CRIDIGRUM (seer-id-room), literally glass-blade is the little known dwarven art of merging a slender filament of glass with the blade of an edged weapon. The process can be performed with any metal weapon, but the finest examples of the craft are seen in daggers and long bladed knives.
The art began nearly 12 generations ago. The identity of the first practitioner has always been disputed. The first artisan of note was Grail Darkstone. Grail did most of his work nearly 800 years ago. He was one of the earliest practitioners, but he was defiantly not the first. Three dwarven clans currently hold the strongest claims to being the discoverers of the craft the Darkstone , Nightwind and Deepwater clans. It is widely believed by scholars of all races that, given the stubborn nature of dwarves, the clan that survives the longest will be proved the creator of the art.
While the identity of the first craftsman is somewhat of a mystery, the situation that originated the craft is a little easier to identify. Most romantics believe that the very first CRIDIGRUM was crafted as a gift to sway the affections of a young lady; academics believe it was more likely a bribe to facilitate a political marriage. In either case it is assumed that the first craftsman was skilled in metal-smithing, glass-smithing, and alchemy. He used a carefully guarded blend of glass to create the first example of the art. It is believed that this mixture of silicates is the key to creation of a function blade.
The true nature of the art is more precise timing and practice rather than magic. The craftsman needs to apply the molten glass to the cooling blade metal at precisely the right moment or one will be destroyed at the expense of the other. Dwarven crafters insist if the blade is crafted correctly the glass filament will survive the life of the blade; in practice the glass rarely survives past the first combat. (It should be noted that the most prolific practitioners of this art, the ones who insist on the durability of the glass, rarely use their weapons for anything other than decoration. Most others use the weapons for purely ceremonial functions.)
The specifics of the art are known only to the dwarves that practice it. They will not willing teach others, or more to the point they are not known to have taught the art to other races. Others have tried to duplicate the art, but without the application of substantial magic enchantments the glass filament tends to shatter along with the first use of the blade. If they are able to produce a weapon at all.
In recent years assassins and others of low moral stature have begun to make use of these blades. They have discovered the here to fore overlooked fact that if the glass filament is crafted hollow it is a perfect container for whatever poison is desired. The glass filament breaks on the use of the blade and whatever poisons it contained is delivered to the target. The Dwarven craftsman will rarely sell the weapon to non-dwarves let alone to cutthroat (professional or otherwise), but there is nothing to stop a less than honorable dwarf from selling the item to those who intend to use the weapon in this manner. It is uncommon, but it is possible.
Most non-dwarves obtain these blades as gifts. They are commonly used to seal deals, contracts or treaties of importance. They are also given to those who have endeared themselves to the original owner. To give away, loose, or refuse such a gift is a significant insult. It has been the causal event in wars with the dwarven people. If these blades are not gifted away, family members carry them for many generations.
Most dwarves who practice this art will create only half a dozen of these weapons in a lifetime. The requisite ingredients are not terribly expensive, but they are rare. This, combined with the fact that the process of creating the blade properly is filled with a great deal of ceremony, makes mass production impossible.