When choosing a metal for application in the fabrication of weaponry, weapon smiths must take into account three basic factors. The most important is likely to be metal cost and availability, rare metals are rare, hard to find, expensive, and require master smiths to forge because the material is costly, having a lesser smith create a dysfunctional weapon would be disastrous. The two remaining factors are inherent qualities of the metals themselves, hardness and resilience.
Since for most adventurers of Elanthia cost is never a factor in acquiring the necessary means to dispatch a dangerous foe quickly, we will skip the generic metals and concentrate on the magical ones. This analysis is my specialty. I am the human archmage and yet I choose to use my glaes falchion to dispatch my foes. I hope my knowledge of weaponry and the magical properties of metals will be useful to you.
I have divided the resiliency of metals into three categories. Resiliency is the ability to flex without snapping. Brittle metals will snap when struck against a hard object, e.g. laen golem, while resilient metals will flex, or bend.
Tier 1
Golvern
Star Iron, Veil Iron
Laen, Mein, Glaes
Tier 2
Rolaren, Rularon
Krodera
Eonake
Imflass/Ithloss
Mithril
Tier 3
Vultite
Eog, Ora
Metal hardness is the ability of the metal to withstand the impact of striking an object of being struck by an object. This factor is the primary concern for adventurers, if a weapon is hard enough, it will cut through armor like butter no matter how brittle it is.
Weapon Hardness, in order for best to worst
Golvern
Veil Iron
Rolaren/Glaes
Eoanke
Krodera
Imflass/Vultite/Mithril
Ora
Metal Analysis
Golvern, beautiful metal, highly ductile and malleable into the finest weapons in Elanthia
Veil Iron most is the valuable metal in Elanthia because it doesn't come from Elanthia, the secret of distilling to pure Veil Iron from meteorite is a well kept secret, guarded by the elves. This metal is PERMABLESSED due to its celestial origin
Rolaren is a special alloy of glaes, whose recipe is well guarded by the dwarven race. I would guess that the dwarves figured out how to bond glaes and Imflass into a lightweight yet incredible strong alloy.
Glaes is extremely hard, and resilient. It is very difficult to work with due to its hardness. Easily retains a sharp edge. I like glaes for one reason. It is HEAVY. Only the MIGHTEST warriors will have the strength and confidence to carry a weapon made of glaes into battle without fear of fatigue. The mighty warrior will be able to confidently hack away without fear of breakage. Dwarves have taught the craft of working with glaes to the other races in exchange for trading privileges.
Lord Edward