Peek: Haberdasher Harlenss

Cold mornings like this always makes Harlenss reconsider living in Fourdock.  Not many snakekin live here, and the weather is a big reason.  He stokes the fire and sets the heating stones from his bed near the hearth, the morning ritual helping draw him from the torpor of the cold night.  The flames help warm him and recharge the stones, and after a few minutes, he makes himself some breakfast.

Eggs, bacon, and pan toast are a good enough meal to get him going, and he's again thankful he doesn't need to just eat something once a month.  Of course, he has cousins who do, and they like to joke they're glad they can get all their eating done at once, instead of wasting time every day.  He supposes there are benefits to both ways of doing it.

A quick wash of the dishes, and it's time to open the shop for the day.  He can't help but smile and flare his hood a bit in pride as he takes in his shop.  He chuckles as he slithers to the door to open it, remembering the misunderstandings when he first arrived.

So many people think a haberdashery sells exclusively hats.  While he certainly sells more than his share of those, a proper haberdasher simply sells men's clothing, as well as various accoutrements for repairing said clothing.  He still remembers the look on the dwarven face of his first customer when he saw how relatively little space in the shop was reserved for hats.

That first year was lean, but word of mouth eventually spread, and now business is brisk, especially when the weather outside is brisk.  Most businesses suffer a significant downturn when the weather turns cold.  But he knows more than a few things about making comfortable warm clothing, and there are always people who don't realize their old coats are full of holes until the snow starts falling.

He's even expanded his selection to include some women's clothing.  Ironically, hats are very popular, as are gloves and scarves.  He's tried his hand at shoes, finding them to be fascinating, but he simply doesn't have any talent with making them.  He also hasn't had much time lately to try to improve his skill with them, either, thanks to the new dungeon.

With so many interesting nodes, more people are taking up delving as a hobby, and those people need some protection.  Some people get some true metal armor, but that's expensive and heavy.  Other people get some kind of leather armor, but that can also be a bit spendy, and not everyone wants to spend to much on something they only use occasionally.

However, everyone wants a stylish outfit that is as sturdy as it is eye-catching.  His designs are more sleek and refined, rather than bright and garish, which let his enchanted undershirts go well with basically anything.  They won't take the place of true armor, at least not without costing a couple arms.  He wouldn't accept legs as payment of course.  He wouldn't know what to do with them!

He smirks at his favorite stupid joke as he inspects his work pants, ensuring the runethread hasn't somehow managed to come undone on the racks.  He really should try to get more experience working leather, one of these days.  He enjoys cloth, but durability is always an issue.  There are tricks, of course, but it's usually better to simply use leather.

Of course... there's also the dungeon silk.  He'd love to get access to a couple bolts of that!  A customer arrives, and he busies himself with his measures and negotiations, then with the satisfying work of creating a new piece of clothing.  Trolls always need to get their clothing fitted, especially pants.  Longer, lankier limbs have different demands than the usual elves or orcs.  Dwarven pants make good shorts for them, but this is not exactly shorts weather.

As he gets down to stitching, his mind drifts back to the idea of getting some dungeon silk.  He could just give the adventurer's a quest... but he has another idea.  He's heard there's an enclave of spiderkin, though they tend to keep to themselves.  He should try to get an escort there and try to make a trade.  He's seen the aranea silk garments, and they have their own simple elegance, but he wants to get the raw fabric!

He daydreams as he works, imagining making a suit that's crisp and clean, sharp and elegant, and every bit as protective as a suit of plate.  Yes... he definitely needs to make an escort quest.