23 Frost 121
Seasonal changes in weather should be something so regular and fixed that it should not even be something that one would have to think about to prepare for- doing their preparations out of habit and practice but to Dakkur's surprise, here they were. As it was already many days into the season, Frost, the cold should have already been hitting hard if it was not at least constantly nipping at the people as a reminder to those which neglected to put it into consideration earlier on and yet, there were still some who wanted a new item made for them to better go about in their daily business despite the cold already having been at them ever since Ash.However Dakkur was not too sympathetic towards the store's prospective customers. This was a problem which could easily be managed through mundane means and if not, even if someone wanted to solve it through more effective means- magical some would say, there were more common and easily obtained tools to be used like the aptly named firestones though from what he had figured out during his stay in Zaichaer so far, even the use of those would be enough to get an inquisition on someone- if the use of those shards were to get out anyway. If that was the case for the raw materials, what about the runesmithed items made from it? Definitely a luxury good and something for those with no care for money or the law Dakkur figured, which was why he did not feel one bit of those buying these new runesmithed items.
Fortunately they were simple enough to make that even Dakkur could be allowed to make some on his own. No, not just him. Just about anyone with a little knowledge in the processes could be allowed to make the items on their own given how simple they were and close in function to their source materials. The only difference in the price point was that these items needed at least a little bit of knowledge so they could be made in the first place. That was one. Two, which was especially a big concern in Zaichaer was the implied discretion although from what Dakkur figured was it really something the runesmiths could not be trusted with? After all doing something which would harm their customers would only ruin the amount of aven they would be getting in the long run. And then there was three, actually making it a marketable product whether from appearance or function. Dakkur did not need much convincing on the truth of that point seeing that was how his own family in Zeraphesh hooked in suckers into using the tools they made.
With those in mind there were plenty of choices available but in terms of items which could easily be churned out, be a common enough sight and did not need Dakkur to practice much there was just one he felt he could make and have going off the shelves. Buttons! Actually did he want them going off the shelves? That would only force him to put in more work. He thought through it a little more on the clothes and accessories one would use in the weather... Cufflinks? A hatband? A belt? Actually why not the whole suite? He could use trying to prepare the entire thing as an excuse for taking a long time with it and if it all matched and came in a nice batch it could be sold at a much higher price to the rich looking for a way to flaunt their wealth, right?
As it was a great idea to him, Dakkur was all about to go right into it until another thought stopped him. If he started on it now and if as usual he got stumped, he was going to have to ask around for guidance or give out enough clues for the other workers to figure out what he was doing. Maybe even copy his work which would diminish its novelty somewhat. Of course an idea such as this, he would not have been the only one to think of among all the runesmiths over the years but in this forge at this very moment, it did not seem like anyone else was up to the same idea he had and so with this realization, Dakkur decided to not go against the grain at the time and instead just do what everyone else was doing and not stand out. For now. At the very least it would mean some work done during this Frost's enterprise which he could show for and it would also get him into practice for the work he really wanted to do.
And so just like every other cog in the machine Dakkur readied himself to get to work. Choosing and tidying up his preferred workspace as was the common practice to ensure efficiency. Cleaning up the tools so there would not be any impurities or sediments which would mess up with the integrity of the final product. Making a go at the raw materials as soon as possible so he could get the better picks although unfortunately as he had taken too long himself in his earlier planning, At least he was not among the slowest as he was still able to get some of the more whole and sizable firestones. A pity they were not bigger though. Using those as raw material normally allowed for more flexibility and room for mistakes unless he was really going to put the work in and as far as he was concerned, there would be nothing wrong with grabbing some of the big ones for the true project he had planned, grabbing a few other smaller ones just to go through the motions of making a few batches of the usual.
Which being the usual meant something everyone should know how to do but then again, it never hurt to have a quick once over to many sure there were no issues or mistakes in the future. It would only take a day at most anyway so Dakkur participated in as well and went through the motions of the mass produced item. As much firestone as was necessary to fill up the aether forge and then start heating it up. Some may say it was one of the most important steps and also one of the more dangerous steps but Dakkur was also aware that they were using the lowest of the low for their materials and the function of the end product was also going to be the simplest of them all which pretty much would diminish most of the risk and effort required; therefore the most arduous part of the process was in fact maintaining the discipline and concentration required to not get bored enough to lead into the lapse of judgement which would cause a catastrophe. For Dakkur at least, no matter how much he forced himself there would always be those few moments which would get to him regardless which was why working together with his fellow peers always had that advantage to avoid any such incident since they would always be watching out for one another.
Although in this instance he felt he was doing more for the others than the others were doing for him. It was not as if he was right at their posts and doing everything he could to make sure their work was done well like the more experienced runesmiths about did for him when he first started out, it was more like just keeping an eye out for them to make sure none were nodding off or taking a little too long in idle conversation as they waited for their viscerite to be fully done. Dakkur himself already had his done quite early which also meant that whoever it was giving him his refresher was was still full of energy and attention to spare him that he only had to pay attention for half the time that he should and then was as free as could be as he left his batch in the mold. If he was completely honest, that was not even the easiest bit.
The easiest bit surprisingly enough was the finishing of the product. For these quickly made items according to standard, there was nothing left to do with the viscerite other than to clean it up with the jewel cutting tools to smoothen up the shape of the gem so no one could catch themselves on it and then, going over it with the tonal fork and chisel. It was a easy enough to find and, to amplify the qualities inherent to the firestone which the new viscerite inherited. Heat, but not fire. The viscerite gem had to be able to disperse heat to the user, but not too intense that it would break out with a fire or make it obvious that a runesmithing tool was being used. Then finally once Dakkur was sure that the gem was tempered according to the standard specifications, a few chips here and there with the chisel from where the frequencies of the tonal fork converged so that it would be easier for whoever ends up using this one to activate the item- compared to the usual chore of forcing their will over the firestone.
And that, was another product into the pile.