======Armour======

The apprentice smith wished he could wipe the sweat off his forehead, but he knew his teacher would not allow it. He knew he was truly fortunate to have gotten a job under such an accomplished and legendary smith, but Lahav BenIdan was a merciless instructor. ‘The metal will not halt its cooling for you to wipe your sweat’ he would say.

The forge was hot, and today’s piece was armour for one of the knights. The young woman had graduated with high honours, and the order and her family were insistent that her equipment reflect that. The apprentice finished tempering the cuirass, and moved to shaping it; it was a long process, and involved careful hammer work. The material he was working with was not the easiest; Lahav referred to it as ‘fae-bone steel’, claiming that it was an ancient Nordic technique that his master’s ancestor’s had picked up in that area, and he had just substituted human bones with fae ones. While the student did not know if that was true, none would argue that it was ineffective. The metal was far stronger than conventional steels, and would often hold special properties- he was fairly certain this one was meant to be of variable weight, depending on the wearer’s preference. Perhaps he could- oh yes, much easier to hold now.

Having gotten the armour into the correct shape, the apprentice began on the armour’s polish. ‘The armour is the most expensive and impressive of a knight’s equipment.’ His master had told him when he first began making armours, after three years of crafting swords. ‘Since times of old, the knight riding through the streets in their shining armour looked like an angel descended from heaven- we are meant to represent the best virtues the kingdom could offer, what all men and women aspire to be. A knight’s armour represents that- it is quite possibly the knight’s most important piece of equipment, and a good piece of armour can make the difference more often than a good blade. Blades are named, and given glory, but it is the armour people see first; it is the badge of office, the part that screams “I’m a knight”. It fulfils this thankless job quietly, unnoticed, much like us smiths. So as a smith, it is your job to ensure that the armour is perfect, and that it will protect the knight’s life.’

‘But sir, weren’t you legendary for your lack of armour? Did you not charge into your foes, fully intending to be injured?’

‘Yes. But I’m also legendary for not upholding a knight’s virtues.’