Byssian Culture

Clothing

Of all the Federated Nations members, Byssia is the most homogeneous in fashion. The three races (and four cultures) all wear very similar garments. There aren’t hard distinctions between social classes but there is a spectrum that correlates with wealth and leisure. Everyone wears as bright of colors as they can afford; only the poorest wear sun-faded fabrics.

General Trends

Wool, cotton, and silk are the dominant fabrics, with cotton being more common than in other lands. Fasteners such as ties, buttons, and hooks are much less common than in other lands, with drapery and wraps held in place by friction or knotting taking their place. Clothing is loose and light, mainly serving as protection from the semi-tropical sunlight.

One major peculiarity is the almost complete absence of metal. Byssia uses wood and stone (often magically treated for hardness and durability) where other nations use metal. Ornaments are carved wood, set with stones or carved bones (one particular fish produces an ivory-like knob on its head).

Undergarments

All Byssians wear a loin-wrap as their primary undergarment. Females often wear a triangular halter-top that goes over the neck and ties at the back, leaving the shoulders and back bare. This usually does not cover the abdomen at all.

Footwear

Byssians by-and-large wear wooden sandals with raised soles, called paduka. These may or may not have straps--some simply have a raised knob that goes between the big toe and the second toe. While the poor may have very simple ones, the wealthy may have exotic wood or intricate carvings. In forested areas, these sandals give way to leather boots similar to those of the puun ihmisia.

Hair

The hair-styles depend slightly on race and culture. The night’s children all have straight, jet-black hair. They tend to leave it long (to the shoulders or mid-back at least) and pull it back or put it in light braids. The native coasters, what few haven’t been assimilated yet, tend to have curly brown hair. This is usually cut relatively short. The pure elves wear their hair much like the puun ihmisia of the Council Lands (as they’re close relatives). All the other groups tend to mimic the dominant night’s children once they gain wealth.

Clothing of the poor

The poor, as well as the mendicant monks is very simple. A poor Byssian often just wears their loin-wrap (and possible halter) with sandals. A woven straw hat keeps the sun off (although night’s children only rarely tan or burn in the sunlight, despite their very pale skin). They may wrap themselves in a simple length of cloth to cover the upper body and the upper thighs, similar to the dhoti of Earth’s Indian subcontinent. Many, however, have one feast-day garment, similar to the clothing regularly worn by their wealthier compatriots.

Mendicant Monks

An order of monks associated with the Home of the Elements monastery wanders the land, seeking understanding of the nature of the elements and the kami. They can be identified by their shaved heads (very unusual), their staffs which are all made of ironwood (a glossy red-black, very hard wood native to the region), and their dhoti. There are four garbs, one for each element: seekers after Fire wears crimson, those trying to understand Air wears a bright yellow-orange (amber color), Water a deep grey-blue, and Earth an emerald green. They are sworn to poverty for the duration of their pilgrimages and work for food and shelter along the way. Since many are capable elemental sages, they often trade magical service for food, healing being a common service. They also provide a subtle police force, as they’re generally trained in unarmed combat. Don’t assume that humble-looking man or woman with a red staff is a non-combatant.

Clothing of the wealthy/feast-day clothing

Unlike the poor, there is substantial gender difference in the wealthy clothing (which is also the feast-day/festival clothing of the poor).

====Male clothing==== Men wear a long, cassock-style robe over loose trousers tied at the waist and ankles with a cord. The robe is usually of thin cotton or silk and often open down to the middle of the chest. While the robe is plain in color (white being common), the trousers are brightly colored and embroidered.

Wealthy men traditionally wear a wrapped head-covering in formal settings, much like a turban. This is elaborately decorated and often studded with colorful stones or feathers. While wearing this turban, men usually wear their hair up in a knot at the back of the head.

====Female clothing==== Wealthy women wear the halter-top constantly. This they pair (at a minimum) with a wrapped skirt of colorful, patterned cloth. This varies in length depending on the individual, but is always at least knee length.

For formal occasions, they add a sari-like garment of a single piece of cloth wrapped around the waist and thrown over one shoulder (leaving the other bare). This is made from the finest, thinnest material they can afford and brightly patterned, often in clashing colors. Their hair is pulled up and held in place by bone or wooden combs, often brightly decorated and carved into intricate shapes.

Decorations of fine lace are common, as are screened and printed fabrics. Embroidery is less common, although needlework lace is normal.

When outside, wealthy women will sometimes wear a hood-like head-covering much like the Arab hijab (covering the hair and neck), more for protection from the fierce sun rather than for modesty.

Judicial Garb

Byssia is a democratic kritarchy (rule by elected judges). The leaders of communities and the nation as a whole, the judges, wear particular garb while actively discharging their duties. This consists of an enveloping, ankle-length black robe that shows no skin (including the scalp and hair), along with a simple wooden mask, featureless except for a slit for the mouth and two slits for the eyes. Even the hands are covered by thin white cotton gloves; the feet are encased in black-leather boots. This symbolizes putting off all personal attachments to a case or to people in service of the law. They do not wear this most of the time, only when actively judging a case.

Lowlands Culture

Main Article: Byssian Lowlands

Byssians are an open, friendly people. Family matters a lot to them. Most villages are composed of a few large extended families, heavily intermarried. The rice paddies and cotton fields are worked as a community. Status is less about wealth (since so much is held communally) and more about having important ancestors. Most Byssians can trace their ancestry back to well before the Cataclysm. Those whose direct ancestors were priestesses or priest-mages are considered high status.

Traveler Housing

Travelers are accommodated in the village longhouse. This is usually free, although travelers usually pay by exchanging stories. Particularly honored guests may find a young woman (or man, or both) attending them in their bedrooms--bearing a child by a notable visitor is an honor and no further obligation is presumed from the visitor.

Diet

Rice, plain or in noodles. Fish, rarely pork or chicken. Spicy/savory (not sweet). Curry with coconut. Rice and fruit liquors (sake)

Taboos and superstitions

A portion of each meal must be offered to the local kami and to the ancestors. When returning home after a trip, one must visit the local shrine and alert the local kami to your return by clapping three times loudly, stating “Oh kami that guide and protect, your child has returned to your lands,” and bowing from the waist to the shrine. Red skies in the morning signal that the Storm Serpent is angry--prepare for stormy weather.

Highlands Culture

Main Article: Byssian Highlands

Xenophobic. Travelers are not welcomed unless they bear tokens of introduction from trusted sources and carry gifts of materials not available in the highlands (such as grains).

Traveler Housing

None. If accepted by a tribe, you might be able to camp nearby.

Diet

Hunter-gatherer, little grain (imported rice). Meat, fish, insects. Fruits & greens.

Taboos and superstitions

A portion of each meal must be offered to the local kami and to the ancestors. Do not speak of the dead by name. To do so is to risk the creation of angry undead. When you greet a newcomer, test their strength by ritually slapping them across the face. Crossing the wrists is bad luck (symbolizing slave cuffs).