Armor

Patched Jerkin

This weathered leather tunic stands as a solemn testament to sacrifice and enduring responsibility. What began as a deep crimson instructor's garment, marked with a gold insignia of office, has been transformed through countless repairs into a tapestry of loss. Its surface is layered with patches harvested from fallen comrades—fragments of student tabards, strips from fallen enemies, and scraps gifted by those who passed through seeking refuge. Each addition represents a specific tragedy: the blue wool from a recruit lost to frozen wastes, the black leather from a near-fatal encounter, the silver-threaded linen from a student who survived only to witness her mentor's decline. Though it provides no supernatural protection in battle, the jerkin's true power lies in its emotional resonance, serving as both a portable memorial and a source of strength during the darkest hours. When worn, it transforms the bearer into a living archive of names and stories, each stitch a quiet vow never to abandon those who depend upon them.