Steel

Game Stats

• +2 damage
• by armor

Description

"Steel" is the colloquial name given to the material in high-quality implements of iron and carbon alloy.  It is essentially "iron" produced to a higher degree of craftsmanship.  Used in this sense, a "steel" implement will be tougher and hold a sharper edge for longer than an equivalent "iron" implement.

No clear dividing line can be drawn between iron and steel.  The difference is one of degree.  Additionally, standards of craftsmanship differ across the Circle.  "Steel" might be distinguished from "iron" simply in the number of times the metal has been folded, and thus how completely the impurities have been worked out and how evenly the carbon has been worked in.  This is often the case in the Sevilla.  It may have to do with the quality of the metal to begin with as it comes to the blacksmith, as is often the case in Harkania.  In the Kisugochi Empire, "steel" is often distinguished from "iron" by giving different parts of the metal different heat treatments, to optimize the edge and spine of a blade for their different tasks.  All three of these techniques are practiced to some degree by skilled blacksmiths the world over, and other variations of quality exist as well.

Price

By definition, steel is high-quality material that can only be produced by the best of blacksmiths.  It is an expensive commodity anywhere in the world.  Steel weapons and armor are highly prized and often passed down as family heirlooms.