Sable Fiber

The thread of the ancients.

Awldor    Materials      Sable Fiber

This thread has a sheen that is beautiful to behold, and yet it is stronger than any steel we are able to forge.

— Snassastr Coinmace, Blacksmith

A product of the time before The Great Collapse, Sable Fiber is among the lightest materials found in Awldor yet it is stronger than any thread. It is even stronger than the iron current society can forge today. No one can reproduce a thread of like quality and appearance, though many have tried. Some have resorted to producing counterfeit threads that are similar at a cursory inspection but will utterly fall short of the genuine artifact.
The properties of the fiber makes unwinding the material from its spool a difficult process. Guilds have been established for locating, extracting, and using this threadlike material. Specialized tools have been developed for the manipulation of the material. These tools need to be the work of a Master Armorer, but few are possess the skill necessary to produce tools that Sable Fiber will not break.

Of Value

The black fiber is highly prized though few are able and willing to procure this material. Common seekers of sable fiber are merchants or highly skilled craftsman. The merchant to create artistically pleasant works, the craftsmen to create high quality items. In another demonstration of Sable Fiber's value, some merchants have bought their way into the aristocracy just by finding one large, full spool of Sable Fiber. In some settlements, the richest and most powerful are the people who control the supply of the black fiber.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Often found in long, stiff, threads. The material is smooth to the touch, and is incredibly tough. It seems that no mortal hand can break it. However, there are several instances on record that describe the material shattering when it does reach its limits. Each instance involved extraordinary circumstances, one of which was during a confrontation with a dragon. The dragon was able to shatter Sable-reinforced armor, killing the wearer in the same mighty stroke (yet another reminder that one does not simply walk into a dragon's lair and expect to survive).

Physical & Chemical Properties

• High tensile strength
• High temperature tolerance
• Low weight

Geology & Geography

Sable Fiber is often found deep within ancient ruins. Most of the time, the fiber is spooled up, apparently ready to be used but in the end never needed for its intended purpose. It can also be found weaved into various ancient artifacts: cloth, armor, and toys to name a few.

Origin & Source

• Created by the ancients using methods lost to history.

History & Usage

Discovery

It was not that people stopped using the material as soon as The Great Collapse occurred, but that knowledge of its fascinating qualities fell out of common knowledge. Only the mages seemed to have maintained some knowledge of Sable's value, but often kept it as a close secret. It was not until trade began to resume in earnest between tribes across Quassus (approximately 475AGC) that Sable Fiber and its properties became common knowledge again.

Everyday use

Sable Fiber can be used to make of high-quality ropes, add a certain flair to elaborate clothing, strengthen flags, strengthen sails, and even to reinforce armor. It is said that one extremely wealthy family used the fiber to make a special wig.

All artwork is by starfarertheta unless otherwise noted.

"Sable" refers to the thread's black appearance.

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Some Uses:

• Sable reinforced steel
• Sable reinforced lumber
• Sable and leather hat
• Sable lined clothing
• Sable laced sail
• Sable laced rug
• Sable rope Sable wig

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Odor

It has no smell.

Taste

It has been confirmed that the material is generally flavorless.

Color

Sable (black).

Density

1.73–2.10 g/cm3

Common State

Solid

Note(s) from the Archivist:

I almost broke a tooth on one of these fibers when I failed to see the strand in my food. That tooth was sore for weeks. Archivist Taenya wouldn't let me keep or sell the strand. - Archivist Theta
How did you not notice a black strand in your food? - Archivist Tharivol