Dragon Scales
Overview
Dragon Scales are a quite valuable resource throughout Koria. Not because they are rare - well, to a degree they are - but most of the time the scales in question are still attached to a Dragon.
To get Dragon Scales you either have to trade for them with a Dragon or collect the scales they lose over time when they grow new scales. It takes the Dragon in question years of their life, but they do it. Since Dragons often reside in one place and scarcely leave it when it is not for the hunt, it is nigh impossible to get their scales, not even talking about often requested boxes of scales.
But Scale Hunters, mercenaries of some sort, do the job quite right. Depending on their company they lure the Dragon out with fresh meat, gather the scales and venture off, run for their lives. The payment for a full box of Dragon Scales is mostly so ridiculous, that a lot of mercs come running or do not show up once they know what they are up against.
But how did they come up with the idea to snatch away Dragon Scales from a living Dragon (dead ones are even more rare)? Lets find out.
History & Resisting
Garladans were the first to try out things with Dragon Scales. At first they thought Dragon Scales as a potion or a powder could work as an aphrodisiac, but it didn't do anything besides a funny tingling in the throat. Then they tried to infused the Scales with the armour they wear, but that didn't work either, because Dragon Scales are nearly resistant against anything. This includes swords, arrows, light magic and a lot of normal magic.
Humans got wind of the projects the Garladans tried to crank out successfully, so they started their own projects. Over time they found that arrows and spears with Dragon Scales as tips are more deadly against nearly everything and very expensive. As are armours of any kind. For a fully fledged armour with helmet, gauntlets and everything one could buy a small city.
Over time people found out that loose scales are evenly resistant to time and decay than the living scales on the bodies of the Dragons. They don't grow anymore - which would be a neat little trick and annoyance on armours - but they are as hard and resistant as ever.
Use Cases & Prices
To get your hand on a scale or more than one, you have to hire someone to get it for you. Could be the armourer, the weapon smith, the mercenary or your own butler if you have one. You could also try to fetch a scale for yourself or negotiate with the Dragon, but bear in mind that you can get roasted, quite literally.
That means that you have to pay with your life or a lot of coin. The best way to get a Dragon or Dragon Scales is to go to the Copperkin dwarves or some of the brigades of Hulwar, since they worshipped the Dragons once as the Dragon Sun Empire.
One can also use the Scales for bonfires. With enough surrounding heat the scales pick up the heat themselves and store it for days, even weeks. Quite a waste, but it is doable.
Constructing Tales
"My king, it is unreasonable. I advice against it. The cost for this are way to high. I know you want to be the best protected, but we could outfit an entire army only for your disposal with the price of one of those armours.""I know, but why waste lives for me if you can waste coins which can do the same but with way less bloodshed?"
"One of those can even pierce the armour of a dwarf." The smith holds up one of the freshly smithed arrows, the tips still gloaming from the heat of the smithy. "But be careful with it. If you miss your target, they are gone. You never will be able to pull them out from where you misfired them. Especially stone.""I won't miss."
Thank you very much for this article, which made it into my top 10 favorites for the material. It was a lot of fun reading the article. Apart from the great idea with the dragon scale, you have again very cleverly and humorously woven small cultural stories into the article, which makes it very authentic. The humor reminded me a little of the children's book "Von feurigen Drachen und furchbaren Rittern". I really like it.
I don't know of this book, so I have to give it a read. Thanks for reading my little article, glad you enjoyed it. :)