Though not as impenetrable as dragon scales or as magically adaptable as woadbark, drakeskin nevertheless makes for remarkably efficient protection. More supple than leather, it is also innately tougher when cured properly, capable of turning most smaller blades and projectiles. Given the deadly predators it is taken from, drakeskin is an expensive, albeit much sought after material. A coat or shirt crafted from it is a common mark of status among nobility, with many attempting to outdo their peers through rarer, more expensive skins.
The cost of drakeskin is furthered by the necessary preparation process, to say nothing of the skill required to slay such a beast. For drakeskin to retain its natural toughness it must be prepped and cured immediately after death, else its final strength will merely be that of average leather. Thus, most hunters carry the necessary ingredients on themselves when going hunting. Commonly, hides that were not prepared properly are referred to as "false drakeskin," the fact that it still came from one of the beasts not withstanding. It takes an experienced eye to distinguish true drakeskin from false; many an overeager purchaser has been taken in by a deal too good to be true, losing at best a large sum of gold and at worst their life, ended by a blade or arrow puncturing what should have saved them.
Properties
Drakeskin's appearance is that of a middleground between scales and leather. The coloring is dependent on the species of drake, ranging from the mottled browns and reds of cliff drakes to the magnificent colors of tropical ones.
In addition to its uncanny durability, drakeskin is highly resistant to both flames and acid.
Varieties of drakes inhabit almost every known environment, from coasts to frozen wastelands. Drakeskin is most easily harvested from the more accessible forest and mountain drakes, while those from far-off, hazardous regions fetch even higher prices.
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