The Eir Astri Skyforge

The Eir Astri Skyforge is a building that was designed around a single purpose: the housing of three furnaces needed to refine Jaldbrik (or more colloquially known as a "Fire Elemental Heart").

Purpose / Function

The Eir Astri Skyforge is a building that was designed around a single purpose: the housing of three furnaces needed to refine Jaldbrik (or more colloquially known as a "Fire Elemental Heart"). In order create high enough temperatures to refine the Jaldbrik, the three forges produce incredible heat. The three forges are cooled using the Cunab bay, where water is drawn into a pipe system as a safeguard against the forges themselves melting. The forges themselves are rotated such that only a portion of the forge is exposed to the high temperatures at any given time. While this does produce some cooling to the internal material, it is necessary due to the high temperatures that are experienced. The forges have a built-in ventilator that allows the forges to perspire. This allows for the material to also self-cool to ensure that the forges do not overheat. The material placed into the forges initially are burning material that ensure that the furnaces are well-heated in preparation for the introduction of the Jaldbrik. The proximity of the Skyforge to the ocean to allow for adequate cooling enables the Skyforge to work correctly.

Alterations

Over time, there have been several alterations to the design of the Skyforge. While initially a location that was purely for the refinement of the Jaldbrik, the Eir Astri Skyforge has been adapted to create the flying vessels of the Isfan armadas (including sky and sea). This was introduced in order to prevent the attempted theft of the material during transit and subsequent ransom of the material. The ports have been expanded to allow for charter ships carrying passengers as well as cargo to enter into the docks. The number of docks at the Skyforge number ten, two which allow even the largest ships of the Aurdian Kingdom to stay at port.
To showcase the magnificence of the Eir Astri Skyforge, most voyages to Eir Astri dock at the Skyforge. Firstly, since mainly those people coming to Eir Astri are laborers in the forge or directly serve those that work in the Skyforge, the port there is most appropriate. Secondly, due to the presence of the bastion (the wall surrounding most of the Eir Astri, there are no other reasonable docks for larger vessels to dock. This necessitated the expansion of the forge dock during the construction of the wall.

Architecture

While the construction of the Eir Astri Skyforge became using limestone bricks and wood, it quickly became clear that the size of the structure would require different materials. Adopting parts of the Isfan architectural style, which includes soaring spaces and elaborate decoration on the interior, this is mainly left to the outer surfaces and the expanded parts of the Skyforge over time. The interior where the workers make the wares has been replaced with utilitarian styles that enable craftsmen to work quickly and efficiently. As such, beyond the vault doors that prevent access into the lower forge floor, the barren space appears as a smooth, spacious area with long reaching steps. At the bottom of the forge are large enclosures. Within the enclosures are floodgates. Beyond the floodgates are the waters of the Cunab Gulf. Looking up from the bottom of the forge floor, the entrances to the three other forges are made clear. Staring up the central forge, the white brick walls are almost visible. The smooth surfaces indicative of work rather than aestetic. Leaving the lower forge floor and venturing back into the common areas, pillars grip from floor to sealing. In the main entrance to the Skyforge from the Eir Astri side, the room boasts three open floors that provide a viewing arcade. When dignataries from Isfa arrive, these arcades provide viewing of an address to the workers and people of Eir Astri. Beyond the stairs that provide access to the workshops where workers create parts from templates, or custom parts as needed, the rooms feature barren walls that are coated in dark material. Periodically, when scrubbed clean, the soft grey stones are revealed. These stones are cooled using the similar procedures as the forges as residual heat from the Skyforge is used to perpetuate the fires of the lesser forges. However, many of the rooms feature dwarvish aesthetics, having been crafted into the walls by the dwarvish descendents that took part in the construction. On the exterior, which includes the Skyport, the walls are decorated with clay-fired bricks which varies in color from the different regions of import. Due to the size of the venture and the construction, many different masons manufactured and shipped bricks. There are many inset undowsand columnar structures separated by planar walls. The whole structure continues to rise, incrementally cascading to the tops where the furnace bellows.

Defenses

The Eir Astri Skyforge is strategically important to Isfa. Producing machines unmatched in design and capability, the Skyforge is the only known means to refine Jaldbrik. As such, the Skyforge is one of the most protected locations within Isfa. The exterior of the Skyforge includes a courtyard and a wall. The wall is constructed of bricks and rises twenty feet high. At the top of the wall is a patrol that maintains a constant watch over Eir Astri and the surrounding area. Within the forge is a contengency of one-hundred soldiers. Many of the soldiers kept during this time are those who are to be aboard the ships either being constructed or in port for repairs (including sky and sea). Isolated from the land by the Cunab Gulf, the Eir Astri Skyforge has the protection of the vessels within the gulf itself.
Unfortunately, the largest vulnerability of the Skyforge is inside threats. This includes those working in the Skyforge and within the Eir Astri. This requires the presence of Auditors (Isfan authorities) to intervene through the inspection of individuals. Skilled in understanding motives, extracting and discerning truth, and holding an oath of protection, these Auditors are fearful interrogators. They have been known to invade the thoughts of the workers on occasion, often inciting aggravation of the workers.

History

The Eir Astri Skyforge was conceived by the dwarves of Emtatuk and the scholars of Isfa. The longstanding alliance between the pair, mainly those of the material master Teska (the Diamondchewer) and Isfan master Perras Sab, enabled quick discussion upon the discovery of the Jaldbrik within the mines of Emtatuk. When the dwarves entered into a large void within the moutain, they found that the surface was coated in bulbous minerals that were warm to the touch. The minerals had small protrusive spikes that were difficult to break off. First thinking that thet minerals were a sort of gemstone, the dwarves attempting cutting the mineral. However, they found that if the Jaldbrik was cut too small, the mineral would crumble, regardless of the purity of the cut. While larger cut pieces were still made and sold to the populace, a conversation between Teska and Perras Sab sought to refine the material. Previous attempts at smelting the material did not provide promising results as the highest achievable temperatures at the dwarven forges were unable to melt the material. Bringing the material to Isfa, the Langevin Academy of the Arcane attempted to using magic means to heat the material, but these attempts were also rebuffed. It was Perras Sab who suggested superheating, the process of compressing the material while also applying heat. In order to achieve this, the pair obtained the only known material that compresses when heated, Imperial Agate. First, the crushed Imperial Agate and Jaldbrik is heated slightly. When both of the materials where placed within a vault, constructed of steel with reinforced banding, the vault itself was heated. Acting as a sacrificial crucible, the temperature of the vault eventually exceeded the melting point. By this time, the Imperial Agate had formed a shell around the Jaldbrik. Temperature continued to increased, with many arcanist feinting from the heat and being replaced by stand ins, the Agate eventually split, the pieces quickly compressing themselves into balls. From the splitting was revealed a luminous orb that appeared to be suspended in air. It was noted that as the material cooled, it fell to the ground. Teska and Perras Sab are credited with the first refined Jaldbrik.
The discovery was promptly shown to Illiam Castell. Upon being advised of the promise of such a finding, Illiam Castell ordered the Jaldbrik stores and Imperial Agate to be purchased en masse. Those involved with the creation of the refined Jaldbrik, were taken to Eir Astri where they would be given what they needed to continue their work. Unfortunately, in order to ensure that the secret was kept, the archmage of the Langevin Academy, in an effort to protect the kingdom, removed the memories of the discovery from Teska. This was met with harsh rebukes from those involved with the discovery. Nevertheless, the creation of the material would be known to require specific additional materials, including Murkhard stone. It would be revealed later that Murkhard stone, which was supposed to be reactive to the Jaldbrik without any provocation, does not exist. Thus, those who sought to replicate the experiment would never identify the required Murkhard stone as the other materials are not responsive as expected.
As the experiments continued, it was found that the size of the resultant refined Jaldbrik was directly related to the amount of lift that the device would yield. Thus, the smaller stones would proportionally lift weights nearly one-thousand times it's own weight. This meant that the stone would need to be much larger to ensure that the devices could support carts or boats. In time, it was suggested that airships, or vessels that could travel in the air, should be the focus. While smaller devices would be able to lift a cart, the proportion of reward was insignificant. Rather, airships would provide an unmatched advantage.
The size of the experiments continued to grow and the heat of the inferno that was required was quickly becoming unsupportive. The initial construction of the Eir Astri was halted to reconceive the plan. It was determined that multiple locations of heat could be channeled to a central location, reducing the burden on a single volume while also providing multiple sources that could be independently controlled. It was conceived that the crucible would be placed in a lower forge while the three high forges would channel directly to the lower forge. There, the three sources of increasing heat would join to crush the crucible and produce the refined Jaldbrik. This change would revolutionize the process, though the temperatures would destroy the lower forge with each use. Similarly, the radiant heat would affect the high forges requiring subsequent maintainance.
First infiltrations into the skyforge were exacted by groups of bandits who sought to ransom some of the materials to unknown buyers. Upon acquiring the unrefined Jaldbrik, the bandits could not find the additional material required to complete the refinement process. The lone-survivor of the theft was captured after a brief naval encounter. The survivor indicated that, "We searched for hours. Hours! Not a single rock. Just some gravel, dust, and soot." The precautions of Isfa appeared to have worked.
However, the Eir Astri Skyforge was sabotaged shortly thereafter. Believing that the vault was safe, saboteurs infiltrated through the sewer system. It was discovered that the guards were taken by surprise when most of the Eir Astri command were indulging in royal ceremonies on the mainland. It should also be noted that the attack happened while the forges were being prepared for another cycle. The assailants entered into the control room and prematurely activated the forges. The upcycle resulted in the production of molten material into the reserves, overheating in the upper forges. When the material tumbled into the lower forge, the assailants interfered with the staff that were attempting to open the floodgates. It would turn out the valve was broken during a scuffle. As material continued to pour into the forge, the temperature began to rise. As the crucible had not been prepared and no outlet for the molten material to exit, the heat within the room became unbearable. Several staff entered the chamber to attempt to manually open the valves. During this, they were tragically killed by a creature that sprang from the lava itself. This creature further stoked the heat in the chamber as the air itself felt afire. For whatever reason, the saboteurs triggered the safeguard releasing water into the chamber. The creature seemingly vanished as the sudden chill cracked the walls of the forge. During the attempted capture of the saboteurs which resulted in a hijacked Stalwart-class airship, the saboteurs were shot down. Isfa was unable to identify the culprits and security of the Skyforge has been increased ever since.

Alternative Names

The Three Ember Hold, The Ashen Cloak

Type

Orbital, Shipyard

Parent Location

Eir Astri