The Art and History of Steel

Steel is a symbol of ever advancing innovation of mortal metalwork and one of the premier materials of its time.

Since ancient times, the secret of steelmaking existed. The first artifacts found made of steel go back before the era of the Dragon Rise, over 2000 years ago. It is said that the dragons themselves kept the secret and carried steel weapons with them during their crusade across the world. In Azmith the first documented methods of steel making come from the Guild Masters of Mihat in the year 400DR. Known as "Mihat Steel" this form of steel-making has been the source of the hardest metals until the modern era.

In the Astanan post-draconic age of discovery and innovation, the modern production of steel was an esteemed craft, entwined with the advancements of early modern society. Within the blistering heat of the forge, pig iron, hewn from the depths of iron ore veins, underwent a transformative journey. Meticulously refined by master forgers, this raw material was converted into bar iron, the crucial component in the creation of steel. The guilds of Astana were among the first to openly spread the secret of steel.

The cementation process, a marvel of alchemical ingenuity, was one of the foremost methods for steel-making. Described in scholarly treatises from Drakengard in 1574, this technique was adopted by the industrious city of Freewind, Astana by 1601. Meanwhile, in the sun-drenched workshops of Marilune, Suna - artisans had devised a process to harden armor and tools, a secret chronicled in 1589. This secret was kept under lock and key by the Suna Navy for many years.

As knowledge of steel-making inevitably spread, it reached the shores of Eren. Around 1714, the illustrious Sir Basilio Booker of Corvetta City, renowned for his alchemical prowess, introduced the cementation process to the burgeoning industrial village of Coalbrook in the mountains of Asur Misoa, Eren. This era saw the production of steel of remarkable quality, thanks to the fine oregrounds iron from the Edune Flatlands of Eiri. The Iron trade across the Merdian Ocean fueled the boom in merchant shipping, and along with it a rise in pirates from Eren and Suna.

The production of steel is not merely a trade but a symbol of progress and enlightenment. It is a testament to non-draconic ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of perfection, as artisans and alchemists alike labored to unlock the secrets of this formidable metal.