Dawn look and feel

Flavour

Few lands espouse the heroic ideal in quite the same way the Dawnish do. When people think of the Dawn they imagine her favoured sons and daughters, the nobility arrayed in armour, weapons drawn, eagerly seeking battle. Before them stand the minstrels, singing the epic lays of past heroes. And behind them, the war wizards, giving their strength to the battle.

Knights-errant travel the land, seeking an opportunity to prove themselves and achieve glory. Their nobility give battle in the tourney to judge who is fit to rule. The people turn their eyes on the enemies of the Empire, seeking victory and renown.

Alone amongst the nations of the Empire, the Dawn has never given up land to the barbarians. But the aspiration to achieve great things is not just found on the battlefield. Every Dawnish feels that same urge, this is a nation that eats and drinks glory.

Great men and women may be forgotten. Great deeds are eternal.

Overview

Dawn is the land of valour; the classical images of gleaming plate, of brightly coloured banners and traditional heraldic devices provide the imagery for the nation. Where the Marches is gritty and down to earth, Dawn is the opposite, almost block primary colours. There is a sumptuous nature to the materials and tones used, idealistic in design instead of practical. Arthurian, pre-Raphaelite and the Gothic revival movements all provide strong themes and forms to the nation.

There is a touch of tragic flaw to the people here though also, with elements of Shakespeares tragedies threaded through their lives, leaving shadow in contrast to all the glorious polished armour.

Feel

Arthurian, flawed, gleaming, pre-raphaelite, romantic, shakespearean, tragic, valiant.

Icons and important Images

The Dawn flag is a golden sun-in-splendour against a blue field. Heraldry is ubiquitous – regional, national and personal. Every house has their own heraldry and banner as do groups of Questing Knights and Knights-errant. Even the weaver’s cabals are entitled to their own device.

Heraldry in Dawn largely uses the mythical beasts – gryphons, lions, unicorns, dragons as opposed to the more earthly boars, bulls and stags of the Marches.3

Breakdown

Influences

Idealised high medieval. Gothic Revial, Pre-raphaelite, Arthurian

Materials

Linen, velvet, silk, damask, brocade, fur linings and trim, butter soft kid leather and suedes.

Colours

The palette is summer, a meadow in full bloom. It’s a myriad of bright, floral colours, accented with some darker jewel shades. Gold, emerald green, bright reds, clear sky blues set off against an occasional sumptuous black. Whatever the colour it should be vivid and lush but remain tasteful.

Clothing

The basic dress for both genders is a long robe with full sleeves, called a houppelande. The cloth may be silk, velvet, brocade or fine wool and could be subtly patterned.

Women might eschew a robe in favour of a dress with simple flowing lines and quite a low neck line, possibly revealing a chemise below. Men will wear their houppelandes over a long shirt, well cut trousers and high boots.

Headgear for both sexes is extravagant, and it is definitely headgear rather than hats. Men will wear a chaperon to impress, and women’s headresses are the stuff of fantasy.

Filets, circlets and headbands are also popular for all whether made of gold or simple leather.

Jewellery is exquisite - a jewelled dagger sheath, a filigreed necklace, a pair of combs, even the poorest will have a piece of treasured jewellery handed down.

Armour

Most knights wear the heaviest and most flamboyant armour they can afford, often covered with a surcoat bearing their personal or house heraldry. Some will wear mail, some with plated reinforcement, and some a full harness. Knights Errant often wear less armour but everyone who is part of a noble house will sport their colours.

High quality leather armour mimics the form of plate – breastplates, gorgets with articulated arms, vambraces etc may all be worn and often bear their owners’ heraldry as a form of rich decoration. Full length ‘coats’ of leather scale or plates may be worn alone or under more leather armour.

The armour is designed not only to protect in war but also to proclaim their glory and make their deeds all the more memorable.4

Shields

Shields are highly popular in Dawn, as much for their decoration as their ability to protect. Heater shields are the facoured shape, decorated with personal or household devices.

Weapons

The archetypal Dawnish weapon is the medieval broadsword, but warhammers and maces are also used. One-handed ornate axes are also used. Missile weapons are rare, archery is seen as a fitting contest of skill, rather than a glorious weapon of war.

Details

Dawn Knights in Plate

The very wealthiest Dawn Knights possess a harness of plate, but it is more than just armour. It can be etched, engraved or decorated like the armour in A Knights Tale or Jamie Lannister’s breastplate with his house symbol onf the chest. Alternatively a rich embroided cloak thrown hanging over the plate, or a beautiful jupon like the one Henry is wearing emphasizes the knight’s regal nature.

Shields

The traditional Dawnish shield is a heater or kite shield. Whatever the shape, a shield is the perfect place for a Dawnish noble to display their personal arms or the insignia of their house.

Mail

Mail is higly valued, either worn under plate or by itself. Ideally such armour should include a surcoat or a robe decorated with a house symbol, often a fabulous beast like the dragon.

Dawn Knights in Leather

Leather armour is common in Dawn, and is often worn by yeomen and Knight-errants. It should range from simple protection to something designed to look as stunning as possible.

Male Nobility

Noble costume should be resplendent. The cut is simple - sleeves may be dagged but are not slashed or puffed - but the fabrics are luxurious, the colours are rich and hems are lined with fur or ermine.

Male costume is often in house colours or embroidered with the house’s device.

Female Nobility

Like the male costume, the cut is simple, but the materials, the colours, the linings and the trims are rich, detailed and luxurious. Silk, velvet and brocade are ideal.

Children

Young children are an opportunity for noble houses to display their wealth and power. Pages are dressed in robes decorated with the house symbols. Older children, noble or yoeman want the most expensive clothes their parents can afford

Headwear

Dawnish Headwear encompasses all the more elaborate medieval variety of hats, up to the start of the Renaissance. Regal jewellery such as crowns and tiaras are common for all earls and powerful nobles.

Jewellery

Jewellery is an import part of costume for male and female Dawnish nobility. Idealy it should be ornate and bejewelled to emphasize the status of the wearer.

Yeomen

Dawnish yeomen wear less resplendent costume than their betters, but many are prosperous and most still dream of joining the nobility. They mix easily with the nobility and richer yeomen may look similar to nobles from an impoverished house.