Crafting Motif 16 : Glass Content . By Vandalion Brightsteel , Armorsmith Peerless of Vulkhel Guard During the recent strife in Firsthold , certain reference works were lost from the great library , so His Excellency Kinlord Rilis has asked the leading experts of Auridon to replace them with new accounts . For the definitive description of the Glass crafting style , naturally our wise sovereign turned to me . AXES The avian motif typically of the Glass style is particularly prominent in the axe designs , where the glass - edged blades are crafted to resemble the wings of a bird of prey . The blades ' feathered appearance is strictly cosmetic ; the scoring that produces the feathered look is too shallow to weaken the blade , but is deep enough to create blood gutters . BELTS The belt on a suit of glass armor is usually a single cincture of some exotic leather , adorned with glass bosses in rhomboid or pentagonal shapes . Geometrical tassets depend from either hip , and there may be a chevron - shaped fauld in front to protect the groin . BOOTS Elegant footwear indeed ! These vary from sturdy leather moccasins with glass toe - guards with light armor , up to steel - and - glass sabatons with heavy armor . Flexibility is paramount , as Elven soldiers favor agility over thickness of plate . BOWS Glass - style bows are compound and recurved , with a wooden grip and limbs of horn . The front of the curve and back of the recurve are faced with glass for maximum power . Non - glass parts of the bow are often painted with a metallic lacquer , so that a flash of reflected sunlight ripples along the line as a troop of archers raises their bows for a volley . CHEST PIECES The downward - pointing chevrons on Glass cuirasses evoke the deep - muscled chests of great flying creatures , and indeed the chest plates are often adorned with images of eagles , dragons , or cliff racers . They are constructed of leather , steel , and glass , with as much additional glass trim as the buyer can afford . DAGGERS A Summerset glass dagger is the finest fighting knife there is . The glass on a Glass - style dagger is usually confined to the point and edge , with accents on the pommel ; the tang , guard , and core of the blade are of steel . They are capable weapons , equally useful for slashing , stabbing , or parrying . GLOVES Glass - style gauntlets typically feature thin , flexible leather gloves , with glass strips protecting the back of the hand and the forearms . The elbows are covered by triangular glass - faced cowters that echo the shape of the pauldrons above . HELMETS Glass - style headpieces extend the winged motif of the cuirasses and pauldrons upward ; they often have armored crests , cheek - wings , and winged cranium caps . Glass , polished to a glossy sheen , trims every edge . A fine glass helmet is a sight to behold . LEG GREAVES Whether light , medium , or heavy , all greaves in this magnificent style are constructed of sturdy but flexible leather faced with glass . The main difference is the amount and thickness of the glass banding , and the size of the shield - shaped glass poleyns that protect the knees . MACES Glass - style maces and hammers feature elegant but heavy steel heads with glass - tipped studs and spikes . The hafts are made of a dense but flexible wood such as ash , faced with steel languets and ending in a steel roundel heavy enough to partially offset the weight of the head . That enables these long - hafted weapons to be whirled almost like quarterstaves . SHIELDS For a shield that is nearly all metal , glass shields are remarkably light , precisely because they ' re mostly glass plates held in a slender matrix of steel . Two broad glass wings , usually avian - themed , flare out from central steel ribs to broad " feathered " edges . SHOULDER ARMOR The Glass - style pauldrons are integrated with the shapes of the chest pieces , extending the winged motif onto the shoulders and down into the upper - arm rerebraces . The marine version of this style resembles breaking waves rather than wings . STAVES A staff in the Glass style is many a wizard ' s proudest possession . The long wooden shaft , sheathed in steel languets to protect it while parrying , is simple enough ; it ' s the elaborate winged finial that is the glory of a glass staff . The steel head , often set with large turquoises , unfolds on either side into a pair of exquisite glass wings , evoking birds , bats , or Dragons . The entire finial seems to glow with inner fire . SWORDS A Glass sword is a cunning combination of steel core and tang with a glass point and edges . The blade may be quite broad near the tip , and even " feathered " with shallow blood gutters . Despite their size , the blades are light , favored by sword - fighters for their ease of use and battlefield durability — for a glass sword will hold its edge long after a steel or alloy sword has gone dull .