Farnon Festent

Farnon Festent, later also called Fernum, is a high elf smith in the Mürekkep ve Çelik ("Ink and Steel") campaign, master of the Silver Hammer forge in Akşelale. With a silver hammer he carves enchanted runes into scimitars; humans liken his craft to that of a dwarven rune master.^{1 2}

The Silver Hammer

The workshop is wide. Its forge burns white with an unusual coal, its water shimmers as if dusted with silver, and its tools are small and light. Most of the weapons on show are fine one-handed blades plated with silver or adamant; there are no great swords or axes, but a glaive carved with dwarven runes of strength and endurance hangs in the window. Farnon works alone and keeps his methods to himself.^{3 4 5}

On the wall hangs a ceremonial hammer inlaid with a little mithril, a gift of the Stonebeard clan, a noble line of dwarven masons. Farnon says he did not buy it: he received it for a dagger he had made that does not sink. Its owner, the dwarf Thoradin, fell into water while fleeing his enemies, threw away his heavy arms but kept the dagger, and survived four days and nights in the wild. Thoradin Stonebeard is remembered as a hero and champion who won a peaceful tournament of the dwarven clans.^{6 7 8 9}

Leonard

When Leonard came to the forge, he refused Farnon's hand, suggested the hammer might be stolen, belittled his work and asked whether his white fire was magic. Farnon said he did not share his methods and ended the conversation.^{4 10}

Leonard later watched him work from a distance: Farnon poured a thick amber drink over the hot blade, drank some himself, and each blow of the mithril-plated dwarven hammer flashed silver. Through a street child, Leonard asked the price of the glaive in the name of an invented lord; Farnon, who had seen him, named an absurd sum in jest and smiled at the reply.^{11 12 13}

The commissions

Castor introduced himself by saying he had read of Farnon's rescue of the dwarf. He asked for a cover for his spellbook, of silver rather than gold, that would not sink at sea, and Farnon agreed for the cost of materials and a promise that Castor would bring him something special from his voyage. The dwarf he had saved, he said, had once paid him the same way with mithril, and had counted him one of his own clan since.^{14 15}

Castor also asked for a silver hand for Leonard, explaining that the darkness beneath the earth had left him seeing elves where there were none, a hatred he had not chosen. Farnon said that bearing grudges was not the way of his people, but asked that Leonard come in person. When Leonard entered with his eyes lowered, Farnon put a hand on his shoulder and agreed before he could speak. He said the glaive was not for sale.^{16 17 18}

He began at once, melting silver into rods to be bent and woven into a gauntlet. He poured honeyed ale over the metal and spoke words in Silvan, among them the name Nemarin, and a light breeze carried the scent of flowers; then, with a gesture as if stroking a beard, he called on Moradin and began to hammer. He promised both pieces within three days.^{18 19}

Castor also asked him for advice and letters for his voyage. Farnon agreed to help where he could, and told him to visit his dwarf friend, if he still lived, when Castor went among the dwarves.²⁰