BXBX NOVEL Chapter 517 516: Preparing For The Excursion (5)
Currently, I was amongst their number observing a wine red scaled Lizardkin woman hammering out a sheet of metal, which she then laid over a carved torso and began to shape the metal into a cuirass.
Beside her, a younger Lizardkin worked on weaving small segments of chainmail together, before moving on to file out and finish up the large set of metal scales that would be used for another piece of armor.
I wanted to observe first before trying my hand at crafting armor, since this was something that was just as important as the weapons that I forged.
The alloys that I was making would improve the defensive capabilities of Jahi immensely, while the rest of us would benefit from something protecting the vitals...
As such, I needed to see how they made armor before doing a few tests myself, and the current plan was something simple to just dip my toes into it.
So I stood there for an hour, taking note of what they were doing and how they did it before eventually making my way back to the empty furnace and anvil that Ba\'Ruk had assigned me, where all my tools and materials were kept over these last few days.
Retrieving some steel and Coal Serpent scales, I started stockpiling a large amount of the black alloy and set it to the side, wanting to get this preparation done first.
On top of the alloy, I retrieved some of the tanned hides from one of the storage barrels and brought it back to my station, finally having what I needed to start.
With a few hours left till dusk, I began with something simple to start; bracers.
Specifically bracers for me, since I didn\'t have any measurements for the others - though I could make minor adjustments to alloy using Metal Magic, I wasn\'t particularly fond of doing so since it weakened it a bit.
Pulling out one of the smaller ingots of alloy, I got to work hammering it down to under an inch thick, before tracing out the shape that I needed and the length I needed.
Cutting off the excess, I continued to shape the metal before finding myself with a passable piece of black metal; there were some obvious blemishes on the surface, some minor warping I needed to hammer out, but overall not too bad considering it was my first piece of curved alloy.
Next I sliced off some of the leather and began to work on creating the straps for the bracer, losing myself easily to the simple process as time began to trickle by, the sun slowly descending towards the horizon.
Before it could though, I grinned as I looked down at the simplistic metal bracer I had made, slipping it onto my left arm and tightening the straps, doing some basic shakes and jabs to see if it moved too much or if it hurt to wear.
Ideally I\'d pad the underside of the metal with a thin layer of leather to both add more protection but also make it a more comfortable thing to wear, but for the time being this was perfect.
Drumming my fingers atop its surface, I leaned against the anvil and looked towards the furnace, my mind working on some ideas for each of the women I loved.
Leone would want the least armor, but a chainmail shirt, some bracers or gauntlets as well as some boots would certainly do her some good, but if I were to get into leather working as well I would go ahead and make her a tunic and pants of tanned Firefang pelt.
Kat would be a similar build... or well, almost identical to Leone, since she is a mixture of a mage and a melee fighter, so chainmail and bracers would certainly be needed.
Jahi was the only one of the three that would require heavy armor, considering her adamant desire to be the one protecting us all from the front, as well as the logical choice of her being up front with how strong she was and how her Demon blood gave her a boost in that regard.
Plate armor would do her good, and considering the Marquess already has a set of plate for herself, I know that the Demoness won\'t notice the weight - while her Mom might be stronger then her still, the ease and quickness with which she moved despite donning such heavy armor left little to the imagination in regards of her capabilities.
If Jahi could only tap into a third of that strength, she\'d still be incredibly quick with plate armor, but for the moment I can\'t do anything to make that armor, as I have no measurements to work with, and armor making is all about precision.
As for myself, I had a few plans for my own armor, and it would be a healthy mix between the two separate sets I\'d be making; a cuirass, a pauldron, gauntlets, a rerebrace to protect my upper arm, and boots.
That was the plan; a protected chest, one arm completely covered, the other half covered, and the rest protected by leather or chainmail.
Light enough to keep me agile, unobstructive enough to keep my attacks precise, but thick enough to protect against attacks.
Taking another glance at the setting sun, I shrugged as I began to work on creating a spool of alloyed wire, which I would use tomorrow to begin making the chainmail for us all.
When the sun began to sink below the horizon, I stored all of my materials away and wiped the sweat from my brow, moving out towards the door and exiting the forges.
As I was making my way into the Palace though, I blanched as I collided with the muscular form of the Demon Wolf, the tall woman having walked close to the door to exit.
"Watch it, whelp."
I nodded, before stiffening as I tried to move past her, only to have her catch my wrist.
"Actually..."
Looking back at Lady Fenryas, I gave her a shaky smile as she grinned at me, her single silver eye gleaming with a myriad of emotions as she leaned down.
"Why don\'t you accompany me for some training, Begum? I need the distraction you see... and the old bitch has been pestering me to teach you a bit more."
Her sharp fangs glittered in the dimming light of dusk, and I could only resign myself to this fate as she led me outside again, not giving me a choice in the matter.