(Mon Sep 22 01:58:43 2003) *Master of the Wilds* Dalanar Lanzadonii Domini Life Mated to Song Wind Lord Prince of Arimus ~Barn/Stables/Workshops~says to ALL: With the wedding of his little sister right around the corner, he finds himself in front of his work bench at the forges. He has already allowed himself several hours to play with ideas of what gifts he shall forge. Now those ideas have solidified within his mind. He begans working on this first piece.

(Mon Sep 22 02:01:24 2003) *Master of the Wilds* Dalanar Lanzadonii Domini Life Mated to Song Wind Lord Prince of Arimus ~Barn/Stables/Workshops~says to ALL: As he begans working, the heat of the forge increased with the winds of the bellows, he can not help but find his mind wandering with thoughts of the elves. Perhaps it is something about the femine quailities that all elves seem to posses. Or perhaps, rather, it is their elogance and grace. Whatever reasons do not matter. These thoughts work perfectly for the piece he chooses to forge first. He begans by forging a slender blade, tapering to a fine and deadly point.

(Mon Sep 22 02:03:41 2003) *Master of the Wilds* Dalanar Lanzadonii Domini Life Mated to Song Wind Lord Prince of Arimus ~Barn/Stables/Workshops~says to ALL: The rapier, though foreign to his home world, has become one of his favorite pieces to work on. The blade must be a balance of lightness and of a fragile strength. Keeping in mind, also, that the center of balance must be no less then perfect. These swords represent to him all the grace and sophistication that sword fighting should represent. And yet, even as he works the blade with all of its demands for perfection, this is the simpler task in this forging.

(Mon Sep 22 02:08:50 2003) *Master of the Wilds* Dalanar Lanzadonii Domini Life Mated to Song Wind Lord Prince of Arimus ~Barn/Stables/Workshops~says to ALL: The rapier, he has found, is a deadly and sure weapon, forcing the fighter to rely on speed, agility, and skill rather then brute force that many so called swordsmen end up using. That skill and percision is reflected within the design of the rapier itself. Master craftsmen often find themselves attempting to forge the most beautiful, most delicate and intricate swords they possibly can. A master weaponsmith, over 50 years at his craft, he revels in this. The blade representing so much artistry and skill, and yet, it is nothing to the work of the hilt.

(Mon Sep 22 02:13:48 2003) *Master of the Wilds* Dalanar Lanzadonii Domini Life Mated to Song Wind Lord Prince of Arimus ~Barn/Stables/Workshops~says to ALL: The hilt of the rapier is a combination of form and function. Like most hilts of most swords, its primary purpose is to protect the hand from injury. To guard the fingers should the opponents blade slip down along theirs. The rapier's hilt and therefor usage differs in that it is also made to hopefully trap an opponents blade when used correctly and with such skill as most never fully learn. The earliest rapiers were the basket hilts. Simple designs made solely to block the opponents blades. As the skills of the swordsman increased over time with the rapier, the hilts became more elaborate. The hilt progressed into sweeping steel rods. Some of the less skilled, this design was little more then functional. But to the master smith, this hilt has become one of their best mediums for expression. This sword, as much a gift for his little sister, is also a representation of everything he thinks elves to be. Sort of a tribute to their grace and elogance.

(Mon Sep 22 02:16:38 2003) *Master of the Wilds* Dalanar Lanzadonii Domini Life Mated to Song Wind Lord Prince of Arimus ~Barn/Stables/Workshops~says to ALL: The next piece he begans to work on, though it might lack the sheer elogance of the rapier, is important to him none the less. A sword for the groom, for the husband and brother to be. And what better for this warrior, this commander of men, then the type of sword that he is most comfortable with? The type of sword best known to this master weaponsmith? Once known to him simply as the short sword, he has since learned its name as the gladius.

(Mon Sep 22 02:26:19 2003) *Master of the Wilds* Dalanar Lanzadonii Domini Life Mated to Song Wind Lord Prince of Arimus ~Barn/Stables/Workshops~says to ALL: As much as the rapier is the mark of the individual swords master, the gladius, in the smith's opinion, represents the ultimate weapon of the trained army. Also suited to single combat, it was the prefered weapon of some of the most efficiant conquerers of earth. Its early forms probably could be found in the Greek Hoplite. Though he does find it interesting that its design was also found in the Vikings swords and the Celtic combat sword. Both groups of people having had little or no contact with the Romans at the time the swords were designed. This designed carried on even after the fall of the Empire, in truth, used against the same warriors that had all but conquered the world

(Mon Sep 22 02:28:49 2003) *Master of the Wilds* Dalanar Lanzadonii Domini Life Mated to Song Wind Lord Prince of Arimus ~Barn/Stables/Workshops~says to ALL: Though the Gladius is simple in and of itself, it still does represent an artistry and skill. The difference between an ordinary smith and a master is perhaps the only difference between the winning swordsmen and the dead. Perhaps it also serves to note that he is not forging a simple sword for a foot solider, a blade to be stamped out in mass production, but rather, a blade for a leader of men, a commander of legions. For these reasons, he choses, much like the rapier, to combine form and funcion. Crafting the sword to be quite deadly in all respects, but at the same, to be attractive to the eye.

(Mon Sep 22 02:30:47 2003) *Master of the Wilds* Dalanar Lanzadonii Domini Life Mated to Song Wind Lord Prince of Arimus ~Barn/Stables/Workshops~says to ALL: He cleans himself off as he finishes his work...putting away the finished gifts for now. Forged, sharpened and polished.