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Still, it was an encouraging sight, to say the least. Clear progress being made. The Forge wasn't yet fully operational, unfortunately, but whatever the heck Abbas was doing seemed to be working. And the fact that Abbas was even allowing him in the general vicinity in order to show him this was also a good sign. Before, there'd been significant concern from the Lord Saqqaf and the reapers that any observers would be endangered during such work.

Something about having their souls sucked out of their still-living bodies and consumed in their entirety.

Didn't sound like a fun time.

Abbas wasn't worried about that anymore, though, it seemed.

"This isn't that kind of Forge," he said. "It wishes only to stoke growth in its environment and abhors harm--perhaps even to a fault. The lack of aggression makes it safer to use but also limits its overall creative potential in certain ways. A fair trade off, I suppose--and one that I am more than happy with, given the circumstances. We will just have to accept the fact that the items born from this beauty will have a certain 'characteristic quality' to them. However, that in no way means they will be less useful."

'I see,' said Garovel. 'Were you able to discover its name?'

"I was," said Abbas, drawing himself up and smiling somewhat. "It was known as Agrian's Candle." His smile spoiled a little, however.

'Emphasis on WAS,' added Worwal.

'What do you mean?' said Garovel.

"That was most definitely its name. Of that, I am sure. And normally, a Forge's name is supposed to be a kind of 'key' to discovering almost all of its mechanical properties and intended method of operation. But this Forge... I do not know how to describe it other than that it has, in part, rejected its own name."

What in the world?

"I believe that may be why it was abandoned," said Abbas. "It no longer identifies with its own name and has therefore been rendered all but powerless. You saw how it flickered? It is like an engine that refuses to start."