Another stand-alone story of Steuben. Well maybe not Steuben, he tells the story. But, perhaps it will be interesting.
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The smithy was large, which was a good thing. Several of the area smiths had gathered there. Additionally some members of the community had come. It had spread that he was there. Some had come to see the man that, in some languages, named \"the quiet demon\". Some had come to hear the story that he was going to tell. Some had come because it was a warm and dry place in what was looking to be a stormy night
Steuben stands near the forge. His sword stands propped up against the forge. It exudes the air of a great hunting cat sleeping contentedly. His short shirt shows the scars that he had accumulated over time. They indicate that he had led an interesting life. He looks up at the assembled crowd. Despite having worked all day at the forge the ring on his right little finger was still clean. It gleams slightly in the soot on his hands. He taps it against the anvil. The slight ringing sound seems to pierce the general noise and focuses everybody\'s attention on him.
\"Let?s see, where to begin. There are so many places to start. But this is as good a place as any. This story comes from a time when the azure sun was new. It may even come from a time before the sun itself.
\"In this time all metals contained magic. Using this magic, and the skills that they knew, it was possible for people to build great and many wonders. They could build things that would allow them to fly effortlessly. Build things to see and hear each other across great distances just as clearly as you see and hear me now. It even allowed them to build devices that would move and talk like people.
\"However, there was a darker side to all of this. They built many horrible weapons. Things that could kill tens of men in an instant. Terrible things that could destroy entire villages, and leave nothing but baked earth.
\"The gods watched mortals. They wondered at the marvels they achieved. They also feared the destruction that they would unleash on themselves, the world, and perhaps the gods themselves. The last thing is what people were beginning to think of doing.\"
At this point, the building storm chooses to unleash itself. Several cracks of thunder and a few flashes of lightning occur. Steuben smiles at the cosmic timing.
\"The people were jealous of the god\'s power. They wanted it for themselves. They put they began to scheme and build great and terrible machines. They also managed to do new and wondrous things as they progressed. Nevertheless, it was all towards this end.
\"The gods saw this activity. They retreated into their inner sanctum. Even gods that had been feuding since the beginning of time put aside their quarrels. They debated long and hard. Some of the gods had advocated for wiping out all the people and starting over.\"
Again, there is a flash of lightning and a crack of thunder. The rain begins to pour from the sky.
\"But, eventually they were talked back from their position. They decided that they would remove the magic from all metals. In addition, they decided to remove the knowledge of how to use metal from their minds.
\"But, one of the gods decided it shouldn\'t be so. She was called Minerva. She decided that it was not the knowledge and the skills that were bad. She thought that it was what was in the hearts and minds of people. Before the gods could act, she searched the land for those of skill with pure hearts and mind. Among all, she was able to find only five. She managed to gather them together just before the gods were set to move.
\"When the gods did move, she shielded them as best she could against them. However, it was not enough. Much of the knowledge was still stripped away from their minds. All that was left was how to work iron and a few bits about the other metals.
A gust of wind and rain hits the smithy. It sounds as though the storm is trying to beat it down. Some of the water splashes down the chimney to sizzle on the still hot stones of the forge.
\"After the will of the gods had past, the six of them sat around a fire and discussed what to do next. Minerva realized that while these people were good, those that came after them might not be. She began to despair. She knew that eventually things would be as they were before. When that happened, she may not be able to protect anybody.
\"So true to their being, the five labored to find a way to prevent it from happening again. After a while, they found a way.\"
\"Even since the beginning of time an oath bound by iron was almost unbreakable, even more so then one bound by the magic in it or other metals. It was something older, more basic then that.
\"So Minerva gathered the five together. They met at a small forge. In the forge was crucible of molten iron in front of it were five simple ring molds.
\"She said \'while the iron is still molten, and the mold is in your hand, repeat these words.\' she spoke in a language ancient even then. The five repeated an oath in that ancient tongue. The words that were spoken then have since been lost.
\"But, what is known of those words is that those five were bound to a few things. They would use their skills for the benefit of the community. They would do their job to the utmost of their ability. They would show no favor when doing their job.
\"However, for all that she bound them to in their oath; she did give them a choice. That those they taught did not have to be bound by the oath. An oath such as this had to sworn of free will. Otherwise, it held no power. However, when sworn of free will it could bind even the gods. When, formed with molten iron, not even their combined power could break it.
\"Things went well for a while. However, the gods soon noticed. Five people wandering around working metals will get your attention. Especially when you expect that, there is nobody who will be. Some of the gods attempted, again, to remove the knowledge from the minds of these five.\"
A squall hits the side of the smithy again.
\"But, they found that they couldn\'t. The power of the oath that the smiths had sworn protected them. The gods raged when they realized what protected the five. Soon their rage turned towards Minerva. They knew that nothing they could do could break the oath. However, every such oath has a way out.
\"They pressed her for the oath. They plied her with both pleasures and pains that only the gods can give and endure. Nevertheless, she remained silent and revealed neither the oath, nor the way out. In their rage and frustration, they dispersed both her and her power across the lands. Even this did not release the oath. The gods retreated to their realm thwarted, in the completion of their plans.
\"It would be many generations before people began the slow rise from the ruins of what was. There walking among those ruins were those that the five had taught, trained, and bound by the same oath. Thus the skills of working iron and the other metals were kept and restored.\"
Another squall hits the smithy. It seems weaker the preceding ones.
\"But, the gods watch, and wait. They know that perhaps some day people will once again be able to threaten their power. For now, the oath that the five and their successors swore stays their hands. If we ever begin to walk down that path again, the choice of the gods maybe the ultimate one.\"
Outside the storm has slackened enough for those assembled to make their way home without getting too wet. They begin to leave for their various beds. One of the elder smiths gathered there walks up to Steuben. Steuben fastens his cloak.
\"Not a particularly happy story is it?\" he says.
Steuben shakes his head. \"It isn\'t meant to be.\"
He slings his sword over his shoulder. \"We will never have a protector like Minerva again.\"
He slides the hood of cloak up over his head. \"It isn\'t a story,\" he says as he walks out of the smithy. \"It is a warning.\" he voice has the faint edge of weariness in it.
He walks out of the smithy into the rain and disappears into the night.
