Ironwood
An incredibly strong wood used in place of metal in some weapons and armour.
Properties
Material Characteristics
This dark brown wood tends to be smooth to the touch and the grain is barely visible. It feels like it has an inner warmth even after being cut from the tree. It feels about as heavy as an equivalent piece of oak.
Geology & Geography
Ironwood trees (angatoa) are found deep in the elven forests. They require a high concentration of iron in the soil and magic in the surroundings to grow.
History & Usage
Discovery
When the elves first came across a stand of ironwood trees they considered them to be incredibly frustrating. The trees' fruit were inedible and the trees were not attractive enough to want growing in a settlement. While some thought about using the wood for furniture it was so tough that any tool used on it went blunt withing a few moments. The attitude towards the wood changed after a druid, Caelynn Holimion, coaxed one of the trees into growing a staff for her. It proved to be not only incredibly sturdy, but also well suited to holding an enchantment. There was soon a great clamour for ironwood equipment but given the scarcity of the trees the spellweavers restricted how many such items could be grown each year.
Refinement
Trying to cut or carve ironwood is an exercise in futility. Magc is required in order for it to be used. A druid or spellweaver must coax the tree into growing a branch or branches into the desired shape. Depending on the spells used the brnach grown by the tree may be especially strong or flexible. With enough skill, a branch coaxed out which has layers of differing stengths and flexibility which ar suitable for bows.
Manufacturing & Products
Ironwood is mostly used in staffs, clubs, bows, and shields.
- Staffs and clubs made from ironwood are tougher than those made from regular wood and don't require the metal fittings normally used at the ends of such weapons. Part of the ritual for raising a druid to a position of leadership in the elven circles involves them growing a staff for themselves.
- Bows grown from ironwood have greater stopping power than even the best composite bows, though this comes with requiring more strength to draw them fully.
- WHile it takes a long time to coax a tree into growing into s shape suitable for an ironwood shield, they are highly prized pieces of equipment. Having no metal parts, and with natural resistance to fire these shields are in demand when hunting rust-monsters, dealign with spellcasters who can cause metal to heat up, or when fighting things that can produce flames.
