First Shoes
History[edit]
This tradition has been around for as long as the Ferali people have fortifying their hooves with metal shoes. A sapling's feet are still growing and the hooves are too soft to support metal shoes, so it became an important rite of passage to gain one's first set of shoes. It's a sign that they're no longer a child, but they aren't quite an adult. There's a certain amount of respect that comes with having shod feet.
Execution[edit]
When a young ferali reaches their full growth and their hooves have fully hardened, it's time for them to be fitted for their first set of shoes. The family makes an appointment with the closest available Shoesmith, who measures the sapling's foot for size and weighs them to determine the correct balance of metals to put in the shoe. If a shoe is too heavy it will make walking difficult. Too light and they'll fall apart at the slightest pressure.
Once the shoes are ready, the family returns to have the shoes put on. It's a painless procedure as their hooves are quite thick, though the added weight takes some time to adjust to. After the shoeing is complete, the family present the Shoesmith with a traditional gift of fresh bread and either fruit or cheese depending on the season. Afterward, there's usually a celebration held at the family's house to commemorate this important rite of passage.
Components and tools[edit]
The shoes worn by the ferali are typically black in colour. The metal mix varies from country to country and each Shoesmith has their own recipe, but there's a dark metal they all use to colour it called akrenum.
Among the Shoesmith's tools are an anvil and hammer, tongs, a forge, a smelter, a scale, molding tools and materials, clinchers, and hammers.