Writer's Wednesday XXII

Welcome to another Wednesday.

Today I will take you to the taun of Gi, in the Telish Throne, on Tilmar.

The oldest taun in the Telish Throne to have a continuous history, Gi has long since been synonymous with the finest katanas on Layonara. Founded in 543 by a collective of artisans including two sword makers, Gi was grounded in the concept of friendship and cooperation between the fifty-three craftsmen. Even the word gi means friendship in the fading language of the Rohden Alliance.

For almost nine hundred years, Gi has been home to weavers, smiths, tailors, painters, and woodcarvers, all living in quiet reflection and dedication to their craft. Because of the number of families with multiple generations laid into the foundations of the taun, newcomers should expect to be tested, and should also expect to conform to Gi’s pace and preferences or face a rejection that can be shattering in such a small population.

Of all the crafts practiced, the one that has defined the essence of the taun is that of sword making. From the legacy of Imito Nagurac and Lataou Shen’shou, the human and elven master sword smiths who helped found the taun, to the modern-day masters Chiyo Amie, Akane Shen’shou, and the devout Toranite Migumi, the quality of the blades that come from these forges far surpass those found anywhere else on the island and most places in the world. Ore is obtained via trade or from a few small, carefully dug mines in the surrounding hills. Every effort is made to avoid damaging the land; prayer and rituals to the nature spirits in the forest and hills are mandatory before harvesting the bounty of the deep earth.

Apprentices are everywhere in Gi; sometimes from local children, sometimes from farther away. The Three Masters, as they are sometimes called, have several apprentices each that are responsible for the rough shaping, heating, and hammering of blades. As well there are a handful of artisans who specialize in armors and other metal goods; the master engraver Kent Schumacher has commissions from all over Layonara to produce his ethereal etchings.

This is just part of the text on Gi, hope you enjoyed it.

~EdTheKet