Incandescent Steel

A metal produced solely in Aodh, the secret of its creation handed down to them directly from Ignacio. Despite many others desiring this metal, no one has been able to counterengineer the secret of its manufacture. As such, only a few Artisan blacksmiths across Eithne know its secrets.
Incandescent Steel is very rarely seen outside Aodh, and items made out of it tend to command extremely high prices.
== Properties ==
Incandescent Steel is a beautiful metal with an iridescent sheen. The best Incandescent Steel is pale, sometimes even slightly translucent, with a clear iridescent shine to it, reflecting many colors. Darker shades of Incandescent Steel are just as hardy, but considered somewhat less beautiful, and are apparently easier to make. Sometimes the metal may have a somewhat glittering appearance.
Incandescent Steel is as hard as diamond, and can cut through other metals, including regular steel. It is highly resistant to rusting, and with good maintenance, an Incandescent Steel blade will remain sharp forever. 
== Learning to Craft ==
Only a select few, even in Aodh, know how to craft Incandescent Steel. Apparently it is a somewhat challenging material to craft, even to one who knows its secrets, and high level of mastery is needed to create it. Only Artisan level blacksmiths are aware of how this metal is created.
When a blacksmith is ready to become an Artisan, they are passed down the knowledge of the metal’s creation by another master Artisan. This teaching is practical and oral only - never have the secrets of the metal’s creation been written down.
The method of creation is a closely guarded secret, and taken extremely seriously. Historically, death penalties have been given to the few individuals who tried to pass on the secret unauthorized. To betray the secret of Incandescent Steel is to betray all of Aodh - and Ignacio.
== History ==
The kirins apparently knew the secrets of the metal, but even among them only a select few master blacksmiths knew how the metal was created, and this knowledge was guarded with the same jealousy as it is today. They used it primarily to craft weapons and armor, although some partially destroyed metal sculptures have also been unearthed. Most of these were destroyed with their masters when Valore fell, but a select few items were left behind. Few wanted to keep reminders of the warlike kirins, so these weapons were largely destroyed, save for a few that remain in private collections across Hireath.
When Ignacio reappeared in Hireath in the year 884, the creation of Incandescent Steel was his gift to his new people. Over generations, Aodhian blacksmiths have continued to pass on the secret of its creation, and produced many beautiful weapons, armor pieces and ornaments out of the material.
Category:Lore
Category:Aodh