Making an Elvish Bow:

An Elvish bow is a living weapon due to the nature of its construction and the magic of its maker. 
It starts with wood freely given by the trees as they know the maker will use it to protect the forest. 
The bow's construction uses many of the forest's gifts to make the glues and oils needed as well.
Much skill is needed in the crafting of each element and the process used draws upon the makers magic and life.
The living wood is not so much carved as guided in which parts are the wood does not need and should drop off.
But the wood needs magic and life to maintain itself during the construction and help it do what is needed.
It is there that the power of the bow is determined as the more of the Forest's gifts used the more it draws on the maker.
The most common design uses only a few gifts and thus does not hurt its maker very much over the 9 days needed to complete it.

Being a bow used in tight spots, the Elvish Bow is most often no more than 2/3 of its maker's height and thicker than a similar sized human bow.
In fact the bow would be difficult for most Elves to draw if it did not actively help them.

First the Maker must find a tree or trees of the desired wood which are willing to give of themselves. 
In some cases a small gift of life is needed to show sincerity and aid the tree in healing itself.
When the tree has agreed it will drop a living branch large enough for the task.
It is important to feed the branches a little life each day until the bow is finished.

Then the Maker must gather all the Herbs, Berries and Saps needed to make the 'glues' and 'oils' needed.
Most plants will not ask for payment, though some trees may ask in return for sap.
The 'glue' used in the laminations, is not actually to hold them together but to grow them together.
Making the glue is simple grinding and mixing of the various materials and does not need life.
The 'oils' used help spread the life throughout the bow and aid in its awakening to its task.
Making the oils is more complex and does draw on the life of the Maker as its task is critical.

Then it is time to shape the branches into what is needed.
Starting with the First Branch, with the ritual silver blade, show the branch where it must split itself into thin strips.
Usually 8 strips are required, though more thinner ones can be used, especially if more banches are used.
Continue with the other branches until you have the amount needed.
Now check them over carefully and use the ritual blade to show them where any adjustments are needed.
Each laminate needs to be shaped for its section of the bow.
In addition, the body of the bow and it's heart, needs to be taken from the thicker parts of the branches.
If multiple branches are used, you must choose which will be the core and the dominant aspect.

Once the laminates are finished they can be assembled.
Starting with the Back, coat it with the glue and add the next laminate.
Repeat until you have use half the laminates.
Then build the body in the center using the same methods.
Once the body shape is complete then add the other half of the laminates.

At this point the bow will be confused, the various laminates need to grow together.
Now is the time to use the first of the oils.
Carefully rub the oil into the body of the bow and work outward.
Keep your mind focused on how the bow should be shaped so that it can correct for any minor errors.
The laminates will grow together and the bow will curve appropriately.
Any final artistic additions can now be done using a silver scribe.
The bow may flex during this in reaction, so some care is required.

Finish with the next layer of oils.

Finally give the bow its string and it is ready to use.
Some make a special string and treat it with the oil as well, but that is not required, though it can make it more durable.

More powerful Bows can be made using more branches and other forrest gifts.
The construction follows the same patterns.
Rarely sidh metals are added if the maker plans on more enchantments beyond the usual.
In that case they may be added as thin laminates, nocks or part of the body, sometimes even as strings.
Use of Sidh metals will be costly as the life needed to make it part of the bow may be quite large.
Usually only the most powerful bows will go to that extreme, ones destined for greatness.

Rarely a bow may become more aware than others, more commonly when higher levels of life are spent.
Some heal themselves more quickly, others may flex to dodge attacks to themselves, the rarest may develope powers.

Some of you may have noticed that the Human Recurve bow is quite similar.
That is due to humans having observed an Elvish Bow's construction millenia ago and trying to duplicate it.
It took them centuries to make it work for them and their results are quite pitiful dead things, but functional as bows.
They left out all the spiritual aspects because they could not understand them.
I will explain the differences.

The humans injure the trees for the wood needed.
The laminates are forcefully cut into shape.
They use animal and well as plant in the glues, sometimes even odder things.
They force the wood into shape with clamps and bake it!
So the final bow is a dried husk of what it should be and as vulnerable.
If it gets too hot or wet it may come apart.
The wood commonly splits where they did not match the grains correctly.

The true Elvish Bow enjoys water and sun like a tree should.
All the grains are aligned properly between all the wood used and will not split from use.
A tree can whether a great many storms without breaking, but there are limits.