Leather Alteration Help

[Viekn]

I just read through Shaft's post and I have to say, that's one reason I like Gemstone...even reading the forum's is fun. You guys are funny.

Anyway, I have a similar request. I've never been good at coming up with alterations, so would appreciate any help you could give me.

What I have currently...some full black leather. Burbul is a nice wizard, but generally likes to project an aura of the impending doom he is capable of casting. Therefore, I like things that are dark/shadowy/black, or possibly use veniom in the description. I'd like a long descriptor, not a show. Here is what I currently look like...

You see Lord Burbul the Conjurer.
He appears to be a Halfling.
He is taller than average and appears to be very young. He has crystal blue eyes and pale skin. He has a bald head.
He is wearing some full black leather, some dark leather pants, a sigil-etched wide silver armband, a soft leather case sporting twin metal plates, a blackened leather harness, some shadowy black leather boots, a deeply hooded dark leather cloak, and a finely woven veniom mesh sack.

So far, what I've come up with...

some ancient / veniom bound / body armor

some shadowy / conjurer's / armor/leathers (although I don't know about using conjurer because that may limit the resale to other professions in the future; although my goal is not resale, but to wear these for quite awhile)

some deathstone studded leathers (I have a deathstone studded iron necklace and a deathstone inset ora rod that I could use for the alter materials)

I would very much appreciate other suggestions. Please don't feel you need to go off what I've already proposed.

[Luscinia]

a coal-black coat traced with vermilion thread in a pattern of dying embers

Rather more wordy than I'd have liked but there's a suggestion.

[Viekn]

Thanks Luscinia. I didn't even think of going that way.

Here's another thought I had... What about going in a different direction: some magical time worn leathers

Don't know that I've ever seen anything like that. Not sure if magical is allowed, but they are enchanted, so it's not like I'm making it up. Thoughts anyone?

[leifastagsweed]

"Magical" and "time worn" are both subjective. The latter is possible, the former unlikely. I love your ideas, but the limits are what you can actually see, not necessarily how you would perceive it.

[JackWhisper]

Some ancient conjurer's veniom-threaded leathers ensigiled with archaic deathstone combat runes.
Everything you need for an absolutely over the top alter. =).

[Aiska]

- some veniom-plated black leather armor (sometimes simple is better!)

- a suit of soft black leather reinforced with lightweight veniom mesh

- some elegant leather armor with collared veniom grommets

- some dark caster's leathers worked with faded runes

- some black full leather chased with tart-shaped deathstones (obligatory halfling alter)

I hope my shitty ideas help

[Viekn]

Thanks all for the help. Here's where I'm at now...(assuming stuff gets approved)

some timeworn magician's leathers or some timeworn conjurer's leathers

Could also go: some timeworn conjurer's leathers with patchwork sleeves

Obviously I've come away from the whole dark/shadowy look. I just got to thinking that there's some much of that around Elanthia anyway, and if my character's not a brooding, anti-social asshole, why should I dress like one.

Let me know if any of you have some further thoughts on my new direction or other ideas.

I gotta say though, Aiska's tart-shaped deathstones idea, is actually very tempting - should I maybe consider it because it's just so ridiculous it's funny? I mean, Burbul doesn't eat tarts. But come on, tart-shaped deathstones, that's just awesome.

[Luscinia]

Could also go: some timeworn conjurer's leathers with patchwork sleeves

It's likely that "magician's" or "conjurer's" would get turned down by merchants (see ALTER 21 in game), but the concept is worth more tinkering.

Always go back to your character concept. Do you see him as a respectable individual who wears fashionable period clothing, or more of a wild-eyed hermit who can't be bothered to buy new clothes? Is there anything special about this set of armor, some history behind it connected to your character, that makes it worth wearing despite its obvious age? Was it passed down through your family, bearing some significant heraldry? Did you mend the sleeves yourself, and if so when did it happen, and what did you use to patch it with?

The more you know about an item, the more easily you'll be able to describe it without falling back on cliches.

[Viekn]

Thanks Luscinia. Those are great questions I definitely wasn't asking myself. Based on that, here's what I've come up with...

Burbul was abandoned at a fairly young age in the nations by his father. His father, a hunter, left him with nothing except his own hunting leathers. So while he has one other nice object, a high collared dark leather jacket clasped with fel toggles given to him by the Illistim family that eventually accepted him, the rest of what he owns is a bit ragged...except for his father's hunting leathers: some fitted hunting leathers chased with tart-shaped deathstones, or they might be some fitted hunting leathers with tart-shaped deathstone studs.

Thoughts? I could leave off the tart-shaped so that it is more appealing to someone later on, but I like the oxymoronic? (not sure if that's even how to use that word) visual of tart-shaped deathstones.

[Luscinia]

Thoughts? I could leave off the tart-shaped so that it is more appealing to someone later on, but I like the oxymoronic? (not sure if that's even how to use that word) visual of tart-shaped deathstones.

Write it so you'll enjoy wearing it, definitely.

Now, "fitted hunting leathers" is a description you see all the time, so let's go a little deeper. The father was a hunter: perhaps he had the armor made from the skins of his own quarry. What were his hunting grounds? If he's from the Icemule region, he might have hunted the local bears and caribou, and caribou hide would make sense as the base material. The armor has to be pretty old and ragged too, but age in and of itself doesn't wear down leather. A hunter is going to spend a lot of time outdoors in bad weather though, and rainwater will certainly break it down. So tentatively I might try "a rain-worn caribou hide jacket" and then possibly work in the tart-shaped ornaments if it strikes your fancy.

[Ysamine]

A patinated caribou hide jacket - then you could add something on the end or even write up a show description for it.

[Aiska]

amused to no end that you are running with tart-shaped deathstones

shine on you crazy diamond

[Viekn]

There's just something so profound about a tart-shaped deathstone, I can't seem to get over it. Not absolutely positive I'll get to use it in this alter, but I'm going to use it in some way. Maybe for my scepter if not my leathers.

[Aiska]

There's just something so profound about a tart-shaped deathstone, I can't seem to get over it. Not absolutely positive I'll get to use it in this alter, but I'm going to use it in some way. Maybe for my scepter if not my leathers.

a rich mahogany scepter crowned with a deathstone tart

Holy shit