Nails were a simple and vital kind of fastener that were used in many types of carpentry and construction in the Realms. They belonged to a broad class of hardware that included bolts, spikes, rivets, and pegs.[1][3][2]
Description[]
Nails were typically between 1‑inch (2.5‑centimeter) and 4‑inch (10‑centimeter) long (any longer and they were considered spikes), and were most often made from iron. Depending on their method of manufacture, they could be made with a round or square cross-section.[3][4]
A common variation was the eye spike, an extra-long nail that would be driven into a tree or wooden wall which could then be bent into a simple ring, such as for securing ropes.[2]
Aside from bolts, spikes, and pegs, nails also had a strong resemblance to needles and stakes.[1]
Availability[]
Alongside other forms of common ironmongery, nails were widely produced by artisans in Faerûn to keep up with constant demand. They were often made by apprentice blacksmiths who worked on other simple, useful items such as spikes and hooks.[2]
Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue offered a selection of nails and related tools in various configurations and sizes, including 1‑inch (2.5‑centimeter) finishing nails (2 sp/lb) and 2‑inch (5.1‑centimeter) or 3‑inch (7.6‑centimeter) joiners' nails (1 sp/lb).[1]
Usage[]
Nails were mainly used to join wood in carpentry or construction projects. Before being hammered into wood, the nail hole could be prepared using an awl to make an indentation, or partially bored out with a bow drill.[5] Special nail hammers could be found which had a claw for ripping out nails.[1]
Crude weapons could be enhanced by embedding metal nails within wood, such as the greatclub.[6]
Nails and pegs were commonly used for ship construction in Faerûn, while in Zakhara this was avoided, with ship timbers instead sewn together with coconut fiber rope. This produced lighter ships that better handled reefs and shoals, and allowed them to survive the influence of a great lodestone deposit beneath the Crowded Sea.[7][8]
In the ancient Netherese city of Scourge, the region's unnatural rusting winds meant that nails (and any other metal fittings, tools, and weapons) were useless. Instead, wooden nails were used for construction.[9]
Magic[]
- Hold monster used a metal rod as a material component, such as a nail or spike.[10]
- The statue spell could be cast using a mixture of lime, sand, and water stirred by an iron nail or spike.[11][12][13]
Appendix[]
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See Also[]
Appearances[]
Video Games
Gallery[]
External Links[]
- Nail (fastener) article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
- Iron Nails article at the Neverwinter Wiki.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 56. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 123. ISBN 0786960345.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cryptic Studios (June 2013). Neverwinter. Perfect World Entertainment.
- ↑ Dale Henson (February 1993). The Magic Encyclopedia, Volume Two. (TSR, Inc), p. 97. ISBN ISBN 978-156076563.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 55. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 118. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ David Cook (October 1992). “Home Port: Wherein the Tale Begins”. In Bill Slavicsek ed. Golden Voyages (TSR, Inc.), pp. 14, 15. ISBN 978-1560763314.
- ↑ David Cook (October 1992). “The Steaming Isles”. In Bill Slavicsek ed. Golden Voyages (TSR, Inc.), pp. 11, 12. ISBN 978-1560763314.
- ↑ slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 86. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 241. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), p. 238. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
- ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 232. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 89. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.