Popular - Materials

Stuff of Legends

There are many materials in the world used for virtually everything. But among all the mundane leathers and logs, some stand out for their unique origin, utility, or strange magical properties. It is these qualities that make such materials not only popular but also legendary.

Dragon Scale

The scales of dragons are among the most prized mystic resources. No other mystic creature is hunted for its body parts—except dragons. Their scales are large and extremely durable, able to withstand extreme punishment from a wide variety of weapons. However, it is not just their toughness that makes them valuable, but also their magical resistance and fireproof properties.

Properties

Dragon scales significantly reduce the impact of magical attacks and are extremely poor conductors of heat, making them the best-known thermal insulators in the world. They also keep basically permanently, if kept dry and properly oiled. The oil keeps them supple and prevents moisture from tarnishing them.
This oil needs to be reapplied every few weeks or after it has been exposed to fire.

Source

They are most easily gathered from the remains of dead dragons. However, dragons shed their scales regularly, and it isn’t uncommon to find some in dragon territory. If one can locate a dragon’s nest, there is often a large pile of old scales worth a small fortune.
Scales found in the forest are often of poor quality, unless they are very fresh, but those in a dragon's lair are often much better preserved. Those from a freshly killed dragon are considered of pristine condition, and are worth the most.

Armor

In armor-making, scales are affixed to a thin gambeson or tunic to create light plate armor. They can also be attached to metal armor to enhance its effectiveness. The scales themselves are surprisingly light, but their weakness lies in the gaps between them. This is especially true when facing fire, which can slip through the cracks. Against blunt force, the scales are not ideal unless mounted on a metal foundation. Against slashes, however, they provide excellent defense.

Magic

Dragon scales are also used in the doors and chambers of wealthy elites or paranoid mages due to their excellent protection against magical attacks. For the same reason, all anti-mage units are equipped with full sets of dragon scale armor, either in the light or heavy variant. The scales do not negate magic entirely, but they are exceptionally resistant to magical effects.

Jet Glass

Jet Glass is a newly rediscovered material made by combining molten sand with Jet and cooling it slowly.

Properties

When properly created, Jet Glass is dark and slightly translucent. It allows you to see what’s on the other side, but filters most light, making visibility dim and atmospheric. It is excellent at containing mana.

Source

The process requires pure sand and pure Jet. Impurities or incorrect cooling can cause the entire batch to violently shatter into sharp, useless silicon-jet crystals. These can be remelted and reattempted, but the process is time-consuming, energy-intensive, and dangerous.

Usage

Jet Glass is occasionally used in windows and other glass crafts, since it is considered a luxury resource, but it also has more practical applications. It is used in the construction of mana wells and other magical contraptions. Both glass and Jet are effective at containing mana, and their fusion enhances this property.

Chitin

Chitin is the natural material that forms the shells of crustaceans. It is durable, lightweight, and slightly flexible.

Source

The most commonly used chitin comes from the king crab, which provides the largest and strongest plates. It is carved into armor, tableware, and decorative items.

Usage

Chitin appears often in the handles and guards of sailor weapons. It can also be purified through magic to become translucent and much more flexible, while retaining its toughness. Purified chitin is used in flasks, containers, cords, and even wound-stitching threads or fishing lines.

Though the purification process is labor-intensive and magical, chitin-based craftsmanship has ancient roots in many cultures. In some regions, this tradition's cultural importance outweighs its impracticality.

Ivory

Ivory is a dense, smooth material used primarily for decoration and ornamentation.

Source

Most ivory comes from elephant tusks. Fiend horns, despite their antler-like appearance, are made of the same material but are thinner, twisted, and harder to work with. Fiends are also dangerous to hunt and rare, so elephant ivory dominates the trade.

Usage

Ivory is found in carved statues, fine cutlery, piano keys, inlays, and weapon hilts. Its smooth, pale finish makes it a symbol of luxury.

Spider Web

While most spider silk is too fine to be used by corporeals, the Boar Spider spins threads thick enough to be harvested and processed.

Source

Harvesting is done either by milking live spiders or salvaging existing webs. The only people who regularly do this are the people of the forest, where boar spiders are found, and where this resource is a great and important source of income.

Processing

Fresh webs are sticky and can be used in the construction of walls. For other uses, the webs have to be processed. The strands are washed, greased to prevent stiffness, and dried. This results in a rope-like material.

Properties

Spider ropes vary in elasticity and come in thicknesses from half a centimeter to two centimeters. All types are extremely durable and, when properly prepared, can last a lifetime.