Magic of Miles, Vol. II

Today I have three more items from the Milean magical items series...

Dwarfmake Armor
xp value: varies
gp value: 1,000+

There are several iron dwarven clans that live within the borders of the empire, which is good for imperial soldiers because that increases the chance that they'll be able to purchase some of the finest armor in the world. Generally dwarfmake refers to two things: either (the correct and precise definition) to armor that was made completely by dwarves from ore to finished product or to armor that was made by another race but was forged using superior ore purchased from dwarven furnaces.

The first type is true dwarfmake, and generally encompasses chain armors which are a favored of dwarven smiths. True dwarfmake armor is superior in all ways to mundane armor, being imbued with greater toughness and increased protection of a level commensurate with the skill of the smith. Enchanted dwarf armor may take a year or more to produce and can cost an astronomical amount. No dwarf smith will ever willingly work with a mannish one, so labor costs are increased as well.

The second type is common enough in the empire: false dwarfmake, or dwarf-steel armor is made from ore refined in the hidden furnaces of the dwarves. Since mannish bloomeries cannot refine iron ore to such a pure degree, plate armor is generally only made from dwarf-steel. Whether enchanted or not, plate armor costs a pretty penny. There are also dwarf-steel loricas and scale armors as well, though they are less common.