Weapons and Armor of Thalosar

Overview

The craft of weapon and armor creation varies among the races, each culture expressing its history, magic, and philosophy through forge and form. Orcs dominate the forges of the age, humans refine through rune-binding, dwarves forge for endurance, goblins shape stone and gem with impossible precision, and the works of the ancient giants remain unmatched relics. Every piece bears the soul of its maker — the balance between strength, art, and survival.

Orc Craftsmanship

• Masters of the Forge: The orcs of Ironspine are recognized as the greatest living smiths. Their furnaces burn day and night, shaping steel so dense it rivals carved stone. Orc-forged weapons and armor are status symbols throughout the frontier and beyond.

• Style: Brutal and imposing. Orc arms feature jagged edges, engraved bite-marks, and practical symmetry. Their armor favors mobility without sacrificing power, designed to endure both hammer and fire.

• Mechanic: Orc-forged weapons grant +1 to damage rolls beyond normal steel. Armor forged by orcs counts as one category lighter for encumbrance (plate treated as half-plate, etc.).

• Trade: Highly sought after and rare outside Ironspine. Only noble houses or military orders can afford to commission true orcwork.

Giants Legacy

• Mythical Smiths: The giants of the old age were the first to master the fusion of rune and metal. They forged the Great Wall, the ancient golems, and the first rune-bound blades before vanishing from history. None alive equal their art.

• Style: Monumental and solemn. Blades of fused stone and bronze, etched with runes of permanence that glow even after millennia.

• Mechanic: Giant-forged relics are indestructible artifacts, often carrying unique magical effects (DM-defined).

• Trade: No longer produced; any existing relic is priceless. Most are sealed within Thalossan vaults or guarded by royal decree.

Human Runecraft

• Rune-Bound Steel: Human forges focus on practicality — steel well-balanced and serviceable. Its strength lies not in form but in function, for humans have mastered the art of rune inscription, binding spells directly into their weapons.

• Style: Balanced and unpretentious. Steel marked with faintly glowing runes, functional shapes made elegant through precision.

• Mechanic: Human weapons are standard quality; runes may grant magical effects such as elemental damage, wards, or self-repair. Unruned human steel is functional but mundane.

• Trade: Reliable and common throughout Thalossa. Runed human weapons, however, are heavily restricted by the Mage Guild.

Goblin Stone And Gem Craft

• Legacy of Precision: Goblins are not smiths in the traditional sense — they are artisans of stone and crystal. Descended from elves and bound forever underground, they shape the minerals of the deep with unmatched accuracy. Their chisels carve at the level of light itself, creating forms impossible for other races to reproduce.

• Style: Intricate and geometric. Obsidian blades, gem-inlaid hammers, and armor decorated with perfect symmetry. Their true masterpieces are jewelry and adornments — rings, amulets, and sunstone filigree that shimmer with internal light.

• Mechanic:

  • Weapons: Stone-forged arms grant +1 damage, but have a 10% chance to shatter on critical failure.

  • Armor: Stunning craftsmanship, but heavier — –1 Dexterity cap to AC.

  • Jewelry: Goblin gemcraft radiates faint resonance, amplifying rune energy if worn with enchanted gear (DM discretion).

• Trade: Goblins never travel above ground; all trade occurs through secret tunnels leading to @Gloomreach. Nobles and mages risk death to barter for goblin jewelry, which commands fortunes in Thalossan markets.

• Cultural Note: Every gem cut by goblin hands is considered sacred — a symbol of light reclaimed from the curse that stole the sun from them.

Dwarven Craft

• For Function, Not Beauty: The dwarves of the Southern Crags produce tools and weapons of absolute reliability. They scorn decoration, seeing no purpose in embellishment. Their creations are trusted by soldiers, miners, and mercenaries alike.

• Style: Simple, angular, and sturdy. Heavy spears, thick-edged axes, and wide shields hammered smooth and unadorned.

• Mechanic: Dwarven gear never breaks from wear or corrosion, but cannot safely hold advanced runes or enchantments — attempts to do so risk catastrophic failure.

• Trade: Common and affordable. Dwarven arms are workman’s steel — not treasures, but tools that never fail.

Crafting Hierarchy

• Basic (Dwarven / Ironspine Rejects): Unadorned iron — serviceable, but plain.

• Standard (Human): Reliable steel; default craftsmanship throughout Thalossa.

• Superior (Orc): Dense, master-forged, and revered for unmatched endurance.

• Runed (Human / Runebinder): Steel empowered by inscription, volatile but potent.

• Relic (Giant): Ancient, indestructible, and unique — unmatched in history.

• Exotic (Goblin): Stone and gem masterpieces — delicate but of supreme artistry.

Notes On Runes And Trade

• Runes: Only humans and the ancient giants can truly bind runes. Orcs and dwarves cannot, and goblins carve rune patterns for resonance, not magic.

• Value:

  • Orc-forged steel – highest martial demand.

  • Goblin jewelry – highest noble demand.

  • Dwarven tools – most accessible.

  • Human runes – most unpredictable.

  • Giant relics – beyond valuation.

• Trade Routes: All goblin goods come exclusively from @Gloomreach. No goblin traders appear in Thalossa; their items reach the capital only through smugglers or sanctioned collectors.

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