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Crafting Motif 112: Syrabanic Marine Style
A guide to crafting armor and weapons in the Syrabanic Marine style
Frog-metal, or Syrabane's Steel, is a highly coveted rarity to those of us alive today. But this was not always the case. The famed buoyant metal is an astounding prize for mariners around Amenos. The supply is woefully limited and not exactly something one can just whip up. So, I will describe these designs how they were, before Syrabane's metal was lost to the sea. When stalwart sea knights made use of these weapons and armor, they did so unafraid of the waves that rocked the decks beneath their feet. These knights of the unfathomable depths are worthy of study, as are their arms.
I located this record of one such knight who took the time to painstakingly describe the sheer magnificence of his equipment. I hope you enjoy his account as much as I, dear reader.
AXES
- One would know the fearsome sight of our axes anywhere. Resplendent in the sun, the golden sheen of our blades is quite a distinct sight. As for the rest of the design, none could forget where we come from, nor that the sea has honed our practices. A sharp fin carved from painted metal unfurls from the head of the weapon and a grinning fish wrought in steel protrudes to unnerve our enemies.
BELTS
- Our belts, though sturdy, are often made from lighter materials such as thin leathers or rope. Syrabane's Steel allows us to fight without fear of drowning, but the rest of our armor must account for that too. Depending on the kind of warrior, belts display a seashell made from the light steel as a focal point.
BOOTS
- Footwear, especially on a ship, must be flexible and light in order to be useful. Even our most stalwart warriors who regularly throw themselves into the fray need a balance of both protection and agility. Supple leather gives the wearer enough pliancy so that their feet are free to move and adjust over the unwieldy deck of a ship.
BOWS
- Do we truly wield bows? Or do we carry serpents of the sea along our backs, with their spines curved as they crest the waves with their spiked fins? No one can be certain. Our weapons certainly resemble terrifying leviathans with their sinuous frames and sharp, cutting fins. But we do not sacrifice effectiveness for style.
CHESTS
- While our armor varies greatly within our ranks, our chest pieces usually have two things in common. One, they are easy to move around in and two, that they provide excellent protection. The leather we use for the parts closest to the wearer's body is specially treated so that it does not suffer from long-term exposure to saltwater and the elements.
DAGGERS
- Our daggers burn dark orange in the light and gleam like fishhooks. I say this only because many think they look more equipped to gut a fish than an enemy. But flesh is flesh, and our daggers can cut through even the toughest. A flared metal fin extends up from the hilt and protects the wielder's grip.
GLOVES
- Our gloves must be capable of both holding a weapon and tying down a sail. Because of this, we fashion our gloves to be light enough so that fingers can remain nimble, but we reinforce them with Syrabane's Steel on top to protect the wearer.
HELMETS
- We rise like creatures from the deep, a legion of aquatic monstrosities formed together to fight as one! Our helmets give us a fearsome appearance in most cases and are fashioned to look like the head of a terrible beast from the ocean's depths. Bright orange fins rise atop our heads as a warning, much like sharks.
LEG GREAVES
- The leather of our greaves looks closer to the scales of a fish than most armor. While this is an aesthetic choice, it is also a matter of protection. This layering effect makes the leather much harder to pierce through.
MACES
- Should one encounter one of our maces, they would have mere moments to admire their craftsmanship before meeting their gruesome demise. Fashioned like horns of a ram, or perhaps the scaled tentacles of a sea creature if one looks closely, the mace is a fearsome sight. Decorative fins hold those pieces together and attract the eye with bright color.
SHIELDS
- Our shields resemble the back of a fearsome creature—something that slithers beneath the waves in wait. A squid-like face at the top overshadows the glowing orange carapace that gives the shield most of its strength. Syrabane's Steel allows for the shields to be quite large and ostentatious without risking the wearer being weighed down.
SHOULDERS
- The shoulders of our warriors rest under panels of light steel. For most, shoulder pauldrons take the form of sleek fins. It may look as though we could dive beneath the very waves with such appendages and conquer the fathomless depths as swiftly as we do the land. That is not far from the truth, despite how fantastical it may sound.
STAVES
- Light as air, our staves are as powerful as they are beautiful. Dark orange fins reach towards the sky, not unlike a creature descending upon their prey in the salty depths. The lean metal of the staff itself is easy to wield and not at all cumbersome. The bottom section of the staff resembles a lurking octopus and provides balancing weight.
SWORDS
- Our swords resemble hooks, as part of the blade is purposely cut out to create a notch. This makes the weapon a force to be reckoned with, as its biting edge can flay the enemy twice in a single stroke. The hilt is made from Syrabane's Steel and depicts long, sharp fins filed to points. The pommel balances the weight of the blade and contains carved tentacles bundled into a knot.