VARISIAN DRESS AND FAMILY SCARVES
Varisians favor scarves of all sizes and colors, but some
hold special significance. Most notable is the family
scarf, or kapenia. Children receive their kapenia upon
maturity; to own one is to be an adult. These long, heavy
scarves display elegant and complicated embroidery that
is incomprehensible to most outsiders. To Varisians,
though, the scarves show family trees. By tracing the
loops and whorls of a scarf, one can trace a person’s
history, back through her mother and father, her siblings,
grandparents and great-grandparents, as far back as the
family has knowledge.
Varisians wear their kapenia only on special occasions,
such as weddings or funerals. Most choose to be buried with
their kapenia, though some bequeath them to loved ones. It
is extraordinarily rare for a Varisian to bequeath her kapenia
to a non-Varisian, or even a Varisian not of her clan.
Varisians wear sensible but colorful clothes during the
workday. When performing, they dress in fancy gowns
and heavily embroidered vests and trousers and wear
excessive amounts of jewelry.
Varisians believe that certain colors carry specific
powers and choose their outfits to attract the right type
of energy. Pink is the color of love, kindness, and courage.
Red represents lust, long life, and inner strength. Orange
is the color of happiness and resourcefulness, and
adventuring Varisians often wear a touch of orange on
their travels. Green enhances wisdom and self-control.
Turquoise represents physical strength and nonverbal
communication, and most dancing costumes feature
it. Blue is the color of health, youth, and beauty. Violet
enhances intuition and divine inspiration, so most
fortunetellers and seers wear violet scarves.
Varisians love jewelry and favor gems over coins. Most
pragmatically believe that worn wealth is harder to steal than
wealth hidden out of sight in a tent or locked up in a box.
