An Expanded Catalog, After An Extended Voyage.

The first new addition to our inventory were these fashionable hair clips. Having been inspired by one worn by Miss Clements, I crafted these delightful ornaments from feathers collected from specimens in Risen Lemuria and from gemstones and other items found in previous travels. After this year's Hero Bot Con, we are presently out of stock, but custom orders are encouraged at the cost of $10.

It is my firm belief that any adventurer who is worth anything at all should maintain a proper system of defense against supernatural threats. I myself carry a Dragon's Tooth, a piece of Medic's Quartz, the Vitruvian Medal, and many others. Each serving as a ward or weapon against Those That Should Not Be Named. As such, I have begun to collect charms and wards that I offer to the public. At the top of the image we have two vials containing the fangs of Strigoi viu, a sorcerous breed of Romanian vampire. These were removed after the beasts were slain, but retain a warding ability. As long as they are carried, no vampire may tell you falsehoods. These vials were bought up quickly by savvy adventurers at Hero Bot Con.
     The white vials contain blessed salt from Lake Pandyan in Risen Lemuria. It is said to be a ward against evil spirits. The remaining pair is available as earrings or charms at the cost of $5.
     The red vials contain the the timing cogs of two mechanically-enhanced assassins that we fought in Taipei. These curious devices must remain in the red Autono-Gel to remain functional, but what a function they provide! As long as they are on your person they render you impervious to the detection of other mechanically-enhanced beings! especially useful for ducking Tuned Assassins. As with the previous vials, they are available as either earrings or charms for the price of $5.

The earrings were another venture inspired by Miss Clements. The pair in the top of the image were created from the tusks of a miniature mechanical elephant crafted for the Sultan of ancient Undinia, and uncovered by an archeological expedition. The gems are Ryunite Crystral recovered from the wreck of the HMA Balfour, high atop Mount Silencio in the Kansas Territory.  These earrings carry an aura of refinement, as well as protection from yetis. Available for purchase at the price of $10.00.
     The scarabs were found in the burial chamber of Queen Shai-Nefer the Lady of the Reeds, deep in the wilds of Hyberborea. They are made from an alloy that I cannot identify and, what appears to be, cut uvarovite garnet. It is said that the wearer of these prized earrings will be granted incredible creativity and power of perception. (This pair was purchased at Hero Bot Con by the wonderful Lisa Boley.)
     The final pair of earrings, pictured at the bottom of the image are Promethean Bolts. Taken from fallen Promethean, an artificial being, the bolts carry with them a spark of life. Rumor has it that if worn as earrings, these trinkets may actually restore one to the world of the living, should they meet their death during an adventure. Available for purchase at the price of $10.00.

This is only the beginning of our chronicled finds and creations. More to come my friends, as soon as we are able!

An Truly Excellent Adventure.

Months ago, a telegraph arrives on my desk from the Prince of Risen Lemuria. Apparently my old friend had suffered a plague of Strigoi in his kingdom and sought our expertise. I, along with Dame Charlotte and Woodrow Radcliffe, boarded the airship and embarked on an adventure. The Strigoi were no easy feat to clear out, but happily the encounter ended with us still amongst the living, and the undead, well and truly dead. It was during the reception in our honor that Dame Charlotte absconded with my airship. Apparently our wealthy English lass was wanted by some notorious criminals who sought to reclaim said wealth.

This left Woodrow and I in quite a situation. The Lemurians are a very independent people and fiercely proud of their ways. Assimilation into the world of steam-power and electricity has advanced at a crawl, which left my friend and I searching for a way to pursue our former colleague. We eventually secured passage aboard a tramp steamer bound for Taipei.

Our time in Taiwan was marked by a spirited pursuit through the Keelung Wharf and a brief firefight with a duo of mechanically-enhanced assassins, sent to retrieve Dame Charlotte. Their enhancements were advanced, so - as you would do with a Strigoi - I removed the dangerous bits whilst they were incapacitated. Rather than explain any of that to the local constabulary, Woodrow and I hitched a lift with an airship merchant caravan out of Cairo.

We caught up with Dame Charlotte at the Johnston Atoll. With the aide of the journalist, Samantha Clements, we relieved Dame Charlotte of her pursuers, and parted ways. Leaving her to find her own way off the island. But as a door closes, a window opens, and Miss Clements has agreed to lend her skill with words and artistic talents to our work.

At the moment Woodrow, Samantha, and I are working tirelessly to catalog all of the wondrous items that we have collected over these past months. I encourage you to come view our selection at Hero Bot Con, this coming Saturday - September 21st - at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center in Horseheads, NY.

More detailed posts will follow, but for now please enjoy a picture of our inventory thus far.

An Apology, an Explanation, and a List.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
   
     I do regret my long absence from these webs of the world. I happily confess that I've been hard at work scavenging, salvaging, experimenting, and assembling in preparation for the month of September. The significance of September you ask? Allow me to elucidate.

On September the 7th, my dear friends at Fatman Comics and Games celebrate their 1 year anniversary! Stalwart chaps that they are, they've asked the Armory, as well as many other talented local artisans, to join them and display our wares for the enjoyment of all.
Detail about the event can be found here; on their website.

The next event is a first for the Armory. My friends at Community Arts of Elmira have invited us to display a piece in their Pop Sensibilities art show! One of my finest pieces will be on display for the show, which will run throughout September. The show opens on the 12th of September.

The last event in September is HERO BOT CON! This year we find ourselves at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center (Located off I-81, take exit 50). The event is even bigger this year boasting a veritable cornucopia of amazing talent, and all of it set amongst historic warplanes!! Tickets are available now and can be purchased on the Official Hero Bot Con website.

Now many of you may be saying; "I plan to attend all of these wonderful events, Nicholas, but what about new goggles, badges, medals, etcetera?" To that end, my friends, I assure you that the Armory has not rested on it's laurels. In fact, as each show approaches I will post and detail all the new pieces you can expect to see at the venue. For now though, patience. The good things come to those who wait.

The Shackles of the Rail

The Shackles of the Rail were commissioned by a elderly Irish rail worker to honor his deceased Chinese wife, both of whom had worked to construct the Southern Pacific Transcontinental Railroad. The image on the temple is the Celtic Eternal Knot, symbolizing his unending love for his spouse. The fabric is a Chinese brocade that was taken from a dress owned by his wife, and the coins that adorn the headstrap were a "compensation" for the loss of his left hand while servicing a decrepit steam engine during the time he was forced into service for the Louisiana Tigers.

Upon completion of the piece we discovered that the gentleman had left aboard a steam ship, leaving his worldly possessions to the care of his two children. His children in turn requested that the Armory keep the gentleman's commission, as they had no knowledge of his whereabouts or destination. The Armory returned his commission fee and now offer the piece at the nominal price of $50.00.

The Emptiness of Defiance.

This particular commission was given to me by Dame Heather, of a scientific exploratory agency which I was told should never be named, due to it possibly damaging the fabric of space and time. She had brought to me the severed head of a mechanically-enhanced creature and asked if I could provide the same ocular enhancement that the creature's implants possessed, without all the messy invasive surgery that it had apparently endured. Ever up to a challenge, I acquiesced wholeheartedly.

After careful dissection, study, and incineration of the original, the result were these frighteningly beautiful goggles, I have named The Emptiness of Defiance.

I wish luck to Dame Heather and her federation of explorers and scientists. May your travels be safe and your discoveries many!

Attempting to Resupply.

Quite a bit has happened since River Road. For one, my inventory has been decimated! I have only 2 pairs left for sale at this point, and I've been working feverishly to craft some new and exciting pieces in time for the next Hero Bot Con in September.

 

These fine gentlemen, Chris and Dan I believe there names were, purchased the Flower of the Tundra and the Keymaster Ocular respectively.

Then, just before Free Comic Book Day, I received a call from the proprietor of Mythic Games, here in Elmira. He was interested in purchasing a pair of my goggles. That night I sold the Isley Customs to the gentlemen, and an additional pair to Lady Alana Smith-Brown, a previous patron of ours.

Thank you all for your purchases, and we look forward to seeing you at future events!

Further Awards for Heroism and Valor, Part 2

The Chronal Medal of Valor. Awarded to chrononauts for going above and beyond the call of duty, an act of bravery or heroism, at risk of their own personal safety or in the face of great danger. It's a very prestigious award, only bestowed to time travelers who return safely to their own timeline.

The Alchemical Nova. Awarded to an alchemist who distinguishes himself or herself in action by extraordinary heroism in combat against the Legions of the Automaton Empire.

Further Awards for Heroism and Valor, Part 1

It seems we sell out of these rare pieces faster than we can detail them. The Spring River Road Expo saw 4 new medals, fresh from our expeditions through the Aether Storms. Despite their status as -SOLD- we would still like to detail them, as a matter of public record.

The Wings of Saint Louis. This is apparently an alternate realty's version of the Saint Louis Ironclad Star. This particular medal was awarded to civilian airship captains who brought their own ships to the defense of the arsenal, when it fell under attack from an invading force of automatons during the Mecha-American Wars.

Another alternate reality commendation we discovered was The Flower of Zosimos.

The medal is very similar to The Alchemist's Flower, but with a different metallic composition. (And a very unique Chrono-Spatial resonance.) However the award is still given for the heroic use of Alchemy in times of struggle.

The other two medals will be detailed in short order, as well as a thank you to our patrons. We will return!

Our Thanks!

We at the Armory would like to thank everyone who journeyed to see us the the Spring River Road Expo! There were a few of you who purchased a set of goggles from us, and many of you picked up a custom order form, we hope to be hearing from you soon!

Four savvy consumers were fortunate enough to walk away with our recently recovered medals; and to them I say "Well done, and good eye."

Additionally we saw a number of great cosplayers. Though there were a pair that stood out. 

All in all, we had a fantastic time at the event and hope to have many more!

The Last Badges from Series One.

On every battlefield across the world, you can find a healer. The noble medical profession doesn't just touch the lives of soldiers, it can change the tides of history. For all those honorable individuals who have sworn to first do no harm, we present The Life Cross Shield of the Field Medic.

Do you spend your life in the stacks? Do you sift through ancient books and forgotten manuscripts looking for some nuggets of arcane lore? If you do, and if you haven't awakened some ancient elder evil from beyond the veil of reality, we present to you: The Tome and Scrolls of the Researcher.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen, that round out the series 1 designs. All of these wonderful badges retail for $1.00, and can be purchased at the upcoming River Road Expo this Sunday, April 21st.

Thursday's Badges

For those among you who have dedicated you lives to searching for the Philosopher's Stone, or seeking the elusive formula to turn lead into gold, we have the utmost respect. In fact, many of the items crafted at the Armory use alchemically modified components. So, for everyone out there pouring over formulas and combining material components, we present The Life Blood Formula of the Alchemist

.

Nothing can quite match the grandeur and majesty of air travel. Whether it's a glider, dirigible, or Cavorite airship, the freedom of sailing the skies is a feeling that stands unmatched. For those among you who have slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings we present The Soaring Heart of the Aeronaut.

Wednesday's Badges

Whether for personal gain, employment, or simply for the love of blowing things up, there have always been specialists in the field of explosives. Be it Black Powder, Dynamite, Fulminate of Mercury, Nitroglycerine, or Guncotton; all of these within the purview of such an individual. And for that person we offer The Exploding Star of the Demolitionist.

The desire to explore, to see the world exists with all of us. The instinct to fill in the blanks on the map, to see things that no one else has seen drives us forward and pushes us toward discovery. Embrace your desire to journey to new horizons. Mark your wanderlust with The Geared Compass of the Explorer.

Tuesday's Badges!

If you've ever been called a gearhead, a tinkerer, or an artificer; If you have ever taken something apart just to see how it works; If you would happily spend your day elbow-deep in grease and machine parts; then this badge is the one for you.  Armburster Armories proudly presents The Crossed Wrenches of the Mechanic.

Are you an actor or actress? A comedian, a tragedian, or any manner of thespian? Regardless of the part you play we at the Armory offer this badge, The Dramatis Personæ of the Entertainer.

Monday's Badges!

Occasionally one is motivated to take part in the hostilities essentially by the desire for private gain and, in fact, is promised, by or on behalf of a party to the conflict, material compensation substantially in excess of that promised or paid to combatants of similar ranks and functions in the armed forces of that Party. If that happens to be the case for you, that's makes you a Merc. And in order to make yourself look like a more fearsome and employable prospect to those wealthy military-types, we present The Black Shield of the Mercenary.

Discovery is the observation of new phenomena, new actions, or new events and providing new reasoning to explain the knowledge gathered through such observations with previously acquired knowledge from abstract thought and everyday experiences. New discoveries are acquired through various senses and are usually assimilated, merging with pre-existing knowledge and actions. Discovery and inspiration are often heralded by one word in particular: Euereka! In celebration of the word, and of those who use it we have the crossed bolts of Inspiration, The Eureka of the Scientist.

Today's Favorite Badges

Have you ever found yourself tracking Allosaurus in the jungles of the Jurassic,  running across a moonlit wasteland from savage Morlocks, or battling thinking machines across the far reaches of the galaxy? Whether you come from a divergent timeline or have traveled back from the future to set things right, The Lost Watch of the Time Traveler is the badge for you.

Do you believe in protecting the innocent, upholding the law, and serving the will of the people? Are you a member of the Texas Rangers? A Sheriff or Deputy? A Marshal, Constable, or member of the United States Secret Service? Then wear this badge with pride, as it is The Shield Star of the Lawman! Regardless of the territory you find yourself in, this universal symbol or law & order will let those criminal scum know who they're dealing with.

For the love of Science!

Today's featured badges represent a love of two scientific disciplines.

For those of you for whom the composition, properties and behavior of matter holds a unique fascination, we present The Chemical Heart of the Chemist.

And for those of you who seek to study and application of electricity and electromagnetism, we present The Charged Heart of the Electrical Engineer.

For those of you in High Society.

Today's featured badges are for those of you who prefer the finer things in life.

First, we feature The Silver Butterfly of the Socialite. Are you most comfortable crowd? Do you enjoy rubbing elbows with the rich and famous? Well then let your friends know by pinning this stylish badge to your lapel.

Next we offer a badge for all of the nobility among you. Be you a Lord, Duchess, Earl, Viscount, Marquis, or Chevalier, you should adorn yourself in only the finest. That is what we provide with The Gentleman's Regalia of the Aristocrat.

Two Badges Today!

Starting today the Armory will be posting two of our badges per day until River Road Expo. So, without further ado may we present:

The All-Seeing Eye of the Egyptologist. From Alexandria to Aswan, nothing exemplifies your devotion to the study of the ancient kingdoms like this iconic badge. It pairs nicely with our Saharan Goggles.

And for those of you whose taste for mystery and the secrets of reality drive them into the uncharted reaches of the world, it is our pleasure to present The Aberrant Artifact of the Occultist.

These two badges represent the boundless curiosity and devotion to exploration and understanding that lead ordinary scholars and mystics down the path of legend!

For the con artist who has everything.

"Whether you're running a game of Three-Card Monte, Salting a mine, or running a classic Spanish Prisoner, nothing (and I mean nothing) makes you appear to be an honest and trustworthy sort more than this fine badge right here.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this rare gem set before you is nothing other than The Double-Crossed Heart of the Confidence Man! This particular lot is incredibly rare and costly to reproduce. Own it today!"
- Sales pitch of a young William Thompson. (Before he was sacked for stealing my watch.)

Friend of the Armory

In my endeavor to provide a new post per day until our next big event, River Road Expo - Sunday April 21st from noon to 5pm at Tioga Downs in lovely Nichols, NY - I've decided to detail one or two badges a day. Today's Badge is one that many who have seen us before are familiar with;

The Friend of the Armory Badge. Commemorating our founding in Elmira, NY. (The same year that city hall was erected, by the way.) The Badge was created for me as a gift by Dame Charlotte, the most wonderful woman in the world. Show your support for our work by proudly displaying this handsome badge and proclaiming yourself a friend to Armburster Armories!

Steampunk Job Classes!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dames and Sirs, we at the armory would like to share one of our best-selling products...the job class badges! No longer leave you friends and family wondering where your true passions lay.

First, I'd like to present The Dead Man's Hand of the Gambler. Have a passion for poker? A love of the Lucky Sevens? A Devotion to the Dice? Then this is the badge for you!

And Second, I present The Hammer and Tongs of the Blacksmith. If you have a a love of metalwork, and the flames of the forge burning in your heart then this your badge!

River Road Expo 2: The Revenge

Yes indeed ladies and gentlemen, the time is once again upon us to gather at Tioga Downs and enjoy the finest in jaw-dropping art! On Sunday, the twentieth day of April I encourage all the friends of the Armory...and indeed all those among you who appreciate quality artwork and artists to join us for a Cover Charge-Free day of fun.

To express exactly how excited I am for the event, I am discounting all pre-orders up to, and including, the day of the event! From now until April 22nd, the price for all goggles will be discounted by $25.00!!!

The Keymaster Ocular

This unique "mono-goggle" was designed by the Armory for a man known only as the Keymaster of Kent. To his specifications, the eyepiece is fully adjustable and fits securely around the head. The alchemically-treated lens aides in low-light vision. The gold-patterened suede was part of a special lot, willed to the Armory by the pirate captain Vane Kilgrave, and the emblem on the temple was a special request by the Keymaster himself.

Sadly, due to debts to some of London's more unscrupulous criminal kingpins, the Keymaster was never able to pick up his order. As is Armory policy, this incredibly unique fabrication is now available to the public at the price of $50.00.

The Isley Customs

Commissioned for Lady Pamela Isley, a rogue horticulturist of the International Society for Horticultural Science. Using materials provided by Lady Isley and constructed to her specifications, this piece is truly unique. The headstrap and suede are both naturally green. The copper used for the eye pieces was unusually pure, and at her insistence, was unaltered by our alchemical process and has thusly oxidized. It was fitted with an unusual array of diffusers, and a double ocular magnifier. The golden leaves were a request by Lady Isley as a 'decoration to laud her achievements.'

The actual meaning of this phrase, I fear shall be forever lost as the good Lady was incarcerated in an asylum soon after the order was placed. The detail are not known to the public, though rumors insist that she had been injected with a venomous concoction and lost her grip on sanity.

We at the Armory extend our thanks to Lady Isley, by way of the fine doctors of Arkham Asylum, and wish the brilliant botanist a speedy convalescence. In accordance with the instruction of the doctors of the asylum, we now offer the Isley Customs for sale to the public at the nominal fee of $50.00.

The Bronze Centurions

This custom pair of goggles, crafted to specification for the Dame Carol Young, was constructed from the pieces of a time-traveling automaton that I had stumbled across whilst exploring the ruins of the Johnston Atoll. Despite the machine's ascertion that it was indeed from the future, I found it odd that it's construction was, primarily, of bronze and some synthetic fabrics. I'll not bore my readers with details of the battle between us; suffice it to say that when our meeting was over, it was I who was picking up the pieces.

As for the features of the goggles themselves; they feature a double static diffuser on the lens housing and array on the temple bolt that, I must confess, I didn't not have time to adequately catalog and study. The headstrap is constructed of a synthetic material with a tensile strength equal to those that would be double the thickness normally. I inset a set of versatile smoked lenses that I hope will serve the Dame Carol well in her travels.

We at the Armory thank the Dame Carol Young for her patronage!

The Flower of the Tundra

This pristine pair of goggles was created for use in the inhospitable climates of the Alpine Tundra. The denim fabric has been bleached white to better assist in camouflaging the wearer. (One can never been too cautious.) The lens rims are an alchemical silver that resist the staggeringly low climates, and the blue lenses are a protective barrier from the harsh sunlight that one can experience so close to the top of the world.

Originally designed for use by a French Cryptobotanist, this pair of oculars is equipped with a loupe on the right lens and features two beautiful silver fleur-de-lis on the temples and the Ivy Cross symbol of the French Cryptobotanical Academy. Sadly the scholar for which they were built, perished while searching for the Dragon Rose of Hyperborea. In accordance with the wishes of her estate: they are now available for purchase at the price of $50.00.

The Guthrie Cannoneers

Originally designed for a young coal miner from Cumberland, Kentucky, these durable goggles were crafted from a set of military-grade cannoneer goggles, but with significant improvement.

 The alchemically-treated lenses help to improve visibility in low-light conditions. The wide leather headstrap is more comfortable than the original corded one. I also fitted the goggles with a more durable dungaree fabric than the thin canvas that was previously used. Sadly, the young man was caught in a cave-in a short time before me departure, and he was presumed dead.

He had never a chance to wear these fine oculars, and at his family's insistence I kept the piece. They were purchased at Hero Bot Con by the young woman in the photograph (who's name I did not get). We at the Armory thank this young lady for her patronage, and hope that these fine eye-pieces keep you from a similar fate as the young miner, Samuel.

Greetings from the year 2013!

Well, ladies and gentlemen, firstly I offer an apology for the delay in posting. I have been rather occupied with the holidays, a slight fire at my parents' home (everyone is okay), and the construction of my new laboratory.

Secondly, I resume with my (hopefully) weekly postings of our creations. Take, for instance this lovely model:

Constructed for the Lady Alana Smith, the Goblin Vision goggle were crafted with a headstrap foraged by Ser Jordan McLeod, out resident maille smith. This stylish piece is fitted with an alchemically treated pair of lenses that create an illuminated silhouette around orcs and goblins. Incredibly useful when traversing Subterrania or an uncharted mountainous region. We here at the armory thank the good Lady Smith for her patronage, and plug her television appearance.

Also I'll include a photo of our first local customer, due primarily to her shaming me at a gathering, this very evening, for my truancy in posting. So once again, the lovely owner of the The Envy of Venus, Miss Emily Swan: