Smithing and Metal-Forging

Due to the a quasi-Bronze Age setting with the semi-industrial, partly hunter-gatherer society built on the remains of an older, much more technologically advanced ruins of the Nerathilords - the secrets of steel and iron have long since lost. Maybe the death of Melora, the Earth Mother, Nerathilord of Nature, ruined the world’s store of these ores in the same way that it ravaged the world-girding forests. Maybe these types of metal deposits were mined out centuries ago. Whatever the case, arms and armor crafted from suprerior metal appear only as ancient, enchanted heirlooms.

Tools and weapons of steel such as those wielded by the Grey Company are considered relics of the now-fallen Nerthailords and highly prized for both their function and historic value. Found only in the vaults of Sorcerer-Kings, ancient evils, and veteran adventurers.

Although bronze was almost completely replaced by iron (and later steel) in real-world history, this is not as simply due to bronze always being mechanically inferior. Without better forging and purification techniques, iron and even steel can be outperformed by bronze in many instances. Additionally, it is more resistant to the elements as it does not rust. The main issue with this alloy is the availability of tin, which in some times and places could be inaccessible, leading people to search and trade for new hard metals, since copper itself is limited in manual uses

Although the typical color of bronze is as the name implies, it can take on various colors, depending on what is the amount of tin and other metals, such as brown, golden, white-gold, coppery, or green/blue (if the metal has developed patina).

There has been evidence of iron working on Africa far before the Iron Age in Europe.

And supplimented with the unqiue characterizations of monster harvesting, it had made these bronze weapons more appealing to civilization at large. Most items have trace amount of monsterous biology in their design - with some armor being crafted entirely from strong pieces of bone or carapace.

And should a skilled occultist get their hands on a Nerathi Rosary, Manastone, and other rare implements, they can even craft magical weapons far surpassing those of the Old World.

Trade would also occur primarily through Salt Blocks (1cp) and Rations (5gp) - though wealthy indidivuals would have access to Pure Iron Trade Bars (50 gp in addition to jewelry, gems, weapons, and lumps of metal - lumps of coin are highly unusual.