RE: [DL] Ghost Steel Metallurgy 101

["McKay, Ashley" <Ashley.McKay@dva.gov.au>]

I once created a 'class' of weapons for a group to combat a creature that
was essentially immune to EVERYTHING except what I called 'blooded' weapons.

These were weapons that had been created in a very specific, very rare
manner that required LOTS of blood, and not just any blood, it had to be the
blood of the intended wielder.   For the most powerful weapons, something
like 30 LITRES of blood was required, meaning that in game it would take
about a year to accumulate enough blood to manufacture a kick ass weapon.

Ashley.

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Damian [SMTP:westfam@awesomenet.net]
> Sent:	Monday, February 26, 2001 10:22 PM
> To:	deadlands@gamerz.net
> Subject:	Re: [DL] Ghost Steel Metallurgy 101
> 
> 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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> > unsubscribe deadlands
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> >
> 
> 
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