The Beastly State of Your Campaign
The Textiles
Animal textiles can be made from the skin, hair, or fur. In most cases, the raw natural material must be harvested and then prepared through a long arduous process before it is ready for cutting into patterns. These textiles, once rolled into bolts, can be quite valuable even before being turned into clothing and sold at retail. Some materials found in fantasy gaming exist no where on earth, and can fetch a hefty sum of money.
Leather: One of the first materials to be made into garments. Leather doesn’t just make good loincloths; it’s been used for everything from straps to shoes and beyond. For large hides used to make coats, clothes, or armor, it can be more expensive; leather armor was considered more costly to make than plate armor in most places. This is because most farm animals were not raised for slaughter at that time. For small pieces of leather, call it 2 silvers a pound of small pieces, 5 to 10 silver a pound for long straps or pieces to make shoes, and a gold piece or more for half hides.
Wool: Wool clothed the European population, which much of the fantasy world is based off from. Wool is also used for blankets, horse rugs, saddle cloths, carpets, insulation, upholstery, breastplates and armor padding, and to make felt. It can be estimated that wool costs somewhere around a silver piece per pound of material.
Felt: Feltmaking from wool has been a tradition for centuries, with many cultures passing down the secrets within family lines. Felt is used to make clothing, rugs, and tents, especially yurts. If the GM chooses, he could make felt a secret process known only to certain familys, driving up the price (2 to 4 silver pieces a pound) of goods made with felt.
Alpaca Fleece: Alpacas create a soft, durable, luxurious natural fiber that has been known to the people of South America for thousands of years. In any particular highlands, the alpacas can be harvested and garments made at the standard price of wool (about a silver a pound). When exported, these fabrics can be sold for much higher (a silver for a quarter pound)
Angora Wool: Also a luxury item, this material comes from the fur of certain long-haired rabbits. The wool is especially soft and fluffy and is lighter than true wool. Good quality Angora fibre can cost a half to nearly a silver piece an ounce (gold piece a pound).
Camel Hair: Camel hair, from the two-humped Bactrian, is usually spun into yarn and used for weaving or knitting. In regions where camels are common, the price is equivalent to wool and is used to make cold weather garments.
Cashmere: This wool fiber is obtained from goats and is known for its fine light texture, insulation, and strength. Cashmere goats produce a double fleece that is especially soft around the neck and the fiber creates woolen shawls that have been known in Persia since the 3rd century BCE. Cashmere material should be somewhat luxurious at a half-silver a pound near its native region, increase the further one finds the material.
Chiengora: This is wool spun from dog hair and in some regions where dogs have very thick hair it is a good source of material. Before the Spaniards introduced sheep on the North American continent, the Navajo and other Native Americans solely used dog hair.
Guanaco: These high altitude (up to 13,000 feet above sea level) camel-like creatures have warm, soft wools used in luxury fabrics (gold piece a half-pound).
Llama: The undercoat creats fine soft luxurious garments, while the outercoat is more useful for rugs. For members of the Incan empire, the llama was the only beast of burden and had symbolic importance. In fantasy settings, exported llama wool would be more luxurious than wool (a silver per quarter pound), although within its native region the price would remain low (silver a pound).
Mohair: This is a luxury fiber known for its durability, resilience, sheen, and warmth. The Angora goat (originally from the mountains of Tibet) is the sole source of this type of material. In fantasy gaming, the goats would only be found in mountainous regions of certain countries to make it more valuable (silver piece an ounce, gold piece per pound).
Pashmina: This is a type of cashmere fiber made from special goats native to extremely cold high altitudes of the Himalayas. The wool is handspun, woven, and embroidered to make luxurious shawls, scarves, wraps, and throws. It should be almost impossible to get the raw wool from whatever region Pashmina wool is from in-game. The natives would only export finished products at about 10 gold pieces a square foot.
Sea Silk: Although a fantasy game may create another material named sea silk, the real sea silk, or byssus, comes from the silky filaments that certain molluscs use to attach themselves to surfaces. Byssus cloth is exceptionally rare and created along seaside regions by spinning the filaments and then bleaching with lemon juice to create a never-fading gold color. The cloth is woven extremely fine, finer than silk, and extremely light and soft. A sea-silk robe once actually cost 1000 gold pieces in Arabia, and there is no reason to believe the price would be any less in another setting. Call it 100 gold pieces per ounce (square foot) of material.
Qiviut: The wool from the inner coat of the muskox does not shrink in water at any temperature (cannot be used in feltmaking). The muskox is known closer to the Polar Regions and raw wool from the region can be sold at a gold piece a pound by natives. It is among the softest wools and high quality knitted products can cost a gold piece a square foot.
Silk: In ancient times silk was especially an extravagant luxury, available only as finished bolts of cloth or luxury items from the heavily guarded export trade from China. Wild silks were gathered and used in China, South Asia, and even Europe but silk fabric made from unraveling the silk worm cocoon in a continuous thread was developed by the royalty of the Chinese Empire and reserved originally for them alone. Trade spread throughout the Chinese Empire, and then through the many regions of Asia where Chinese merchants had access. Silk from China was the most lucrative and sought after luxury item trade item throughout the Eurasian continent and the trade routes became famous, along with the traders that operated them. Silk is comfortable to wear in warm weather and while active, while its low conductivity keeps warm air close during cold weather.
Clothing/Decoration/Talismans
The finished clothing is generally worth more, starting at about 1.5x the cost of the material for the simplest items. When you start adding decorations that cost can skyrocket. It should be noted that in certain areas of Medieval Europe, Sumptuary Laws existed that regulated what a person could wear. Craftsmen could only wear 4 shillings of cloth or less and could not wear embroidery or furs other than lamb, rabbit, cat, or fox. Although knights could wear cloth worth 6 marks, they also were not allowed to wear ermine, leaving it to the noblest of royalty.
Other decorations include items like buttons or clasps, buckles, collars, and so on. Talismans are items that were worn on the person for whatever reason and some are included here since they are decorative as well.
Fur: Fur was used as trim for coats, hats, gloves, and linings. Animals include mink, rabbit, fox, lynx, wolf, and other animals. In history, sable fur is produced in China and is one of the most expensive. Rabbit fur is a popular material to make hats, coats and glove linings. Ermine fur was historically popular in ceremonial clothes of European monarchs. The black-tipped tails were arranged around the edges of robes, producing the familiar pattern of black diamonds on a white field. Because of this use, "ermine" became a term in heraldry, to mean a white field strewn with small bell-shaped designs called ermine-spots. The fur trade led to the opening of the interior of the North American continent. In particular, the popularity of beaver hats in Europe in the 17th and 18th century led to displacement of native tribes, several inter-tribal wars and the eventual near-eradication of the beaver. Although an entire coat made of fur could be obtained, price it accordingly unless the character has the skills to cure, cut, and sew their own.
- Rabbit, cat: 5 coppers a pelt
- Fox: 10 coppers a pelt
- Wolf: 1 silver a pelt
- Lynx: 1 silver a pelt
- Beaver: 2 silver a pelt
- Mink: 4 silver a pelt
- Ermine: 1 gold a pelt
- Sable: 2 gold a pelt
Coral: Coral skeletons have been harvested for decorative use over the past millennia. Often selected for necklaces and other jewelry, there was a great trade carried on in coral between the Mediterranean and India, where it was believed to have mysterious sacred magic. Pliny mentioned that the Gauls wore it for ornamentation of their weapons of war and helmets. Among the Romans coral was hung around children's necks to protect them from danger, and the substance had many medicinal virtues attributed to it. Intense red coral is prized as a gemstone. Small beads of coral are worth 5 to 10 copper each, but larger or more intricately carved pieces can go for a few gold pieces or more.
Ivory: The teeth and tusks of certain animals have been used as decorative material since ancient times. Before plastics were invented, ivory was important as cutlery handles, musical instruments, mirror cases, game boxes, and billiard balls. Both the Greeks and Romans carved ivory to make high-value religious icons and decorative boxes. Ivory was often used to form the white of the eyes of statues. Chinese craftsmen carved ivory to make everything from images of deities to the pipe-stems and end-pieces of opium pipes. Ivory was prized for containers due to its ability to keep an airtight seal. Ivory was also used to make elaborate seals. Ivory was used to make the handles of magical kris daggers. In the Philippines, ivory was also used to craft the faces and hands of Catholic icons and images of saints. Ivory can run a silver piece or two for standard items like handles or utilitarian pieces, but decorative carved items can be worth far more, up to a gold piece for simple items to 5 gold pieces for detailed carvings.
Pearls and abalone: Discussed earlier, pearls can have unlimited value in certain inland regions. Small button –sized pieces can go for a couple of copper near the seashore to a couple of silver apiece further inland. Larger pieces or well-made carvings can go for a gold piece.
The Rabbit’s Foot: In some cultures, including China, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, the foot of a rabbit is carried as an amulet to bring good luck. This belief may have existed in Europe since 600 BC amongst the Celtic people. In some traditions, the rabbit must possess certain attributes, or be killed in a certain place or in a certain manner by a person with particular traits. Can be sold for a few copper up to a silver.
Jackal’s Horn: The Jackal’s Horn is a boney cone-shaped extension that occasionally grows on the skull of a golden jackal. It is associated with magical powers in south-eastern Asia. This small horn is usually hidden by the fur. Many natives to the area believe it to be a potent talisman capable of granting wishes. Some Sinhalese believe the horn grants the holder invulnerability in any lawsuit. According to healers and witch doctors in Nepal, a jackal horn can be used to win at gambling and ward off evil spirits. The Tharu believe that the horn can grant the owner the ability to see in the dark and seduce women. In some areas, the horn is tied to the necks of children. In Bengal, it is believed that when placed within a safe, a jackal horn increases the amount of money within threefold. A jackal horn can command a silver or two because of this.
Dyes, Paints, and Perfumes
There are several substances derived from animal products that have found fame and fortune for those willing to work for it. All of these substances are considered rare high value items in the marketplace.
Tyrian Purple: Created from the shells of mollusks, the rich reddish purple created from the crushed bodies and used for dyes fetched its weight in silver.
Phoenician Purple: This dye is more blue than red and incredibly hard to mix. Large quantities of the shells have been recovered from inside ancient live storage chambers that were used for harvesting. Allegedly, 10-12,000 murex mollusks were needed to produce one gram of dye. The dye was highly prized in ancient times. Sometimes known as royal blue, it was prohibitively expensive and was only used by the highest ranking aristocracy. This one fetches it weight in gold.
Carmine/Kermes: One of the oldest organic pigments, this is a red dye derived from the dried bodies of the females of a scale insect in the genus Kermes, primarily Kermes vermilio. The insects live on the sap of certain trees, especially Kermes oak tree near the Mediterranean region. This dye saw widespread use during medieval times and recipes for using carmine appear in many early painting and alchemical handbooks. The rich red result was worth at least a half-silver a gram.
Sepia officinalis: The cuttlefish ink became popular with many different cultures, creating a dark brown-gray pigment. A popular choice for painting and writing on parchment, the inks sell for a silver per pint.
Indian Lac: This deep-brownish-red is made from the blood-red secretion of female scale insects (Laccifer lacca) that feed on the twigs of various trees native to India, including Butea frondosa and Ficus religiosa. The twigs become encrusted with a reddish, bumpy, and glossy resin that is processed to extract the red colorant; lighter grades of the resin are used as the basis for shellac, and was used as a silk dye in India and imported to Spain since the early 13th century. Call it five copper a pint.
Shellac: The use of lac dye goes back to ancient times. It has been used in India as a skin cosmetic and dye for wool and silk. In China it is a traditional dye for leather goods. The use of lac for dye has been supplanted by synthetic dyes. Ten coppers per pint.
Whales: Ambergris is a substance derived from the sperm whale used to create perfume and fragrance much like musk. Whaling is an ancient practice among coastal waters but did not become industrialized until the 1600s. It was banned from use in many countries in the 1970s. Ancient Egyptians burned ambergris as incense, while in modern Egypt it is used for scenting cigarettes. The ancient Chinese called the substance “dragon's spittle fragrance.” During the Black Death in Europe, people believed that carrying a ball of ambergris could prevent them from getting the plague. This was because the fragrance covered the smell believed to cause plague. This substance was used as flavoring for food, and some people consider it an aphrodisiac. During the Middle Ages, Europeans used ambergris as a medication for headaches, colds, and epilepsy, among others. A ball of ambergris is about 5 copper.
Castoreum: Exudate from the castor sacs of the American beaver, used in perfumes, medicine, and as food flavoring. A silver per liquid ounce.
Deer Musk: Used in Indian medicine and as perfume, becoming a popular scent at a high price elsewhere. A silver per liquid ounce.
Hyraceum: The petrified, rock-like excrement of the Cape Hyrax, (Procavia capensis), commonly referred to as a rock badger or dassie. After aging and petrifying over hundreds if not thousands of years, hyraceum is a sought-after material that has been used in both traditional South African medicine and perfumery. A half-silver per gram.
Ox gall: This is gall, usually obtained from cows, mixed with alcohol and used as wetting agent in paper marbling, engraving, lithography, and watercolor painting. This greenish-brown liquid mixture is 3 coppers a liquid oz.
Tools and Items
With livestock being so valuable, plenty of uses were found for all parts of the animal, no matter which part or what species of critter.
Bone: Prior to the Industrial Revolution (when machine mass production of sharp tools became viable), many everyday tools such as needles were made from bone. Other bone tools included fasteners, parts of tools, weapons, or musical instruments. Bone folders are still used by bookbinders to create creases. With the exception of fine workmanship, most bone tools will be a few coppers, if that. Larger or decorated pieces will be up to 10 copper for the single pieces, and up to a silver or two for finished artwork or musical instruments.
Hides: The tough skins of the animals were used to create canoes and tents, simple window panes, and drum heads. Large pieces of hide are worth a silver per square yard.
Catgut: Catgut, made from the intestines of domestic animals, are specially prepared cords used to make the strings of musical instruments, especially harps and lutes. They are also popular as sutures in surgical settings. In places where there are plenty of herds of domestic animals, catgut should be easily obtained (a copper a foot) while the price should increase in regions where livestock is harder to contain.
Goldbeater’s Skin: This is a leather parchment traditionally used in the process of making gold leaf. This skin costs about a half silver a sheet.
Feathers: Feathers of large birds (most often geese) have been and are used to make quill pens. Bird feathers are also used for fletching arrows. Colorful feathers such as those belonging to pheasants have been used to decorate fishing lures. Feathers from local fowl run a copper apiece and foreign fancy bird feathers are between 2 and 5 copper.
Vellum: Created from leather, this is a traditional material for writing. For example, many medieval books were written on vellum parchment. The price was steep—two to eight shillings per dozen skins of vellum, which roughly translates to 10 to 40 coppers.
Fat: Rendering has been carried out for many centuries, primarily for soap and candle making. The earliest rendering was done in a kettle over an open fire. This type of rendering is still done on farms to make lard (pork fat) for food purposes. Fat from local farm animals is readily available for a copper.
Hornbill Ivory: Called Golden Jade, Hornbill Ivory comes from a large bird called the helmeted hornbill and its beak is made of a specially red or yellow keratin that is carved into specialty items, like netsuke, belt buckles. The substance is prized above ivory, and can fetch hundreds of gold pieces.
Beeswax: For thousands of years this wax has been used as a modeling material in wax casting, wax tablets for writing, to produce paintings and art, bowmaking, in sewing, to form musical instruments, as a lubricant and sealant, and as a wick-making material. Beeswax can run a half-silver per pound of wax.
Whale Baleen: Baleen was used to create strong, flexible items, such as collar stiffeners, buggy whips, parasol ribs, and corset stays. It was commonly used to crease paper and occasionally used in cable-backed bows. Industrial whaling did not officially begin until the 17th century. These pieces of baleen run a silver per square foot.
Whale Blubber: The biggest reason that crews of ships went out to hunt whales in the 1600s was to collect blubber. This was rendered into oil in try pots, and factory ships starting in the 20th century. The oil was used in soap, leather, cosmetics, wax, and in oil lamps as fuel. The unprocessed animal can sell for 500 copper, while processed blubber and oil is much more expensive at a silver a gallon.
Rennet: Well known for its use in cheese-making, rennet is the dried and cleaned stomachs of young calves sliced into small pieces and put into saltwater or whey with some vinegar or wine to lower the pH of the solution. The rennet that remains in the filtered solution can then be used to coagulate milk. Costs about 3 coppers per pound.
Fish Skin: Skin such as sharkskin or rayskin are covered with tiny teethlike skin that can be used like sandpaper. These skins are also used to make leather. Rayskin leather (same'gawa) is used in the manufacture of hilts of traditional Japanese swords. Some other species of fish are also used to make fish leather and this material is more and more popular among luxury brands these days. Once tanned, the leather is odorless and stronger than other traditional leathers, for a same thickness. Call it five copper a square foot of sandpaper material and 1 silver for fancy leather.
Fish Glue: Fish glue is made by boiling the skin, bones and swim bladders of fish. Fish glue has long been valued for its use in all manner of products from illuminated manuscripts to the Mongolian war bow. This costs about 2 coppers a pint.
Horn/Antler: Used as musical instruments (shofar), drinking vessels, cornucopia, powder horns, in medicine, as a decoration, to make glue, to make short bows, to make handles or grips for other items, and to make buttons. Large horns used for shofars and cornucopias can cost about a half silver each, with smaller drinking horns costing a quarter-silver. Buttons and handles are 5 coppers each.
Mythological Creatures
The creatures of magic and legend have a load of potential animal products to steal, poach, or harvest. Imagine the illegalities that can be included in your game session as the entire PC group is put on trial and enslaved for milking the prince’s magic cow. Price tags can’t be put on these items; each is an individual find that can’t be readily reproduced.
Dragons: Scales can be used to boost invulnerability to many dangers. The organs responsible for fire-breathing could be harvested or “milked” to obtain a fuel or potent fluid. Many types of dragons have horn-like projections that could be used in decoration or as talismans
Unicorn: The horn is legendary in its own right, conveying all sorts of powers and protections. The hooves, mane, and tail can also be useful for a variety of decorations, and the hide would be worth immeasurable amounts of wealth.
Omigod, the List is too Big: There’s a legend of a one-horned rabbit. Really. There is also an ant-lion hybrid. Any and all of these creatures under the searchable term “mythological creatures” have sellable assets at exorbitant prices. Have a ball.
Game Ideas
The world of marketing animal products provides for a great many gaming ideas. The most obvious is the market or fair where these items are available, marked up or down depending on availability. It is likely that an adventuring party will not need most of these items except in rare circumstances. Therefore it is more likely that the PCs will have other reasons for caring about the value and rarity of these objects.
Something was Stolen: The characters have to retrieve a valuable item or raw material that was stolen during transportation or from a valued customer.
You Stol—I mean, FOUND the Item: The characters have found themselves in possession of one of the items above or some bolts of valued cloth and need to get rid of it before authorities inquire too closely how they obtained it. Sure, someone may reward a PC with a pair of gloves, but until the character learns they are 1000 gp sea silk gloves with gold threading, they could try cleaning a carcass with them on.
The Strangers are Breaking the Law: The characters show up in a new town and find out the fill-in-the-blank they possess garners the wrong sort of attention. Although they may not be in trouble, per say, they now are “noticed” by local officials.
Oh, you make those?: Looking over the list, there are a lot of foragers, harvesters, and hunters that are needed to provide these products, and craftsmen/women to create final products. The characters could help some of these traders harvest these items for a good day’s work or transport them across dangerous territories, or even get involved with an actual apprenticeship to learn more and gain skills.
