green cloth and dye

Bright green cloth is a fairly expensive prestige good in Scarterra. Pale green cloth is a mid-status clothing item. Green is considered a gender neutral color in most of Scarterra and is equally likely to be worn by men and women.

Properties

Physical & Chemical Properties

At various points in Earth history, green dye was commonly made from arsenic and/or lead. But just because something is toxic doesn't mean it's not fashionable! That's been a constant in every era of human history.

by John Tenniel

This was inspiration for for Lewis Carol creating the character known as the Mad Hatter. At the time he wrote Alice in Wonderland, people were only just realizing the connection between the oh so fashionable bright green hats that were so in fashion and lead poisoning. In Scarterra, alchemical dye creation has a reputation for being toxic, and some say the reputation is exaggerated. Much as on Earth, green dye has a similar spotty history.

it is common knowledge among alchemists that bright green dye uses more hazardous materials in it's fabrication than any other dye color. Most insist there is no danger in wearing alchemically made green cloth, though Scarterrans refuse to wear it.

by Eron12 with Hero Forge
"Green dye is a little bit more toxic than other alchemical dyes, but if a person is paranoid about the green dye in their clothes, they are probably going to refuse to wear anything made with alchemical dyes. Of course a shop keeper can always lie about the source of his dyes. Puts a new spin on money laundering... Bevan, Swynfaredian Alchemist

Origin & Source

Pale Green Dye

On Earth, plants contain chlorophyl to facilitate photosynthesis. Chlorophyl is green, so most plants are green. There are some supernatural exceptions to this rule on Scarterra, but approximately 99% of Scarterra's plants rely on chlorophyl to live. Ergo, most Scarterran plants are green. Most parents at some point have had to clean grass stains out of their children's clothes. To make pale green dye, one must pick a stain-causing plant and distill the green out on purpose. Or alternatively mix some pale yellow dye and pale blue dye.

Bright Green Dye

There are three ways to get bright green cloth. First, obtain a quantity of high quality blue dye and high quality yellow dye. Dye it blue and then dye it yellow. Or visa versa. The colors can be blotchy or uneven if done poorly. Second, hire an alchemist to cook up some bright green dye. Third, barter with merchants from Codenya. The wood elves have a secret technique of some sort for making high quality green cloth that they won't share with outsiders, but they will happily barter green cloth to outsiders at fairly cheap prices. Codenyans won't even sell outsiders green dye, only green cloth.

History & Usage

Cultural Significance and Usage

Korus is the god of agriculture and the god of the wilderness. Artist's depictions commonly show him having green skin befitting his connection to both wild and domesticated plants. Korus' theurgists and spirits manifest a green divine magic auras. Korus' priests and priestesses commonly wear green both for formal vestments and day-to-day work clothes. They commonly paint their temples green. Even outside of Korus temples and priesthoods, green is associated with nature. Rangers, archers, horticulturalists and many other professions often choose to wear to reflect their closeness to nature.

Korus, named by Zeta Gardner

And sometimes people just like to wear green because they like how it looks.

Distribution

Trade & Market

by me with Hero Forge
-Tanoa, gnome tailor's wife

"Purple is the undisputed queen of high end clothing. Pricewise, nothing comes close to as expensive in Scarterra. Bright orange and bright green cloth are competing for second place and third place. In West Colassia, green cloth is a fair bit cheaper than orange cloth. I am not much of a traveler but I've spoken to some widely traveled merchants who tell me that in every other landmass outside of West Colassia, green cloth is more expensive than orange cloth.
The best source for green cloth in Scarterra is the land of Codenya which is almost dead center of the continent making green cloth relatively accessible to the non-elven residents of West Colassia. Codenya and Fumaya have had good trade relations for centuries, so most trade involving 'Codenya green' goes through Fumaya. The second best source for green cloth in Scarterra is from alchemist's workshops and it just so happens that West Colassia has the dragon's share of Scarterra's best alchemist's too. Swynfaredia is the main hub for trading in alchemy created dyes, not just green."

Green Wool

by me with Midjourney

Elemental metaphysics in Scarterra creates a wide variety of coloration in both people and animals. A downstream effect of this is that Scarterran sheep come in every color of the rainbow and the Scarterran wool trade is rather complicated. Naturally occuring green wool or green fur does not fade out or washout over time, making it more valuable than garments that are dyed green. Green animals (and green people) occur occasionally when earthy and watery energies coalesce with minimal influence of air and fire. This usually means marshland. Even then, only a minority of creatures hailing from these areas have green coloration. The rain soaked mountains of the Border Baronies Region is probably the best place to find green animals (and green people). Marshy areas are difficult places to successfully raise sheep on Earth. In addition to all the complications of real world marshes, Scarterran marshes are proverbial magnets for various supernatural creatures, especially fae creatures. Sprites have been known to eat sheep and Fair Folk have been known to seduce and kidnap shepherds. All factors combined, naturally occurring green wool or even vaguely greenish wool is relatively rare expensive.

Type

Biomaterial

Rarity

fairly common

Color

green (duh)

Related Locations