Dragonforged Metal
Created by the Raithar Empire to be stronger and lighter than steel, this alloy must be forged at extremely high temperatures; ideally, in dragon-fire. Though the Crafters Forge (the guild for smiths and armorers) have managed to replicate the effect, they can only work it in small pieces, and quite slowly. This ensures that both new creations and Raitharan antiques remain highly valuable.
Properties
Material Characteristics
Dragonforged metal is dark and irridescent, often similar in appearance to a black opal, a magpie's feather, or some combination of the two. The range of included colors depends on the precise makup of the alloy and what impurities made thier way into the mix. The larger pieces that Raithar was able to forge often have a range even from one end to the other of what colors reflect, and how smoothly--this may have been done intentionally or have been unavoidable, it is impossible now to truly tell.
No metal is more sensitive or exacting in its creation. Show me a piece of dragonforged metal, and I can tell you how dusty the forge was. Now, if only I could figure out how to get that effect on purpose, with the purer colors of a clean forge...
Physical & Chemical Properties
Once cooled, dragonforged metal is incredibly resistant not only to physical damage, but to magic effects and even the elements themselves, remaining a neutral temperature even in the blazing sun or freezing cold. A sword forged of this metal is very slow to dull and nearly impossible to dent--and just as hard to sharpen again without bringing it back up to temperature. Dragonforged armor is both protective and, if sized and jointed appropriately, very comfortable.
Compounds
The Chemists Guild considers dragonforged metal a perfect element, meaning that it cannot (so far as they can determine) be combined with other materials, nor does it react to any. This makes it a prized container in which to perform other expirements, though few chemists can afford it. The Alchemists Table find it quite interesting as well, though they prefer to use more traditional materials in their work.
History & Usage
History
Dragonforged metal was developed by the Raithar Empire, which used it in countless applications--despite the danger inherent in often-undertrained civilians working so closely with dragons. It was considered good training for young War Dragons, exercising their abilities in a (mostly) controlled environment. If the smiths involved suddenly required a higher number of Goblin assistants, at least that meant there was more work to keep the unfortunate goblins "out of trouble."
When Raithar fell, this technique was considered lost, along with many of their other technologies. However, the Crafters Forge was determined, and capitalized on their good relations with the Valorian Knights to request more and more scraps and objects of dragonforged metal from the Forsworn Lands, as well as any writings found in Raitharan forges or workshops. Eventually, the scouting parties were able to salvage enough information for the Crafters Forge to re-engineer the process. The Forge began sending a few talented apprentices at a time to the Universities to learn fire magic and chemical/alchemical principles, and slowly, forges began to succeed first at repairing existing objects, then at crafting new ones from the base components.
By now, modern dragonforged metal differs from the Raitharan originals only in the size able to be worked at once, and potentially in the level of control or concern over the trace inclusions.
Manufacturing & Products
Primarily associated with arms and armor, dragonforged metal is also used for cauldrons and flasks, small tools, and exquisite jewelry. In Raithar, it was also used for various machinery, locks, and even architectural details.
Hazards
Working with the extremely high temperatures required to produce dragonforged metal carries some risk, but at least in Valor, any such work is closely overseen by mastersmiths, and is undertaken for limited periods of time in well-controlled environments. Accidents can still happen, but they are limited, and any environmental effects are mitigated by limited exposure. In Raithar, this was generally not the case, but the hazards of working closely with the dragons outweighed any others that may have otherwise been a concern.
Reusability & Recycling
Dragonforged metal resists heat well enough that reforming it entirely is near impossible, but a skilled smith can rework it enough to repair damage, make small aesthetic adjustments, or break a larger piece (such as the front panel of a Raitharan seige tower) into smaller creations. The general perception is that the more often a piece of metal is re-worked, the more it is weakened and degraded; visually, it tends to take on more of a muddied appearance. As such, pieces recycled from Raitharan salvage are generally considered appropriate training, for sale to chemists or to soldiers with aspirations to grandeur.
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