Runebound Ward
Description
Traditional runemail is crafted from a lightweight alloy of green iron and mithril. The alloy lends itself well to drawing out thin wire and forming them into rings, and the armour produced is light, but strong. Finished with carefully woven wires of weltsilver, and trimmed with dragonbone, the armour allow quick movement on the battlefield, protection from savage blows ... and also inspires the wearer, feeding the fire of their soul to perform great deeds. Runes of strength are worked subtly into the overall design of the armour, along with personal runes of significance to the smith or the intended wearer of the armour.
Traditionally a runesmith chants a heroic saga while crafting this armour, with the rhythm of the song helps guide the crafting process. In the heat of battle, some runemail wearers claim that they can hear that song echoing faintly in the music of the battlefield, drawing inspiration from the specific heroic deeds recounted in the tale.
In Dawn runemail is commonly crafted in the form of mithril plate rather than chain. Called Elfin plate, composed of sculpted plates of green iron alloy, it is often beautifully decorated and shaped to fit a specific wearer. A fine suit of this armour is popular with troubadours or senators who choose to take the battlefield, even if the enchantments woven into it have faded.
The Navarr may wear fine runemail in the Wintermark style, but their artisans also construct thick leather Runehide armour, often working the leather with coiling thorn or vine patterns into which dragonbone and weltsilver are inlaid, using green iron rivets and fastenings to hold the armour snug against the body. As armour that enhances versatility and provides options, without restricting mobility over much, it is unsurprisingly popular with the thorns.
Rules
- Form: Medium Armour. Despite the name any medium armour can be runemail.
- Effect: While wearing this armour, you gain 1 hero point.
- Materials: Crafting a suit of Runemail requires twelve ingots of green iron, six ingots of weltsilver and six units of dragonbone. It takes one month to make one of these items.