Imperial Iron

Unlocking the secrets of forging weapons and armor made of steel, or imperial iron as it is sometimes called by outsiders, played a large role in the dominance of the Mardhelm Empire in the west. Lighter, more flexible, and stronger than iron; this material gives the imperial legions a dramatic technological advantage over their rivals. When an iron sword might shatter, a steel sword bends. When the rings of iron mail split under the impact of an arrow, steel endures. With this military edge, the people of the empire have continuously pushed their own borders back for hundreds of years.

Aelutian Gladius by Blade Culture International

When the Order of the Burning Lance aided the empire in the Yemitish Wars, most notably at the Battle of the Gheltish Pass in 578 I.R., they brought an amazing amount of wealth to the east and established a permanent presence in the west. More notably, they were the first outsiders given the knowledge to craft their own steel armaments. They shared this knowledge with their allies in the Kingdom of Brisland. Since then, Brisland and the Orders-Militant of the Temple of the Divines have stood as the pre-eminent military powers of the eastern realms.