Mithral & Adamantine, Steelshaper smithy, Part XV

Part XV of the Swordflight Walkthrough. Continuing from Part XIV: Mazar's Golems. Swordflight (2008-2022) is a NWN Module for Neverwinter Nights 1 (2002).

Many cRPG campaigns throw precious metal ingots around like confetti, when in reality the likes of Mithral and Adamantine should be rare, expensive and treasured. If we didn't have to delve deep into a mine or dungeon in order to locate an ingot, then we should, at least, have to pay through the nose for it.

cf. cRPG Itemization.

Preferably, too, we should not be able to find ready-made Mithral and Adamantine arms & armor in this level range; if such can be found or purchased, then we damn well better have worked for it. Anything else cheapens these precious metals in regard to Realmslore, as well as in Tolkien-lore and probably our memory of pre-Tolkien legends, too (from which such inclusions in D&D stem). 

For an off-hand example of the latter, I can think of a Milton reference in which Satan was cast down by the Almighty and held in adamantine chains; "adamantine", in this sense, meaning unbreakable. But certainly we can trace the concept of such a metal back to Ancient Greek mythology. I'm not sure about pre-Tolkien Mithral, but does it matter? This is a blogpost about a game, not etymology and literary history.

So yes, there are Mithral and Adamantine ingots to be found in Swordflight Chapter 2. They're not sprinkled around like confetti as in Storm of Zehir and other NWN2 Modules that employ its crafting mechanics, though. True to Realmslore, they are a rare resource.

In the Merchant District of the city of Calimport...

... stands the Steelshaper smithy...

... owned an operated by the Dwarven blacksmith, Thorik Steelshaper:

One of the opportunities offered by Thorik is the Smithy Materials quest:

These precious metal ores can be found in smithies located in both the Goblin Fortress of the Forest of Mir and the orc caves of the Marching Mountains.

A logical place to find such materials, yes? -- In the smithies of the strongholds of mobilizing enemy armies. Not under a shrub in a Druid Grove with pixies flitting about but on an anvil, in a smithy,  guarded by an angry hammer-wielding blacksmith! And to get there? We have to explore vast terrains and cut a path through the few hundred goblinoids, orcs, ogres and giants that routinely patrol them.

Once the materials are delivered to Thorik, his specialty inventory unlocks. But note that he doesn't make the masterwork items instantly or overnight for us like in many other RPGs and modules. Instead, he just opens up some of his preexisting, "finest stock" because he deems us to be worthy of it, and because he now has the ability to make more, thanks to our delivery. 

Yes, this is basic stuff; it makes logical sense. But how many RPGs actually do this? That's my point.

Along with incremental upgrades such as the stock-standard Amulet of Natural Armor +2 and Ring of Protection +2, Thorik's specialty inventory consists of the following fine works. First, the more generic stuff:

And next, the custom stuff unique to Swordflight:

Yep, that's what I'm talking about. Note the Dwarven flavor in the lore descriptions. Again, logical. I believe the custom, Thorik-forged ones were written by Rogueknight himself, which would have taken quite some time. And note the weight reductions on the armor and shield. This is actually very useful in Swordflight because the campaign does not itemize a Bag of Holding we can hold onto until the end of Chapter II (Gadaran's Garb & Gear). Even with high strength coupled with Magic Bags and the like, encumbrance can be a problem when we are killing things and taking their stuff in the far-flung regions of Calimshan, above-linked. 

It depends on what quests we have undertaken previously, what weapons we have as our focus, and other things besides, but the armor, helm, amulet and ring were an upgrade for me and my party at this point; basically, it resulted in AC +4 for my Dwarven Defender, and the ability to carry a crap-load more stuff.

[cf. 6th level, pre-Thorik setup]

We now look like this:

Again, that's what I'm talking about: Time for some tanking. The crafting opportunity offered by Thorik, along with other notable arms & armor upgrades, will be covered in subsequent posts.

Take me to Part XVI: Hammer & Anvil.

Neverwinter Nights	Swordflight Chapter 3	Buried Ruins 2	Thieves' Guild	Mazar's Golems
Swordflight	Swordflight Alignment	Buried Ruins 3	Goblinoid Army	Precious Metals
Rogueknight Interview	Swordflight Walkthrough	Buried Ruins 4	Orc Army	Hammer & Anvil
Swordflight Chapter 1	Shifting Sands Inn	Calimport	Dragon Cult	Bloody Blades
Swordflight Chapter 2	Buried Ruins 1	Zataroth	Aranea Base	Zagash the Terrible