Iceclad

“Wow, never seen that before!”

Kuron had been hearing that a lot lately. Between his new magical items, the drawings of the weird creatures of discord he’d been showing people, that one time his pants unexpectedly dropped in the bazaar, and most recently when he’d showed the strange black ore to the smith Korbuk recommended.

The smith ran her scaly fingers over the ore and went on to describe it’s remarkable density. She tossed it gingerly between her hands like a carnival juggler and shook her head. Kuron stiffened his lips. Everything running through her head had already tired its little legs in the heads of Korbuk and Kuron only hours ago. Why was it so light? How was it so strong while being so light? How could it have come from an Ukun’s……leavings?

The smith didn’t ask these questions, however. Kuron was thankful for this, and was glad Korbuk had recommended her now. It’s hard to find smiths who don’t ask questions when you bring them strange minerals from other planes of existence. Go figure. With a grin, the smith grabbed Kuron’s canteen from his belt and headed for the forge.

Smith: “Pardon me, but I am REALLY thirsty all of a sudden. I think I have an idea of what Korbuk is looking for, but frankly I’m just really interested to work with this! I’ll be right back.”

Kuron waited only a short while for the smith to return. Kuron hadn’t dealt with many Iksar, and had dealt with even fewer females regardless of race, but the look in the eyes of the smith as she sauntered back up to him could not be mistaken. She was giddy.

Smith: “This metal was….amazing! There’s no describing how easy it was to work with. I’ve never seen or worked with anything like it! The way the hammer and flames worked this metal was…otherworldly! It’s like it was MEANT to be in the form it is now!”

She presented a blackened sword blade to Kuron. Although unadorned and in the most basic of shapes, the blade had something very special about it. It was like staring at a slumbering beast. Although at rest and in the most unimposing states a great power was still present – hidden and dormant. The craftsmanship was flawless. The blade was perfectly straight, wondrously sharp, and both cold and hot to the touch at the same time. Kuron thanked the smith, who would accept no payment other than to be allowed a moment to caress the blade one last time. Much to Kuron’s discomfort.

When Kuron returned to Korbuk he seemed annoyingly unimpressed with the wonderful craftsmanship. He rolled it around in his large hands as if inspecting a child’s broken toy.

Korbuk: “Oh it’s done? Yea pretty good work. Dat’s what I was thinkin’ of when I saw da ore, but dis definitely isn’t da sword I was lookin’ for. We gotta finish makin’ it I guess for it to be…”

Korbuk’s eyes rolled back into his head as a knowing grin slowly crept over Kuron’s face.

Kuron: “Where to next?” he chuckled.

Korbuk: “Heh. Dis vision showed me a wicked gauntlet holding da magnificently-jeweled hilt of a powerful sword. It’s grip tightened as it swung the sword at an opponent, cleaving trough its shield and helmet in one blow. I couldn’t see anyting of da weapon but da hilt and da hand holdin’ it – but when da sword struck it made dat same ring of metal we both know pretty well by now.”

Korbuk tapped his gauntlet on the newly-crafted blade and nodded, the ring sounded even more loudly this time.

Kuron: “So we need more of th’ ore t’ make a hilt now?”

Korbuk seemed unsure, and pawed at the base of the blade as if for an answer. A flicker of his eyes showed Kuron he had found one.

Korbuk: “I see a creature… bloated… loathsome. Da guy wit da sword is fightin’ it… he ain’t doing well. Every time he slashes at it da thing consumes shadows and heals instantly. I see him trip… he’s getting worried… he’s scared. Da ting is feeding off somethin’ now… eating shadows… eating his fear… I see it’s mouth getting closer… wider…”

Korbuk grimaces and comes to his senses.

Korbuk: “Da hilt… is inside dis creature… in a place called da Bloodfields…”

Kuron stared at him, confused and a bit worried.

Kuron: “I guess we’ll need some friends?”