Silk Cotton
The Bombax tree grows to a height of 300 feet and trunks with a 30-foot diameter. The Elves use these trees for many things. They make their homes in the area of the tree just below the canopy of the forest where they encourage vines to grow and form thick platforms. These platforms are draped with Elven cloth to create living spaces.
The Elves have learned to make use of two other species of the Bombax tree. The seed pods of the tree contain a cotton like fiber that allow seeds to float across the forest. In addition, those same Bombax trees also support the Silk Moth which place their eggs on the leaves of the Bombax tree. When the eggs hatch the resulting larvae remain on the leaves, eat voraciously for a period of days after which they go to sleep for a short period, awakens to shed its chitinous shell which it has outgrown and then repeats the cycle. This process occurs multiple times over the course of a month until the larvae reaches the stage where it can produce silk to create a cocoon with which to encase itself until it emerges as an adult moth. Finally, the Elves harvest the spider silk of the Bark Spiders while the fishermen supply the mollusk mucous that the mollusk uses to secure itself to rocks that keep them in place.
The Elves have learned to use these materials while maintaining a healthy forest ecology.
Properties
Material Characteristics
The Bombax cotton is usually harvested in a tangled mess and soaked in the mollusk mucous then set to dry before being combed and spooled. Meanwhile, the silk strands are milked and wound around spindles until weaving begins. Once all the different strands are gathered they are then woven into rolls of cloth which is lightweight, waterproof and is strong enough to resist piercing by missile type weapons. One of its most touted characteristics is its ability to allow the wearer to blend in with locale terrains which seems to result from the coloring of the Bombax cottons and some property of the mollusk glue.
Physical & Chemical Properties
The cotton of the Bombax tree is soft, flexible and come in three colors; red, blue and green. The Silken strands are both strong and resistant to damage. Finally, the mucous of the Kybian mollusk is used as a wash for the cotton and adds a modicum of stiffness to the cotton.
Compounds
The Elven textile is made from a combination of Bombax tree cotton and silken strands from the Bombax Moth, Bombax Bark Spider silk and a mucous from the Kybian mollusk harvested from the sea,
Geology & Geography
The most important fibers necessary to create Elven cotton silk can only be found within the Kybian Forest although the mollusks are readily available from the waters around Calandyrion.
History & Usage
Discovery
Because of their innate need to know and understand all of creation upon settling in the Kybian Forest they undertook to investigate all aspects of the forest. In doing so they discovered the many species of plants and animals that exist in their new home. The also found that as in all things in creation all have significant roles and in combination could be used to create other useful concoctions, unction and materials.
Everyday use
While the elves use much of their cotton silk to create their airy abodes high up in the forest canopy outside the forest it is most often encountered by those encountering elves as clothing and cloaks.
Industrial Use
There are currently no known industrial uses for cotton silk.
Environmental Impact
As produced by the Elves environmental impacts are mitigated through careful cultivation.
Distribution
Trade & Market
Elven "cotton-silk" cloth is not sold but has been gifted in rare situations to those the elves hold in high esteem or those that have performed some worthy deed in the service of others.
Priceless}
Not available on the open market.
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