Spikestar Alter Suggestions

[vamosj]

Hello PC'ers. I'm going to be getting a perfect vultite spikestar altered and was hoping to get some ideas as I am not that great of a wordsmith.. I am enchanting it to 5x and was hoping that the alter could show it as Veil Iron as it is a 5x type metal (I haven't had many items altered so I don't know if they will do this with an alter scroll)..

background to my alterations is that my Paladin, being a non-convert who believes in balance, has items that represent both Liabo and Lornon..

I already have a MBP that is "a split-sided invar breastplate inlaid with polished eonake Saramar runes" based upon my giantman heritage, the Saramar runes are suppose to represent each of the Arkati.

What I want my spikestar to be is basically the representation of the Lornon Arkati in that it's the one that brings about death.. For this type of alteration.

LOOK: A perfectly balanced veil iron spikestar adorned with Saramar Runes.
LOOK#2 (if they won't change the whole thing to veil iron) A perfectly balanced spikestar adorned with Saramar runes upon each veil iron spike.


SHOW: The intricate details of this weapon could only have been created by a master blacksmith. Each of the 11 veil iron spikes contains one expertly etched Saramar Rune. Eonake studs are set into the handle, making a pattern reading in the common tongue "The Fist of the Lornon"



As I said, I'm not quite the wordsmith and I have very little experience in alterations so please let me know if this might actually be done and what changes you might suggest including the name.

[Kaerika]

They will not change the base material to anything other than what it INSPECTs as. I had this trouble when I went to alter my "marble sledgehammer" that INSPECTed as being made of wood. I couldn't switch to any metals, even ones that matched the enchant.

You could try, of course.

[vamosj]

I figured that might be the case that's why I think option 2 might be more workable..

[Gelston]

It might or might not be. A lot of times merchants will refuse to add rare metals even if you provide the metal. You'll just have to play by ear.

[longway]

I firstly join this forum really very interesting forum for discussion. I like it.

[Sav]

if you could provide the material, a good merchant would do something like....

a perfectly balanced vultite spikestar covered with veil iron spikes....

or something of that nature. Now depending on the merchant, you could get something like this...

a perfectly balanced spikestar covered with veil iron spikes....

leaving out the "vultite" to give the impression its veil iron. The examples I gave were just off the top of my head with no thought put into them.. was basically just trying to give you an idea as to how to make it work with veil iron

[shad0ws0ngs]

A veil iron-spiked/vultite/spikestar(does that fit 15/15/15, I always am unsure with the a/some bit at the start) - Masterfully forged, the spikestar is perfectly balanced and obviously sized for a giantman-sized hand. The head of the weapon has been studded with a multitude of spikes, each one overlayed in veil iron. Along the haft is a spiraling series of whatever-you-said runes, culminating just above the leather-wrapped grip.

Would that help any? Typo'd and probably needs some work, but I am on my cellphone at work. Seems to mostly cover what you were asking, I hope.

[vamosj]

After having some more time to think on it I've altered my idea quite a bit.. I know this is probably over the 15/15/15 limit but I'd rather give the merchant too much to work with than too little. This way the vultite that it was originally made of is showing that it packs more power than vultite, leaving it open to further enchanting. It also gets away from having any rare metals added to it. It's just a matter of getting it done and working out the final details with the merchant.

An ancient saramar enruned spikestar with dark Lornon moon shaped Head.

Perfectly forged from an ancient vultite ore, some unknown force has rendered the the whole spikestar a deep raven black hue. Solidified small blood red droplets sit motionless within the handle, evidence that the crafter gave his life in forging this weapon. As your gaze moves to the head of the spikestar you are suddenly struck by it's resemblence to the Faceless Moon. Eleven Saramar Enruned spikes protrude from the moon like some unknown beings trying to escape their prison, sneering back at your unwanted gaze. Blood red lettering wrap gracefully around the spike free equator, in the common tongue presenting this weapons name: "Lornon's Wrath"

[shad0ws0ngs]

that definitely is over the 15/15/15.. for one the last 15 has to just be "spikestar" if you are going to include a show.. so something/something/spikestar ... and each of those somethings is 15 characters long including spaces

[vamosj]

I'm always in the belief of giving too much info to work with than too little.. I've been burned a few times by people who work for me because I didn't give them enough information and my bosses didn't like the end result..

[Chaotic Tempo]

Your bosses?

Needs to have the noun. Needs to be in the 15/15/15 limit. If you give them more to work with, you're leaving it up to them what to put emphasis on. If you get a merchant that understands what you're looking for it'll come out decent, but you could have someone that just chops words off to make it fit because they're pissed you didn't put any effort in.

Figure out what you want and pare it down into something clean and simple to understand.

"An ancient saramar enruned spikestar with dark Lornon moon shaped Head."

I'm glad you're asking for help on how to design something. The whole "dark Lornon moon-shaped head" idea needs to go. You can't make your mace head look like Lornon. You can make it look like a cratered ball. But I don't think you literally want it to look like a moon.

Here are some acceptable LONG descriptions:

"A battered spikestar etched with Saramar runes"

"An ink black spikestar engraved with silvery Saramar runes"

"A battle worn black spikestar traced with silvery Saramar runes"

If you want to use a SHORT - adhere to 15/15/15 and put a show on it:

"A rune-etched black spikestar"

[show example] - Battered and scarred from extensive use the caliginous surface of the spikestar has seen better days. Several of the many spikes adorning the weapons crown are cracked and chipped, however those that remain intact are formidable. Winding silver Saramar runes rise up from the haft to the central ball of the star, before slithering to an end along the base of each spike.

Etc etc. Whatever you want from there. I'd actually decide what you want, only way to get it. I attempted not to use "ancient" in any of these - as I feel it's a poor word choice. No one can tell from looking at an object that it is from long , long ago in history. Only if it looks worn out/old/fragile/battered.

[vamosj]

Okay, I've adjusted it a little bit after talking with someone and doing a little more research... The 15/15/15 rule is making a bit more sense now... This is what I'm submitting. As for the ancient, IMO ancient can still describe and item from a physical standpoint... Remember when mom and dad were old and grandma was ancient?

Thanks for the assistance.

Look: an ancient saramar-enruned spikestar

Show:
Perfectly forged from an ancient vultite ore, some unknown force has rendered the the whole spikestar a deep raven black hue. Solidified small blood red droplets sit motionless within the handle, evidence that the crafter gave his life in forging this weapon. The head of the spikestar, resemblening the Faceless Moon, bears Eleven well used spikes positioned at the top and bottom half of the head. Each battle-worn spike is etched with its own separate Saramar Rune. Blood red lettering wraps gracefully around the spike free equator, in the common tongue presenting this weapons name: "Lornon's Wrath"

[vamosj]

a raven black Saramar-enruned spikestar

Perfectly forged from raven black vultite, the head of the spikestar is molded with gaseous swirls that partially obscure deep craters, reminiscent of the surface of the faceless moon. Eleven battle-worn spikes protrude from the top and bottom half of the head, each etched with a separate Saramar rune. Rivers of blood-red glaes fill shallow channels that slash lettering across the spike-free equator, presenting the weapon's name. You notice a small enchanter's glyph and your crafting mark.
There appears to be something written on it.

In the Common language, it reads:
Lornon's Wrath

[vamosj]

Big thing is I learned a lot with the mistakes I had from the original.. Thanks to those who gave input and helpful guidance in this. I think it turned out pretty good and I'm happy with it.

I still don't understand how I cannot use ancient though in my look when it resides in their loot system....