Hat Investigates the Ace's high

"What a fascinating weapon, I have never seen anything quite like it before, it seems to be of expert craft despite being wielded by bandits, it’s fantastic, easy to pick up and learn to use, I would like to understand how it works"

Hat spends hours dismantling an ace's high understanding the mechanisms of which it functions

"Ok I think I get it, pressing the trigger strikes a piece of metal creating a spark which lights the powder, causing an explosion in which the pressure fires the projectile down the barrel and at a target, clever!  Which again brings up the question of why bandits, who is making them?"

Hat carves a prototype shape of the guns wood section out of a spruce log, taking several logs before getting the shape quite right

“Its greatest flaws to me are it’s very loud, seriously I hate the noise, any sense of stealth is lost immediately upon firing, maybe I can use the sound reducing nature of snow to reduce the sound of the combustion?”

Hat attempts many designs of how it should be crafted utilizing a snow coating

“Snow may melt so I should use permafrost instead, maybe shaving it down to a permafrost snow”

Hat gathers the permafrost

“This should be a sufficient amount, but another flaw is the combustion from the gunpowder will create heat, maybe I could use enchanting powder to reverse the heating effect similar to my cold embrace ability.”

Hat performs many experiments of trial and error trying to get the reaction just right

“Hmmm, now is another important part, the material of the barrel and striker, steel is a very useful material but maybe I should try my hand at an alloy, one sturdy enough to withstand vibrations of the combustion, but also lightweight and long lasting"

Hat tests multiple different alloys using steel ruthenium and zinc before settling on a sufficient ratio he believes will do well

“Maybe this permafrost could also be used for ammunition, as long as it can sufficiently pierce an enemy it will deal damage, so what the bullet is doesn’t particularly matter, although being inexpensive would be useful, so maybe firing permafrost rounds would do sufficiently? Although a bit of steel with the flint would be useful so it successfully ignites the gunpowder. Maybe these hateful crystals will also come in handy for the ammo"

Hat tests many designs of permafrost rounds before settling on ones enchanted with unbreaking so they will better retain their shape and hit their mark. Using the hateful crystals influence on the bullets so they have a slight mind of their own to hit a target

“The striking mechanism will also be slightly modified, sharp flint seems useful to create the sparks. However, if I could use this in tandem with the freezing magic of the frozen bows, perhaps I could add some additional cold to this weapon?”

Analyzing the magic on the bows attempts to replicate a similar effect upon strike rather upon draw

“Now I think it’s time I test a final design”

Using the treated wood forms a body for the gun, the alloy the barrel and striker, the permafrost snow a sound dampener, the permafrost and enchanted gunpowder ammunition, sharp flint and enchanted striker. Hat Binds the body and barrel with more of the alloy and attaches hardened leather straps for easy transport.

"I believe I should test it first"

Hat fires a shot at a target a cold permafrost bullet hits near the bullseye

"Hmmm maybe? I'll try a few different designs"

Hat tries different designs and find one through trial and error until one Hat was satisfied with

“I believe it’s finished, I should give it a name though, such fine craftsmanship deserves one, maybe it’s too egocentric but I shall call it ‘The Hat Shot’ ”