Illus. by E. Cox
SPELLSCALES
CHAPTER 2
Cotton, linen, silk, and wool are the basic building blocks chromatic or metallic dragons. Those seeking hues that are of fashion. An almost infinite variety of fabrics can be more daring often choose amber, violet, or a pastel color. Such tinting lasts for six to eight weeks. made from them, with varying degrees of softness, density, Some spellscales have just the tips of their scales tinted weight, and finish. Textures can be smooth or coarse. Fur and leather come from many different creatures and can be or tattooed. Simple lines serve to give depth and definition treated in many different ways. Even with all this variety, to scales. Putting a wavy pattern on the edges of scales spellscales often use unusual materials for their clothes, lends a softer, almost ruffled look. including paper, feathers, and even woven hair. Tattoos offer even more options to audacious spellscales. Diverse spellscale tastes have also driven innovations in The permanent nature of a tattoo proves no deterrent to a spellscale who decides to acquire one. A tattoo is seen as a the dye and pigment industry for many years. They have great way to capture a moment or a feeling that one wants provided the consumer demand and the financial backing for alchemists, clothiers, and tanners to experiment. A to remember forever. Spellscale tattoos also reflect current dye’s unique traits when applied to fabric can be as valuable fashions and popular trends at the time of inking. Given the changeable nature of a spellscale’s affections to a spellscale clotheshorse as the pigment’s rarity. Colors can be solid, but stripes, checks, houndstooth, and interests, tattoos provide a unique record of his life. They and herringbone are only a few of the many patterns into might offer tantalizing hints to an observer. A sedate, soliwhich thread or yarn can be woven to produce cloth. An tary spellscale known for his conservativism and his views incomparable hue woven into an original opposing intoxication might have a tattoo on his right pattern can set a spellscale dandy apart arm that reads “Don’t hesitate!” and sport the emfrom his peers. blem of the Tipsy Dragon Brewery on his neck. Clothes can be perfectly tailored These tattoos suggest that the spellscale wearto fit one’s body, but just as intering them was not always so straitlaced. Of course, numerous ways exist for esting to the spellscale is clothing that is intentionally too big or too spellscales to rid themselves of their tattoo small. An oversized white jacket chronicles. The simplest and most often that looks as if it would fit an ogre used way to do away with unwanted makes a memorable statement on a ink is to incorporate a dated tattoo into a larger design, using lithe spellscale’s frame. some of its existing lines and Long robes, tunics with many pockets, trousers featuring numerous straps filling in others. Simple illusion and buckles—spellscale styles are as magic or items can be effective, numerous as snowflakes in a blizzard if temporary, ways of altering and just as unique. In addition to crethese mementos. As an expensive, ating their own fashions, spellscales extreme measure, some spellscales happily choose from among all other resort to a regenerate spell. Spellscales use their hair as anhumanoids’ styles. Spellscales enjoy both other way to show off their originality. selecting which articles of clothing to wear and mixing or matching each piece. They test variations of hairstyles, including One outfit might be a purple velvet doublet curling, straightening, braiding, dreading, and shaving. Many dye their hair. Some opt over dazzling white breeches made from the for garish colors such as purple, yellow, and blue. tanned hide of a frost worm, with boots made A typical spellscale from purple worm skin and girallon fur. AnColor combinations tend to be popular. These are looks like this . . . other spellscale might garb himself in plain sometimes modeled after other creatures, such as brown robes with fur trim and lining made couatls, tigers, or even phase spiders. Of course, from rats captured at the local docks. The ensembles look hair dyes need not color one’s entire hairdo—many hair striking and are often attractive, but they clearly show a treatments just use one or more streaks or highlights. whimsical, novel approach to fashion. Spellscale clothing might be admired, but it’s too odd to set many trends.
GROOMING
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In personal grooming, spellscales utilize as much creativity as they do with their attire. While individuals tend to keep themselves very clean, spellscale grooming techniques allow for nearly infinite variations on one’s appearance. A spellscale’s innate vanity is often overcome by his desire to make a statement with a new method of body adornment. Spellscales have developed ways to highlight and tint their scaly skin, much as other humanoids can color their hair. Grooming options for their scales include simple lotions and creams that give a glossy sheen to their skin. This gloss is often tinted with colors hinting at any of the
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PSYCHOLOGY
“One cannot understand the concept of free-spiritedness unless one has met a spellscale.” —Enialis the Erudite, loremaster Of all the wondrous aspects of the world, the most exquisite is magic. Spellscales feel the pull of their dragon blood toward the magic that suffuses their very beings. Magic sings and thrums throughout the multiverse, but it resonates more strongly and purely in the spellscale race than it does in any other humanoids. Spellscales are perpetually curious and full of wideeyed wonder at the beauty and diversity of life. They seek
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