I answer to Karius Hutzelmann, I reside in Southern Shores, which is in the Principality of the Mists. I have been in the SCA for 6 years. I invest my time and energy in developing my ability to shape and bend metal to my will.

I find that metal soothes the savage beast, in the sense that there are both unsubtle and subtle ways of moving it. Moving metal usually requires percussive force. However, the application of that percussive force has to be done right.

Doing it right requires a lot of practice. In that practice I am attempting to understand subtle changes in force and learn - with my hands - the eccentricities of the piece of metal I am working with. This metal can be 14 gauge steel or 18 gauge copper.

It is fascinating to see a hunk of black and grey metal, or a sheet be transformed into something beautiful that someone wants to possess.