The Magical Solutions for Coating Blades and Axes
The Magical Solutions for Coating Blades and Axes
In previous discussions, we explored two primary methods of creating coatings for blades and axes: electrolysis and flaking. While early fantasy settings may lack access to pure electricity, they possess something much more potent—magic. With magic, the modern techniques of electrolysis can be mimicked, and much more can be achieved. Let’s delve into what we can do with magical coatings and how they might be applied in a high-fantasy world.
Option 1: Alchemy
The fantasy counterpart to modern chemistry, alchemy blends natural properties with magic, rituals, and enchantments. Alchemists can create coatings that imbue weapons with extraordinary effects, using exotic materials and precise methods.
Example: Ygriss the Alchemist
Ygriss, an esteemed alchemist, has been commissioned to create a sword that can sprout flames across its blade. She tasks the adventurer commissioning the work with gathering a fire salamander. Several parts of the salamander will be essential to her process, including:
- Fire Glands: To imbue the blade with elemental fire.
- Blood and Scales: For their natural affinity with heat and flame.
- Ruby Dust: An expensive but necessary component to ensure the magic binds permanently to the blade.
Once the parts are acquired, Ygriss begins the process. She crafts a ritual using enchanted circles, symbols, and chants, combining the salamander’s parts and ruby dust into a potent mixture. Carefully applying the mixture to the blade, she finishes the enchantment with a roaring fire that finalises the coating. The blade glows faintly red, exuding warmth, and ignites into flame when wielded in battle. The adventurer, satisfied with the results, pays Ygriss handsomely and ventures forth with their new weapon.
Option 2: The Crafting and Divine/Arcane Influence
In a world where magic and craftsmanship intersect, smiths, clerics, and wizards collaborate to create weapons infused with divine or arcane power. By combining rare materials and magical energy, weapons gain unparalleled abilities.
Example: Robin the Smith
Robin, a master smith, has been tasked with forging an axe imbued with the power of thunder and lightning. His process involves collaboration with a cleric and a wizard:
- Gathering Materials:
- Blue Dragon Blood and Scales: Known for their affinity with lightning.
- Lightning Crystals: Blessed by the cleric to hold divine energy.
- Special Ore: Mixed with these materials to craft a uniquely conductive steel.
- The Crafting Process:
- Robin forges the blade, carefully incorporating the dragon’s blood and scales into the molten steel. The forge rings with a sound like distant thunder as he hammers the blade into shape.
- He crafts the cross guard and embeds the lightning crystals into the handle, securing them with enchanted bindings.
- Final Enchantment:
- The wizard calls upon their power, channeling a lightning spell directly into the blade. Sparks leap from the axe as the magic fuses with the weapon.
The result is an axe that roars with thunder and strikes with electrifying force, capable of deafening enemies with each blow. Its wielder becomes a storm incarnate, feared on the battlefield.
Option 3: The New Way
For those with access to advanced magical knowledge and resources, a more refined and industrialised approach emerges. By mimicking modern electrolysis with magical baths and constructs, wizards can create precise and consistent coatings imbued with elemental power.
Example: The Wizard and the Acid Blade
A wizard, well-versed in magical alchemy, has been commissioned to create a blade coated with the corrosive power of acid. Here’s how he approaches the task:
- Preparing the Bath:
- The adventurer provides acidic blood, harvested from a creature with innate acid properties.
- The wizard mixes the blood with a carefully crafted solution of enchanted reagents, ensuring it remains stable.
- Setting Up the Process:
- The blade is suspended in the bath, with wires connecting it to a clockwork generator. This device provides the magical current needed to plate the blade.
- The clockwork is wound and set to run for 24-48 hours, during which the wizard periodically stirs the solution to ensure even coating. When the wizard is busy, the apprentice takes over, keeping the process running through the night.
- Completion:
- As the current flows, the acidic properties of the blood infuse into the blade. The process is completed with a final spell, sealing the coating and activating its magical effect.
The finished blade sizzles faintly and emits a sharp, acrid smell. It can corrode armour and melt through obstacles, making it a formidable weapon against heavily armoured foes.
Conclusion
Magic transforms the coating process from a utilitarian practice into an art form. Whether through alchemy, divine and arcane collaboration, or advanced magical solutions, the possibilities for enhancing weapons are limitless. Each method offers unique advantages, from the personal touch of an alchemist to the efficiency of industrialised magical plating. In a high-fantasy world, where ingenuity and magic intertwine, these methods ensure that every weapon carries not just power, but also a story.
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