Meet the Rabenwald Team

Christopher Dietz (aka Drogo Rabenwald)

Owner/Shop Master/Expert Metalworker

Drogo began his journey of creativity as a child, doing projects with his father and taking a fine woodworking class in high school. The world of medieval reenactment found him after trade school, and Drogo started making jewelry as a hobby that occasionally paid for itself. Getting laid off from his job a few years later encouraged Drogo to take his artwork to more events, and Rabenwald Metalsmything became a full-time career.

When a small renaissance faire in his hometown expressed a desire for a blacksmith demonstration, Drogo stepped up to fill the role, teaching himself ironwork as he went. Exploring the ancient skill of blacksmithing changed Drogo's entire approach to crafting and design, resulting in the unique creations that Rabenwald boasts today.

After the pandemic, Rabenwald Metalsmything continued to expand its focus on providing an even wider range of renaissance faires and similar events with professional and engaging historical blacksmithing demonstrations and product booths, and to facilitate this growth, Drogo has slowly collected an incredible team of smiths and support crew.

Raymond L. (aka Kaz)

Shop Manager/Apprentice Smith

After twenty years of friendship, Drogo officially brought Kaz onto the Rabenwald team to help keep up with increased production demands as the business grew post-pandemic. Kaz is a talented craftsman with experience in many artistic mediums, and for a number of years, leatherwork was his full-time passion. These days, however, Kaz manages the Rabenwald workshop, displaying a truly impressive depth of patience for herding the chaotic denizens who work there.

To free Drogo's time for other projects, Kaz has taken over a significant portion of the forge work, especially the cooking utensil line. In addition, Kaz is responsible for much of the behind-the-scenes multimedia artistry that makes the Rabenwald products and booths stand out; the beautifully painted ornaments and spinners, tidy wooden signage, and other such accents are all examples of Kaz's expertise.

Tempest Dietz (aka Tempest Rabenwald)

Apprentice Smith

Tempest grew up watching their dad - Drogo himself - work in the forge, and they started learning the trade from him when they were nine years old. Once Tempest turned sixteen, they began to formally participate in the Rabenwald Metalsmything business as a part-time artist, specializing in the decorative counter-twists found on much of the Rabenwald jewelry. Today, years later, Tempest remains a key member of the team as a full-time smith, and their distinctive twist style makes Rabenwald accessories easily recognizable anywhere they are found.

Taran W.

Apprentice Smith/Demo Artist

Perpetuating their own family tradition of metalworking, Taran completed a degree in farriery, took extra classes in blacksmithing, and learned everything they could from their dad, a smith specializing in historical forging techniques. Over the years, Taran has added many other heritage crafts to their repertoire, but they continue to return to metalwork as an all-time favorite due to its balance of artistry, mindfulness, and physical activity.

Teaching others about the history and skills involved in blacksmithing brings Taran a great amount of joy, and thus they can frequently be found performing public demonstrations in the Rabenwald forge when it features at events. These demos usually result in adorable tiny metal snails or miniature horseshoes, but many pieces of the regular Rabenwald product lines also pass through Taran's sooty hands at some stage in their creation.

Dezlynn Savage (aka Dez)

Office Manager/Demo Artist

Although Dez's artistic background lay in the world of fabric and textile arts, Rabenwald Metalsmything literally stole her away from the circus and kept her by the sheer power of the chosen family she found here. Dez now applies her wide variety of skills to support all aspects of the Rabenwald business, and she is especially key in juggling the piles of all-important paperwork and background coordination required to bring Rabenwald Metalsmything to renaissance festivals and other events around the country.

At these events, Dez can often be found making sure that the Rabenwald booth retains the welcoming and homey environment it is known for, but if she's not behind the counter, check the forge next door; she may be putting on a demo for an entranced audience or sneaking some of her famous smores onto the fire! Either way, Dez loves to make sure that the younger generations can walk away from the forge with a smile and a story they'll share for years to come.

Squeezel Rabenwald

Support Crew/Booth Team

As Drogo's chosen sister, Squeezel has been part of the family for so long that she is the only one besides Drogo and Tempest who has the honor of claiming the name "Rabenwald". Being far too amazing at her job in her chosen field, Squeezel doesn't get to as many events as the rest of the crew, but she still does everything in her power to look after her people. Squeezel is the wonderful blue-haired mama-bear of the Rabenwald team, and excels at making sure any booth under her attentive care runs smoothly.

Nicole P.

Support Crew/Booth Team

Dez and Nicole met while working at the circus before the pandemic hit, and although they originally lived states away from each other, through one wild ride after another, they ended up based less that 2 hours apart. Nicole was given the opportunity to see the renaissance faire circuit from Drogo and Dez's point of view, and she was hooked from the start. Once she began to work in the Rabenwald booths, she adapted quickly, and now Rabenwald Metalsmything is stuck with her! Nicole can be found at most of the events that Rabenwald attends, and she is always ready to answer questions, provide product advice, and assist with fittings.

Lily Y.

Support Crew/Booth Team

Lily has been around Rabenwald's chosen family group for years, and finally joined the work crew in 2025. Lily pours her heart into supporting the people she calls friends, and has kidnapped the entire Rabenwald clan to her house for some much-needed (and much-appreciated) rest and recuperation any time Rabenwald has an event nearby.

In fact, Lily's professional participation is valued so highly amongst the vendors who know her that unfortunately, since Lily has not yet perfected cloning, Rabenwald Metalsmything often has to fight* other vendors to win the honor of Lily's help in our booth. Friends, please send your well-wishes to give us extra power in our next battle, so that Rabenwald and our customers might enjoy Lily's presence at more future events!

*Rabenwald Metalsmything does not condone fighting... but maybe "rock, paper, scissors"?*

Chastity

Support/Booth Team

During Rabenwald's first time vending at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, Chastity found themself cornered in our booth by a downpour. They were promptly adopted by the Rabenwald Metalsmything clan, and ever since, Chastity somehow keeps showing up to help even when they're supposed to be out having fun. A proper fae, Chastity admitted that they were trapped by the shiny metal given to them hot off the forge and are now contractually obligated to stay - not that Rabenwald is complaining!

Chastity's art specialty is hand sewing and historical Tudor garb; they have personally created just about every outfit you might see them in.

Like most Rabenwald booth denizens, you might catch Chastity engrossed in a project during slow times as they work the booth whenever needed, popping in and out on any given day and taking care of the crew in their own delightful way.

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