Kitainese Silk

Banner by Terry-Lynn L!

"I told you to wear Kitainese silks." The young man commented, grinning crookedly with his arms folded behind his head. "They keep you cool."
The girl in the Hunter Uniform behind him groaned. "You said silks. My uniform is silk." She complained, grabbing at the front of the uniform and pulling repeatedly to try to cool down.
"Aya, you're being stubborn." The man replied. It was so irritating to watch him stride through the sands of the Karhan Desert so easily. "I told you we had to walk through the desert to get to Harada village, why would I tell you to wear normal silks?"
"I don't know, Casimir, why did you?" She retorted, grumbling under her breath. She stumbled for the fourth time in the last four minutes, and an irritated bird-like sound escaped her lips. "Rahnika aren't made for the desert!!!"
"You're only half rahnika, and it isn't my fault you didn't listen," he chided, laughing softly. "We're almost there. I'll get you something more comfortable."

Properties

Material Characteristics

Kitainese Silks are a lightly iridescent fabric that is incredibly smooth and cool to the touch. The silk feels almost lighter than air, and many have reported that it doesn't feel like they're wearing much of anything even when wearing three layers. Kitainese silks come in a wide variety of colors, but the iridescent shine gives them away for what they are.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Kitainese silks are incredibly light and cool to the touch. They are considered the height of fashion in the summer months due to their cooling properties. If one is wearing an outfit of Kitainese silks, they'll be comfortable even in the heat of the deserts of Kitain and Soren, or in the badlands of Nissayria.

Origin & Source

Kitainese silk is made by the larva of the Kitainese Silkweaver moth. These moths are native to Kitain, and their preferred diet consists entire of the leaves of the Aylani fruit bush. Due to the fact that these bushes only bloom once a year during the annual Ashlina Festival of Rebirth, the pupae of the moths do not act like typical silkworms.
Kitainese Silkweavers consume the leaves of the Aylani bushes for approximately two months before beginning to form their cocoon. Due to the fact that the preferred food for their offspring will not return for another year, Silkweavers will continuously weave their cocoons for the next ten months of the year. The silk is collected harmlessly from the cocoons, and can then be spun into thread. Due to the fact that in the wild the cocoon is continuously formed for ten months, the pupa has been noted to be utilizing essentia and other magic consumed from the leaves to create the silks characteristic cooling properties.
Silkweavers are only cultivated and raised in Kitain.

Distribution

Trade & Market

Kitainese silk is a luxury item that is highly sought after in other countries.
In Kitain, it's just cloth that everyone uses to tolerate the extreme temperatures of the country.

Type

Textile