Apprentice's Blade
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Despite the name, and their role in teaching apprentices, the weapons themselves are in reasonable demand. They are useful both to the unskilled civilian who must fight (for whatever reason), and to the trained soldier or hero who desires an additional edge. In [[Highguard]] and [[Urizen]] in particular, the idea that these are 'apprentice' weapons is largely disdained. They refer to these weapons as ''Prosperity Blades'', and Highborn and Urizen artisans alike treat the long process of construction a little like a meditative exercise, letting their bodies focus on the physical tasks they perform, leaving their minds free to consider spiritual matters. The name is also a reference to the fact that the weapons require trace amounts of expensive materials; that their value is created by hard work and skilled crafting, not by the special properties of a rare material. | Despite the name, and their role in teaching apprentices, the weapons themselves are in reasonable demand. They are useful both to the unskilled civilian who must fight (for whatever reason), and to the trained soldier or hero who desires an additional edge. In [[Highguard]] and [[Urizen]] in particular, the idea that these are 'apprentice' weapons is largely disdained. They refer to these weapons as ''Prosperity Blades'', and Highborn and Urizen artisans alike treat the long process of construction a little like a meditative exercise, letting their bodies focus on the physical tasks they perform, leaving their minds free to consider spiritual matters. The name is also a reference to the fact that the weapons require trace amounts of expensive materials; that their value is created by hard work and skilled crafting, not by the special properties of a rare material. | ||
The Wintermark rune [[Jotra]] is sometimes engraved into the pommel of an Apprentice's Blade, or more commonly onto the scabbard that holds the weapon. | |||
==Rules== | ==Rules== | ||
Revision as of 22:50, 30 December 2012
Description
An apprentice's blade is often the first item crafted by a young artisan at the beginning of their career. While they require only the most trivial amount of orichalcum ore be worked into the metal, the process of creating the correct alloy is very time consuming. Most apprentices have to begin the process several times, melting the blade back down again, painstakingly extracting the precious ore, and alloying the steel all over again. Once the proportions needed to create the alloy are correct, the metal must be folded and refolded hundreds of times in a seemingly never-ending series of forging and quenching and hammering.
Completing one of these weapons is often a rite of passage; even the most dour master must admit that a crafter who can create one of these items is an apprentice no longer. Mastering the art of crafting this item is often considered proof that the artisan possesses self-discipline, due respect for the materials, and the ability to undertake complex crafting processes.
Despite the name, and their role in teaching apprentices, the weapons themselves are in reasonable demand. They are useful both to the unskilled civilian who must fight (for whatever reason), and to the trained soldier or hero who desires an additional edge. In Highguard and Urizen in particular, the idea that these are 'apprentice' weapons is largely disdained. They refer to these weapons as Prosperity Blades, and Highborn and Urizen artisans alike treat the long process of construction a little like a meditative exercise, letting their bodies focus on the physical tasks they perform, leaving their minds free to consider spiritual matters. The name is also a reference to the fact that the weapons require trace amounts of expensive materials; that their value is created by hard work and skilled crafting, not by the special properties of a rare material.
The Wintermark rune Jotra is sometimes engraved into the pommel of an Apprentice's Blade, or more commonly onto the scabbard that holds the weapon.
Rules
- Form: One-handed weapon. Despite the name these weapons are as likely to be maces, hand-axes or other one-handed weapons as they are to be swords.
- Effect: Once per day, you may call CLEAVE with this one-handed weapon.
- Materials: Crafting an Apprentice's Blade requires no special materials. It takes two months to make one of these items.