At an international conference last year, a dwarf metallurgist put together a consortium to fund his experiments, construct prototypes, and test a militarily valuable alloy. The final tests were recently successfully conducted in Orleans Free State. Representatives from the consortium, Human and Faerie, Dwarf and Dragon, Mundane and Magickal, have gathered at a reception to toast the success. Friends from the nearby Texas Republic, the Bear Flag Empire, and the 20 Nations have also been invited.