Toolmaker
A Fyros occupation
The other homin races often mock that the Fyros toolmaker occupation originated from every Fyros' burning desire for ever-harder objects to hit things with. And most Fyros would proudly affirm this, and point out that the other races always say this with a twinge of jealousy.
All homin civilisations have made tools for as far back as their histories go. Tools were the driving force behind civilisation's progress, and the best measure of it. Though not remarkable toolmakers in prehistoric times, the Fyros became unique in their toolcrafting once they started building cities and mastering fire. They were the only homin race willing to use fire on an industrial scale, something the other races shunned away from because of the risk of wildfires, which the Fyros in their desert didn't need to worry about.
So while the other races forbade such use of fire, the Fyros built huge forges inside their cities. While the Zoraï shaped their tools out of amber, the Tryker tied pieces of shells together with fiber, and the Matis grew their tools as living plants, the Fyros in their great forges fire-toughened their wooden tools to become far stronger than the tools made by the other civilisations.
The opening of the Water Route provided a huge demand for these tools, as the Fyros and the Tryker decided to construct an aqueduct from the lakes to the desert. Only the hardened Fyros tools proved sufficient for the digging through the bark that was required. The increased trade from the water route also led to the Fyros exporting many tools to the Tryker. Tools that the Matis captured in turn when they conquered the Tryker lands.
Thus both Matis and Tryker learned to appreciate the Fyros tools. After the war was over, both nations imported Fyros tools, though while continuing to make their own tools as well. Even the Zorai, isolated behind their great wall, imported some Fyros tools, but never in large quantities. The few tools they imported often became valuable exotic treasures prized by the Zoraï master crafters.
The great disasters of the 25th century could not quell the Fyros enthusiasm for forging. The Fire of Coriolis did increase Fyros concern about the dangers of fire, but this was short-lived as the forged weapons proved vital in repelling the Matis invasion that followed. And the knowledge of toolmaking was widespread enough to survive the Great Swarming. With the few tools that the Fyros refugees managed to take with them to the New Lands, they immediately built a new Forge, as one of the first buildings that would make up Pyr.
But for decades, the great Forge was closed to the public, as the Emperor and Senate decided it was crucial to focus it's output on the rebuilding of the Empire. "The Forge is the heart of our Empire, and we can't have every amateur toolmaker running around in there, disturbing operations and using up vital resources to craft themselves fancier dinnerforks", as one Senator reportedly put it. Tools from the forge were vital for various Fyros construction projects, like Thesos and Dyron, the roads through the desert, the bridges over the outlaw canyon, the canal from Thesos Springs to Thesos, and finally the outposts.
As the new Fyros Empire became more established and secure, the population began calling for the Forge to also be opened for public use. But the official public opening was delayed again and again for years, which in hindsight was blamed on the corruption within the Senate and the Akenak, who were rumoured to be taking bribes from the Zessen family that wanted to keep their monopoly on the Forge.
Finally, the corrupt Akenaks and Senators were ousted in 2547. Now the only thing delaying the public opening of the Forge was the slowness of the Fyros bureaucracy. When a drought threatened the Burning Desert in 2551, the Senate realised the population would need an encouragement to see it through. They rushed the measure into effect and finally gave order to open up the Forge, and the toolmaker occupation, to the entire public.
A Fyros occupation
The other homin races often mock that the Fyros toolmaker occupation originated from every Fyros' burning desire for ever-harder objects to hit things with. And most Fyros would proudly affirm this, and point out that the other races always say this with a twinge of jealousy.
All homin civilisations have made tools for as far back as their histories go. Tools were the driving force behind civilisation's progress, and the best measure of it. Though not remarkable toolmakers in prehistoric times, the Fyros became unique in their toolcrafting once they started building cities and mastering fire. They were the only homin race willing to use fire on an industrial scale, something the other races shunned away from because of the risk of wildfires, which the Fyros in their desert didn't need to worry about.
So while the other races forbade such use of fire, the Fyros built huge forges inside their cities. While the Zoraï shaped their tools out of amber, the Tryker tied pieces of shells together with fiber, and the Matis grew their tools as living plants, the Fyros in their great forges fire-toughened their wooden tools to become far stronger than the tools made by the other civilisations.
The opening of the Water Route provided a huge demand for these tools, as the Fyros and the Tryker decided to construct an aqueduct from the lakes to the desert. Only the hardened Fyros tools proved sufficient for the digging through the bark that was required. The increased trade from the water route also led to the Fyros exporting many tools to the Tryker. Tools that the Matis captured in turn when they conquered the Tryker lands.
Thus both Matis and Tryker learned to appreciate the Fyros tools. After the war was over, both nations imported Fyros tools, though while continuing to make their own tools as well. Even the Zorai, isolated behind their great wall, imported some Fyros tools, but never in large quantities. The few tools they imported often became valuable exotic treasures prized by the Zoraï master crafters.
The great disasters of the 25th century could not quell the Fyros enthusiasm for forging. The Fire of Coriolis did increase Fyros concern about the dangers of fire, but this was short-lived as the forged weapons proved vital in repelling the Matis invasion that followed. And the knowledge of toolmaking was widespread enough to survive the Great Swarming. With the few tools that the Fyros refugees managed to take with them to the New Lands, they immediately built a new Forge, as one of the first buildings that would make up Pyr.
But for decades, the great Forge was closed to the public, as the Emperor and Senate decided it was crucial to focus it's output on the rebuilding of the Empire. "The Forge is the heart of our Empire, and we can't have every amateur toolmaker running around in there, disturbing operations and using up vital resources to craft themselves fancier dinnerforks", as one Senator reportedly put it. Tools from the forge were vital for various Fyros construction projects, like Thesos and Dyron, the roads through the desert, the bridges over the outlaw canyon, the canal from Thesos Springs to Thesos, and finally the outposts.
As the new Fyros Empire became more established and secure, the population began calling for the Forge to also be opened for public use. But the official public opening was delayed again and again for years, which in hindsight was blamed on the corruption within the Senate and the Akenak, who were rumoured to be taking bribes from the Zessen family that wanted to keep their monopoly on the Forge.
Finally, the corrupt Akenaks and Senators were ousted in 2547. Now the only thing delaying the public opening of the Forge was the slowness of the Fyros bureaucracy. When a drought threatened the Burning Desert in 2551, the Senate realised the population would need an encouragement to see it through. They rushed the measure into effect and finally gave order to open up the Forge, and the toolmaker occupation, to the entire public.