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Post by Master Account on Dec 20, 2009 1:50:08 GMT -5
Chapter 1
the armor guide There are three types of armor available here in Artha, but only one can be right for you. You may think that any armor can be worn by any dragon, it doesn't matter who you are or what you are like. You are gravely mistaken. As there are three types of armor, there are three classes of dragons. This chapter addresses Iron Armor and the lower class.
Iron Armor has its beginning in iron ore, extracted from the mines deep in the mountains of central Artha. Rocks hiding well below ground contain the raw element iron laced inside. Miners take these rocks and load them into carts to be hauled to the surface. Once the rocks reach the surface, they are inspected by dragons who can smell the iron. If they have too little iron in them to be of any real value, they are simply discarded or sent off to be used in construction. Those that are deemed valuable are hauled off to special caves that act as factories in the extraction of iron and the production of Iron Armor.
Once inside the caves, the rocks will first meet mystic dragons that have the ability to extract the raw element from the rock. Once removed, the iron is sent farther into the caves, and the rock receives the same fate as those before it. Now that the iron is raw, it can be heated and then shaped into armor. Large fires are kept ablaze round the clock, used as furnaces for the blacksmiths. They are fed both by wood and magic, allowing relatively little work to actually keep them going. The blacksmiths, when they receive the iron from the extracting process, immediately set to heating it. Placing large piles upon huge rocks perched over the fire and kept at well over four hundred degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the armor is heated to the right temperature, the blacksmith can now work on it. Because Iron Armor is cheap to both find and create, as well as worn by low class dragons, it cannot be shaped to the customer's order. Instead, it is made rather plain and generic. Removing small piles of iron from the rock, the blacksmith uses special claw-coverings that are as hard as diamonds as hammers to flatten and compact the iron. Depending on the blacksmith, the helmet may either come first, or the body armor. But either way, the result is the same.
The finished product is bland and unattractive, but still fully-usable armor. At least for sparring. Iron Armor is made specifically for young wyrmlings and juveniles who are learning to fight, and wish to get used to the weight of armor for later in life. It is made slightly heavier than the other armors so that when the dragons move on to better armor, they will find it easier to move in combat. It is also used for adult dragons who have never experienced armor and wish to practice with the weight and movement restriction before moving on, or those who just cannot afford the more expensive armor.
The lower class of dragons is comprised of wyrmlings, juveniles, young adults, and loners. They are classified thus because they lack either rank or physical power to obtain rank. However, this does not mean they are any less dragon than anyone else. In fact, the most sociable and likable dragons are often found in the lower class. Don't judge based on class, for you never know who could be the next greatest dragon. |
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Post by Master Account on Dec 20, 2009 1:53:42 GMT -5
Chapter 2
the armor guide This chapter addresses Silver Armor and the middle class.
Silver Armor, just like its iron predecessor, has its beginnings in silver ore. In mines along the coast of Artha, large deposits of silver ore have been found in the cliffs overlooking the sea. The rocks that contain the silver, once hauled out of the mines, are rolled out onto the beach to be inspected. There are very few dragons in Artha that can smell silver, and as such, they must scent large numbers of rock each day just to keep the mines running smoothly. When they inspect the rocks, they simply smell the amount of silver in each one, then mark the ones that contain silver than will be of any use. The others are simply hauled off to be discarded or used in construction. Some rejected rocks with silver are even used as decoration because they still hold some value.
Now that the rocks have been deemed worthy of extraction, they are separated from the others and moved off the beach and into the forest. Here the silver will be extracted by one of the few wolves that have the ability to extract silver. Once removed, the silver is placed upon broad leaves and moved back out onto the beach to bake in the hot sun. The rocks are simply discarded or used in construction.
Once appropriately heated, as it doesn't take nearly as much heat as iron does, it is then put into use by blacksmiths. A blacksmith, while shaping the armor, is instructed by a messenger dragon on how the customer wants it to look. Because it is more expensive, buyers may design their armor however they wish. And those instructions are relayed by messengers dragons with very acute memory. Every step of the way in creation of the armor, the blacksmith adheres to every detail of the messenger. Thus, all Silver Armor is crafted with extreme accuracy. If you look, usually on the underside of the armor, there may be the mark of the blacksmith. This brand tells with pride who crafted the armor so that the customer may appreciate the quality of the blacksmith as well as their new item.
When finished, the hardened armor is then sent in carts hauled by workers to the shop that ordered it. Then it is picked up by the buyer, gold exchanged, and everything is good. However, if color is added to be added to the armor, it is carted off to a different place in the forest, coated with a special natural paint that will never fade or chip, then sent to the shop.
Silver Armor is specifically made for use in combat as well as decoration. Though it is crafted to the customer's wishes, it is always of very high quality and relatively affordable. It is often seen on higher ranked dragons, as they can boast both money and rank.
The term middle class actually refers to rather high ranking dragons. Any normal dragon is included, but not usually seen as the majority. It is those that are still counted as normal dragons, but are still ranked higher, due to challenging and winning or relation to high ranked dragons, that truly make up the middle class. They have no set personality, and are usually very kind and sociable. But some have only power in their minds and can be rather rude. |
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Post by Master Account on Dec 20, 2009 1:55:33 GMT -5
Chapter 3
the armor guide This chapter addresses Draconic Armor and the upper class.
Not much is actually known about the creation of Draconic Armor, as it is a very well kept secret. If one were to figure out how to make it, they could potentially become one of the richest and invulnerable dragons in Artha. We do know, however, that when it is finished being shaped to the customer's order, it is then hauled straight to the shop. The colors applied to it are a mystery, as they are glazed over with a protective coat of some clear, shiny material that becomes harder than diamonds.
Upper class is clearly defined as land owners. Perhaps the only others that would qualify are those highly revered by more than two or three dragons. These dragons are the best of the best, and most didn't catch an easy ride to this status. However, there are always those that were spoiled by their parents and when they died they took over the land. Snobby little brats those are. But don't judge a book by it's cover. This one certainly had some useful information did it not? |
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