The Lightning Forges

Hidden within the Thunder Peaks, where the Everstorm’s wrath is at its most intense, lie the Lightning Forges—sacred smithies of the Stormborn tribes. These clandestine sanctuaries of craftsmanship are where lightning itself is harnessed to forge weapons of unmatched power. Only the most skilled blacksmiths, those who have earned the title of Stormwrights, are entrusted with the secrets of these forges.

The Forging Process

1. Sky-Iron Extraction – The raw material for these weapons is typically Sky-Iron, a rare ore believed to be infused with storm energy. It is painstakingly gathered from meteorites or the highest peaks where the Everstorm lingers.
2. The Lightning Anvil – Rather than traditional heat, the Stormwrights position their metal upon conductive anvil stones, often rich in Stormglass and Zephyrite Ore, materials that channel and amplify electrical energy.
3. Storm-Tempering – Blacksmiths perform rituals and chants, waiting for a natural lightning strike to descend upon the forge. When the lightning strikes, it superheats and reshapes the metal, infusing it with raw elemental power.
4. Cooling in Thunderfall Waters – The molten blade is then quenched in enchanted pools, often fed by glacial runoffs charged with static-laced rainfall from the Everstorm. This process seals the storm’s essence within the blade.
5. The Final Inscription – Before the weapon is complete, the Stormwright etches runes of binding and focus, ensuring the weapon channels its latent energy without self-destructing.

Properties of Lightning-Forged Weapons

• Storm-Fury Blades – Swords, spears, and axes forged in the Lightning Forges often crackle with latent electricity when drawn, sometimes discharging small arcs upon impact.
• Conductive Strikes – In battle, these weapons can attract and store ambient electrical energy, allowing warriors to unleash bursts of lightning upon their foes.
• Bonded to the Stormborn – Many of these weapons respond best to those attuned to the storm, becoming extensions of their wielder’s will.

Cultural & Mystical Significance

• A Trial of Mastery – Becoming a Stormwright is no easy feat. One must endure the perils of the Thunder Peaks, learn the sacred forging rites, and survive the lightning-tempering process—a task that has claimed many.
• Sacred to the Stormborn – Lightning-forged weapons are heirlooms, passed down through generations. To wield one is to carry the fury of the Everstorm itself.
• Feared by Outsiders – These weapons are rarely traded or given to outsiders, as they are seen as sacred extensions of the storm’s will. However, those who have crossed paths with a storm-blessed warrior bearing such a weapon tell tales of weapons that burn with living thunder.

Legends & Myths

• The First Stormwright – According to legend, the first Lightning Forge was created when a fallen god of storms gifted a mortal the knowledge to harness the sky’s wrath. This mortal, the first Stormwright, forged a blade that could cleave the heavens, but it was lost in a battle against an ancient thunderbeast.
• The Unfinished Blade – Deep within the peaks, a half-forged blade still lies upon an anvil, awaiting the perfect storm to complete its creation. It is said that whoever finishes the blade will wield the true fury of the Everstorm.

The Lightning Forges remain among the most mystical and revered sites of the Stormborn tribes, a place where steel and storm are made one.

Type

Craftsman, Blacksmith / Smithy

Parent Location

The Thunder Peaks