Illustrados Fashion and SPirituality
VAYAN: A poncho, mantle, cape, half-cape, or cloak styled according to one’s work and personality.
CARA: Mask-like worn on the body/atop the head representing one’s spirit ally/guide.
The adoption and proliferation of the Vayan and the Cara can be difficult concepts to explain to continentals and outsiders. The easiest explanation is that the Vayan is a presentation of who they are in society while the Cara is their place/part in the spiritual realms. Not every Illustrados will boast a Vayan or a Cara, but it is noticed with strangeness by more mainstream citizens. A few folk even distrust those who do not show their Vayan and Cara. However, only the most gauche of individuals will bring up another person’s lack of Vayan or Cara, naturally.
The Vayan
Manto de los Vayani, Mantle of the Paragon
The Vayan is a cultural touchstone of the Illustrados people. It is believed to be derived in part from the serape and the poncho that continental immigrants brought with them to the Union. As the cultures intermingled, it began to be embedded into popular fashion and the zeitgeist.
Simply put, a Vayan, is a poncho, mantle, cape, half-cape, or cloak styled according to a person’s preferences. It is colored not only by their personal choices but also their social status and their work. Overly long or overly short Vayan is associated with the wealthy, as are ornamented and expensive fabrics. Less pecunious individuals are found wearing plainer and more utilitarian Vayan that can keep out the rainy weather common in the Union while not overheating its wearer - many even feature hoods for the rain.
Vayan History
The first recorded instance of the Vayan was from Sergio Sergio (son of Sergio), fashionista and trend-setter of the late 30s in Port-au-Jacques. His Vayans brought the cloth into the perspective of the artistic and the wealthy, who ornamented it and innovated on it as industrial machinery was refined during this era. Sergio Sergio coined the term himself, deriving it from an old word for heroism and panache -- fashion historians believe this to be fictitious.
Lengths and cuts varied across the decades: sometimes shorter shoulder-length (Vayan Peqenya) Vayans would trend. Medium length ones (Vayan Vieja) were useful in bad weather. In other times, floor-length Vayans (Vayan Royale) were the mark of wealth because they were a tripping hazard and utterly dangerous to those working factory floors or farms. Each cut (full/completa), (half/elegante), and (back/capa) had its own place in the sun as well.
The modern Vayan has a wide variety in length, cut, ornamentation, and color. The tides have shifted once again and the working class are more likely to have machine-made Vayans while the wealthy benefit from hand-made ones (or the similacra thereof). Even the military has adopted Cara in their wear, with specific colors for each Magistrados branch. Similarly, the Iglesiar feature the symbols and tokens of their order in their own clothing (e.g. red feathers for the Firehawks, etc etc). Below are some basic fashions that are favored by the various Power Groups.
Magistrados: Short or medium length, studded with badges/pins
Javelineers: Blue and/or Grey
Justicars: Red and/or Bronze
Guaga: Black and/or Green
Inspectors; Gold and Black or Grey
Wealth/Privilege: Longer Vayans/longer cuts, impractical
Rural/Outdoor individuals: Medium length, greater coverage
Urban/Indoor individuals: Shorter length, lesser coverage
Iglesia Solar: humble brown and/or grey, short or medium length
Starcatcher: Serpent theme
Keymakers: Key theme
Lightbearer: vine/leaf themes
Sun-crowns: star or gem theme
Firehawks: red or orange feathers
Charioteers: No specific colors, themes because of their carefree attitude and diverse recruitment. They tend toward Pequenya and Vieja styles, with a few captains going for the Royale treatment.
Technocracy: Varied. Overseers and Associates tend to have brand signs on their clothing while they are on task, and for some, even out of work. Operators might not carry such identifying marks, depending on their current mission.
The Cara
Mascara de los Vientos, Visage of the Spirit
Cara are mask-like ornamentation that is worn by many Illustrados. These masks are often in the guise of an animal that is associated with a person’s spirit or their spiritual journey. Because of the rigors of day-to-day living, Cara are often reinforced with or made of resilient material (e.g. wood, strong fabrics, etc). Common configurations (and their typical cultural meanings) include:
On the shoulder (it watches over me or it watches what I do)
Atop the head (like a hat; it shields me from adversity or it watches the skies for me)
Behind the head (it watches my back or it is my ancestry)
Hung in front of the chest (it is a willing burden/responsibility or it watches my future)
Strapped to one’s belt (i draw upon it for strength or it guards my possessions)
Sewn above the heart (it guards my life or it is an avid reflection of me)
The Cara is an old practice, predating even the Long Fall. Illustrados scholars believe that its use diminished during the last century of the World that Was, but it was widely prevalent before them.
It is important for many Illustrados to maintain their ties to their ancestors and the spirits, even as they ascend the heights of technology and Post-fall modernity. Indeed, the Illustrados do not separate logic and spirituality, considering them a part of the greater whole. For those less spiritual individuals, the Cara is simply a tie to their ancestry and their family -- both being important to most Illustrados.
Society has molded itself around the Cara. The spirit a Cara represents not reflects only a person’s spiritual characteristics but also their social status. With the passing of decades and the stratification of society, the Spirit Hunt that “determines” the Cara is also affected by the capabilities of the wealthy and the lack thereof of the working class. Wealthier children will go farther afield for their Spirit Hunts, finding more exotic or more dangerous animals such as eagles, panthers, and the like, making it more likely that their Cara are of great distinction and prestige. As apex predators or creatures of great strength, these Cara are afforded great prestige but can also mark someone as having a life of privilege than others.
The poorest of folk will more often have rats, raccoons, roaches, and other more common animals for their Cara, their Spirit Hunts being either sponsored by groups of associated families, the local Iglesiar parish, or Senate-sent organizations. These folk have their own pride with what they have caught (or what they encounter for less aggressive Hunts) - since it is of their own hands and untainted by assistance, these Cara boast of a stronger connection with the guardian spirit it reflects.
Some superstitions still persist among the Illustrados regarding the spirits and the Cara they reflect. These are what society thinks of these Cara but are very rarely the exact truth of their wearer.
Illustrados from Ciudad Juanita, Caobana, and Xaymaca regard Cara more casually than those from Ayiti (Port-au-Jacques and Puerto Vazquez) and the mainland, who view these omens with greater portent. In rural areas, asking about another’s Cara is considered gauche, outside of close friendships or family. In more urbane, casual settings, it can be as friendly as asking for one’s horoscope. Prejudice of one’s Cara is prohibited by Senate law, but legal conflicts across the decades have shown that it has yet to be utterly extinguished.
Below is a basic overview of Cara and the stereotypes associated with them.
OOG note: As it is with most other notes of this document, this is by no means a requirement for Role-playing or a prescription for one’s character. It is simply a reflection of the Illustrados view on spirituality and its effects on one’s soul. It can also be a tool for one’s character to follow or to rebel against.
(Soul Type — Associated Animals — Associated characteristics)
Latent Soul -- Small Cats, Spiders, other ambushers -- Vain, Clever, Fastidious
Dawn Soul -- Small Birds, Butterflies, Fish -- Creativity, Egotistical, Playful
Awakened Soul -- Wild Dog, Goat, Monkey, semi-domesticated animals -- Loyal, Needy, Amicable
Warming Soul -- Mice, Raccoons, other small scavengers -- Resourcefulness, Clever, Nosy
Noon Soul -- Apex hunters (ex Jaguar, Eagles, Shark) -- Luck, Strength, Leadership, Prideful
Bolstering Soul -- Social Insectoids (Mantis Wolf, Hive Bear) -- Industrious, Friendly, Docile
Shimmering Soul -- Hunting Predator inc. Fisher Birds -- Determination, Strength, Brash
Dusk Soul -- Frogs, Crickets, other loud nocturnals -- Passionate, Loud, Lucky
Sunken Soul -- Lizards, Crocodiles, similar predators -- Hard to read, Deliberate, Gluttonous
Pondering Soul-- Turtles, Giant Crabs, some crustaceans -- Hardy, Resourceful, Dense
Midnight Soul -- Blood suckers (Chupacabras, Leech-Bats etc) -- Bad luck, Cruel, Envious
Dismal Soul -- Moths, Owl-moths, Owls, Bats -- Quiet, Deceitful, Bad luck
The Cara and The Spirit Hunt
In the myriad communities of the Illustrados Union, one rite that the majority subscribes to is the Spirit Hunt. When a group of children reach the age of 18, their guardians take them into the wilderness or a remote but secure area. The children are then unleashed for one whole day with the goal of catching an animal
The Spirit Hunt is muddled by history and by local traditions. What is believed varies from region to region, and even between these regions themselves. Below is a broad and general description of local perspectives.
Spirit Blessing (Cara Bondad): In urbane Puerto del Encanto, the practice is more superstition or status symbol than it is a sacred rite. However, hidebound elders say that the caught animal will grant a blessing to its catcher. In this case, said animal is released rather than slain. This blessing can be physical or mental. Some struggling students have credited their excellent test scores to allied mouse spirits while a few sickly teenagers have ascribed their improved health to a crab or lobster Cara.
Spirit Feast (Cara Festin): In Ayiti island, such animals are slain in a hunt so that their aspect strengthens the hunter. Despite the name, not all such Cara Festin end in the devouring of their quarry. Ideally, the animal is slain as painlessly as possible and most of its remains are buried, except for those parts that are eaten or turned into ornamentation. In the wealthier circles, this Spirit Feast is a big celebration which serves as a symbol of privilege, and an arena for political maneuvering.
Spirit Aid (Cara Guiha): In Caobano and Xaymaca, Spirit Hunts involve catching said animal, communing with it (a few minutes or hours), and then releasing it. Said animal’s spirit will aid the adolescent in their direst moments, with the Cara being a symbol of the covenant between spirit and human. Some Xaymacans even believe in performing this rite while under the influence of sacred herbs and having conversations with their spirit ally.
Spirit Pauldron (Cara Armadura): In some parts of the mainland, especially the Yucatan coast, the animal is slain and its skin is worn so that it protects its slayer’s soul from misfortune. The animal is not devoured but it is buried respectfully. This usually means that mainlanders tend toward bigger and more dangerous animals.
Ultimately, the would-be adults craft a unique mask called a Cara. This resembles the animal they connected with -- and they carry it everywhere with them, remaking it if they lose it. Taking or destroying someone else’s Cara is disrespectful, marking the thief or vandal as someone that cannot be trusted by anyone. Remaking one’s Cara usually does not require another Spirit Hunt, and can be as involved a process as said individual desires.
With the advance of years and the mists of antiquity, this rite has changed and lost most of its meaning from its original form. Wealthy adolescents go on safaris and are assisted by hirelings, coming back with exotic and highly esteemed Cara (e.g. jaguars, or eagles) or even parafauna Cara. Impoverished folk make do with rats, crows, and other scavengers.
Changing one’s Cara
On occasion, a person undergoes an event or a happenstance that inspires them to perform another Spirit Hunt. This can be as public or as private as one desires, with the latter being more popular. The higher echelons of society tend toward private Spirit Hunts as well, preferring to appear traditional and spiritual to the public.
Despite certain folks’ perception, there is no stigma associated with changing one’s Cara. This is because the subject is an internal and private one, between one’s spirit and one’s faith.