Dragonmetal, Celestial Ore and Ironwood

D&D 3e (3.0/3.5) Rules

by Terry Doetzel

Dragonmetal

Dragonmetal can be found beneath the Stone Dragon in Foghaven Vale, welling up from the earth in a pool of cool liquid metal. This gift from the gods of light is one of the essential ingredients (along with the Silver Arm and the Hammer of Kharas) that can be used to forge the dragonlances. However, the dragonmetal can be used to forge other items as well. Theros Ironfeld, the only smith who could wear the silver arm (and thus forge the dragonlances) lies dead. As well, the dragon purge destroyed many wyrms, leaving the skies clear as dragonkind as a whole is trying to recover from their grievous losses. As such the Solamnic Knights have begun to forge other items from this wondrous metal, particularly weapons and armor. These items are given to knights and allies alike as tokens to honor the individual's rank or valor. However, all too often these items are stolen by thieves or taken as spoils of war, finding themselves in the hordes of tyranical rulers and fell creatures. If an adventurer ever recovers one, he should realize that there will be prior claims to the weapon, and should look on the weapon or armor for a family crest or other identifying mark. If one returns the item, one can expect great favor with those connected with the former wielder of the blade. If one refuses to return what is not rightfully his, one can expect great enmity from both from the friends and family of the wielder, as well as the Solamnic knighthood as a whole.

Dragonmetal is a glistening silver and lighter than steel, but just as strong and durable, and its innately magical nature enable a skilled smith to create items of great beauty and utility. Since the Solamnics only recruit the greatest smiths of the Solamnic confederacy to forge the dragonmetal, all items created with dragonmetal are considered to be masterwork. Dragonmetal armours are one category lighter for the purposes of movement and other limitations (for example, whether a barbarian can use her fast movement ability while wearing the armor or not). Heavy armors are treated as medium, and medium armours are treated as light, but light armors are still treated as light. Spell failure chances for armors and shields are decreased by 10%, maximum dexterity bonus is increased by 2, and armor check penalties are reduced by 4. As well all weapons forged with dragonmetal carry a +2 natural enhancement bonus. This bonus does not stack with any other enhancements (for example, if a dragonmetal sword is enhanced with a +3 magical bonus is a +3 sword, not a +5 sword).

Dragonmetal has a hardness of 15 and 30 points per inch of thickness.

Special: When a dragonmetal weapon is consecrated by the High Clerist in a special ceremony, it is thereafter considered to be a holy avenger (DMG 188) whose benefits can be gained when wielded by either a paladin or Solamnic knight. The High Clerist must cast the necessary divine spells and spend the necessary XP to create a holy avenger sword.

Though dragonmetal items are so rare and precious that the Solamnics would never sell them at any price, there have been cases in which victorious enemies have sold them.

Celestial Ore

Though the place that the planet Krynn holds in the heavens has shifted, the number of meteorites falling on Krynn since the dawn fifth age has not increased. There has however, been a marked increase in those meteorites containing a material the ancient alchemists called "celestial ore" a bluish ore of extordinary strength and hardness. Only the most dedicated and knowledgeable prospectors can hope to find this metal, or the extremely lucky who have such a precious substance fall right into their laps.

The qualities of this ore are identical with adamantine described in the DMG on page 242.

Ironwood

This rare magic wood is as light as normal wood, but as hard as the metal after which the tree is named. Found in Abanasinia and Qualinesti, these trees are known for their difficulty in harvesting them, with the techniques for doing so being closely a guarded guild secret. Any wooden or mostly wooden item (such as a bow, an arrow, or a spear) made from ironwood is considered to be a masterwork item of that type. Items not normally made from wood (such as a battleaxe or mace) cannot be made out of ironwood, because the hard wood frustrates any attempts to affix metal to the ironwood haft. As well, ironwood cannot be carved into anything but blunt weapons, as it cannot hold an edge. All armor crafted using ironwood is considered to be light armor, but cannot be used to craft chain or plate armors. Leather or hide is always used as a backing for ironwood armor.

To determine the price of ironwood items, use the original weight, but add +10 stl per pound to the price of the item. Ironwood has a hardness of 10 and 10 hit points per inch of thickness.

Editor's notes

It must be emphasized that there are a handful of smiths painstakingly producing masterwork weapons. These materials are the Krynnish alternatives to the magical substances of mithral, adamantine and darkwood in the Dungeon Master's Guidebook.

The use of Dragonmetal (first detailed in page 26 of the module, DL7: Dragons of Light) being used in holy avengers comes from "The story Tasselhoff promised never ever to tell" in which the dragonlances work their magic by an act of faith. Turning consecrated weapons into holy avengers seems to be a bridge between the dragonmetal weapons and the dragonlances.

This item has been published here with permission from the author(s) and may not be reproduced without permission. This is a fan submission and its contents are completely unofficial. Some characters, places, likenesses and other names may be copyright Wizards of the Coast.