I am approaching 10th level and find myself having to make a decision to
which I request some advice from higher experienced bards.

My current situation is this:
1) I fight with either a tarnished long sword or tarnished rapier. I have
max ability in both for my current level.
2) I wear a combination of patchwork and leather armor. My tunic and
leggings are patchwork. Most of everything else is leather. My AC is
around 220 with buffs.
3) I do not dabble in any of the trades. I will start brewing once I am
able to get my hands on brewing supplies. Currently, the only place to buy
brewing supplies is on the Antonica continent. I have no intentions of
smithing or tailoring to make money. As a result....
4) I only have about 8 PPs saved up.

My dilemma is what should be my next major purchase. When I make 10th
level, I know I need to go to Freeport to purchase the Anthem de Arms song.
Not certain how much this will cost me but I'm not going to make a major
purchase until I buy that song first. With the money I have left over, I
need to either buy better armor or a better weapon.

If I buy armor, should I wait until I have enough money to buy a banded
tunic or should I buy a leather tunic, which is cheaper. How much better is
banded over leather? Currently, orc legionnaires pound the crap out of me.
Will leather make much of difference over patchwork?

Should I hold off on buying a weapon and instead focus on looting one off of
a monster? At 10th level I should be able to survive long enough (with a
group) in the Mino caves to get a Minotaur axe. Does anyone have a
suggestion of another place to go to get a better weapon than tarnished?
Ideally, I would like to use Crookstinger's stinger (a magic piercing
weapon) if I can get it. Don't know if my group would be even strong (or
lucky) enough to defeat Crookstinger (a NPC wasp). Does anyone have an idea
where in Lesser Faydark Crookstinger appears? I have never seen him
personally nor I have ever heard of anyone fighting him. I saw a post about
him on another board so thats how I heard about him.

Thanks ahead of time for any response.

Galtin
E'ci