Tazmirak

The tazmirak is a peculiar and unique woodburning tool used by native woodworkers in and around Qesrir. Its name comes from "tazmil," the typical woodburning tool widely used by Sharan artisans, and "rak," the Arventiri word for fish. This is due to the tool head's resemblance to a fish head or fish tail, which produces a characteristic burn pattern.

Significance

Through the years, tazmurak craftsmen have created a "design language" of sorts. Common motifs are used to represent abstract concepts such as family, love, courage, and determination. These design elements are often combined into stories ranging from the simple to the elaborate and are used to adorn furniture and other wooden fixtures of a home.
Some of the most complex tazmurak designs are burnt into the wooden frames of Abaz windows. These designs often tell the stories of local folk heroes or guardian spirits and can also contain prayers for protection and good fortune. This is due, in part, to a common Sharan superstition that most evil spirits and malicious intents enter a home through its windows—as devils and demons who wish to use the door must first be invited in.

Item type

Tool

Rarity

Though tazmurak are relatively common in and around Qesrir, few woodworkers outside of the region make use of the tool. Even across the Sharan Peninsula, the tools are only found in truly artisanal workshops.

Raw materials & Components

Tazmurak are typically made from wrought iron which are thought to better retain heat than most other readily-available metals.