Armorer

Armor evolves in response to military advancements and strategies. In the last 600 years, the armor of northern Teréðor and Vulmùrahas become heavier, the emphasis being protection over mobility. Among well-armored soldiers, the cuirbouilli and round shields of the past have given way to cumbersome hauberks of maille and large wooden shields. While large movements of troops can be still be achieved using horses and wagons, individual movement is limited requiring a revision of combat technique and preference toward heavier and ranged weapons.

The range of costs for each article of armor reflects a range of craftsmanship. Armor costs may be further modified with embellishments, though these are typical of fabric (rf. Dyes, Embellishments) and ceremonial pieces only.

  • Aventail (Aventail). A maille curtain that hangs from the helmet to protect one’s neck and shoulders.
  • Brigandine (Brigandine). A fabric or leather armor reinforced with riveted metal plates.
  • Byrnie (Byrnie). A shirt that reaches the waist.
  • Chausses (Chausses). Leggings covering to the knee or waist.
  • Cuirass (Cuirass). A breastplate and back plate.
  • Cuirbouilli (Cuirbouilli). Leather hardened by boiling in oil, water, or wax.
  • Gambeson (Gambeson) A quilted shirt used as armor or padding for heavier armor.
  • Gorget (Gorget). A collar worn to protect the neck.
  • Greaves (Greaves). Armor that protects the shin and knee.
  • Hauberk (Hauberk). A long shirt that reaches the knees.
  • Haubergeon (Haubergeon). A long shirt that reaches the mid-thigh.
  • Heater (Heater). A triangular wooden shield with rounded sides.
  • Kite (Kite). A large teardrop shaped wooden shield covered with leather.
  • Lamellar (Lamellar). A armor composed of small plates laced together without backing.
  • Spaulders (Spaulders). Articulated plates worn to protect the shoulders.
  • Surcote (Surcote). An outer garment worn over metal armor that was sometimes padded.
  • Vambraces (Vambraces). Armor that protects the forearms.

Cloth

Cloth is the most common armor worn by soldiers due to availability of materials and cost. It is not reasonable to expect that a Lord be able to equip his rank and file soldiers with metal armor. Wealthier lieges sometimes equip their soldiers with cloth armor, leather accessories, and a metal helmet.

  • Cap, Arming, Quilted: 15d-45d (Skull) DR 1†
  • Gambeson, Quilted: 65d-195d (Arms, Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 1†
  • Surcote1: 10-30d
  • Surcote, Quilted: 50d-150d (Arms, Torso, Vitals) DR 1†

† This armor is Flexible.
1 Unpadded surcotes offer no protection other than to protect armor from the elements

Horn

Horn is not a common material for armor, but it is used in some rural areas where the cost of metal is prohibitive. For obvious reasons, horn armor is only practical where livestock is abundant. Horn lamellar and scale is bulkier than metal due to the natural thickness and curvature of the plates. Horn armor is meant to be worn over a layer of cloth armor.

  • Cuirass, Lamellar, Horn1: 130-390d (Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 1
  • Cuirass, Scale, Horn1: 210-630d (Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 2
  • Haubergeon, Scale, Horn1: 280-840d (Arms, Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 2
  • Hauberk, Scale, Horn1: 340-1020d (Arms, Torso, Vitals, Groin, Legs) DR 2

1 May be worn with a Quilted Gambeson (rf. BASp286)

Leather

Leather is the most common armor material for those soldiers and mercenaries fortunate enough to be able to equip themselves. Pieces of leather armor are commonly used to “cover the gaps” of heavier armors (e.g., Maille, Plate) which might not provide full arm or leg coverage. Cuirbouilli armor is meant to be worn over a layer of cloth armor.

  • Cuirass, Lamellar, Leather1: 110-330d (Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 1†
  • Cuirass, Lamellar, Cuirbouilli1: 165-495d (Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 1
  • Cuirass, Scale, Leather1: 160-480d (Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 1†
  • Cuirass, Scale, Cuirbouilli1: 240-720d (Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 2
  • Gauntlets, Leather: 80-240d (Hands) DR 1†
  • Gauntlets, Cuirbouilli: 120-360d (Hands) DR 1
  • Greaves, Leather1: 100-300d (Legs) DR 1†
  • Greaves, Cuirbouilli1: 150-450d (Legs) DR 1
  • Gorget, Cuirbouilli: 60-180d (Neck) DR 1
  • Haubergeon, Scale, Cuirbouilli1: 310-930d (Arms, Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 2
  • Hauberk, Scale, Cuirbouilli1: 360-1080d (Arms, Torso, Vitals, Groin, Legs) DR 2
  • Boots, Leather: 75-225d (Feet) DR 1†
  • Boots, Cuirbouilli: 110-335d (Feet) DR 1
  • Vambraces, Leather1: 80-240d (Arms) DR 1†
  • Vambraces, Cuirbouilli1: 120-360d (Arms) DR 1

† This is armor is Flexible.
1 May be worn with a Quilted Gambeson (rf. BASp286)

Maille

Following the fall of the Old Empire, the adoption of riveted maille as the armor of choice has become widespread. Well-maintained maille provides excellent protection against slashing attacks. Due to the skilled labor involved in the making even the most simple article of maille, costs are prohibitive. The use of maille is usually restricted to high ranking soldiers, priests, Ðardram, and other nobles. Because there is an implication of social standing involved with the ownership and display of maille, its wearing sometimes falls under sumptuary laws. Maille armor is meant to be worn over a layer of cloth armor.

  • Aventail, Steel†: 600-1800d (Face, Neck) DR 3/1‡
  • Byrnie, Steel1: 4700-14100d (Torso, Vitals) DR 3/1‡
  • Chausses, Steel: 3300-9900d (Legs) DR 3/1‡
  • Coif, Steel: 720-2160d (Skull) DR 3/1‡
  • Haubergeon, Steel1: 6000-18000d (Arms, Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 3/1‡
  • Hauberk, Steel1: 7200-21600d (Arms, Torso, Vitals, Groin, Legs) DR 3/1‡
  • Mitons, Steel: 1100-3300d (Hands) DR 3/1‡

† Aventails are commonly used with the Spangenhelm
‡ This armor is Flexible
1 May be worn with a Quilted Gambeson (rf. BASp286)

Plate

Although the theory of well-designed, tailored, and balanced plate armor has intrigued many a Ðard and monarch, the reality is more clumsy. The Coat-of-Plates is very bulky and the Scale Hauberk is heavy (i.e., all weight supported at shoulders), and limits mobility to an unhealthy degree. The most popular plate armor in the World of Teréth End is brigandine, which appears as cloth or leather armor but is reinforced internally by rows of riveted metal plates. The use of brigandine is favored by those wishing to skirt sumptuary laws, since its outward appearance may not confer a presumption of high standing.

Full-plate armor is still something of a curiosity on the World of Teréth End. Reports that the Dwürden have come close to making an infantry version of full-plate have been circulating for centuries. At this time, no one has developed a working model for a clamshell-type armor.

  • Coat-of-Plates, Steel1: 5650-16950d (Arms, Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 4
  • Cuirass, Brigandine, Steel2: 5200-15600d (Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 3
  • Cuirass, Lamellar, Steel2: 3700-11100d (Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 2
  • Cuirass, Scale, Steel2: 5800-17400d (Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 4
  • Gorget, Brigandine, Steel2: 800-2400d (Neck) DR 3
  • Haubergeon, Scale, Steel2: 6400-19200d (Arms, Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 4
  • Hauberk, Scale, Steel1: 6600-19800d (Arms, Torso, Vitals, Groin, Legs) DR 4
  • Helmet, Great, Steel3: 2700-8100d (Skull, Face) DR 4
  • Helmet, Kettle, Steel4: 1250-3750d (Skull) DR 4
  • Helmet, Spangenhelm, Steel4: 1800-5400d (Skull) DR 4
  • Shield, Buckler, Steel: 500-1500d (Shield)
  • Spaulders, Steel2: 2400-7200d (Arms) DR 4

1 May be worn with a Quilted Gambeson but subtracts -2 from DX
2 May be worn with a Quilted Gambeson (rf. BASp286)
3 May be worn with an Maille Coif or Quilted Arming Cap
4 May be worn with an Quilted Arming Cap

Wood

  • Shield, Heater: 550-1650d (Shield)
  • Shield, Kite: 800-2400d (Shield)
  • Shield, Round: 350-1050d (Shield)

Example

An elite soldier, such as the well-quipped Lords’ Men of Kryr Shùrulm in Oð might wear:

  • Quilted Arming Cap: (Skull) DR 1
  • Helmet, Spangenhelm, Steel: (Skull) DR 4
  • Aventail, Steel: (Face, Neck) DR 3/1
  • Quilted Gambeson: (Arms, Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 1
  • Cuirass, Brigandine, Steel: (Torso, Vitals, Groin) DR 3
  • Greaves, Cuirbouilli: (Legs) DR 1
  • Vambraces, Cuirbouilli: (Arms) DR 1
  • Boots, Cuirbouilli: (Feet) DR 1
  • Shield, Heater: (Shield)

The preceding soldier’s kit, if made of decent quality, would cost the High Lord about 41 cr plus the annual costs of repair and general maintenance. Kits of higher ranking officers would likely cost more. Fortunately, High Lords and the like have craftsmen on retainer that can create such kits for little more than the cost of materials.