Artisan Patterns
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 10:54 am
Item Patterns
Not all weapons and armor are created equally. A katana forged by a novice swordsmith is typically of low-er quality than one forged by a master, and different schools or techniques might favor one weapon feature over another.
There are two methods for gaining one of these patterns. The first is to apprentice to a master to learn the means of crafting a new weapon with the desired pattern. The other method is to requisition, purchase, or find an existing item with the pattern.
Kakita Pattern
Kakita swordsmiths are known across Rokugan for their finely crafted weapons. While hardly one sword in a generation is deemed worth to bear the name “Kakita blade,” all of their works have an exquisitely sharp edge with no sacrifice to the weapon’s sturdiness
Kenzō Blade
The Kenzō smithy is one of the premier smithies in the Crane lands. Founded centuries ago by Ashidaka Kenzō, this smithy produces wondrous dueling weapons for the Kakita family. Indeed, Kenzō blades—nearly every weapon that has come out of the Kenzō smithy has been a sword of one kind or another—are considered to be among the finest dueling weapons in Rokugan. Kenzō blades are both beautiful and extremely deadly
Shirogane Jade Inlay
Kuni Shirogane was a weaponsmith renowned for his beautiful and deadly weapons. During his long career, Shirogane developed a process to make a jade-infused resin that could be applied to suitably crafted weapons and armor to protect an individual against the terrors of the Shadowlands. Items forged to use this jade resin are typically heavily engraved with ornate designs into which the resin is poured. As the item is exposed to Shadowlands Taint, the jade slowly turns to muck, requiring another application of the resin. While it seems inconvenient to some, Shirogane jade inlay has protected the lives and souls of many Crab warriors
Uchema’s Technique
Uchema’s technique is a style of armorsmithing used to produce specialty armor for scouts and siege engineers. A suit of armor made using Uchema’s technique can be anything from a simple suit of ashigaru armor to a splendid, heavy suit of ō-yoroi. With careful tailoring and clever use of lacing and straps, an armorsmith can use the technique to make a suit of armor more flexible and easier to wear. A warrior wearing a suit made with Uchema’s technique can run, climb, bend, leap, and otherwise move as if they were wearing simple clothing rather than bulky armor.
Yasunori Steel
Decades ago, Kenru Yasunori, a Crab swordsmith, developed a new steel alloy while tinkering in his forge. Quite by accident, they discovered that a mix of various ores and refined metals made a steel that is both lightweight and strong but lacks the beauty of tradtional Rokugani steel. Soon they began creating massive two-handed swords and axes for use in defending the Wall. Yasunori steel weapons are popular among Crab samurai who appreciate a sturdy, well-made blade and care little for aesthetics.
Not all weapons and armor are created equally. A katana forged by a novice swordsmith is typically of low-er quality than one forged by a master, and different schools or techniques might favor one weapon feature over another.
There are two methods for gaining one of these patterns. The first is to apprentice to a master to learn the means of crafting a new weapon with the desired pattern. The other method is to requisition, purchase, or find an existing item with the pattern.
Kakita Pattern
Kakita swordsmiths are known across Rokugan for their finely crafted weapons. While hardly one sword in a generation is deemed worth to bear the name “Kakita blade,” all of their works have an exquisitely sharp edge with no sacrifice to the weapon’s sturdiness
Kenzō Blade
The Kenzō smithy is one of the premier smithies in the Crane lands. Founded centuries ago by Ashidaka Kenzō, this smithy produces wondrous dueling weapons for the Kakita family. Indeed, Kenzō blades—nearly every weapon that has come out of the Kenzō smithy has been a sword of one kind or another—are considered to be among the finest dueling weapons in Rokugan. Kenzō blades are both beautiful and extremely deadly
Shirogane Jade Inlay
Kuni Shirogane was a weaponsmith renowned for his beautiful and deadly weapons. During his long career, Shirogane developed a process to make a jade-infused resin that could be applied to suitably crafted weapons and armor to protect an individual against the terrors of the Shadowlands. Items forged to use this jade resin are typically heavily engraved with ornate designs into which the resin is poured. As the item is exposed to Shadowlands Taint, the jade slowly turns to muck, requiring another application of the resin. While it seems inconvenient to some, Shirogane jade inlay has protected the lives and souls of many Crab warriors
Uchema’s Technique
Uchema’s technique is a style of armorsmithing used to produce specialty armor for scouts and siege engineers. A suit of armor made using Uchema’s technique can be anything from a simple suit of ashigaru armor to a splendid, heavy suit of ō-yoroi. With careful tailoring and clever use of lacing and straps, an armorsmith can use the technique to make a suit of armor more flexible and easier to wear. A warrior wearing a suit made with Uchema’s technique can run, climb, bend, leap, and otherwise move as if they were wearing simple clothing rather than bulky armor.
Yasunori Steel
Decades ago, Kenru Yasunori, a Crab swordsmith, developed a new steel alloy while tinkering in his forge. Quite by accident, they discovered that a mix of various ores and refined metals made a steel that is both lightweight and strong but lacks the beauty of tradtional Rokugani steel. Soon they began creating massive two-handed swords and axes for use in defending the Wall. Yasunori steel weapons are popular among Crab samurai who appreciate a sturdy, well-made blade and care little for aesthetics.