Wolven metallurgy

Unlike human metals which are mostly iron-based, wolven metals are copper-based.
Pure copper is only sometimes used: arsant (arsenical copper) or brass (zinc copper) are the most common secondary metals. They are used for small, fragile things such as arrowheads, nails, cups, pans and small cauldrons.

Tool alloys

Arsant is copper with a small arsenic alloy: varies between 16:1 and 9:1.
Brass is copper with large zinc alloy; anything from 7:1 to 4:1.
Bronze is the primary metal for durable things. It can be classed as malleable bronze and bell bronze.
Malleable bronze is softer than bell bronze, and uses some tin alloy. 12:1 is typical. This was the most common type of bronze by far.
Bell bronze is a harder bronze using more tin. 8:1 is typical.

Arsant (left), malleable bronze (middle), bell bronze (right).

Decorative metals

Precious metals are used in jewellery for the wealthiest classes. These are silver and gold. The Zhiwtaw region is particularly wealthy in silver. The Nessine Mountains are very rich in gold – this contributes to the major exporting power of the Northwolven Empire.

Manufacturing

All of these metals must be extracted from underground using mines, which litter Wolvenland. In many wolven cultures, slaves are used principally for this effort. Once extracted the ores are heated and cast into moulds at the 'castery' by professional casters.

Access & Availability

While copper is relatively abundant, tin is very localised and disparately distributed. This has contributed significantly to the geopolitical power balance in Wolvenland. Tin is found in the Nessine Mountains, Goumine Mountains, and in parts of Zhiwtaw.

Discovery

The use of copper, brass and arsant first date back to the ancient Tombic civilisation, 3000 years ago, while the use of bronze dates back to the start of the Classical period, some 1900 years ago. By 1300 years ago bronze was commonplace, spread by the two great powers: the Moonwolven and Sunwolven Empires, which were locked in their 200-year-long war.