Thornweave

Its light. Lighter than I expected brother. I thank you for the armor, it seems to flex with my contours and ensure that I can move clearly around. I should have things like this at all times! Now I am not impeded by heavier armor, but more protected than common leather. And out of your coffers too! I jest, I humbly thank you, and can't wait to see you soon.

— Letter between Jareth and Veren Nathra, two noble brothers with different lives.

Thornweave is a fabric that was first created by spinning the fibres of a Telarish plant in the west of Ossalimar. It is commonly used in the creation of extremely light armor due to its ability to resist the slashes of blades similar to chainmail.

Description

Thornweave often resembles Cotton in many ways. It similarly starts as a fluffy fibre of a plant, in this case the Telarish plant. Thornweave, when completed, will often be tinted green due to the pigmentation of the plant continuing through the fibres after they are removed from the plant.

When the fibres are collected, they are spun together creating a long fibrous string known as Thorknot. A weaver then uses a loom to gather Thorknot together in a diamond pattern to create Thornweave. The fibres are so closely knit together that it is very difficult to see through the holes. Some weavers also use a pattern more similar to chainmail, braiding together the fibres first down then across in a ring-like pattern. This is said to increase the durability, flexibility, and resistant properties of the fabric.

Keren Cloth

Historical Information

Plane	Material Plane (Nonvyrox)
Location	Ossalimar Heimter

Physical Properties

Type	Fabric
Properties	Durable Breathable Flexible

Usage

Uses	Strong Cloth Light Armor
Cost	125 gp per square yard
Weight	0.5 lbs per square yard

History

In the many years since The Parting, the Terlash flower has grown as a weed, infesting other gardens with its presence, taking up the resources that could be used by another flower. By 592 AR, Yltonis Mandevere had discovered that the fibres of the flower were strong enough to be spun into a yarn. He gave it the name Thorknot and started exploring its potential uses.

By 612 AR, Yltonis discovered that the most flexible use of Thorknot was to weave it into a fabric, thus creating Thornweave. Since this day, a variety of spinners and weavers have learned to use the material to create particularly clothing and armor. By 659 AR, the knowledge of how to create Thornweave expanded from those on the western coast of Ossalimar through to other parts of the continent and over to the eastern coasts of Heimter.

As of 748 AR, a global trade started to emerge that was focused on creating and selling Thornweave, particularly for its use as a defensive material to be worn as normal clothing or extremely light armor.

Properties

The first thing people notice about Thornweave is that it is very flexible and light. It reacts similarly to cotton in its breathability and ability to conform to different shapes. Many people appreciate these features as other fabrics can be fairly stiff and rigid. However, despite this breathability, there is an understanding that Thornweave is also able to trap heat against the body, allowing it to be used in a variety of environments to protect individuals.

Thornweave has been found to be resistant to the slashing abilities of many blades and other weapons. Similarly to chainmail, the slashes glance off the fabric, especially when woven correctly to ensure a tight knit bond of the fibres. This slashing resistance has been used to great advantage by those who wear cloaks lined with Thornweave, and has been its greatest selling point, with many buying the fabric particularly for this purpose.

Thornweave is extremely durable, some have compared it to leather and chainmail, but this is a false comparison. Thornweave is resistant to many cutting actions, but one good piercing stab can pierce through the fabric, letting the fabric be split further.

Notable Creations

Name	Created On	Description
Thornweave Armor	638 AR	The most popular form of Thornweave, armor made from the fabric is quite commonly used by those who aren't skilled in using heavier armor. It protects someone as much as chainmail armor would, but ensures that a person can still move and flex as if they were wearing minimal armor. Sets of Thornweave armor can be found along the Ossalimarian Empire and its trading partners in the east of Heimter.
Thornweave Lined Cloak	642 AR	The second most popular invention is a cloak lined with Thornweave on the interior. This is usually selected by powerful nobles as a secondary protection from usually melee attacks that come from a nearby sellsword. Often a Thornweave cloak is used in conjunction with heavier armor that is more resistant to the piercing effects of weapons, allowing a person to protect themselves most effectively from a wide variety of attacks.
Skulker's Skin	726 AR	A more recent invention is Skulker's Skin. While Thornweave armor has several layers of the fabric stitched together to create layers of armor, Skulker's Skin is a single layered fabric of Thornweave that is meant to be worn under normal clothes. While it does not provide the same armor benefits, it still provides a resistance to slashes of a blade. As such it has become popular among those who are more nimble, moving without the impediment of armor.