Advanced Materials and Their Applications - Adamantium |
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Longetalos writes "In this second lesson, professor Bedan explains the forging processes and benefits of adamantium.
Author: Longetalos
Advanced Materials and their Applications - lesson 2 (Adamantium)
by Richard Di Ioia (ricdii@yahoo.com)
(Used with permission. Do not repost or redistribute without the express permission of the author.)
"Hello class, my name is Professor Bedan and I'd like to welcome you to my second lesson on Advanced Materials and their Applications. If you have missed my first lesson, do not worry as the scribes have a transcript in the library for you to peruse."
"Today's lesson is on Adamantium. This fine metal is just as rare to find as mythril, yet knowledge of this material is much more widespread. You see, adamantium is known among jewelers as red gold for its color and material properties. Adamantium is a redish gold colored material that is extremely pliable and resilient. It is fashioned by jewelsmiths into jewelry for the rich of the Flaneass. What these jewelers do not know, is that when combined with other metals such as iron, red gold becomes adamantium. For red gold is a catalyst for iron, that when fused together will create a much stronger and magical metal known as adamantium. This is similar to the process that blacksmiths use to create steel from iron, yet more complicated. In addition, once the two metals are combined, the iron is subsumed into the red gold and ceases to exist - whereas in steel the iron remains the dominant metal. Adamantium also retains the characteristic red gold color - gold with red flecks speckled throughout"
"As I did with mythril, I will explain to you the benefits of adamantium as well as some insight into the means to manipulate it. Unlike mythril, adamantium is very pliable and resilient. This allows those that work the metal to make unique sweeping and curved products out of the adamantium. This makes the material favored by the elves who enjoy creating armor and weapons with artistic designs. Unfortunately, the flexible nature of the metal is an indication of the fact that it is more porous than mythril. As such it requires more time and effort to keep clean. Once properly forged into the shape of armor and weapons, adamantium becomes as hard as steel."
"The forging techniques of adamantium are different than mythril in that it does not require as extreme heat to melt. Actually, due to its porous nature adamantium is able to withstand much colder temperatures before becoming brittle than all other metals. To create adamantium, the red gold must be melted and mixed in with molten iron. Red gold melts at a slightly higher temperature than regular gold, but still less than iron. At this stage the two metals have not yet combined to form adamantium, and can be easily be seen to be swirling separately in the molten soup. To combine the two metals together to form adamantium some special ingredients must be added to the mix. Knowledge of these ingredients and the quantities required is a closely guarded secret among those in the business - and obviously not going to be part of this lesson." This last statement elicited a small grumble of disapproval from the students, along with a small lopsided grin onto professor Bedan's face.
"Come now students, if I knew that secret would I be working here and earning the pitiful stipend of a professor? Now let us continue with the martial uses of adamantium. When properly fashioned, adamantium is as strong as steel but weighs a little more. Where adamantium truly improves on steel is its ability to be forged into very exotic shapes whereas steel is too brittle and would either shatter or remain permanently bent out of shape. As such it is the preferred metal for those that wish to create special weapons such as the renown elven star slice. It is also said that many elven bows have a core of adamantium blended into the wooden staff to give the bow added rigidity and strength."
"The final and most important aspect of adamantium is its ability to reflect magic. As adamantium reflects the magic from spells, the metal begins to turn colder. The more magic adamantium reflects, the colder the metal becomes. Eventually adamantium regains heat from the surrounding and returns to ambient temperature. Much like mythril, the more adamantium is present in the item the faster the item returns to ambient temperature. A final benefit of adamantium is its ability to strike enchanted and ethereal opponents such as ghosts and werewolves. As with mythril, the greater the amount of adamantium present, the greater its ability to penetrate the magical protections. "
"I will see you all next class when we discuss mythrandium - an alloy formed of mythril and adamantium."
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