Materials

Steven stepped out of Thread & Tide, the Stormgull Flyer set—steel-gray shirt and blue-black pants—fitting him sharp and comfy, a far cry from the merchant’s black trash now ditched in the tailor’s corner. Night still hung young over the Mistveil, shops aglow, and his bare fists felt naked without armor. Trish’s shop, Hide & Hammer, loomed ahead—time for new gear, again. He’d sold his last set to that gruff collector for 5 gold, a scam too sweet to resist, but it left him exposed. He jingled his way in, the bell clanging as he crossed the threshold.

Trish spun from her workbench, hands on hips, her gruff voice cutting the air. “Ye again, lad? What’d ye do with my last masterpiece—pawn it off already?” Her eyes narrowed, a mix of irritation and amusement. Steven grinned, sheepish. “Sold it—5 gold, some collector at the tavern. Couldn’t say no.” She snorted, folding her muscular arms. “Five gold? Ye overpaid me by a damn sight—my work’s good, but that’s a fool’s ransom. What’s the catch?” He laughed, leaning in. “Had holes—battle scars. Guy didn’t notice ‘til I was gone.” Trish barked a laugh, slapping the counter. “Holes, eh? Served him right—dumb bastard. Alright, ye’re back for more—what ye need this time?”

She waved him over, pulling out a ledger and a stack of materials, her tone shifting to business. “Got plenty in stock—ye know the drill, pick yer poison. Here’s what I’ve got fresh and ready.” She listed her wares, voice rumbling with pride:

Materials in Stock:

Mistvine Leather - Supple, light hide from coastal vines—tough yet bendy, perfect for dodging and striking. Pale green, raw and rugged.

Ironhide Leather - Thick, scarred hide from mountain boars—heavy-duty, takes a beating. Dark brown, coarse and unyielding.

Crab Shell Plates - Polished giant crab chitin—hard, light, ideal for armor patches. Glossy gray-blue, sleek and solid.

Saltwolf Fur - Dense, warm pelt from coastal wolves—resilient trim or padding. Silvery-gray, soft but fierce.

Wyrmskin Scales - Leftover wyrmling scraps—small, sturdy scales for reinforcing. Mottled green-black, sharp-edged.

Kraken Leather - Rare, thick tentacle hide—tough as hell, pliable premium. Deep teal, a collector’s cut.

Tidebone Shards - Carved fish-spine plates—light, rigid, great for accents. Off-white, smooth and bony.

Ashbark Fiber - Woven ash tree strands—breathable, tear-resistant base. Ash-gray, rough but reliable.

Trish tapped the kraken leather, smirking. “This one’s top-shelf—pricey, but ye’ll feel it. Mix what ye like—shirt, pants, gloves—I’ll stitch it fierce. What’s yer fancy now, ye armor-flippin’ scamp?” Steven’s mind churned, ready to rebuild his D-rank edge with Trish’s craft.

Steven leaned against the counter in Hide & Hammer, the scent of leather and oil thick as Trish laid out her stock—mistvine, ironhide, crab shell, and more. His D-rank itch for something fresh sparked, and he tilted his head, voice curious. “Ye’ve got solid stuff here, Trish—but what about somethin’ exotic? Anything rare ye might be able to get yer hands on?”

Trish paused, her gruff laugh cutting off as she arched a brow, intrigued. “Exotic, eh? Pushin’ past the usual, are ye? Well, I’ve got me standard stock, but for a lad like ye—scammin’ fools and punchin’ trolls—I can tap some contacts. Ain’t cheap, mind, and it’ll take a day or two to fetch.” She rubbed her calloused hands, eyes glinting with a crafter’s hunger, and rattled off a list of rare materials she could source:

Exotic Materials Trish Can Acquire:

Stormdrake Scales - Shimmering scales from a coastal drake—lightning-tough, flexible as leather but hard as steel. Deep gray with electric-blue veins, said to hum faintly in storms.

Abyssal Octopus Hide - Inky-black leather from a deep-sea beast—silky yet unyielding, slick to the touch. Absorbs light, perfect for stealth, with a subtle sheen when wet.

Phoenix Emberfeather - Rare plumes from a firebird’s molt—fiery red-orange, lightweight and heat-resistant. Weaves into cloth or trims, warm to the touch, a spark of flair.

Frostwyrm Carapace - Chilled, pale-blue chitin from an ice-dwelling wyrm—rigid, cold, deflects blades like ice cracks stone. Frost clings to it, a northern bite.

Siren Scale Thread - Spun from shed siren scales—pearlescent, fine as silk, tough as wire. Glimmers with a hypnotic sheen, ideal for stitching or weaving.

Kraken Beak Shards - Jagged, obsidian-like fragments from a kraken’s maw—sharp-edged, lightweight, deadly as inlays or studs. Black with a deep-sea gloss.

Mistwraith Veil - Ethereal fabric from mistwraith essence—near-weightless, faintly translucent. Bends light, a ghostly drape or lining, tough despite its haze.

Trish crossed her arms, smirking. “Stormdrake’s me priciest—say, 2 gold a sheet. Abyssal’s 1 gold, 50 silver—tricky to skin right. Phoenix feathers, 1 gold a bundle. Frostwyrm’s 1 gold, 80 silver—cold work. Siren thread’s 80 silver a spool, beak shards 50 silver a handful, mistwraith 1 gold flat. Takes a day to fetch—exotic’s a gamble, but I’ll get it if ye’re payin’. What’s yer fancy, lad—somethin’ wild to match yer wild ways?”

Steven’s mind raced, the exotic haul a chance to craft armor as fierce and unique as his Saiyan Fury—a D-rank edge reborn.