The Craftsman's Manifest

[ABitOfVittle]

The Manifesto

There has always been something that called me to the workbench. I don't know if it's the feeling of making something with my own two hands, or the thrill of seeing it used for something far grander. Or maybe it's just something I'm good at, other then spilling blood and being a scoundrel in the dark. Don't know. But, the forge has always been my passion. But I am nowhere near the grandest, or the most experienced. There are those who forge god-like relics, those who make new beings out of the strangest materials.

Those who create weapons which could sunder our very star.

And all of them, are unique in their style. Every little step they take, to create is something borne out of their own ingenuity. Their own practiced development. And that has always fascinated me. It's always been a far off dream, to record these styles. To learn first hand, what makes them special and document them for those around me. The Artisans, the Masters, the Grandmasters. The small-town smithy who just so happens to have his own special twist on weapon forging.
All of them.

And with doom on the horizon? Those blips of light and skill may begin to be snuffed. So when better, then now?  I am Cletus Klein, and this is my 'Manifesto'. I can neither call myself the greatest, nor the most dedicated smithy. But I hope I can impart even a iota of the skill these masters of their trade, have honed. With that behind us? Let me start with the greatest I have ever known.

Mooney-Style Rune Forging

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The Mooneys are a family based out of my now-hometown of Serenity, and each and every one of them have honed their craft to a inordinately  impressive pedigree. From Rihtas Mooney, who despite bearing no particular artisan ship as a artificer, uses the craft to create 'Blood-Crystals' which bear a signifigant ability to bear and hold Mana, to Lore Mooney; whom has learned to turn his craft into a piercing, offensive art. They are a pair of individuals I could write of, all day. But.

It's easier to go to the root of their Skill. Basil Mooney.

My mentor and as of writing; one of scarce few Archmage-Society recognized Grandmasters upon Meranthe. Her ability with the forge is peerless, and her dedication to both her craft and it's use towards the greater good is something only storied of. She's dedicated every Iota to mastering each aspect of Artificery; from Golems made from 'natural' cores, resulting in more Flora-like creations which serve as conduits of Natural-Will, to a league of Rune-Crafting which I can only hope to emulate, someday.  She has mastered the divine language to such a point where she's able to manifest her will through words. A horrifying if well-encapsulated image of her honed craft.

So what makes the Mooney-style of Runes so particular to me? I suppose it is the efficacy of it all. They blend runes in such a way that is more, logical then magical. There's no fallacies, no 'fancy' frills and bells and whistles. It is a pure and straight-forward scheme of Rune Language which allows for a manipulation of Base-Level Concepts to a sharp level of detail. From turning rigid metals in loose, almost dough-like consistent for shaping.

To turning a sliver of Cosmic Mana into a whole schemata of a Star-Map. The Mooney-Style of Runecasting is both rigid in it's 'construction' but far looser and grandeur in its limits. A blend of logical problem solving akin to more hands-on work, and yet, fantasized solutions.

The true limits of Runecrafting lie in the crafter's own limited imagination, and the Basil school of Runemastery allows such Imagination to flourish in the most explicit of ways. This is the same school of Runecasting that yours truly has honed himself on, and in doing so I as a smith have reached far greater highs then previously expected. But all of this, is simple a ode to the Mooney-Family's ability to expand upon the Runecraft and turn it into such a specialized art that I still have trouble putting it quite to word how important their arts are.

Of course, I am Bias here; am I not? As this Manifesto Grows, I can only hope to meet further individuals who take the Rune-Word to yet more fascinating Lengths.

For now, that is all I will write. This is a measure in thought, and I can only write about as much as I know. But, perhaps next time; after I've worked with the arts a bit more, I could write of Silvanas Ritualmancy next. A thrilling path of creation in it's own right.

End of Chapter 1