Armorcrafting 101 [Valhallan Fighters/Open to pack in general]

He was patient, and he was rewarded as the pack’s fighters came. Unsurprisingly, Ardyn was first to arrive, and Cairo gave the yearling Heir a grin as he took his spot. Ardyn was already quite good at crafting armor, but one always had more to learn, and much of what the boy had absorbed had come from Cairo and Red.

Domari was next, and Cairo grinned at the male as he took a seat, then let his grin widen as Drachen arrived, nodding in agreement. It was a pleasant afternoon, especially with the smells of the cooking wafting toward his nostrils.

Lee padded up in her usual cheerful mood, and Cairo winked at the girl, assuring her, “This is primarily fighters, but all are welcome to come in and learn and make something. I’d like to see all our healers and hunters in armor of some sort. The world can be a harsh place, after all.”

Plus her mother encouraged learning all things, not just the typical hunting, fighting, healing, and navigation. Reading, writing, history… she wanted her pack well-informed and well-educated.

Chrystaloria drifted in as Caelia arrived, and Cairo gave his sister a quick grin before leaning to listen to the owl as she reported quietly. Rhaegara had requested leave to search for her remaining family, and Aurielle had granted it. He hoped his friend was successful. She could use that kind of joy that finding long-lost family you’d thought might be dead were instead alive and well. How was Meri, he wondered?

Taliesyn arrived, and Cairo looked up sharply at the mention of a bear, but Isolde dropped and gave her own report, and the Sentinel’s posture relaxed. Good that the bear wasn’t sticking around, though it was annoying that bears still, after all these years, had not learned to just steer well clear of these lands. Perhaps he’d lead a bear hunt later on… it was that time of year.

He cast a look at the still empty spaces, but it was time that he started the lesson, and any latecomers would have to catch up, or have a private session with himself later to catch up with the rest.

He straightened, shoulders rolling under his own armor as he spoke, “Armor is something that I believe every wolf of Valhalla should possess. Even healers and dignitaries. You can never know for sure that you won’t need it when outside Valhallan lands, whether against an enemy wolf, or a predator that thought you might be tasty for lunch.”

He raised a paw in a sweeping gesture at the piles of materials before each of them, bear claws glinting in the cool sunlight as he went on, “There are many ways to make it, from draping a simple bison hide over your back, to something intricate and layered like what I’m wearing.”

Using the claws of his bracer, he stepped forward, tapping a claw over each tool as he spoke, letting each wolf – and horse – see them as he pointed them out.

“This is an array of tools for cutting, carving, embossing, and stitching. Some of them are much easier if you have a companion who has hands and nimble fingers. Leather can be shaped through wetting and forming it over things like a sapling trunk, for bracers, or a tortoise shell for some pieces of armor for the body.”

His eyes drifted over the features of the gathered members turning the lesson briefly to them as he asked, “Can any of you think of ways to harden leather?”

He didn’t doubt Domari did, the man was experienced, and among the masters of the pack. But he was curious to see if any of the others had any thoughts on the process and the methods available.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think