Make Yourself [Solo]

[Rey Ledford]

District: Orange
Location: Ledford Smithing Service Workshop, Brasstack Plaza

It was supposed to be another day in the Orange District of Lune Seaport for the Ledford Smithing Service to work on their orders to everyone. But this time, the blacksmith was absent as he was forced to stay home due to a flu. Because of this, his substitute instead took over his shift for today as his son, Rey entered the workshop about to start his shift as Courier as well. "Hey, my Dad sent me for my usual shift. Got some orders for me to deliver?" However, the substitute blacksmith nodded no as he said, "Sorry, Rey. I think after your father got the flu, he didn't finished the orders ready for today, so I'm afraid you will have to wait until then."

"Oh, I see. Well, I'll be at the back of the forge if you need me and don't worry, I'm already aware of the dangers inside, so I'll be careful." The blacksmith might protest this, but he did saw him avoided the forge and the dangerous tools in the shop while he was young, not to mention that he was taught everything by his father, he has no regrets about this as he saw him entered the back area of the shop. As he looked around the workshop in curiosity, he realized that nothing has changed ever since he became an apprentice mercenary. It was the different tools his father recently made, but the same atmosphere he felt while he was young. And as he looked though the order sheets in his desk, Rey knew his father was working hard to support his family and he vowed that he will do the same when he grows up.

But as he browsed through the orders his father got, he noticed something odd about one of them. "Huh? This doesn't make sense, this one's not from Orange or any district at all." He can't say where the order came from, but he was confused at where it was ordered from. This made him wondered, was this one connected to a strange phenomenon he heard about? Nevertheless, if this one got to his father instead of him, this could spell major trouble for Lune when this got out. To prevent that, he knew what to do, which was to forge these orders by himself. But not wanted to be tracked down by it's origins in here, he decided not to use the Ledford seal the shop used to marked their creations. The worst-case scenario if he didn't was that someone might enter Lune by this knowledge.

"Hey, Alre! Can I use one of the anvils and the hammers in here? I thought I might help you out on getting those orders done." He needed permission to use the tools, but he needed to be discreet about the order he just got. Thankfully, Alre got his permission as long as he tried to be careful with the forge's fire, which he agreed to his condition. With that taken care of, he put on his apron and prepared his tools. It has been a long time since he made some metal accessories with his father, so just for this build, he needed to make sure that he won't mess up even a little detail to it. As for the said accessory, the anonymous customer ordered Metal Spaulders with customized effects. If he remembered from his father, spaulders are pair of shoulder armors that can be attacked with leather straps. He also knew what they are since he also owned one spaulder that his mentor gave him.

With his first forge planned out, he put some metal inside the forge so he can start forging it. But still, working on this kind of items made him felt excited. He never made anything ever since he was found by his mentor and despite the years he spent training his sword-fighting skills, he never forgot how to forge items like his father taught him. After a few minutes in the forge, he used the tongs to took the metal out from it and started hitting it with his hammer to forge on the basic shape of the spaulders.

CRAFTING PROGRESS: Level 30 Metal Accessory (Metal Spaulders) 1/3

WORDS: 695 (Solo Word Count Limit: 695)

GOALS: To work on these orders from an anonymous person that Rey found by his father's desk.

NOTES: This is for Shuwen's orders, but for IC purposes, the orders Rey got will be anonymous. Also, I read about cross-Lune crafts, so don't worry.

[Rey Ledford]

Although his shoulder armor was like the ones he worked on, these were very different as the articulation of it was easy for the wearer to move. Also, he needed to forge five metals for each shoulders so he can assemble them into a pair of spaulders. Speaking of which, he managed to flattened the metal into a small sheet, which served as the upper shoulder for it. He then started to work on the next 4 small metal pieces for the movable parts of the armor. As he continued to hammer onto one of the pieces, he wondered how in a world did this order came in here in the first place. He didn't saw any unusual people whenever he came into the workshop everyday, so he guessed that someone must have deliver this during his absence.

After he managed the rest of the metallic pieces to his desired shapes, he started to bend each of them into shape. They must be fitted to the wearer or else the articulation will cause problem for it. He already got some measurements from the order sheet, so he needed to make a test feet with one of the mannequins and his own shoulder. After that, he hammered down each pieces to make sure they were perfectly curved. "Alright, now all that needs now is that I should add in the bevels and make sure to get rid of these sharp edges." He thought as he heat up the metal pieces in the forge. "I don't want any complaints about these spaulders being dangerously pointy."

When they are started to heated up, he spent a few hours forging the bevels on some of the pieces and grind the sharp edges with a grindstone. After he finished grinding, he started to punch in the holes to prepare the rivets and leather straps for it. After that, he then put the pieces into the forge to heat treated it with his plans to temper it afterwards. He needed for the spaulders to not only to be tough but also durable for any battle. But because it will take a few hours to do this, Rey decided to take a short break as he sat down on a nearby chair to rest with his mind still set on the orders he just got.

CRAFTING PROGRESS: Level 30 Metal Accessory (Metal Spaulders) 2/3

WORDS: 388 (Solo Word Count Limit: 695+388=1083)

GOALS: To work on these orders from an anonymous person that Rey found by his father's desk.

[Rey Ledford]

According to the order sheet, the spaulders wasn't supposed to be used for protection, but to braced the wearer's shoulders during their stressful actions. He has no clue about the owner's identity, but he was impressed about how specific his orders were. But remembered about the metal pieces he just heat treated, he pulled them out of the forge and quenched them in oil to harden it. After that, he then tempered the pieces to increased their durability, during which he then started to work on the leather straps. He double checked the measurements several times and now, all he needed to do was to cut the right sizes of the straps with his knife and installed the small buckles.

As he finished the straps, all that was left now was to took the pieces out as they were finished tempering and started to polished them one by one. After that, he started to assemble the pieces and the leather straps together and as he did, he put the rivets inside the holes to secure them together. And with a final adjustments to the spaulders' articulation, they are finally finished just as Alre saw the finished products that Rey tried it out. "Wow, you made these all by yourself?"

"Yeah, it's been a while since I've made these when Dad taught me, but at least it managed to work out in the end." Alre was completely impressed, Rey did have the same blood as his father. He then wondered if he can take over his father's shop someday, but it depends on his decision. "Anyways, I got one more order to go, so I can't idle around for much longer." Rey didn't want to tell the whole thing about his orders to Alre, but he didn't want him to know where the order came from. "Okay, the orders I'm working on might take a while as well, so feel free to continue." He thanked his father's friend before he prepared himself for the next build.

CRAFTING PROGRESS: Level 30 Metal Accessory (Metal Spaulders) 3/3

WORDS: 335 (Solo Word Count Limit: 695+388+335=1418)

GOALS: To work on these orders from an anonymous person that Rey found by his father's desk.

NOTES: Need to wait for Shuwen's message about the next build. Otherwise, this thread's finished.

[Rey Ledford]

The last item for the anonymous order was the Cooking Gear. Unfortunately there was one problem: the gear must have the cooking essentials such as pots, pans, and the rest of utensils and he didn't have time to make all of it as he slumped down on his seat in dismay. Alre however noticed his frustration and asked what happened. "It's this last order. They wanted a set of cooking utensils for their travels, but I can't make it in a day!" Other than weaponry and building tools, his shop also took care of metallic cooking utensils, but for Rey, making them will take him a week to finish them. "Well, if you're having trouble with them, I think your father has some spare utensils at the back. They were supposed to be delivered to some restaurant until they cancelled them due to problems."

"Are you sure Dad wouldn't mind about them?" Rey asked in worry on taking his father's forged items without permission. "Well, he planned to dismantled them to recycle it, but if you want, then that's fine my me and your father." Rey sighed in relief as his utensil problem was solved. But the only thing missing now was the storage for the whole set. He decided that a small metallic carrying box will work to prevent the set from the mess when he carried it around. Not only that, the only missing utensils he found was the ladle and spatula, so he had to make them by hand. "Well, can you help me out on assemble the box when I'm done working on the pieces?" He asked as he put some metal bars into the forge to heat them up. "Sure, anything for Ledford's son."

As he left to continue his work on the other forge, Rey then searched through the metal sheets for the Cooking Gear storage. It must have enough space for the tools, but not too heavy for the owner to carry it. When he found some lying near the other forge, he then took out one of the bars and started to hammer it down to start shaping the spatula.

CRAFTING PROGRESS: Level 30 Metal Accessory (Cooking Gear) 1/3

WORDS: 358 (Solo Word Count Limit: 695+388+335+358=1776)

GOALS: To work on these orders from an anonymous person that Rey found by his father's desk.

NOTES: I stand corrected. One more craft for Shuwen and I'm done.

[Rey Ledford]

After he hammered the metal bar into shape of a spatula, Rey started on another metal bar for the ladle as he hammered the tip of it to shape the big spoon-like shape that it has. After 2 hours of hammering, he continued to hammer the sides of the utensils to straighten it. While he did that, Alre just finished on an ordered product and approached the young boy with little worry about his health. "I just finished the ordered saw, Rey. It should be ready for delivery as soon as they're finished tempering." However, Rey didn't turned around to see him as he was too focused on the utensils. "Okay, I'll be done here in just a few minutes."

However as he saw Rey sweated as he continued forging, Alre became more worried about him. "Well, maybe you should take a rest right now. You're starting to get exhausted and don't try to talk your way out, the last time after your blacksmith lesson with your father, you fainted while you're playing ball with your friends." As he finished straightened the utensils, Rey realized he has a good point there. He wanted to finish the Cooking Gear, but he didn't want to miss his Courier shift. "You're right. I just put the metal sheets near the anvil, I'll help you on the storage design after my rest and Courier shift." After he rubbed the newly created ladle and spatula with an anti-rust solution, he slumped down onto his seat and rest his aching shoulders for a few minutes. After that, he left the shop to work in his Courier shift as Alre analyzed the sheets Rey just found.

As he went through today's deliveries across Orange District, Rey started to wonder about the storage of the Cooking Gear. As he gone through each house and shop, he asked the restaurant staff from each restaurants about their cooking utensils and how they stored them in a traveling bag. This made him wondered that instead of a box, he needed a bag of some sort. But there was the pots and pans he had to worry about as they won't able to fit into them. As he thought, he suddenly struck in realization as he delivered the last order to a house near Coral College where he saw some kind of bag the owner was holding. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that before?!" As he arrived back in the workshop, Alre was surprised at his sudden return and asked, "Oh, what's the matter, Rey?"

"Do we still got those leftover bags that Dad used years ago?" He said as he panted, which he was now tried to catch his breath from running without using his Express Delivery skill due to his idea. "Yeah, why do you asked?" But when he raised his head to see his father's friend, Rey showed a confident smile and said, "Could we incorporate the leather to the Cooking Gear storage?" Alre was shocked at what Rey came up with as the young boy approached him and took the sheets to measure them with a measuring tape. "If we can use the leather from the worn bags and attached them inside the box, we could create small pockets for any small utensils and prevent them from loss at the same time."

At first, he was surprised at his plans, yet he was impressed at the blacksmith's son's ideas. "Okay, but you have to remove most of the metal, put on some anti-rust solution, and cover the insides with cloth to prevent both the storage and utensils' damage when someone carries it around during travels." With that said, Rey grabbed the metallic sheets and head off to the grindstone before he said, "Right, you'll work on the leather pockets, I'll take care of the utensils' storage!" As the grindstone wheel started to spin, he started to grind the sheets to his desired size as Alre went off just as Rey asked.

CRAFTING PROGRESS: Level 30 Metal Accessory (Cooking Gear) 2/3

WORDS: 665 (Solo Word Count Limit: 695+388+335+358+665=2441)

GOALS: To work on these orders from an anonymous person that Rey found by his father's desk.

[Rey Ledford]

As he continued to grind the sheets, he used a weight scale during his grinds to measure the weight of each sheets. He wanted to avoid the box be too heavy and light enough for a person to carry it, but he also wanted to be big enough to fit all of the utensils. However, he needed to remove the sharp edges to prevent discomfort to the user. "Not only the storage of the Cooking Gear has to be lightweight, but I need to make sure the utensils will fit perfectly. Otherwise, I might not able to finish it without any flaws to the box." After he managed to grind into the right size and weight for each of the sheets, he assembled the box and the dividers inside it as he hold it together with some clamps to visualized the design of the storage he planned.

Then after he heated the first two parts in the forge, he hammered them to weld them together and did the same with the other two before he weld the combined parts together. "So far, so good. I hope Alre is doing good on those leather pockets I've asked for." He thought as he welded the dividers inside the box as well, now felt that the Cooking Gear was almost finished. As he grind and polished the outer area of the box, Alre arrived with something in his hands when he was surprised at Rey's progress. "Wow, a little rugged than I imagined, but I can't believe you were able to make that storage box a reality."

"Thanks. Are the leather pockets ready?" His friend nodded yes as he showed him what he was really holding, which are the pockets made from old leather. "Good, can you help me on riveting them onto the box?" Alre agreed as they used the hammers and rivets to attached the pockets to the outer area of the box. Then, he made some final inspection as he put on some anti-rust solution while Rey decided to make some adjustments to the other utensils to make sure they will last as his newly created utensils.

And after a few more hours, Rey attached the leather strap to the box for carrying onto the owner's shoulder, which he then smiled as he knew the Cooking Gear he made was completed as Alre joined him. "Wow, I can't believe you were able to make them in just a few hours, Rey." The young boy blushed in embarrassment at his compliment and said, "Not exactly. You were able to help me by guiding me on those other cooking utensils and the leather pockets." Alre nodded at his reason as he knew he needed full credit to his achievements. "No, you were able to make the box and the other utensils by yourself. If you keep this up, you'll be like your old man someday."

"Thanks. But I'm also a mercenary apprentice, you know. I can't abandon both of them, so I have to keep practicing and make sure I won't lag behind." His words are true. His reasons for his dreams was to succeed his father when he retires and to protect his family and the people around him. But his reason for his biggest dream of all was to learn everything to prepare him for the future. But with his confusion about the orders he got, Rey wondered who was the person ordered these items. Whoever it was, he knew that he might like these items he made by himself.

CRAFTING PROGRESS: Level 30 Metal Accessory (Cooking Gear) 3/3

WORDS: 590 (Solo Word Count Limit: 695+388+335+358+665+590=3031)

GOALS: To work on these orders from an anonymous person that Rey found by his father's desk.

NOTES: Thread finished!