Velious Armor Graphic and faction

[VRBL]

So I fell in love with some of the velious armor graphics(female iksar plate helm I'm looking at you!) and I have no experience with velious, from live or the long time I've been playing here on p99.

So what's the deal with the Coldain and the giants and the dragons? Do I have to pick one to befriend? Is the plate helmet I seek behind some faction quest, or are there drops? I've a few characters of various levels, so is there some item I should seek out?What's the easiest way to win this chapter of fashionquest?