Erudite SK

[Vellatri]

If you can get ruined cat pelts, make yourself some patchwork first thing. You don't need to skill up tailoring to do this, so it's almost free.

Then banded, a full set of which will set you back about 90pp. Bronze is too heavy for Erudites, so it's not worth the minimal AC gain.

Flayed skin should be a great next step after banded.

After that, you're on to Darkforge and/or Sebilite Scale.