Close Topic Options

3.5 D&D You As Character Side Stories

This is a place to take some of the out of character stories or character development that does not really advance the story can be taken to.

Stories Side Character You Dragons and Dungeons

After a long day on research, experimenting and magic, Sumah the blacksmith sends a message for me to come to his forge that evening. Curious but not worried, since he and I have been having long discussions over the past few days about Earth armors and blacksmithing techniques, I arrive after dinner to a uncharacteristically happy - but ash-streaked - smith.

"I've finished it!" He says

"Finished what, Sumah? You've been almost inaccessible, these past few days." I look around, noting that most everything seems the same, except for a cloth-draped shape that looks like a dressers dummy, over by the main workbench.

"You know how you were telling me about 'r-tic-you-latering' and link patterns on your world's mail, and how it changed the effectiveness of their armor? Well, I've incorporated some of those styles into a chain shirt and it's glorious!" Beaming with pride, he takes me over to the draped form and whisks off the fabric, revealing a dull, long shirt of chain links, tightly woven, with sleeves.

Looking dubiously at the unassuming armour, I ask "It doesn't look like steel or iron. What did you use for it?"

"Adamantine!" He proclaims proudly. "A rare metal that has been known to enhance arms and armor for many centuries, but only in a basic sense. I've taken your outer-worldly designs and use this metal to form a shirt that I want YOU to wear and test out!" He starts to remove the armor from its holder, swinging it around and presenting it to me. Surprisingly, the armour itself doesn't make as much noise as I expected and I look at it more closely, lifting the bottom edge and holding it close to my eyes.

Although rather dull at a distance, up close I see whirls and patterns, cascades of various shades that seem to flex and ripple as it moves. Lighter than expected, the metal still feels firm and well structured, with some perceptible flex in the link connections. "Interesting metal. I know of adamantine from myth. I sort of expected it to be brighter, somehow. Is there magic here?"

"No, no magic! It's a new smithing style! The joins and links are five-fold flowered, making for a mail that's tougher, flexible and more protective than normal. Try it on, you'll see! It's one of my greatest works!" Eager to have me wear it, he starts tugging at my over tunic, trying to rush the donning.

Working with him and grinning at his lack of normal dourness, I don the shirt, the links rippling smoothly to fit around my newly-restored body, over the silken shirt. Surprised again at its light weight, I move through some kata without a weapon, feeling it's give and take as my body moves. "It's very flexible, Sumah. Almost don't even know it's there. I'm truly impressed with your work." Still testing the new armour's affects, I smile again, the lack of significant sound and the smoothness of the motions reminding me of ballroom dancing.

The Smith is standing back, watching the paces I put it through with a proud father look, eyes gleaming at the sight. Once I stop and begin to remove the shirt, he moves forward "No, no I want you to keep it! Try it, test it, take it into battle and see how well it works! I rely on you who knows this style best to test it so I can make more for the Lord and his retinue! If it works as well as I think it should, they'll reward me handsomely!"

Looking at him a bit dubious,and reminded of the game I used to play called Paranoia and it's R&D department, I shrug and say "Very well. It certainly seems far better than the basic armour I've been using. If it works out, I may even want to enhance it with magic at a later date. I especially like the silence of it."

He harrumphs with a loud sound, less pleased than a moment ago "If you must, but it IS one of my best works. You mess it up with some bad magics and I'll not be making you another."

I depart with my new equipment, still grinning slightly at how much this smith reminds me of certain auto mechanics I've known, and curious to see how it does when I'm in actual combat.