Shova Water Beetle Shell

One of the unusual materials available to the Shovani, the shell of the giant water beetle is light as porcelain but (properly treated) as strong as steel. Despite numerous efforts to farm or domesticate the beetles, they only survive in the wilds north of Shovani, and hunting them is strictly regulated to manage the population. Adventurers who merely defend themselves from the sometimes aggressive beetles will likely be tried for poaching unless they can persuade the locals not to report them.
With all but the largest shells too small to make actual armor, most shells end up as shields. Their rarity makes them a mark of status and a non-lizardfolk who owns one is expected to carry a license with them at all times for inspection. A few large shells end up as armor for smaller creatures, or even vehicle armor.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Semi-translucent and usually a light blue to light green in color, the shells feel smooth to the touch and hold their shape in all but the most extreme conditions. They are cool to the touch and are naturally buoyant enough to float in most liquids.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Water Beetle shells are highly resistant to acid, lasting even longer than most metals. Prolonged exposure to cold can make them brittle, however. Extreme heat tends to make them stretchy and malleable, but any shell heated to this point loses all utility as armor because of the change in its molecular structure and the weakening of its chemical bonds.

Geology & Geography

Shovani water beetles are amphibious giant beetles found almost exclusively in the marshes north of the capital. They have also been sighted along the border with Rovitar.

Life & Expiration

Armor and shields made from water beetle shells are highly resilient provided they are kept out of extreme temperatures, and a good shell can sometimes last multiple generations.

Common State

Solid