The League look and feel
Overview
The League is urban. The influences come from the Italian city states, the Hanseatic league, and Prague, as well as classic fantasy cities like Camorr from the Lies of Locke
Lamora. Busy, but ordered, like clockwork. It has elements of Renaissance Venice, but (importantly) not just Venice. It is neither hovels nor a city of thieves and vagabonds nor the street urchins of old London.
The League is rich. Fine fabrics showing the wealth and style of merchant-princes. Rich silks in the south and fur trim for the northern cities of Temeswar and Holberg. It is opulent not ostentatious, a purposeful show of wealth and power.
Fine clothes on a citizen of the League allow them to strut a pleasing silhouette and are carefully designed to leave no doubt as to their abilities and skills. A gem encrusted hilt on a dagger that still needs to be drawn. They should be ready for a fight. Decoration and flourish intimately entangled with symbolism and a deep and genuine civic pride.
Rings show their allegiances. Jewellery shows their success. Masks and fans often hide their emotions.
Also see League Costumes and League Icons and Artistry.
Feel
Flamboyant, measured, rich, systematic, commerce, illusion, flourish, ambition, loyalty, gold.
Breakdown
Influences
High medieval and renaissance luxury.
Materials
Velvet, Cotton, Sillk, Fur Trim, Brocade, Damask, Jacquard
Colours
The pallette is rich and autumnal. Wine reds, golden yellows, supported by rich oranges and deep blues and blacks. A dull or washed-out shade is an indication of poverty. Purple and black are considered colours of mourning when worn together; an unlucky combination that is to be avoided at other times.
Clothing
Fashion is a rapidly changing force in the League cities. A citizen will display their status and wealth in the choice of trim or the quality of the cloth from which garments are cut – “What you wear is who you are.”
In Catzarria to the south, short doublets of richly patterned silks are cut to flatter. Sleeves are either tight with the undershirt puffing from beneath or occasionally full, and the effect is somewhat top-heavy, with trousers cut to a slender leg. Slashing is the height of fashion, particularly amongst the military whose taste verges on the gaudy.
The northern cities are colder in climate, and clothing reflects that. More fur trim, more layers. Perhaps a long sleeveless gown of velvet over the fashionable doublet, which might be made of leather not silk.
Ladies who do not favour doublet-and-trousers wear elaborate high-waisted gowns. The neckline may be lower than in other nations, showing an undergown or kirtle, often of a contrastng colour. A fashionable lady of the northern cities will wear a long, full, gown, sleeved and high-waisted. To the south, the gown might be sleeveless, or with sleeves slashed like a doublet’s. Ribbons are often used as decoration.
Religious folk will wear long robes, and often a skull cap. To the south, the robes will be red, in the north – black.
Armour
The street bravo will be in leathers, perhaps with a heavier shoulder piece. The military will wear heavy armour on vital areas, particularly the head, but a full harness is rare.
Shields
Not common. Small metal bucklers are sometimes used. A main gauche or stilletto is usually favoured for the off-hand.
Weapons
Crossbows for ranged combat. Sword and knife for the street fighter, blocks of long spears or halberds with flanks guarded by two-handed swords for the professional soldier.
Images
Bravos
Bravos are usually light armoured if at all. They usally wield a rapier, sometimes paired with a short parrying dagger like a main gauche. Many Bravos are part of a Free Company.
Free Companies
The riotously bright uniforms of the Free Companies mostly comprise two colours, with sleeves and trousers in the main colour, slashed to let the contrasting colour show through. A steel breastplate and helm provides the basic armour.
Despite their gaudy appearance, the members of a Free Company are professional soldiers well used to carrying all their campaign equipment on their back in handy pouches, packs and blanket rolls.
Banners
An iconic impressive banner makes a bold statement for any Free Company.
Armour
A starting Free Company may equip its members with a bright uniform in two contrasting colours and a quilted jack. Wealthier companies may have matching arming doublets, armour and helmets.
Children
The Empire outlaws children taking the battlefield until they have passed their Citizenship tests, but some Free Companies include children of all ages. When employed as messengers, it is a matter of pride to dress them as well as the soldiers of the unit they represent.
Weapons
The crossbow is extremely popular with the Free Companies, as well as halberds and pikes.
Costume
League costume is beautifully tailored with layers of complex cutting and decoration. The ladies’ gowns are high waisted with low necklines and complicated detailing such as puffed or slashed sleeves.
Gentlemen wear doublets with similarly complex decoration; sleeves are often laced on to the body of the doublet. The look is generally rather top heavy with slim fitting trousers or breeches and high legged boots.
Theatre and Masks
The tradition of masked theatre runs strong in League cities, where it is an important constituent of the magic of a performance.
Facemasks are a common element of fashionable attire for individuals from all walks of life. This custom sprang partly from the popular Facio style of masked theatre, where actors and even audience members swap characters as they swap masks, and partly descends from the traditions of cowls and veils in Highguard society. Masks allow an individual to cultivate anonymity and the air of mystery. Some groups – military units and criminals especially – may go so far as to all wear matching masks even in dangerous situations.
Churches
The heavily decorated robes of the League priests are in sharp contrast to some of the ascetics of other nations. Lavish embroidery, metallic threads and elaborate headdresses are all used to communicate their importance.
