"Now we will make the armor resistant to water and cold, Gob," I said, taking out a few small bottles. These contained animal oils and natural beeswax.
Gob took the bottles and examined them. "Gob?"
"This is a special oil that makes the fur water-resistant. If we don’t apply it properly, the armor will absorb water and become heavier. Also, in cold weather, it will harden and make movement difficult. That’s why we need to apply a thin layer."
First, I took a small brush and carefully spread the oil over the armor. "Just applying it to the surface is not enough, Gob. The oil needs to be absorbed into the leather. So we must rub it in thoroughly with our hands," I explained while demonstrating.
Gob mimicked my movements. At first, he applied too much oil, making the surface too shiny. I frowned.
"You applied too much, Gob. If you do it this way, the fur will become too slippery, and the armor pieces won't stay in place properly. Wipe off the excess and try again."
Gob nodded, took a cloth, wiped off the excess oil, and applied a thinner layer. This time, he used the right technique.
For about an hour, we thoroughly worked the oil into the leather. Finally, to ensure full absorption and hardening, we lightly heated the armor. The heat from the stone furnace allowed the oil to seep into the fur, making it waterproof.
After completing all the reinforcements, I carefully examined the armor. The fur was now sturdier, the additional protective areas remained flexible enough for movement, and it had gained extra resistance against water.
"Alright, Gob. Now, let’s do a test," I said, delivering a light knife strike to the shoulder area of the armor.
The blade pressed against the fur’s surface but did not pierce through. Gob’s eyes widened in excitement. "Gob!"
"Yes, it’s much stronger now. But remember, no armor is completely indestructible. You must use it properly."
Gob nodded and admired the armor. We had completed the reinforcement stage, and now we were ready for the final step—decoration and personalization.
The armor was now functional. It was resistant to impacts, retained its flexibility, and had gained additional protection against the cold and moisture. However, something was missing—identity.
An armor is not just a tool for protection; it also represents its owner, their legacy, and their strength. Gob's armor had to be unique to him.
"Now we are at the final step, Gob. We will make your armor not just strong but also special."
Gob tilted his head in curiosity. "Gob?"
"We will add decorations. But not just for show—some decorations can also enhance the functionality of the armor," I explained.
First, we had to decide what materials we would use for the decorations. We had several options:
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Steel Buckles and Plates: Adding light metal details to the armor would both strengthen it and give it an aesthetic touch.
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Horn and Bone Carvings: We could create small symbols from the Steel Fang Wolf’s bones and attach them to the armor.
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Leather Engravings: We could carve simple symbols or tribal marks into the leather, enhancing its visual appeal.
First, we decided to reinforce the straps and bindings of the armor with steel buckles. "Look, Gob, these buckles will keep everything secure and make the armor look even better," I said, showing him the small metal pieces in my hand.
Gob excitedly grabbed them and tried to attach them immediately, but he misaligned them. "Wait, we need to adjust the alignment first," I said, demonstrating how to position them correctly.
We added the steel buckles to the shoulder and waist areas of the armor. These would keep the straps tight and provide extra durability.
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"This is not just any armor, Gob. It is also the legacy of the Steel Fang Wolf we hunted. It represents its strength."
Gob listened carefully. I placed several Steel Fang Wolf claws and fangs in front of us. We attached them to the shoulder sections, belt bindings, and the ends of some straps, giving the armor a more warrior-like appearance.
"These fangs and claws will remind you of those creatures' strength. But at the same time, they will intimidate your enemies on the battlefield," I said.
Gob nodded enthusiastically. Now, he no longer looked like an ordinary goblin—he looked like a hunter.
Finally, we decided to engrave a small design on the chest area of the armor. "This will give the armor a nice finishing touch, Gob."
Gob tilted his head. "Gob?"
"Yes, the appearance of an armor is just as important as its functionality," I said, taking a knife and carefully carving a symbol into the leather.
I chose a simple yet meaningful design—a wolf’s head. This would symbolize that the wolf’s spirit now lived within this armor.
"This wolf is now a part of this armor, Gob. Its strength and ferocity will live on in it."
Gob stared at the design in awe and touched the engraving with great excitement.
[Light Armor of the Wolf] [C+]
[Will protect you from the cold and make you feel like a wolf howling under the full moon.]
"Nice! The materials from the Alpha Wolf always yield high-quality results. High-quality materials mean high-quality equipment!"
We had now crafted everything we could. The only thing left to do was to produce more of these weapons and armors and prepare them for sale. Thanks to the goblins, our stock of materials and food was completely full, so I decided that for the next week, we would all work on blacksmithing together, teaching them the finer details of the craft.
We first checked all the raw materials. Steel Fang Wolf’s bones, pelts, and fangs, Alpha Wolf’s powerful claws and hide, the metal scraps we had stored in our cave, coal, and processed leather pieces… We carefully sorted everything and determined their best possible uses.
I took Gob with me and showed the other goblins how to classify the materials.
“Look, every material has an ideal use. Bones are lightweight but strong, fangs have natural sharpness, and pelts are excellent for armor.”
Everyone watched attentively, nodding their heads as if taking mental notes while murmuring, “Gob, gob…” over and over. I had noticed that their interest in these processes was growing over time. Once only concerned with simple tasks, the goblins were now starting to learn details.
Grob and Brug were responsible for carrying large metal pieces and forging the iron. Zip and Tuk focused on the fine work of cutting and shaping, while Krag managed the organization and quality control of processed materials.
We worked as a team.
The first few days were dedicated to processing the basic materials. We hardened bones, sharpened fangs, and refined metal plates to be used for armor.
Early in the morning, we lit the forge, and the sound of hammers echoed through the cave.
“BANG! BANG! BANG!”
As Grob and Brug pounded the large metal plates, Gob and I worked on shaping the bones to craft our first throwing knives.
“These knives need to be light but balanced, Gob. If the center of gravity is off, they won’t fly far.”
Gob joined me with his small hammer, mimicking my movements as he shaped the material. At first, his throwing knives were a bit crooked, but through trial and error, he managed to produce better results.
Meanwhile, the other goblins were also improving their skills. Zip became adept at cutting and stitching leather straps, while Krag carefully inspected every piece we processed, identifying flaws.
At night, we sat together by the fire, exhausted from the day’s work, eating our meals and planning for the next day.
After three days of producing knives and small weapons, our workshop had become more organized. Now, we could focus on armor-making.
“Armor isn’t just about being strong, Gob. Mobility is just as important,” I told him, pointing out mistakes we had made in previous days. An overly heavy armor would slow a warrior down, but an armor that was too light wouldn’t provide enough protection.
Understanding this, Gob began testing every piece he made. He wore a leather chest piece, performed a few movements, jumped, and turned around. If it was too tight or too loose, we adjusted it immediately.
Brug and Grob stretched the pelts and fastened metal plates onto the leather to create durable yet flexible armor. Initially, the other goblins worked with clumsy movements, but over time, they adapted to the processes and became faster and more efficient.
By now, the cave was filled with ready-made knives, newly crafted armor pieces, and various weapons. But there was one final step left: the finishing touches.
We added special buckles, leather engravings, and bone ornaments to each piece of armor. Intricate motifs etched onto the knives made them feel unique.
As a reward for his hard work, I told Gob he could pick one of the knives he had made—except for the higher-grade ones. Excitedly, he shouted, “GOB!” and grabbed the first knife he could find. As if to prove that he had complete trust in his craftsmanship, he carved a small goblin tooth mark onto it, creating his own personalized weapon.
At this point, we were no longer just workers processing materials—we had become a team of true craftsmen.
By the end of the week, we held a small competition to test everything we had produced:
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Zip and Tuk threw the knives at target boards.
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Grob and Brug tested the durability of the new armor against heavy strikes.
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Gob inspected the knives one by one, making small final adjustments.
The results were fantastic. We now had a variety of weapons, battle-ready armor, and a reliable production system.
That night, we celebrated with a great feast. The exhausting but incredibly productive week hadn’t just given us materials—it had forged us into a true team.
I looked up at the sky. The stars shone brightly. Deep inside, I felt a strong sense of confidence for the future. I was no longer alone. In this cave, I had built a family to work alongside me.