Mining is an important aspect of Clan life, and serves as the foundation for many of the technological advancements made within the Clans. This technique was invented by Badgerstar of the Ridge Fangs almost one hundred and ninety cycles ago, after all of the meteorites that had fallen were exhausted of their resources. This development granted the cats a renewed source of metal. It is one of the most important tasks of a forger, though it is fraught with potential dangers. As such, the role of a forger is highly respected within the Clans. The most important materials that forgers mine for are iron, copper, tin, lead, and coal. Sometimes gold and silver are mined as well, but they are considered less important. Some of these metals are found natively within stone (such as gold or bronze), while others need to be refined for use (such as iron).
Mines are made by first locating an area that is mineral-rich, then following ore veins, typically along the mountains. Once an ideal location is found, a fire is set against the rockside and then allowed to cool in a process known as fire-setting. The rapid heating causes the rock to fracture, thus rendering it workable for forgers. Metal digging tools are used to bore into the cracked rock, creating sloped shafts that are continuously expanded upon. If the rock is too resistant to dig through, fire-setting is once again used. However, this can be extremely dangerous, so cats evacuate the site until the fire burns itself out so as to avoid any harmful fumes. Another technique that forgers sometimes utilize is hushing, in which a flood of water is used to erode away soils and expose ore veins. It is more uncommon than fire-setting due to the difficulty of transporting a large enough amount of water to effectively utilize this technique.
The process of mining has several dangers. Mines can potentially collapse through cave-ins, but the development of masonry has reduced this danger. Rockfalls are yet another hazard that forgers might encounter. Fires burning out of control can lead to mass death, though a large-scale fire has not occurred since that of the Brimstone Mine’s. Toxic gases can sometimes be found within mines, either sickening cats or suffocating them. To combat this, forgers will catch a small but noisy prey item – usually a bird – and tie a rope around it before lowering it into the mine and listening for whether it dies or not. Cats who spend long periods of time in the mines tend to develop an illness called “blackcough,” where cats struggle to breathe and cough up black pieces of tissue from their lungs. This disease is not a quick killer, except in extreme cases. Forgers tend to work in shifts to lower the risk of developing this illness, keeping each other from spending too long within the mines or returning to mining too quickly.
Metalworking is an important technique within the Clans, and inarguably the most important aspect of being a forger. Without metalworking, a majority of the techniques used by the Clans would be useless. Its use is widespread within the Clans, ranging from everyday items to incredibly specialized ones. This technique was introduced to the Clans by Hephaestia two hundred cycles ago, using ore found within the meteorites that had crashed onto the Clans’ territories. Using these teachings, Sirenstar of the Ivory Talons and Harpystar of the Ridge Fangs created the first weapons while warring for territory. Forgers have constantly sought to improve their techniques since then, resulting in a steady flow of advancements in the cycles following the introduction of metalworking.
Initially, the Clans got their metal from meteorites that had fallen onto the territories some two hundred cycles ago. The meteorites primarily contained iron-nickel alloys, and so the first forgers mostly worked with iron. In modern times, most tools are made out of either bronze or iron. Bronze is resistant to corrosion and can be made sharp, so it is most often used for tools meant for carving. It is not considered hard enough to be used for weaponry or to dig into stone, which is what iron is instead used for. Bronze is made through smelting copper and tin. While iron does not sharpen easily, it is strong, and is most often used in the mines for digging through soils and rocks. Similarly, iron has a high melting point, so all forging tools are made with iron. When used in weaponry, iron is used only as a base, while steel is used for the tips, which require sharpness. Steel is made through an intense process, and is a recent discovery; it was only about thirty cycles ago that Whistlinghare of the Ridge Fangs discovered steel while repeatedly cooling and resmelting iron with characol to fix mistakes in his casting. The process begins by placing iron under high heat within a crucible until it melts. The molten metal is stirred with tools to lower the carbon content, and then given time to cool, resulting in the creation of wrought iron. Charcoal is added onto the wrought iron, then reheated, cooled, and heated again until steel is produced. Steel is often recycled by smelting and casting it once again. Ornamental metals, being gold and silver, are used near exclusively for decor. While gold can be found natively, silver is only sometimes found natively. Silver is instead usually made by refining lead or tin in a process known as cupellation.
Within each Clan’s camp lies a well-established forge. The Ivory Talons’ forge is located within the earth, dug beneath the great tree that they dwell upon. The Ridge Fangs’ forge is located near the leaders' den, and dug farther back than any of the other dens. These forges are expansive, each boasting multiple coal furnaces and several workspaces containing tools. These furnaces are known as wolf-furnaces, and are used for smelting. Furnaces are typically separated by task, such as cupellation, refining, or casting. Crucibles made of clay are also found within the forges; they are used to produce bronze and copper in particular. Anvils are extremely rare, as they have to be made from steel – each Clan only has one.
There are several common tools found within a forge. Firstly, all forgers wear several protective coverings when working with metal. An iron muzzle lined with leather padding is used to protect the face from burns, while dark-tinted glass goggles are used to protect the eyes. Leathers are worn as a protection from the heat, albeit as sparsely as cats can get away with to avoid overheating. Tongs, hammers, hooks, and cupels are all common tools used to work with metal, and are always made of iron. A number of casts are used to easily and quickly create common tools like tongs or metal claws.
Metals are often used in weaponry. Metal claws and metal fang caps are the most common of items, and are given to all warriors. Helmets with horns are an uncommon sight, given only to warriors who are willing to cause mass chaos in battle, rushing in headfirst and spearing cats on the front lines as best as they can. Wolf collars are seen exclusively on leaders and deputies, and serve to protect their throats from bites or claws. Crow’s Feet are intended to be hidden in the ground in preparation for large battles, slowing down or injuring those who cross them. Ridge Fang oracles follow behind in battles within their tunnels, and are equipped with a shield along their sides; when Ridge Fangs warriors retreat, the oracles use the shield to plug the tunnel, preventing any pursuing predators or enemies from following them. Full-scale battle armour is considered unwieldy, and a waste of precious metal. Crossbows use metal only where it is necessary – in the latches for example – while the rest of the construct is made of wood. Arrowheads are made of obsidian to avoid wasting metal. Crossbows are abundant, but ultimately rarely used, as they require two cats to operate. Weaponry like metal claws are often passed down in families and continually resharpened. Both Clans have plentiful weapon stocks and extensive plans on how to utilize their arms, should a battle arise. That being said, the longtime peace means that these weapons have rarely seen use in Clan conflict. As such, there is limited understanding on how weaponized warfare will actually look, or how it might impact the Clans in the long-term.
Outside of weapons and forging tools, metals are used in more everyday tools. Prosthetics are often composed of wood and bronze parts – or are mostly bronze, in the case of the Ridge Fangs. Bronze is also used to make fishing hooks, or formed into “staples” that are meant to hold particularly large wounds closed. Iron is used to make the Canary’s Claw, a metal hook-like digging tool that is inserted and fused into the first digit of the paw, though this is only given to Canaries exiled from the Clans, as both a marker of guilt and as a parting “gift”.
Leather is an uncommon material in the Clans. It is used exclusively for protection from the heat of flames for forgers, and to fasten certain metal tools together. The climate of the Clans is hot, especially within the Ridge Fang’s territory, so leather for ornamentation is not worn to prevent overheating. Leather can also restrict movement, making it impractical for battle.
The process to create leather is intensive, and done by oracles on account of their skills in anatomy and botany. First, the pelt of a large mammal (typically a deer) must be separated from the bone and muscle. It is then collected and taken out to a sunny, open area within the territory, and added to a pool of freshwater filled with tree bark and rotting leaves that are high in tannins for tanning. Once the hide is in a stable state – usually after a week has passed – it is collected once more and rubbed with animal fat to soften it. The leather is then given to the forgers, who work it into whatever protective garment is needed. Bitumen, often found in the mud under the rivers of the Lunar Cascades, is used to “stick” parts together as needed. This technique was introduced to the oracles of the Clans by Hephaestia, so that cats could use the forge without injuring themselves.
Glass is a rare material within the Clans, usually only present as eye protection for forgers or for ornamental decorations. The process for creating glass that is clear enough to see through is intensive, and the resulting product only has a few, mostly impractical uses, hence its overall scarcity. It is made by collecting quartz – typically found within mines, but also in the Crystalline Desert – and crushing it. It is then taken to the forge, heated, and worked into whatever shape is needed. Any colouring or darkening is done by adding ground up stones. This technique was invented by a Ridge Fang oracle, Sandpool, a little over a century ago, after watching forgers slowly lose their sight while metalworking.
Masonry is uncommon, almost exclusively utilized to stabilize mines. Metal tools are used to carve specific types of stone, such as limestone, sandstone, granite or basalt, and create stone pillars to support the mine shafts. Occasionally, these support shafts are made of large pieces of wood. Several cats are needed to move these pillars into place, utilizing rope to drag or “walk” the structure. This technique was invented by the forger Corvidcall of the Ivory Talons a century and a half ago, after a mine collapse killed several of their Clanmates. Large stone structures are otherwise not seen within the Clans, though carving intricate designs into stone or wood is a common practice.