Favchean's attempt at a Dagger

[Favchean Hronis]

Timestamp : 32 day of Fall, 513 8 bells Standing at counter in the smithy, Favchean ties the strings of a leather apron around his waist. The brown stiff material covers even his massive frame from neck to knee, it would protect him from many of the dangers of his trade. On the counter lay a paper and in his squared hand was the nub of a charcoal stick, the side of his hand would have been blacked from his sketching if his skin wasn't so dark already. On the white paper a dagger was slowly coming to form, as Favchean practiced the very first step in creation. Trying to get an ideal onto paper was difficult, as his mind kept trying to change the design he truly wanted. His artistry was not that great, but it was not what was on the paper that was important at the end. This was simply a way from him to organize his thoughts on a beautiful ceremonial dagger that he was going to make. That means things needed to be more ornate then functional. Seemed a waste to one part of him, but the other part, the part that tended to be in control while he was creating, loved the idea. That was the problem, the dagger he had drawn was at once both too ornate, and too plain. Growling deeply in his throat, Favchean starts to scrunch up his paper but stops himself quickly and with exaggerated care he turns it over and begins to sketch again. This time from the get go he had a good feeling, and a brief small smile flitted over his full lips. The sound of the charcoal racing across the paper was the only sound he hears. The dagger, a stiletto would be a closer term for it, was thin in the blade, tapering down to a fine point. The hilt, as the drawing goes further was drawn as a thick, soft grip that was adorned with bits of stone, polished to a shine. After he was finished sketching he stepped back to admire his drawing, once in a while he would erase a detail, or add another. But soon he was happy with the concept. Being an apprentice, and a new one at that, he would have to run his design past Haiduk, but Favchean felt good about this one. It was not as functional as he enjoyed things to be, but it would make a good ornamental dagger.

[Favchean Hronis]

Now that he has got the basic design approved and settled on Favchean is able to begin the actual art of creating the blade. Moving from the counter to the back where the forge and anvil are located, his face a mask of stoic concentration. Stepping lightly, the young adult Akalak selects a small sheet of metal, testing it for weakness and or stress before going to the cutting instrument. The heavy duty shears are unwieldy but effective in cutting the metal down to a manageable size. The 'scrap' metal is replaced, good for another small dagger perhaps or if nothing else cooking utensils, or so Favchean assumes. Moving to the forge, Favchean bends his height, checking the heat. Fortunately it has been going most of the day now and is good and heated up. Using the vise-grips he slides the cool metal into the forges heat, securing the metal with the vise to wait for the heating. While the metal was heating, Favchean turns to the various materials that are available for handle grips. He knew he wanted a thick grip to provide better hold, and since it was purely decorative he did not need to worry about making it sleek enough to fit into a dagger-scabbard. For this end he chooses a thick raw-hide leather, the original tan color. Spreading the leather out flat, he turns and takes a small set of tongs that were metal on the business end but was hard leather at the hand grips, so that there was no worries about conducting heat. He reaches into the forge and retrieves a red hot piece of wood, the thick chip smoldering. Carefully he presses the coal into the leather in intervals. This causes a scorched design, some darker because he pressed harder, others lighter because it was just lightly passed by. In the end, and after causing the forge room to stink with the smell of burnt leather, he had created a intricate design of cascading teardrops over the leather. Setting the leather aside he turned back to the forge to check the metal. It was a nice light shade of yellow, almost the color of straw which meant it was ready. Retrieving the vise grips he pulled the metal from the forge and took it over to the heavy duty anvil. Using a three pound mallet, Favchean began the grueling process of pounding the metal into shape. The heat of the forge has caused his almost-black skin to glisten with perspiration, and the pounding with the mallet caused his fore arms to bunch and retract over and over. The distinct ring of the hammer against metal filled the workshop, and Favchean found himself lost in the act of creating. He kept the upper side slightly rounded, to provide more balance, then bottom he pounded flat, and only when he was satisfied of a uniform flatness on the blade does he move the blade and dunk it into the water. Steam hisses up, bellowing from the cooling waters, his large hand wafting it away from his face as much as possible. For the next few hours Favchean goes and helps in the Smith shop until his dagger has cooled fully. Once it has he then comes back with a file, about six inches wide and he sits on a stool and begins the filing process. To get the classic stiletto point, he starts the blade at the base then moves the blade down the file, rolling it. Over, and over does he do this. His hands lacking the assured movements of a Master weapon smith, but he is consistent. When the point is as sharp as he would like it, he then fits the t-bar across the base of the blade, then applies the heavy duty adhesive, wrapping the tanned raw-hide around to create the handle. Finally his first dagger, other then his Lakan, that he had crafted from conception to end.

[Praetorian]

Favchean Hronis

Drawing	+1 XP
Blacksmithing	+3 XP
Leatherworking	+2 XP

• Blacksmithing: Sketching a Dagger
• Blacksmithing: Burning Leather for a Scabbard
• Blacksmithing: Yellow Metal Yearns the Hammer's Touch

Items Crafted :

|1 Dagger (Poor Quality)| The edge may be fine but the lack of skill of the craftsman means that the dagger will shatter if exposed to too great a strain. One would be advised against selling this piece unless they wish to be accosted by the customer when the product fractures. If, that is, they survive the encounter. Overall, it is rather crude in shape, only hinting at the ideas Favchean may have had for it, but, it is a step forward.

Notes :

Good job! You managed to make such a repetitive occupation interesting

Have any questions, comments, or concerns? Think I may have missed something? Feel free to message me.