Naruzeldamaster
Maester
Alright, I see the point (though I'd like to read that article if someone can link it here) but um, what about fictional metals?
In my story there are, bout two through five purely fictional metals each varying in strength and having different use cases for swords.
For example one such metal is extremely magnetic, when forged properly it can be used to create some of the more silly fictional swords. Like those silly chain swords we see sometimes. Thing is you need mana to make the 'magnet' work, otherwise it's just a hunk of steel-esque metal that's maybe...twice as durable? It's also quite light, a pound of the stuff would feel significantly lighter than a pound of ordinary steel. Swords made with the stuff require a deft hand and a strong arm, cause if you're not careful the magnet will pull you along with it.
Then there's Black Sand Steel, forged from the snow white mineral 'sand' found in my desert region. It's called black sand steel because when the sand is smelted at extreme heat (and by extreme, I mean dragons breath, or something similar) it becomes...basically carbon, but a lot harder to 'break' through normal use. It's rarely used for proper 'swords' but it's commonly used for cooking tools, and medical tools notably for bone cutting. Not gonna stop a more esoteric swordsman/woman from trying to make a proper sword outta the stuff though.
Then there's Blue Light, it's a 'metal' forged by smelting down a natural stone that emits a bright blue glow in pitch darkness. Due to it's rarity it's commonly used to forge Gems for the ends of Staffs (And earrings etc) but it's sometimes used as highlights in a blade's eight fold pattern, makes it look super cool and also very reactive to light magic. Good for banishing demons and killing vampires if they become a menace. (Not that the vampires are particularly 'evil' in my story, there are some bad guys though)
Then there's Shinespark (Yes I'm stealing this from metroid terminology, hush): It is not often used to make a 'complete' sword, but rather it is layered into the cutting edge to make it razor sharp. The stuff turns just about any cutting tool into a deadly weapon, but it's also very hard to work with. Cause if you apply mana to it, it stores it on the edges and when struck, kaboom. You'd have to be either very skilled or slightly insane to use a blade lined with the stuff, but hey, it's cool.
Least remarkable of these is Steel Bamboo (name pending, still working on it): It's basically just bamboo that has some of the properties of steel. In a pinch, it makes a fine cutting tool or makeshift sword, but considering it's actually a plant, it's not very durable, also it's combustable. Commonly used by the fae folk in their armor and weapons.
In my story there are, bout two through five purely fictional metals each varying in strength and having different use cases for swords.
For example one such metal is extremely magnetic, when forged properly it can be used to create some of the more silly fictional swords. Like those silly chain swords we see sometimes. Thing is you need mana to make the 'magnet' work, otherwise it's just a hunk of steel-esque metal that's maybe...twice as durable? It's also quite light, a pound of the stuff would feel significantly lighter than a pound of ordinary steel. Swords made with the stuff require a deft hand and a strong arm, cause if you're not careful the magnet will pull you along with it.
Then there's Black Sand Steel, forged from the snow white mineral 'sand' found in my desert region. It's called black sand steel because when the sand is smelted at extreme heat (and by extreme, I mean dragons breath, or something similar) it becomes...basically carbon, but a lot harder to 'break' through normal use. It's rarely used for proper 'swords' but it's commonly used for cooking tools, and medical tools notably for bone cutting. Not gonna stop a more esoteric swordsman/woman from trying to make a proper sword outta the stuff though.
Then there's Blue Light, it's a 'metal' forged by smelting down a natural stone that emits a bright blue glow in pitch darkness. Due to it's rarity it's commonly used to forge Gems for the ends of Staffs (And earrings etc) but it's sometimes used as highlights in a blade's eight fold pattern, makes it look super cool and also very reactive to light magic. Good for banishing demons and killing vampires if they become a menace. (Not that the vampires are particularly 'evil' in my story, there are some bad guys though)
Then there's Shinespark (Yes I'm stealing this from metroid terminology, hush): It is not often used to make a 'complete' sword, but rather it is layered into the cutting edge to make it razor sharp. The stuff turns just about any cutting tool into a deadly weapon, but it's also very hard to work with. Cause if you apply mana to it, it stores it on the edges and when struck, kaboom. You'd have to be either very skilled or slightly insane to use a blade lined with the stuff, but hey, it's cool.
Least remarkable of these is Steel Bamboo (name pending, still working on it): It's basically just bamboo that has some of the properties of steel. In a pinch, it makes a fine cutting tool or makeshift sword, but considering it's actually a plant, it's not very durable, also it's combustable. Commonly used by the fae folk in their armor and weapons.
Myth Weaver
