Re: [DL] Ghost Steel Metallurgy 101

["Damian" <westfam@awesomenet.net>]

well, historically, some of the best weapon steel was quenched in blood.
Damascus, and most of the Masterwork Katanas, immediately spring to mind.  I
don't know much more than that, but I just thought I'd put my two cents in.

as far as quenching ghost steel in blood being "evil", that should only
apply if it is an unwilling victim, or one bilked into it.  a willing
sacrifice, one who sees it as an honor, or what ever, wouldn't be evil.
----- Original Message -----
From: Daniel Gwyn <dgwyn@colba.net>
To: <deadlands@gamerz.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2001 10:30 PM
Subject: Re: [DL] Ghost Steel Metallurgy 101


> >most of these modern forgings use liquid salt as the 'quencher' (?) in
the
> >Forging, not sure exactly what this does for the metal, but I know old
> >fashioned blacksmiths used water, oil, or saltwater...
> The use of liquid sodium as a "quencher" if I remember correctly is done
to
> keep the steel at a particular high temperature so as to let particular
> types of Carbon-Iron bonds form over a long period of time.  It is also
used
> to allow the metal to cool down very slowly.  Conversely the "classic"
> dunking of hot metal into water, was done for the opposite reason:  i.e.
to
> cool it off very quickly.
>     I must confess that I studied Metallurgy in French so I am not
> particularly familliar with the exact English terminology.
>
> >Throwing your knowledge, along with some imaginativly magical thinking,
and
> >adding the 'spirit' factor, what do you think would be something good to
> >quench Ghost Steel in? perhaps to increase that spiritual potential...
> >Any potential variations you could see, based on the other metals put
into
> >the process, or the tempering, or the quenching variables?
> >
> Obviously the Marshal has the supreme authority in such matters, but more
> important to my mind is what type of forging is going on?  If you wanted
to
> make an "evil" ghost rock item, the obvious quencher would be Blood,
> preferably from human virgins.  If you're feeling particularly evil you
> could throw in powdered ghost rock.
>     If a very large item is being made, (say a large cannon), you might
have
> an evil mad scientist throw in a human sacrifice.  There is a Oriental
> legend about a girl who threw herself into molten bronze in order to
insure
> that it would could be used to make a temple bell.
>     Holy water seems like a plausible idea for a "good" item.
>     "Neutral" possibilities could be oil rendered from Mojave rattlers or
> Maze dragons.  One possibility would be "liquid ghost rock" though I am
> really not sure if that is "officially" possible.
>     That's all I can think of right now.  Hope it helps.
>           Daniel Gwyn
>
> "And as I sit and talk with you I see your face go white.
> The shadow hanging over me is no trick of the light.
> The specter on my back will soon be free:
> The dead have come to claim a debt from thee."
>
> From "The Turkish Song of the Damned"
> By the Pogues
>
>
>
>
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