I was watching this documentary recently. and it got me thinking about how dragons would smelt iron. I don't think that Sornieth is as technologically advanced as humanity is now, but dragons DO have magic on their side, so I was thinking that if they were to smelt iron, it would most likely be in a similar way to how humans did it hundreds of years ago.
Fire dragons obviously have natural heat to help them, Earth dragons have their strength, Arcane dragons probably just use iron from meteoroids, Water dragons have water easily available, and Wind dragons make bellows obsolete.
I was watching this documentary recently. and it got me thinking about how dragons would smelt iron. I don't think that Sornieth is as technologically advanced as humanity is now, but dragons DO have magic on their side, so I was thinking that if they were to smelt iron, it would most likely be in a similar way to how humans did it hundreds of years ago.
Fire dragons obviously have natural heat to help them, Earth dragons have their strength, Arcane dragons probably just use iron from meteoroids, Water dragons have water easily available, and Wind dragons make bellows obsolete.
What do you think?
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... I think I owe you a thank you for a documentary I am obviously going to love.
What an awesome question! And, it opens the door to weaving, and the kind of crafting behind all those other "dragonmade" trinkets.
Think the various Flights have specific industrial specialties?
@Aquafilia You're welcome. That channel has many great documentaries about African cultures.
We know for certain that Storm specializes in electronics and engineering, and that there's a powerful smithing industry in Fire. Storm and Fire are right next to each other, so I headcanon that Fire imports a lot of steel and iron products to Storm. In the description of the Fire Flight, they mention smelting and forging specifically, so perhaps Fire dragons receive commissions from other Flights and make the products in their forges.
I feel as though the Light Flight and the Earth Flight (really all flights, but these two in particular) would have a flourishing tourism and souvenir economy. Earth Flight because it is where the Pillar is, and Light Flight because they are hoarders of relics and ancient scrolls.
My personal headcanon for Earth Flight in particular is that tourism and mining are the most popular industries there. Tourism from pilgrims coming to see the Pillar, and mining for obvious reasons. The Earth miners need iron tools to mine, and there is probably an abundance of metal ore that they dig up, however I think that Earth dragons would rather forger their own tools in Dragonhome than send it to the Ashfall Waste. The Ashfall Waste is across the continent, and Earth dragons seem strong enough to use manual bellows when smelting no problem.
Smelting in the Arcane Flight would probably be done by magic and alchemy. The Ice Flight needs sufficient amounts of iron for all the prisons and chains that they have, so they probably either import it from the Fire Flight (which the Icefield is right next to), or they smelt it themselves, or both. The Icefield is so cold, though. I think they would have to import a lot of iron because of this, because iron forged in low temperatures tends to be brittle.
@Aquafilia You're welcome. That channel has many great documentaries about African cultures.
We know for certain that Storm specializes in electronics and engineering, and that there's a powerful smithing industry in Fire. Storm and Fire are right next to each other, so I headcanon that Fire imports a lot of steel and iron products to Storm. In the description of the Fire Flight, they mention smelting and forging specifically, so perhaps Fire dragons receive commissions from other Flights and make the products in their forges.
I feel as though the Light Flight and the Earth Flight (really all flights, but these two in particular) would have a flourishing tourism and souvenir economy. Earth Flight because it is where the Pillar is, and Light Flight because they are hoarders of relics and ancient scrolls.
My personal headcanon for Earth Flight in particular is that tourism and mining are the most popular industries there. Tourism from pilgrims coming to see the Pillar, and mining for obvious reasons. The Earth miners need iron tools to mine, and there is probably an abundance of metal ore that they dig up, however I think that Earth dragons would rather forger their own tools in Dragonhome than send it to the Ashfall Waste. The Ashfall Waste is across the continent, and Earth dragons seem strong enough to use manual bellows when smelting no problem.
Smelting in the Arcane Flight would probably be done by magic and alchemy. The Ice Flight needs sufficient amounts of iron for all the prisons and chains that they have, so they probably either import it from the Fire Flight (which the Icefield is right next to), or they smelt it themselves, or both. The Icefield is so cold, though. I think they would have to import a lot of iron because of this, because iron forged in low temperatures tends to be brittle.
Live for today, gone tomorrow.
That's me.
Oh, I wish I could keep up with you! I have to watch and read in small stages, to rest my eyes.
The juxtaposition of the documentary and your consideration of tourism has made me realize something about Sornieth tourism that's as plain as the nose on my face, but I have just never recognized.
Iron smelting in Burkina Fasa ended when car crashes began because the scavenged metal was so much easier to procure. I have been thinking of hoarding as just a dragonish thing to do... but Sornieth is post-apocalyptic, and that in and of itself would be part of why recovering and repurposing items is such a huge part of pandraconian (and of beastclan) culture.
Scavenging, and digging, are clearly part of dragon tourism. I've failed to recognize that, when my dragons leave Water's turf go do their daily Gathering, that's tourism! It's just like when my father plans an out of state fishing trip or a friend packs up their metal detector and heads to the beach. And, Tidelord, you are spot on that this makes tourism a HUGE part of Sornieth economy and industry. Obviously, dragons enjoy going new places to eat things they can't get easily at home. But even more so, there must be guides, instructors, makers and purveyors of books and maps, all specializing in this post-apocalyptic salvage tourism industry. Tourism, trade, and manufacturing must all overlap intensely under these circumstances; close reading of the various Gathering lists for each flight's territory might yield much inspiration... we literally have a geographic inventory of exactly what is getting dug up, melted down, and burned.
(Water, I think, would be one of the major transportation experts; it's an excellent medium for the mass movement of heavy goods.)
Oh, I wish I could keep up with you! I have to watch and read in small stages, to rest my eyes.
The juxtaposition of the documentary and your consideration of tourism has made me realize something about Sornieth tourism that's as plain as the nose on my face, but I have just never recognized.
Iron smelting in Burkina Fasa ended when car crashes began because the scavenged metal was so much easier to procure. I have been thinking of hoarding as just a dragonish thing to do... but Sornieth is post-apocalyptic, and that in and of itself would be part of why recovering and repurposing items is such a huge part of pandraconian (and of beastclan) culture.
Scavenging, and digging, are clearly part of dragon tourism. I've failed to recognize that, when my dragons leave Water's turf go do their daily Gathering, that's tourism! It's just like when my father plans an out of state fishing trip or a friend packs up their metal detector and heads to the beach. And, Tidelord, you are spot on that this makes tourism a HUGE part of Sornieth economy and industry. Obviously, dragons enjoy going new places to eat things they can't get easily at home. But even more so, there must be guides, instructors, makers and purveyors of books and maps, all specializing in this post-apocalyptic salvage tourism industry. Tourism, trade, and manufacturing must all overlap intensely under these circumstances; close reading of the various Gathering lists for each flight's territory might yield much inspiration... we literally have a geographic inventory of exactly what is getting dug up, melted down, and burned.
(Water, I think, would be one of the major transportation experts; it's an excellent medium for the mass movement of heavy goods.)
FR tech canon is 1920s era if I remember correctly. So smelting wouldn't be an issue?
1920's? Really?
Anyway, documentary says smelting was done in Burkina Fasa until the '40's, so, sure, spot on... and more so with the lack of either automobile industry or mass railroad system. The vast majority of metal we see is weaponry and jewelry requiring highly skilled craftsdergs.
1920's? Really?
Anyway, documentary says smelting was done in Burkina Fasa until the '40's, so, sure, spot on... and more so with the lack of either automobile industry or mass railroad system. The vast majority of metal we see is weaponry and jewelry requiring highly skilled craftsdergs.
@Aquafilia I agree with you about Water having a major transportation industry. Water and Wind, I think, would be the biggest transportation moguls.
Speaking of tourism, I’m making a flight transfer to Nature tomorrow for exactly that. Based on Gathering, individual dragon travel seems very accessible. It’s transporting entire pairs that is more expensive. I think this is because you need permission from the Flight’s deity (like how you need to sacrifice treasure to your Flight’s deity for a lair expansion).
@WillaTheWitch You’re right, it’s not an issue. I just wonder how different flights smelt things differently. Fire seems to have blast furnaces (used in 1920’s Earth), but maybe Water smelters use water mills, or Earth smelters use manual bellows.
@Aquafilia I agree with you about Water having a major transportation industry. Water and Wind, I think, would be the biggest transportation moguls.
Speaking of tourism, I’m making a flight transfer to Nature tomorrow for exactly that. Based on Gathering, individual dragon travel seems very accessible. It’s transporting entire pairs that is more expensive. I think this is because you need permission from the Flight’s deity (like how you need to sacrifice treasure to your Flight’s deity for a lair expansion).
@WillaTheWitch You’re right, it’s not an issue. I just wonder how different flights smelt things differently. Fire seems to have blast furnaces (used in 1920’s Earth), but maybe Water smelters use water mills, or Earth smelters use manual bellows.
Live for today, gone tomorrow.
That's me.
@kragnes
Not just your pairs; think of the moving costs for transporting your whole hoard, all by wagon! (May the move bring you all you wish from it.)
And speaking to your original consideration of Flight specific technique and technology, I was just on a thread exploring Snapper's lack of thumbs (and Tomo's consequential need for Scribbles.) I bet Earth's own home breed being diggers beyond compare but needing assistance with fine motor tasks would lay the groundwork for a great trade system.
(Oh, noticed this morning that [item=Fancy Silver-Plated Buckle] refers specifically to it being worth hauling back to the hoard in order to melt it down-- that thin and worn silver plating is going to be lost in that process, indicating that dragons consider it worthwhile to melt down even so small a piece as this for the underlying base metal.)
Not just your pairs; think of the moving costs for transporting your whole hoard, all by wagon! (May the move bring you all you wish from it.)
And speaking to your original consideration of Flight specific technique and technology, I was just on a thread exploring Snapper's lack of thumbs (and Tomo's consequential need for Scribbles.) I bet Earth's own home breed being diggers beyond compare but needing assistance with fine motor tasks would lay the groundwork for a great trade system.
(Oh, noticed this morning that
Fancy Silver-Plated Buckle
Dragonmade
A silver-plated buckle shaped like a drake's head. It is slightly too worn to use, but may be melted down by an industrious dragon.
60
refers specifically to it being worth hauling back to the hoard in order to melt it down-- that thin and worn silver plating is going to be lost in that process, indicating that dragons consider it worthwhile to melt down even so small a piece as this for the underlying base metal.)
@kragnes
The most cost effective thing for any lair would probably be to have a Lightning dragon design a set-up powered by a Fire dragon. If you have those two, you can do it anywhere!
@kragnes
The most cost effective thing for any lair would probably be to have a Lightning dragon design a set-up powered by a Fire dragon. If you have those two, you can do it anywhere!