Joel & Grimhelm
Joel
Hey Grimhelm, I've been tweaking the alignment on this old hilt and it got me thinking about how you keep your blade in top shape. You got any tricks or rituals to keep it sharp?
Grimhelm
After every fight I wipe the steel clean with a damp rag, then let it air dry, oil it in the morning and in the evening, and run a whetstone along every edge until the edge feels like a whisper. I keep a small stone in my pocket and a single prayer to the old gods before I start sharpening, as a reminder that a blade is only as good as the oath it carries. If you follow that, the blade will stay as sharp as the memory of a lost duel.
Joel
Sounds fancy, but I’d just clean the blade with a cloth, rub a light coat of oil on it, then get the stone ready and go straight to sharpening. No prayers needed, just a steady hand and a good edge. If that works for you, good.
Grimhelm
Fine. Clean, oil, sharpen. Just keep your hand steady and the edge true. If you forget the prayer, at least make sure the blade doesn’t surprise you in the next fight.
Joel
Yeah, that works. I keep a stone on my workbench, wipe the blade clean, give it a quick oil coat, then sharpen it. No prayers needed—just the routine. If it starts acting up, I’ll just hit it with a bit of elbow grease.
Grimhelm
You’ll get a dull edge if you skip the prayers, but if you’re set on bluntness, at least check the stone’s grit before each run. The blade remembers every bruise, not just the oil.