Shony's Gift

Material

Shony's Gift is the name given to a rare type of reed kelp used to make near-indestructible garments and light armour. The kelp is only found in sheltered bays and shallow waters along the coast of The North Sea and The Icy Sretch in the north of Alven.

It is named after the goddess of the sea, Shony. Naming the miraculous plant after the sea goddess is a way to pay tribute and honour the deity who supposedly infused the kelp with magical properties for the clansmen's benefit. 

The location of the Shonies - as the local population calls it - has been a jealously kept secret by the fishermen and spinners' families who live off the precious weed.

Environment

The kelp grows in sheltered parts of the ocean bed where storms cannot tear down the relatively fragile reeds. The kelp grows in large fields in shallow seawater. Light must be good for the kelp to grow and photosynthesize, and the seaweed will not grow in darker, sunless waters. 

Due to the favourable conditions, Shonies can grow very tall. Old, undisturbed kelp forests will contain kelp as tall as small trees. One forest, in particular, is left undisturbed as a tribute to Shony. Called Shony's Orchard, it lies in the firth of the River Sandburn on the coast of Farden. 

Generally, the kelp grows between 3 to 5 rods below the water's surface (10 to 50 meters). 
The kelp fields are beautiful but also treacherous. The divers who specialise in farming and collecting the kelp face many dangers in the cold and clear waters of a Kelpbay.

The Great Baysnake and other fearful predators lurk in the abundant kelp forest waters. 

Process

The Shonies are collected by fishermen organised in several well-known guilds, known collectively are the Gift's Chosen. These guilds maintain a tight monopoly on the kelp and will not allow any other guilds or fishermen to farm the kelp. The guilds are very wary that overfarming will kill their livelihoods. Many guildsmen also believe that the seaweed is sacred and will not tolerate mismanagement of the kelp forests.

Once collected, the kelp is dried in specially built sheds. Many of the sheds are trapped and enchanted to deter would-be thieves. Once dried and ready to transport, the kelp is brought to one of the Northern Spinners' Guild's headquarters. There, the kelp is treated like linen and bolts of the materials may subsequently be bleached or dyed to change the colour of the threads.

Spinning the reed is a skilled job only a few spinners train for and master. The process is different if the thread is to be used for armour and protective equipment. A specialised armourer called a Reedster will be threading and moulding the pieces. 

Reed Kelp
(Photo by Michael Langhans)

Old Fashioned Reed Dress

('Irish Moss' by Sybil Connolly)