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Common Attire Examples:Tunic, Toga, Stola, Pallium, Chlamys, Paludamentum, Shawls, Veils, Subligaculum, etc.
Notes:
- In a culture with so many tauric people, ideas of modesty are very different than in cultures that have an easier time designing concealing clothing. It is a very common sight and any shock value from nudity is next to nonexistent for locals who have long since adapted or never gave it a second thought in the first place.
- There is something of a cultural obsession with gold as an element and color. It is not only valued as currency, but looking golden is prized – to be of such color in fur, horn, eye, hoof, or feather is considered stunning. It is a strong trend of fashion and gold in metal and appearance is highly displayed and imitated in attire and body. It is all around a sign of prosperity and good fortune strongly associated with the sun and life.
- You should expect to see trousers mostly on humanoid foreigners or people of particular occupation - breeches are used primarily for bipedal riders. While far from unheard of, in general pants are considered the fashion of 'barbarians' and ridiculous by local standards.
- There is use of spoon and fork (much like miniature pronged tridents) here, initially devised to help nobility keep from ruining the draping material of their sleeves and in some cases the feather and fur they mimicked.
- What few races wear footwear generally have some form of sandal. This is amusingly a trade almost exclusive to humanoid needs - shoemakers as a result are somewhat rare and therefore more expensive than is reasonable, with the exception of ferriers who specialize in 'hoofboots' or 'hipposandals'. There is potentially some use of 'horseshoes' among hooved people, but such methods of protection are considered crude and uncomfortable. You're most likely to see such fixed footwear on the very poor and certain types of slaves, like warriors or racers.
- On SilkNow a major export of the city, the secrets of silk were stolen several hundred years ago from the eastern elves, when giant silkworm eggs were painstakingly smuggled into the empire.
They've never quite forgotten this offense - in fact, some of the elves around at the time are probably still alive. - There is a great love for fashion and adornment - while the aristocracy delights in gold and rare gemstones on top of their silks, those less wealthy settle for bronze, silver, lesser stones and a variety of glass.
While the attire of the city is as mixed as its people, the tastes of the ruling class have inspired some trends - the local fashion more or less favors bright colors and richly patterned material with great love for textiles; elaborate weaves, brocades, and other embellishments abound in the courts. There is a great deal of linen and silk used in the city.
Upper Class
The ruling tiers of society wear luxurious robes and cloaks of fine fabric woven and embroidered with fanciful designs - the higher social ranking the more likely clothing is to be decorated with rare metals, pearls, and even precious gems. While purple is not reserved for the elite by law, the specific shade of local purple is not likely to be found anywhere else due to its excessive cost and overall control by the imperial court.
Generally speaking, those of higher status tend to cloth themselves richly out of show for wealth if not modesty. It is the large majority of monster races that have no 'elven' taboos against showing the body and are well adapted for the climate.
If there is anything the rich love more than clothes it's their accessories – jewelers, goldsmiths, and stylists all make good money here, for the higher class bedeck themselves wherever they can in gold and gems, doing their hair and fur up in fanciful braids with coifs and crowns. While silver might not be worth much here and more of a 'lower class' metal, gold is as sought after as valuable adornment beyond pure show of wealth. You will find most nobility decked in rings and necklaces, bangles and anklets, diadems and circlets, elaborate collars, tail rings, dangling earrings and other piercings.
Lower Class
The lower class have tunic (sometimes with belt of sash) with resist-dyed and printed patterns - a lot of plain white for those who can't even afford that. There is a rough correlation between the length of ones dress and status here, perhaps made more apparent in the eyes of humanoid cultures where women are expected to cover up regardless of status - not so much the case here.
Slaves wear very basic slips or nothing at all much of the time.
- In a culture with so many tauric people, ideas of modesty are very different than in cultures that have an easier time designing concealing clothing. It is a very common sight and any shock value from nudity is next to nonexistent for locals who have long since adapted or never gave it a second thought in the first place.
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SportsThe city is very big on the athlete and the champion - everyday activities and events include swimming, running, boxing and wrestling, gambling, dodge ball, and 'polo'. Wrestling in particular is a local favorite and many arenas for such practice can be found inside marketplaces and even a part of some bathhouses.
The HippodromeThe sporting arena for chariot racing! It has a longer shape to it than the amphitheatre, which is much more semi-circular.
The Amphitheatre
A somewhat smaller version of the original Colosseum. All kinds public spectacles take place here from executions to plays and foot races, but the fights of gladiators in the arena are the prized events. The clash of champions, prisoners, beasts, and horrors. It's a place of combat and athletic celebration where nobility mingle among the common folk to enjoy sport and food.
Public ExecutionsRare, but always turns out an impressive crowd. Generally held in one of the major arena - you can expect to go out as a well witnessed spectacle.
Gambling and Pit FightingHowever, these events happen only so often - in the mean time, fighters, gamblers, and fans of bloodshed get their fix in scattered small fighting arenas. These rings generally consist of boxers and wrestlers in fair combat, but more extreme matches can be found in the darker parts of the city, including brutal and illegal gladiator style fights held in secret for the entertainment of the criminal elite.
Hunting and FishingImperial hunts in particular are big events and take place far from the city, dangerous ventures sometimes involving feral beasts of great power and attacks from marauding bands of savages or humans in the mountains or along the coasts. While fishing can also be a quite serious job and sport, for many it's a pleasurable pastime.
BrothelsIn no short supply. It's a business of intense competition and there are entire temples dedicated to sexual expression.
Board GamesChess, Backgammon, Dice
Festivals
Dances -
Indulgences
Pets. While dogs and cats are common additions to the household family and well-to-do members of society might flaunt a rare imported beast, popular as a 'fancy pet' in the city are pygmy griffins, which are often bred to 'match' the chimeric traits of their owners. These smaller griffin are most commonly house cat and parrot based, but more unusual variations are not unheard of.
Drugs. The use of mind-altering substance is by no means illegal with few exceptions - alchemists make a booming trade in fine 'medications'. It is commonplace and there is very little social condemnation for their use.
Majors Include: kánnabis or cannabis, opium, blue lotus, and mushrooms like amanita muscaria
Notable substances that cannot be found in the area: tobacco
There are many other herbs smoked or more often made into teas - rose hips, lavender, valerian, etc.
There are rumors that in certain strata of society, the minotaur have a sacred drink that lets them communicate with the gods through vivid hallucinations. It is likely made from a fungus grown on grain, but the full story behind this substance remains a mystery.
