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===Clothing===
===Clothing===
Veils, scarves, head-wraps, pantaloons, loose shirts and kaftans, sashes rather than belts. Clothing is usually worn loose with layers of draped material.  
Veils, scarves, head-wraps, pantaloons, loose shirts and kaftans, are all part of Freeborn garb. Clothing is usually worn loose with layers of draped material slashed through to show a wealth of colour, and secured with sashes rather than belts. Outfits will often be decorated with shiny jewellery, bells, coins showing wealth in the glint of metal in the sun and the sound of metal as the wearer moves. Scabbards or pouches tend to hang at the waist by a silk cord that goes over the shoulder


Veils are worn by men and women to make them appear more mysterious and alluring. The ideal style is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagelmust tagelmust] (preferably in bright red, orange or yellow rather than blue).  
The ideal headgear is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagelmust tagelmust] (preferably in bright red, orange or yellow rather than blue).  


Clothing and headdresses will often be decorated with shiny metal jewellery, bells, coins and other jingly bits. Jewelry should frame the hands and face.  
Many Freeborn favour sandals as footwear, lacing up over the foot or higher up the leg, but slipper shoes are also common. Leather boots to mid calf or the knee are favoured particularly on the battle field.


Ideally scabbards or pouches should hang at the waist by a silk cord that goes over the shoulder. Any tattoos should be highly intricate, henna-style.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Brass_coast_slippers.jpg|width=300}}


===Jewellery and veils===
===Jewellery, veils and decoration===
Jewellery should frame the face or hands to draw attention to them. Veils are fashionable for men and women who wish to appear mysterious and  
Jewellery is commonly used either as part of the clothes themselves or to frame the face or hands to draw attention to them. Veils are fashionable for men and women who wish to appear mysterious and alluring. Those who go tattoed tend to favour intricate henna style designs.
alluring.  
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===Scale armour===
===Scale armour===
Scale is the ideal armour, ideally in a bright golden colour, worn like mail or else secured with leather.
Scale is the armour many Freeborn aspire to, ideally in a bright golden colour, worn like mail or else secured with leather.
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===Mail armour===
===Mail armour===
Mail in the jannissary style, particularly the chain helmets, is also great. Small pieces of plate or breastplates are good especially if ornate and inlaid. Armour, whether metal or leather, should have embellished edges and rich decoration, with calligraphy and ornate designs.
Mail in the jannissary style, particularly the chain helmets, is also commonly seen. Small pieces of plate or breastplates are popular especially if ornate and inlaid. Armour, whether metal or leather, usually has embellished edges and rich decoration, with calligraphy and ornate designs.  
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===Corsairs===
===Corsairs===
[[Corsairs]] epitomize Freeborn daring and adventure. Javelins and bows are common but the Catazarri crossbow is also used. Many are lightly armoured, but the most bold show off their success with ornately gilded plate.
[[Corsairs]] epitomize Freeborn daring and adventure. Javelins and bows are common but the Catazarri crossbow is also used. Many are lightly armoured, but the most bold show off their success with ornately gilded plate. They may dress more simply than other Freeborn in trousers and tunic, but their flair for wealth tends to show through with jewellery worn at wrist and neck.


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===Sutannir===
===Sutannir===
[[Sutannir]] often paint their faces and skin with designs inspired by flames and themes of fire.
[[Sutannir]] often paint their faces and skin with designs inspired by flames and themes of fire. They tend to be the most flamboyant of the Freeborn and frequently indulge in mutliple layered swirling robes.


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==Things you're unlikely to see==
==Things you're unlikely to see==
* The Corsairs are not classic fantasy pirates - you're unlikely to see a lot of bandanas, cutlasses and scimitars on The Brass Coast
* Corsairs are not classic fantasy pirates - you're unlikely to see a lot of bandanas, cutlasses and scimitars on The Brass Coast
* Whilst the inspiration comes from cultures with strong Arabic influences, The Brass Coast is not an Islamic or stereotyped contemporary Arabic culture. Shemagh and agal (the classic white patterned headdress with band) don't fit the look, neither do Sartorial Hijab (garments which cover hair or body for modesty reasons) nor does a Fez. Even turbans are not standard wear. Instead the Brass Coast favours scarves tied in a style known as the Tagelmust.
* Whilst the inspiration comes from cultures with strong Arabic influences, The Brass Coast is not an Islamic or contemporary Arabic culture. Shemagh and agal (the classic white patterned headdress with band) don't fit the look, neither do Sartorial Hijab (garments which cover hair or body for modesty reasons) nor does a Fez. Even turbans are not standard wear.  
* Although there are no particular modesty taboos, dancers tend to be far more interested in showing off how they can make fabrics flare and move than displaying their own flesh. Belly dancing is not a common Freeborn pursuit.
* Although there are no particular modesty taboos, dancers tend to be far more interested in showing off how they can make fabrics flare and move than displaying their own flesh. Belly dancing is not a common Freeborn pursuit.



Revision as of 12:42, 7 November 2012

Overview

The Freeborn look is one of bright colours, silks, jewels, and sumptuousness. They admire ornate or bejewelled items. To the Freeborn, a brilliant craftsman is one who can make something elegant as well as sturdy. Their weapons and armour are often engraved or adorned, but they are not fatuous, and do not compromise utility for the sake of appearance. Jewellery is very common with the best pieces, like necklaces, crowns or tiaras, designed to frame the wearer's hands or face.

The image of the flame is central to the Freeborn culture; they believe it represents their spirit: wild, powerful and unchained.

Also see Brass Coast Costumes and Brass Coast Icons and Artistry.

Breakdown

Influences

The traditional looks of Moorish Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia.

Feel

Free, flowing, headstrong, sumptuous, practical, exuberant, hedonistic, colourful, rich, joyful.

Materials

Lightweight fabrics such as voiles and chiffons, either silk or synthetic. Also silks, brocades and other rich fabrics. Leather is considered unappealing for clothing, it’s a heavy material they reserve for boots and armour. Gold is prized over silver where available.

Colours

Bright, vibrant colours, especially the colours of flames: strong bright yellows, brilliant oranges and every conceivable shade of red as well as gold and silver. Peacock blue, Magenta and Turquoise often appear for contrast. Expensive clothing is made in brightly coloured layers to convey the impression of the fire within.

Black is considered severe and used for shrouds to wrap the dead. White is the colour of the poor, of those too impoverished to afford exotic dyes.

Clothing

Veils, scarves, head-wraps, pantaloons, loose shirts and kaftans, are all part of Freeborn garb. Clothing is usually worn loose with layers of draped material slashed through to show a wealth of colour, and secured with sashes rather than belts. Outfits will often be decorated with shiny jewellery, bells, coins showing wealth in the glint of metal in the sun and the sound of metal as the wearer moves. Scabbards or pouches tend to hang at the waist by a silk cord that goes over the shoulder

The ideal headgear is the tagelmust (preferably in bright red, orange or yellow rather than blue).

Many Freeborn favour sandals as footwear, lacing up over the foot or higher up the leg, but slipper shoes are also common. Leather boots to mid calf or the knee are favoured particularly on the battle field.


Brass coast slippers.jpg

Jewellery, veils and decoration

Jewellery is commonly used either as part of the clothes themselves or to frame the face or hands to draw attention to them. Veils are fashionable for men and women who wish to appear mysterious and alluring. Those who go tattoed tend to favour intricate henna style designs.

Scale armour

Scale is the armour many Freeborn aspire to, ideally in a bright golden colour, worn like mail or else secured with leather.

AishwaryaArmour.jpg
Image from The Last Legion
File:BrassCoastArmour.jpg
Costume by Lisa-marie Vermeulen

Mail armour

Mail in the jannissary style, particularly the chain helmets, is also commonly seen. Small pieces of plate or breastplates are popular especially if ornate and inlaid. Armour, whether metal or leather, usually has embellished edges and rich decoration, with calligraphy and ornate designs.

Shields

The Freeborn favour round (ideally domed) metal shields, highly decorated if possible. Gold inlay and engraving are both particularly popular.

Weapons

Scimitars are less common than straight swords and axes which are the preferred weapons. The Bhuj, a large heavy single-bladed spear, is the ideal pole-arm. The best quality weapons are intricately etched and engraved with complex designs.

Corsairs

Corsairs epitomize Freeborn daring and adventure. Javelins and bows are common but the Catazarri crossbow is also used. Many are lightly armoured, but the most bold show off their success with ornately gilded plate. They may dress more simply than other Freeborn in trousers and tunic, but their flair for wealth tends to show through with jewellery worn at wrist and neck.

File:BrassCoastLisa3.jpg
Costume by Lisa-marie Vermeulen

Children

Children are an opportunity for parents to show off their wealth, dressing their offspring in traditional Freeborn styles.

Sutannir

Sutannir often paint their faces and skin with designs inspired by flames and themes of fire. They tend to be the most flamboyant of the Freeborn and frequently indulge in mutliple layered swirling robes.

Things you're unlikely to see

  • Corsairs are not classic fantasy pirates - you're unlikely to see a lot of bandanas, cutlasses and scimitars on The Brass Coast
  • Whilst the inspiration comes from cultures with strong Arabic influences, The Brass Coast is not an Islamic or contemporary Arabic culture. Shemagh and agal (the classic white patterned headdress with band) don't fit the look, neither do Sartorial Hijab (garments which cover hair or body for modesty reasons) nor does a Fez. Even turbans are not standard wear.
  • Although there are no particular modesty taboos, dancers tend to be far more interested in showing off how they can make fabrics flare and move than displaying their own flesh. Belly dancing is not a common Freeborn pursuit.