by mozenwrathe on Tue May 15, 2012 9:05 am
*There is something to be said about an individual who insists on bragging and boasting about themselves all the time: they must love making themselves a target. Either from the enemies of their people or rivals within their own Halls or Clans, such drive to announce themselves to all makes them an easy source of wrath when they succeed, or mirth if they fail. Of course, there will always be those who wish to follow in the footsteps of those who seemingly can do no wrong. Hangers-on of all breeds and types that act like sycophants. One has to wonder why the naysayers and the blind supporters never just go to war with each other and be done with it.*
A Large Glass Vase With Crystals In It
by Ánië Vanimedlë, torian sorceress
In the darkness of the new day, I find myself looking upon this gift bestowed to me. Something crafted by human hands and dwarven minds, yet as beautiful as anything made by elven fingertips with gemstone and platinum. Yes, this is a treasure that will never know its own worth, and yet shall be held close to my heart as something special not just to be looked at, but used to contain the most delicate of blooms I have collected for my week. For is this something to be used and adored, to be commented on and displayed. Even if it is nothing more to most than strangely formed jug that sparkles when the light hits it, to me is it the culmination of someone's efforts and experimentation with a medium I could not hope to understand how to wield and craft with.
Were it merely something that was the length of my forearm, could I still be taken with it. Every hour that must have gone into the making of it was worth the suffering and effort. I say this only as the one who savours its beauty after the fact. My own talents are with magics and melodies, more the former than the latter. I once thought about learning more concerning the arts of illusion, but those do not quite compare to what I look upon now. This is something with permanence. A creation that can only come into being through perseverance. No mere mistake could bring something like this exquisite treasure of craftsmanship to light. No, only the word of someone who has toiled and tried their best to bring a vision from imagination into sound and sight compares. A bard's tale could be sung to this work of sheer genius and still not capture everything about it. Perhaps I overshadow the item with my own bubbling blathering about it, but I cannot see that happening.
The glass this was made with is not any ordinary type. Oh no, was it made with sands from various beaches, and the ground out stone from long dead volcanoes. Well, I should hope they were dead or at least sleeping when those who gathered these materials went to visit them. The mysterious black sands as they were originally, then put between two millstones and finely crushed to almost a powder. Ores from different smithies were absconded with as well, then mixed in with the sands as they were all heated. From there, am I quite lost as to how they turn what was once just beach dust into something beautiful and marvelous. Even though was I right there when the woman started creating the wonderful shapes that would become the vase that stands before me now.
Anyone can break stone or shatter pottery. It only takes the right amount of force. To bring such into being, though, in the form of art is another thing altogether. Glass and crystal even more so, for to truly make it special, you need to combine many different talents together at the same time. Could I never understand everything that goes into their works, nor have I been expected to. I believe this was the first time she - the woman who made this - ever went with something of this size. The entire vase is the full length of my arm, and yet totally one entire piece. Nothing was segmented or fused, and not even a singular spell was used to make it balanced. This was purely her effort and excellence coming together to make something the likes of which have I rarely seen. Even so, nobody had ever allowed me to fully embrace something of this style as she had... and was the craftswoman richly rewarded, indeed.
Despite the colours of the materials themselves that went into making this piece, is it almost completely clear. Heavier than most glass, is it thicker and stronger than the average jug or philter by far. Not to mention the beautiful swirling veins of colour that drape along the sides of the vase are reminiscent of the hair of one of my lovers. She is the one who commissioned this bit of brilliance, so it would fall in line with her presents for me. Could I almost giggle with glee at the shape of it, as smooth and winsome as a dancing slavegirl, but also with a shimmer from every angle from the torchlights. Little flecks of different jewel dusts give this an even greater value to any would-be collector, but shall it forever be mine to hold and have. This is nothing I would trade for mere mehrial. Some things are meant to show their glory to all, like the stars in the heavens. This vase contains my own private constellation, to be admired only by those who are important enough to be invited into my home.
current characters:
Prydain Mozenwrathe (Magi, smith, known to the Might Makes Right) ,
Ichilandar Shimmerstrike (dark elf, ranger, merchant) ,
Dasan (Sheykan, druid, real estate specialist)