[Faendryl Enclave, Garden]
Shielded by verdant hedges, the spire's reflection garden adds a grace note of natural beauty to the building's austere architecture. A circular pool surrounded by smooth white benches provides a serene focal point for the setting, while artfully shaped topiaries create a private reserve of fanciful beasts along the tranquil garden's periphery. Flowering vines around a central statue add a note of welcome color. You also see a patinaed teak root table set with a dichroic vaelfyren kraken candelabra with some stuff on it, a tall canvas dress form pinned in myriad colorful fabric swatches, a lazy wild ash grey dog, a small bowl of seeds, a winding pathway, a gold-framed linden cart with some stuff on it and a silver-framed ebonwood cart with some stuff on it.
Ysharra says, "Please give your attention to our charming presenter, Bathcwyn Missoni, who has kindly offered to lead us down a path of history, fashion, and beauty, today."
Missoni warmly greets, "Welcome! Today I am going to introduce you to some textiles that are perhaps not as often exported from New Ta'Faendryl as bourde, which has become a staple of the diaspora, but nevertheless have an important role in our culture and fashion."
(Missoni paces to the side of the dress form, her movement sending three pinned fabric swatches fluttering.)
Missoni explains, "I am not from an Emporion family as many of my wonderful colleagues are," she gives a slight nod toward Lylia and Zahiris, "so my perspective for this lecture focuses on how these pieces fit into the tradition of Faendryl aesthetics, the philosophy of art."
Missoni begins, "As I have explained in previous lectures, it is quite difficult to divorce Faendryl art from function. With this twining of form and function in mind, textiles are valued by the Faendryl for their durability and breathability in the harsh climate of the Wastes."
Missoni glances appraisingly at a tall canvas dress form pinned in myriad colorful fabric swatches.
Missoni says, "Thus, couture designers often include the practical as well as the sculptural and artistic in a given season s lookbook, acknowledging the utilitarian needs present in even the highest echelons of Faendryl society."
Missoni adds, "When delicate materials are used by the high fashion houses, they may be included as a nod to how far the people have come."
Missoni says, "But each of the textiles we will see today are practical, as well."
Missoni says, "Philosopher Eldorven Morelvh Faendryl makes this point when he writes . . ."
Missoni pokes a finger at a passage in her glassworking codex, using the tip to underline the words.
Missoni reads, "Our people have long had a willingness to utilize materials and practices that others might find unpalatable at their best and evil at their worst, but for our culture the tools bred by necessity are the most beautiful; these representations of thriving despite adversity are our art."
Missoni says, "Indeed, Faendryl aesthetics often holds beauty and function in equal regard, as reflected in the practice of sorcery and its inclusion in the culture's aesthetic philosophy."
Missoni continues, "But there are some views within the discipline that some from other cultures may consider extreme. Academics from the school of artistic thought known as the Ivoiluth famously argue against Beauty as an end in and of itself, citing an absence of function as the ultimate ugliness."
Missoni amusedly notes, "This is not the school of thought to which I belong."
(Missoni pauses for a moment take a sip of her water.)
Ysharra laughs softly, trying to hide her amusement.
Missoni carefully places her mint-infused water on the ground alongside her.
Missoni cheerfully says, "With some of this context explained, I would like to introduce you to three particular textiles: kiv, shiensilk, and loraesilk."
Missoni begins, "Kiv is made from the fibers of the kivala, a type of ground cherry found near Rhoska-Tor."
(Missoni strides purposefully to the dress form and brushes her fingers against a swathe of fabric draped over its left shoulder. A shade of red so dark as to be nearly black, the material displays a subtle iridescence.)
Rohese interestedly echoes, "A cherry?"
Missoni nods at Rohese.
Speaking to Rohese, Missoni says, "But beware of eating them raw."
Missoni says, "The same magical remnants that affect the appearance and skin tone of the cultures known as the dark elves has affected these plants, causing smoky striations in the fruit's skin and flesh and also rendering them mostly inedible."
Speaking curiously to Missoni, Rohese asks, "Oh?"
Cryheart asks, "I was about to ask, edible cloth?"
Cryheart says, "Ahhh."
Missoni amusedly says, "Certainly do not eat the cloth, either."
Ysharra says, "...but I would imagine the same process has made it quite hardy, as well."
Ysharra says, "...any plant is edible."
Ysharra says, "...at least once."
Missoni notes, "There is an example of kivala used in the fermented drink in the cask, here, if you should like to try it. The method of preparation is a closely guarded secret and it is considered something of a delicacy."
You point out, "We are also mostly inedible. Just in case anyone wondered."
Missoni says, "Because it is so difficult to prepare, it is more common for textile manufacturers to use dye from the plant to produce a fine, lightweight linen-like fabric."
(Missoni lifts the hem of the fabric a bit, showing its light weight. As it flutters back down, the garden's late afternoon sun brings out a subtle pattern of interlocking triangles in the kiv's iridescent weave.)
Rohese bashfully says, "I'll stick to my tea, if that's alright. I've had enough new experiences today."
Missoni continues, "The finest weavers can use the remnants of mana to draw a dark iridescence from the fabric in intricate geometric or asymmetric patterns."
A scarlet-robed Faendryl scribe passes by on her appointed errands, stroking the luxuriant fur of one of the spire's resident cats as she walks past.
Speaking to Missoni, Ysharra says, "I do love a good drape, for certain."
Missoni says, "Thanks to its breathability, kiv is often used for formal garments as a companion to the bourde some of you may be more familiar with."
Missoni amusedly says, "The wearer might even go so far as to communicate subtle messages in the fleeting pattern, such as during the courting process, when an intended lover might indicate consent, or quite the opposite."
Missoni lightly says, "Let us move on, then, to two products of the valences: shiensilk and loraesilk."
Missoni turns to face a tall canvas dress form pinned in myriad colorful fabric swatches.
Missoni says, "While the Faendryl have made the best of the natural resources found in Rhoska-Tor, the limitations of the environment have encouraged some enterprising members of the Emporion to seek solutions from extraplanar sources." She pauses to adjust the fabric pinned to the form to display a heavier looking length of silk and a small swatch of metallic fabric. "These products are less commonly seen in everyday use than the environmentally derived fabrics of Rhoska-Tor due to the complications of mass-producing products of extraplanar origin."
(Rohese tentatively takes a sip of her roasted agave pulque and tries not to pull a face.)
Missoni says, "The most common of these products is shiensilk, which is derived from thick ropes of silk-like material produced by the arashan demon, a large spider-like creature from the shien'tyr valance that is simple to summon."
Missoni notes, "Some of you may have seen them locally."
You acknowledge, "Perhaps a few times."
Ysharra says, "Indeed. Pretty creatures."
(Missoni rests her palm on a long length of fabric draped over the right shoulder of the dress form. "As you can see," she explains as she pinches a bit of the thicker fabric between her fingers, "it is quite a bit heavier and sturdier than kiv. It is also waterproof, and is therefore sometimes chosen as practical outerwear for travelers and by the Faendryl Armata.")
Missoni says, "Finally, the last example I will show today is also derived from an extrapljnar creature commonly seen throughout the continent, the verlok. Loraesilk requires quite a bit of time and care to produce even a yard of fabric, so it is often used as a trim or accent piece." She unpins the small pocket square of gauzy metallic fabric from the dress form, holding it up to show a luminous coppery hue in the sunlight. "Woven from silk strands of the small wasteweaver spider and the delicate vanes of verlok feathers, this silk is enchanted to maintain a faintly luminous quality and appears only in metallics."
Ysharra says, "What amazingly detailed work."
Kethrain says, "Wow."
Missoni muses, "Some historical accounts allude to rumors that Rythwier Sukari Faendryl, the 37th Patriarch and father of Chesylcha Sukari Faendryl, sent several large bolts of this silk to Ta'Ashrim with his daughter with the intention of crafting a wedding dress worthy of a Faendryl return to the Elven houses." She pauses to carefully affix the swatch once more to the dress form. "Like Chesylcha, the fabric never made it to its destination. As such, many Faendryl still consider it in bad taste to wear loraesilk on one's wedding day."
Riend quietly murmurs, "So lovely."
Missoni concludes, "As you can see from these few examples, Faendryl textiles, like much of our art, are born from our environment and from The Art of Sorcery." She motions to the dress form. "And please do come look closer and touch the fabrics if you wish as we discuss. Just please leave your beverages and snacks behind."
Speaking sincerely to Missoni, Rohese praises, "Fascinating presentation, thank you."
Speaking to Rohese, Missoni exclaims, "And thank you!"
Speaking to Missoni, Rivienne says, "That was wonderful, I hope the silks can be imported sometime soon."
Missoni offers, "May I answer any questions?"
(Ysharra leans in closely and examines the loraesilk to start, brushing her fingers lightly over the feathery-soft weave, before moving on to the shiensilk with an equally admiring eye.)
Meril raises her hand.
Speaking warily to Missoni, Rohese says, "I won't get too close to the fabric samples but I can see how exquisite they are from here."
Ysharra says, "I very much like the shiensilk, I think I may have a new favorite."
Ysharra says, "Just look how lightweight it is, for all its flexibility."
Ysharra says, "And the shadowy patina."
Ysharra says, "I do not wear much black, but nevertheless- that finish is akin to the night sky, when the moons are all hiding."
Mandy says, "The loraesilk is my favorite, the metalic."
Speaking to Lucraine, Missoni says, "I wish you luck in finding materials to work with. It has been terribly difficult."
Missoni says, "The small pocket square is my father's. I have promised to return it unblemished."
Missoni grins sheepishly.
Cryheart says, "A few of us hae questions."
Speaking to Missoni, you ask, "I was wondering about the metallic nature of the loraesilk sample you have shown; plumille is a similar weave using feathers, but do you find the color of the plumage used adds inherent texture and color without the need for the Dyers to get their stained fingers all over it?"
Speaking to you, Missoni says, "Oh, quite! It is seldom dyed, as verlok feathers do not take well to dye, anyway."
Speaking to you, Missoni says, "I suppose one could dye the silk portion of the weave, but because it is quite iconic to wear, it is preferred in its natural form."
You say, "I prefer it this way too and think to do otherwise would be gilding the lily."
Speaking to Missoni, Meril asks, "Are there any dangers to the making and wearing of these fabrics? You mentioned the kivala had become inedible, but the kiv fiber is believed to be safe?"
Speaking to Meril, Missoni says, "Yes, the fiber itself is safe, and the others are not at all dangerous to wear."
Speaking to Meril, Missoni says, "The danger is only in summoning the necessary creature, but both silks are derived from minor demons."
Missoni adds, "And I suppose in harvesting the kivala. The Wastes can be unkind."
You note, "Other silks are derived from insects or spiders; it is not so different, perhaps, to take the fibers from extraplanar entities. Just more challenging."
Cryheart says, "Aye."
Cryheart asks, "How strong is the minor demon silk? And can it be incorporated into weapons, armors or shields?"
Cryheart says, "I wonder if that should be researched."
Speaking to Missoni, Lucraine worries, "Is it looked unkindly for other races to wear these fabrics in social situations?"
Speaking to Cryheart, Missoni says, "It is not awfully stiff, though, more like the texture of canvas."
Missoni adds, "So it is more often used as cloaks or jackets."
Cryheart says, "Ok."
Cryheart asks, "Magical protection? considering it is from demons?"
Speaking to Cryheart, Missoni exclaims, "Just waterproof!"
Cryheart says, "Thank ye."
Missoni says, "Though there are other experimental fabrics that are more magical in nature."
Speaking to Lucraine, Missoni says, "I suppose that is a question for each to answer personally, whether they are bothered by someone else wearing something. I am of the mind that as long as such things are done respectfully, it is no problem."
Cryheart says, "One day perhaps some innovative merchant can research that."
Speaking to Missoni, Kethrain asks, "Can anyone make the silk or only those that can summon the demons?"
Speaking quietly to Lucraine, you add, "I would not presume to speak for Missoni, nor for all Faendryl, but I do not find it an insult when people admire our art and culture enough to partake of it. Far from it."
Speaking to Kethrain, Missoni says, "Anyone can manufacture it should they have the skill, though it is advised to have the summoning sorcerer present, lest the creature become vexed."
Rohese softly opines, "If a garment or fabric is worn with knowledge and respect of its origins and significance, then I think it is fine."
Missoni cheerfully says, "Minor demons are thankfully simple to control. I suppose one could go to the measure of hiring a Palestra."
Kethrain asks, "Do you feel that by creatiing this silk that there could be a market for tailors in the future?"
Speaking hesitantly to you, Lucraine says, "I have a kimono design beginning to peak into my mind so wanted to be sure I wasn't going to be outcasted for such an act."
Missoni says, "I always like to see our exports prosper, as it means more prosperity in New Ta'Faendryl."
You loftily say, "It seems to me that Faendryl art and culture is rightly coveted, and if others wish to have a piece of it, we are a magnanimous people and can sell it to them."
Speaking lightly to you, Missoni says, "Quite so."