Black Iron?

[Arkat]

What is it?

On page 158 in Mythic Adventures, there's a minor artifact called the "Black Iron Axe."

There's no indication in the description that it's actually Adamantine (which it sure sounds like it is to me) or any other special material that you might find in a PF1 game.

Its +6 enhancement bonus means that it can get through all other types of material DR so it's probably not all that important what "Black Iron" actually is game mechanic-wise. But for lore purposes, I'd like to know what you all think black iron might be if it isn't just plain steel that went through some sort of darkening process when the axe was forged.

Thanks.

[Mysterious Stranger]

Considering it is a mythic artifact I would say it is a unique material.

[Toshy]

Black Iron Axe wrote:

Destruction

If a mythic hero uses a black iron axe to decapitate herself, the artifact loses all of its magical properties and becomes a plain iron axe. The uses of mythic power remain in the affected heads after the black iron axe is destroyed.

Therefore I would say the axe is made from simple iron and it's special black color comes from the powerful magic inhabiting it.

By following the steps to destroy the artifact it reverts to its original state - a simple iron axe.

[Arkat]

Toshy wrote:

Therefore I would say the axe is made from simple iron and it's special black color comes from the powerful magic inhabiting it.
By following the steps to destroy the artifact it reverts to its original state - a simple iron axe.

Can't believe I missed that.

So it's not even a steel weapon. It's just a highly magical iron axe.

Thanks!

EDIT: Hang on. Earlier in the description it's described as a "dull black alloy." A simple iron axe isn't made of an alloy. Iron is not an alloy...UNLESS they're not talking about a mixture of two different metals (Iron and some other). I suppose they could be talking about an "alloy" of Iron and REALLY powerful magic. Hmmm...maybe Mythic, or even Divine power is mixed in there?

[I grok do u]

Arkat wrote:

Toshy wrote:

Therefore I would say the axe is made from simple iron and it's special black color comes from the powerful magic inhabiting it.
By following the steps to destroy the artifact it reverts to its original state - a simple iron axe.

Can't believe I missed that.

So it's not even a steel weapon. It's just a highly magical iron axe.

Thanks!

EDIT: Hang on. Earlier in the description it's described as a "dull black alloy." A simple iron axe isn't made of an alloy. Iron is not an alloy...UNLESS they're not talking about a mixture of two different metals (Iron and some other). I suppose they could be talking about an "alloy" of Iron and REALLY powerful magic. Hmmm...maybe Mythic, or even Divine power is mixed in there?

All iron tools and weapons are alloyed in some way. Wrought iron is a common example that would appear as black iron.

[TxSam88]

"Black iron axe" is it's name, not it's description.

[Belafon]

Yeah, it's just a name. The author went simple (Black Iron Axe) instead of fancy (Neckripper Axe of Cerebral Storage).

Minor artifacts, in particular, don't always get a name tied to their history. See Crystal Control Rod or Elemental Chain.

If you want to get really deep into alloys:

Iron has dozens of alloys, and that's only counting the ones with names instead of just a chemical formula. Even an ancient "iron age" weapon would have been an alloy of some kind (unintentionally, at least at first) as it was not possible to remove all impurities with smelting processes of the time.

Honestly most alloys just come down to the names that we have adopted (in a somewhat haphazard fashion). Cast Iron and Steel are both alloys of Iron and Carbon. Steel actually has less carbon than Cast Iron.

I grok do u has the simple answer. The base axe happens to be black in color. In the magic item destruction information, "plain iron axe" just means "non-magical iron axe." Color wouldn't change.

[Azothath]

technically all metals used are alloys due to impurities and it would take special steps to remove sulfates, silicates, and naturally occuring alloys AND some substances you want at certain percentages for structural properties along with controlling crystal/region growth via heating/cooling/working. We all know how technically savvy writers are 8^) it varies
normally exterior colors are "finishes" like pickles or plating.
consult an engineering of materials handbook, metalurgy, or a CRC Handbook of Physics & Chemistry or somthing more specific.

It's descriptive.
dull refers to luster or general scattering of light from EM interaction, coating, or uniform smoothness (macro to microscopic).
black is a color or lack of reflectivity in our normal viewing spectrum.

[Arkat]

I've decided "black iron axe" was just supposed to be descriptive like Belafon and others have said.

It's clear from the description (and the fact it is only a minor artifact) that other axes similar to it might exist.

I doubt plain old iron colored black is necessary to their creation.

I expect there can be an Adamantine version that is a Dwarven Waraxe (instead of a Greataxe) out there somewhere.

I was just wondering if there was anything special about "black iron" and my sense is there isn't.

Questions answered. Thanks, all.

[Chuck Mount]

Yeah. I was gonna say it was a black... iron axe as opposed to a black iron... axe.
Everybody already beat me to it. LOL