The introduction of Vehrkana bullion into Havasi markets lead to the rise of smiths, who made tools with the metals which they traded domestically for goods which would be valuable in foreign markets.

Though the first generation of smiths were simply opportunists, those who saw an economic niche and sort to fill it, this situation did not last long. Stewards of Karyan began to argue that since metals are extracted from within the earth and the mountains, they rightfully fall within the domain of their goddess.

Although this met with some resistance from the stewards of Teykian and Muspar, the conflict did not last long. The concept of 'rightful domains' was a fundamental point of Havasi governance, necessary to maintain the balance and prevent any one group from gaining too much influence at the expense of the others. As denying Karyan's stewards the right to control the smithing market would leave their own agricultural or marine monopolies in danger, the other stewards relented.

Subsequently, smithing fell under the control of the stewards of Karyan, who were universally women. The stewards saw fit to provide license only to women smiths, to make it unambiguously clear to all that smithing was goddess Karyan's domain. The smiths were provided room and board by the temples of Karyan, and would in turn produce tools and weapons. These tools and weapons would be sold to Havasi society at large, who would provide pelts and other valuables to the temples. The temples would then engage in trade with foreigners, acquiring in particular bullion ingots which would allow them to produce more tools and so perpetuate their monopoly.

The temple's demand for metals also lead to an increase in domestic mining activity, with two significant copper mines near the northern shores of lake Hitherak intensifying production in response to the increased demand.

One interesting consequence of this situation was that a significant portion of Havasi people engaging in trade, both domestically and in foreign markets, were women.