#Lore24 – Entry #70 – Fantasy Month #10 – Dragon-blown Glass and Metal
From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:
Ah, a lovely topic today, for I rarely have cause to delve into the arts, for certainly the dragon-blown crafts of the kobolds are certainly art. I say of the kobolds, but the nature of dragon-blown glasses and metals are, as the name suggests, originally the domain of the ancient dragons themselves, preserved through the ages by their dedicated servants who remained after they vanished from the world.
Though many would proclaim the dwarven smiths to be the best craftsmen around, a strong case exists for the kobold master artisans to be considered equals in such praises. Though far rarer than dwarven craftsmen, the kobolds’ draconic heritage grants them quite a unique advantage when working with certain materials, namely metal and glass. I can only surmise as to the truth of the matter, but the general enmity that exists between dwarves and kobolds, at least those within and around the Empire, may have its origins in the ongoing argument over who can craft better weapons and armor; the kobold master glassmakers have a decided lead in that area, while the dwarves remain the best stonemasons upon the face of Andyllion.
Kobolds, by their very nature, are capable of a very limited form of draconic breath, the nature of which is determined by their particular draconic heritage, and they have adapted the draconic method of crafting using that breath in their work. The masters of the art have trained themselves to such a degree as to have a much greater and more potent form of breath than the average kobold and exhibit a much more finely-tuned control of that breath, using it to alter the very makeup of the material which they are crafting. Though one would assume a fiery breath is used, any form of kobold breath can be adapted using their secret techniques, from icy cold, to acid, to lightning and even the rarer variations, each having a unique effect upon the items crafted, which will inherit some of the elemental nature of the breath that forged them.
As to the nature of dragon-blown glass, it is exceptionally more resilient than standard glassware, able to survive drops of several feet without chipping or breaking, lasting for many centuries and having been known to survive even shipwrecks and collapsing buildings in some cases. Further, depending on the nature of the breath that forged the item, it will maintain an essence of that breath, and display unique properties. A dragon-blown teapot crafted using a fiery breath, for example, will keep its contents piping hot for hours, whereas a carafe blown by a cold breath will keep its contents cool for hours, even in the heat of a desert environment. Many of the most rare and delicate arcane ingredients are stored in dragon-blown bottles and jars, and the best arcanists use dragon-blown alchemical equipment.
When it comes to dragon-blown metals, standard iron and steel weapons tend to retain elemental properties of the breath that forged them, meaning that they will either resist that particular element in the case of armor or a shield, or produce an elemental effect upon a strike from the weapon (a wound caused by a weapon blown by an acidic breath would cause an acidic burn upon the flesh, for example), making these weapons highly sought after when dealing with the likes of trolls and other rapidly healing creatures, or those that have an elemental aspect to their nature, or in areas where magic is unreliable or nullified. When used upon other metals, such as mythril, the effects are heightened, or may be entirely different depending on the nature of the forge, and the metal is generally made more resistant to damage and erosion. It is not unheard of for multiple kobold master smiths to combine their efforts into single items of great power, blending or altering the effects of their breaths in astounding ways. Supposedly one of the armors favored by the Emperor himself was forged by kobold smiths centuries ago.
I should also note that some examples of true dragon-blown glasses and metals still exist, but are exceptionally rare and worth kingdoms, basically priceless. Though likely never to see the light of day again, the Emperor is known to have at least three examples of these crafts within his personal collection, handed down from the very start of the Empire. Rumors abound that one can still find such treasures hidden within the Dragontail Isles, but the ancient magics still keep explorers away from the archipelago, aside from the Tip of the Tail, a small island commonly called Cypress Isle due to the abundance of such trees growing there. If I’m not mistaken, there are also examples of such ancient crafts found across the seas, held within the city of Arcavarlon.