Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5121

Editor: Rohese Bayvel-Timsh'l

Editor's Thoughts

Elanthian Vogue, the magical name that for over three years now has been synonymous with fashion, elegance, and style. Regardless of the intrinsically fleeting nature of this creative sphere, with its endless cycle of seasonal changes and new developments, we have endeavored to bring you an insight into Elanthian fashion, culture and lifestyle, eschewing the ephemeral and placing ourselves squarely into the realm of tradition. We don't claim to know everything about haute couture, we simply aim to present the art form through a series of articles that honor the classical, discover talent, reveal creativity, and celebrate diversity.

This latest edition is no exception. Fall is just around the corner, a season known for its magical foliage transformation, the spectacular constellations of the Queen of Enlightenment and the Gryphon - one of Elanthia's treasured intelligent, magical, and seldom-seen creatures - and, of course, the mysteries of the Ebon Gate Festival.

The team have delved into fashion events of the past to reveal some very enchanting ensembles from a few of Elanthia's finest fashionistas. We hope they inspire you to be more "glamorous." If this highly visual effect is not to your taste, then fall fashion this year sees a return to the classic monochromatic because nothing says style like a simply put-together outfit in black and white. Either way, it just shows that it's possible to add a touch of magic to whatever look you may be aiming for!

We are also privileged to share an insight into the life of Magister Raelee Svala, an eminent Scholar in the Hall of Mages. Not known for being overly loquacious, unless asked for her opinions on geometry, logic or temporal magic (to name just a few subjects of interest), she was patient enough to spend an afternoon answering some of our questions. We hope you find her as fascinating as we did!

As always, don't forget to send us your comments on any of the articles in this month's publication or suggestions for future editions!

Editor

Lifestyle: Life in Service Part V

Magic is, quite simply, the manipulation of natural forces through rituals, incantations, or sheer willpower. It manifests itself in various ways and draws power from different sources: the unceasing conflict between the elements that shape the natural world, the powers shared by the spirits and deities of Elanthia with their followers, and the innate psychic energies of the mind.

The most powerful application of magical power in Elanthia is referred to as flow magic or high magic, requiring very rare skills and knowledge. Rote magic or low magic, by comparison, has been repeatedly practiced and codified; hence it is commonly seen and used in everyday life.

Basic knowledge and exposure to magic is central to most civilisations through countless circles of magic, such as construction, forging, agriculture, but it is the scholars of our world who truly understand the role it plays in our lives. One such scholar is Magister Raelee Svala who - after a lot of persuasion - took some time out of her busy schedule to speak with me on being a member of the Imperial Hall of Mages.

I finally tracked the Magister down in the Hendoran Outpost where, according to reliable sources, she spends most of her days. This was the first time I had been in the Tome Gallery but I could see the appeal and made a note to spend some time here myself in the near future. With its towering stone shelves filled with leather-bound tomes and thick volumes, the space is perfect for anyone in search of a quiet place to carry out some research.

The Magister greeted me and gave me a quick tour. I was entranced by the titles on display, ranging from art, history, elemental magic, imperial heraldry, lores and even collections of poetry. Not one for small talk, I was left with no choice but to start asking her direct questions about her background and how she came to be a Magister. Born in Lormesta of 5082 in The Swale, in Chastonia – I was told to note that this was a matter of record in the archives of the Earldom – she hinted that the manner of her elevation was, and I quote, somewhat irregular.

"I caused a large-scale magical disaster in Vornavis and was thus elevated."

Clearly there was an interesting story here, so for the benefit of readers, I pressed her on the matter and, with some reluctance, she finally elaborated.

She began her education at the Hall College in The Swale at a very young age. Once she had completed her novice studies there, she relocated to the College in Elstreth for more advanced coursework. Following that, she apparently took a sabbatical from her formal work in the Hall. There was a notable pause at this juncture but I stayed quiet as I sensed she was choosing her words carefully; in the end she merely added that she wished to expand her sources of knowledge and left it at that. I was hoping to revisit this later to probe a little deeper but to no avail.

Raelee lingered in Vornavis for many years longer than originally planned as the region was engaged in a long period of strife, which offered many fascinating opportunities for observation and experimentation. She went on to explain that 5109, in particular, saw Solhaven combatting a lengthy incursion from an elemental plane of Water. She was quick to point out that this also included the first recorded manual creation of Plinite outside of Burghal laboratories, which she personally had a hand in.

I was treated to an in-depth discourse on Plinite for a while and I'm sure she would have continued all afternoon but alas, my time was limited so I managed to steer her back to the main topic: that of the magical disaster that befell the Freeport!

"... of course, the answer to the inquiry at hand is that on the 29th of Phoenatos of that year, I was tasked with closing the two underground portals that the water-based invaders were utilizing to travel to our plane.  I was working in an area of extra-planar elemental flow magic that is not well researched and made some calculative errors.  The result was the collapse of the first portal fed the second, leading it to begin growing at a near-exponential rate.  It would have swallowed Solhaven within the hour, taken all of Vornavis proper soon after, the whole barony by morning... it is not truly known when or if it would have ceased to grow."

I admit to having been at a loss for words after this revelation and I must have stared at the poor woman for quite some time, which duly prompted her to continue.

"This is where this story is often inaccurately told.  I am often accused of flooding the entirety of Solhaven.  That is not what occurred.  It required an act of Charl himself to seal the portal.  He flooded the port as his price for doing so.  Charl flooded Solhaven.  I nearly took the whole of Elanith."

The look on my face must have been a mix of horror and awe because Raelee closed the matter with a final few words:

"In response, the Hall believed someone of my potential and demonstrated power needed to be brought back into the fold, as it were.  Thus, the following spring, I was elevated to the position of Magister."

"That I would achieve this rank was regarded as inevitable throughout my life.  I represent the fourth generation along my patrilineal line to do so."

A change of subject was definitely in order to restore some sense of normality to the interview. How do you follow the revelation of someone's responsibility in a near apocalyptic event? I don't think my second question helped in building a rapport with her though, if the incredulous look on her face was anything to go by. I didn't think that asking her to explain her relationship to magic would have quite that effect but then, I confess that Raelee is still a bit of a mystery to me. Perhaps the answer should be obvious but I asked her to explain it for the benefit of all our readers.

"I am a dedicated scholar of elemental magic... it is at the foundation of all that I do. I do have other academic areas of focus and interest, mathematics for example, but even that often serves my study of the elements.  Even with the appearance of chaos, magic typically follows patterns, after all."

"... and I have a particular appreciation for elemental magic as the elements are at the foundation of everything.  To understand how to work with the elements is to understand how to work with the substance of existence"

At least my next question wasn't met with such consternation. I felt a little more comfortable approaching this subject and asked if she felt she was influenced by any of the Arkati. I was also getting used to her pauses before answering by now and she seemed to spend a little more time deliberating on this one. I had the sense that she was trying to carefully frame an answer that would suffice in terms of answering the question but not have any consequences for her later.

"The philosophy of Lumnis was very present through most of my youth, given her associations with Koar and the fact that I was raised in an academic institution.  However, I began studying the philosophy of Fash'lo'nae as an adolescent in Elstreth … and I developed a certain appreciation for it.  I do firmly believe that knowledge is what carries the greatest value... and that we should strive to achieve greater knowledge above all else."

As a result, some of her work - both official and not - led her to explore some of what the Grandfather has to offer... such as finding the way to his grand library on the Inorios Plateau in 5117.

Adopting a more serious tone, she added: "... and I will return there."

Moving swiftly on, now I had her comfortable enough to open up a little, I asked her to give me an insight into what life was like as a member of the Hall of Mages.

"It can vary greatly, depending upon the nature of the role one takes.  A Magister might be a researcher, an archivist, a professor, an investigator, a bureaucrat, a court adviser..."

At the moment, she is a field researcher assigned to Vornavis and bordering territories. She went on to explain that Wehnimer's Landing has been particularly volatile in the past years, hence why we were meeting in the Outpost. She admitted is was a challenging posting as most of the Hall's power and resources are focused in the central and southern regions of the Empire... thus she is often lacking in resources and contacts here. She alluded to working on many concurrent projects. Her waking hours - of which she claimed she does not have enough - are largely dedicated to work that tends to be whatever is requested of her by her superiors and often related to the constraint string of peculiar magical disasters and threats this region has seen in the past decade.

Raelee worked with Magister Cordarius Hodges to cure the blight that overtook Wehnimer's Landing and its environs recently, for example. This is often accompanied by supportive research on local resources, phenomena, and potential threats - such as Melgorehn's Reach and the phenomena now surrounding the region known as 'The Bleaklands' - formerly Talador.

"The Bleaklands are remarkably fascinating, I might add..."

If only we had time to discuss that more as it is also something I am interested in, given my time spent travelling the refugee camps a few years ago. I have made a note to revisit her later to discuss this and perhaps we will cover it in a future edition!

Given the remote nature of her posting, much of her time is also spent engaging in frequent correspondence. The closest proper college is in Phannus, but most of her professional contacts are located further south, thus most of her communication is directed there. Outside of that... she also spends time on her own... extra-curricular research.

"My interests do often stray beyond what the Hall asks of me, after all."

I jumped on this to hopefully learn more about her hobbies and pursuits. Given this is a fashion and lifestyle publication, I opted to ask to her directly if she was interested in fashion at all and if it was something that impacted her life as a Magister in anyway.

"It is not a priority... why would it impact my Magisterial position?"

Her somewhat sceptical response initiated a discussion about the practicalities of working in a laboratory and how one might have to consider the flammability of certain fabrics or the risks involved with the tailoring of garments. Citing my own example of habitually having ink-stained cuffs or smudges on my face, she started to nod along as if understanding what I was inferring.

"There are some practical considerations... keeping one's hair tied back and away from open flame, sleeves that will not fall into a cauldron.  And, I do recognize the need to render oneself outwardly presentable.  It is often a requirement for gaining a certain degree of respect.  The lack of respect that stems from not attending to one's appearance can often become a barrier to acquiring resources and other needs.  And, on certain occasions that does require donning the... official fashions of the position.""

You see Magister Raelee Svala the Scholar of the Hall of Mages.
She appears to be a Human from Chastonia.
She is shorter than average and has a small-boned build.  She appears to be an adult.  She has distant, gold-flecked snow white eyes and milky white skin.  She has long, loosely ringleted copper red hair brushed into a low chignon, then pierced by an ivory-capped burnished gold wand.  She has a small, tangled burn mark on her neck.  She has a slender, porcelain-like countenance, made more striking by the rounded angles of her face.
She has a complex gold circular tattoo on the back of her right hand, a pale pattern of gold lines and sigils tattooed up her right arm, an inky black sigil on her wrist, and a quartet of tiny glyphs tattooed vertically along the inside of her left forearm.
She is wearing a complicated gold-wired earcuff, a gold latticework choker dangling a pale teardrop smoky topaz, a small blonde leather neck pouch, a gold-edged deep blue linen robe, a sleeveless vanilla linen dress shot through with gold threading, an arm-length leather casting gauntlet, a sunstone-set bronze and gold band, a blue-jeweled heavy gold ring, and a pair of calf-laced blonde leather slippers.

With that in mind, I asked Raelee to share more about her very eye-catching robe and ring.

"This is the robe of my office.  I do not typically wear it, save for formal occasions... such as lectures or court appearances.  I prefer something lighter... simpler... for my daily work.  It is dyed to somewhat mimic the Kestrel blue, which is typically seen in the crest of Chastonia.  True Kestrel blue is a dye that is created through particular magical means... which House Kestrel has kept as a guarded secret since its creation.  Garments of true Kestrel blue are typically reserved for members of the Hall of actual Kestrel lineage.  The rest of us will wear approximations, such as this."

The deep blue linen of the robe is subtly shot through with scarlet silk threads, lending it an occassional ruby iridescence. From its ankle-length hem to its voluminous hood, intricate gold embroidery traces the robe's edges, creating a pattern of rune-embellished scrollwork.  The same gold thread forms a stylized scroll and flame crest over the breast, lending the robe an official air.

A large blue jewel winks from the apex of the heavy golden ring.  Its hue is somewhere between that of a sapphire and an amethyst, but under ambient light seems unable to decide which stone it ought to resemble more.  Droplets of rich, dark garnet encircle the peculiar gem.  One of the ring's sides features a kestrel's head in deep relief, while the other boasts a stylized scroll and flame.

There appears to be something written on it.
In the name of the Hall of Mages and House Kestrel of the Turamzzyrian Empire, let these words serve as proof that the bearer of this seal is a full member and Magister in service of the Hall.

Try as I might, I could not get the amiable scholar to engage in any further discussion about the latest trends at court. I admitted defeat and vowed to return another day to pursue that line of questioning. Sensing that I had taken up more than enough of her valuable time on what she no doubt thought was a frivolous exercise, I thanked her for a most illuminating – if not slightly disturbing - afternoon and bade her farewell.

The Magic of Fashion

This publication is not the right platform for discussing the morals of practicing magic; whether that's black or white, flow (high) or rote (low), blood or fey. What it is perfect for is an analogy of magic and fashion.

Magic is the art of taking what is already there and bending and twisting it until it serves the function one would like. Not unlike those who assiduously follow fashion trends; the truly talented will take what is already available in their wardrobe and adapt it until it fits into the image one wishes to present.

All magic and fashion trends begin life as creative flow and it is only through the dedicated pursuits of researchers and designers that we have our modern wealth of rote spells and readily available fashion on sale in town and city boutiques or at festivals throughout the year.

Being fashionable isn't always about wearing the latest trends, mastering complicated styling tricks, or wearing the most expensive clothes. Like rote magic, rote fashion comes naturally and follows particular prescribed patterns:

• Pick two or three colors to base your outfit around, and then go off that with your clothing and accessories—and even your makeup! You will look pulled together and elevated no matter what scheme you go with.

• Pile on a bunch of different fabrics in one look, for example, pair knitted with snakeskin, suede, silk, leather and it's chic. You can opt to go bold with your color choices or keep them all in the same shade to make the texture mixing more subtle.

• Pick one hue and go for it! You could even match your hair!

• The more layers you have, the less likely any one piece is to really make or break your outfit, so go crazy e.g. wear a surcoat over a gown with a chemise underneath. You could even add a petticoat. Wear a cloak casually over your shoulders with a vest over a tunic with a shift underneath.

• Fashion is all about making a statement and creating a well-defined look, and no other accessory does that quite like a good hat.

Throughout the history of Elanthian fashion, there has been a complex relationship between tradition and the spirit of innovation and change. In both form and function, a dialogue has been maintained that has given our fashion designs their distinctive appearance and unique style.

After the emergence of couturiers to elven nobility, high fashion became popular in elven courts and the standards of creativity and skill set by designers reinforced the art form as high fashion proved its monetary and cultural value.

Drawn from collections of some of Elanthias renowned fashionistas, we present a sample of remarkable design and creativity demonstrating the use of both rote magic and rote fashion.

VIPERS You see Lady Lysistrata Scio Nalfein. She appears to be an Elf. She appears to be utterly ageless and has an imperious aura despite her unremarkable height. She has crackling pools of dark flames for eyes and an ethereal perfection to her luminescent white skin. She has a mass of hissing, slender black vipers for hair, descending nearly to the ground in a gently writhing tangle. The serpents are in a constant state of motion, slithering and slinking all over her form. She is wearing a thrice-wrapped constricting steel tentacle choker, some layered semi-sheer ashen gossamer robes darkening toward the train of inky tendrils, and a coraesine ring-of-flames solitude band. Beneath the glamour ... She is average height and appears to be an adult. She has slanting, mismatched grey and black eyes and intensely pale skin. She has long, glass-smooth deep scarlet hair swept back from a sharp widow's peak to stream glistening and perfectly straight almost to the ground. She has a refined collection of quintessentially Elven features, from the sharply defined cheekbones and patrician nose to the delicate outline of her jaw. She is wearing a brilliant-cut black diamond ferroniere, a blazing conflagration of wind-whipped spectral flames, some trailing ebony satin robes with thin chains draped across the matching deep v-neckline and back, an enruned knuckle-to-elbow black leather bracer, a coraesine ring-of-flames solitude band, and some vampless black leather ankle-boots.

SMOKE You see Lord Japhrimel Laurentiu Faendryl the Loremaster. His race is difficult to ascertain. He is surrounded by a cloud of dark smoke that partially obscures his form. He is unnaturally tall, and his age is indiscernable. He has shadowed eyes that glow with a fiery red light, and his skin is completely black with soot. He has ember orange hair that flows seamlessly into the haze around him and appears to be smoldering. The smoke swirls around him like a serpent, twisting and twining with chaotic, yet smooth, motion. He has a series of lor and despanal rings set along the slender tips of his pointed ears, a stylized Faendryl crest tattoo on his wrist, an inky black sigil, a twisted coraesine hoop in his left eyebrow, and an eahnor-hued airship tattoo on his arm. He is wearing an ember orange brocade cravat secured with a brilliant firestone flame, an ash and charcoal bourde longcoat smoldering with fire opal motes, an ember and charcaol bourde vest with flame-etched buttons over a high-collared charcoal black shirt bound with a flame-etched copper link belt, some supple charcoal leather gloves with singed fingertips, a fused lor and sephwir wedding ring, a gold-stringed black canvas bag, some pleated ebon cotton trousers bound with a series of silver buttons, and some polished charcoal leather shoes trimmed with filaments of gleaming copper.

FOXFIRE You see Riend Ar'Fiernel the Master Artisan. She appears to be humanoid, but her features shift erratically between sylvan and human, without settling on either. She manifests an imperious air between her imposing height and penetrating gaze. Her shifting form fades in and out of plane, making her age impossible to estimate. The flickering malachite green glow of her swirling eyes obscures any whites, and the refulgence washes the color from her preternatural, pallid countenance. Pulled loose from the intricate chignon at her crown, strands of her long hellebore black hair float in a constant state of motion around her. Tendrils of plasma lash out from the tempestuous corona of foxfire green that surrounds her. She has a dim cloud of ethereal wisps furiously whirling around her. The silver locket she wears glows softly at her throat, the hovering image of a sirenflower reflecting across its ornate cover. Opulent as her emerald satin gown appears with its daringly low-cut decolletage and full, bustled skirts, closer inspection reveals the gown to be dated in style. A dark crimson stain blooms across the gowns stomacher, like a rose slowly unfurling its petals. Just as the blood soaks completely through the corset panels, spreading down the skirts like a watercolor painting, the act reverses itself until the stain disappears completely. Beneath her skirts, impossibly tall gilt-traced chopines are lifted high on fel heels carved into a startling mosaic of human faces locked in horror.

Representations from the 5119 FashionCon Gala, where the theme was the classic elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

EARTH You see Lord Respen Silverclaw Vaalor the Blackguard. He appears to be an Elf. He is very tall. He appears to be youthful. He has piercing blue-grey eyes and smoothly tanned skin. He has short, spiked raven black hair with short up-swept bangs. He has well-muscled shoulders and arms. He is wearing a coronet of twisted vines studded with dark green leaves, a moss-covered bark amulet, a jewel studded forest green coat, a simple forest green velvet cloak, a forest green buckskin vest, a platinum and emerald ivy leaf, a green silk shirt, a twined dark green ivy and wiregrass bracelet, a twined dark green ivy and wiregrass bracelet, a gathered green velvet pouch, some brown wool pants, and some dark ankle-strapped sandals.

AIR You see Anweth the Windtalker. She appears to be a Sylvankind of the Tyesteron D'ahranal. She is shorter than average. She appears to be young. She has snow-lashed pallid blue eyes and ivory skin. She has very long, straight frost white hair strewn with crystal snowflakes. She has a well-defined, heart-shaped face and set of naturally blue-tinged, full lips. She is wearing a sun-shaped petrified haon pin, a pair of white feathered wings, a sleeveless white damask gown with a long night-hued organza sweep train over a powdery white lace underskirt, a pair of ribbon-tied sheer silk stockings, and some blue suede shoes embroidered with tiny clouds.

FIRE You see Lord Kaldiniel Naevaris Vaalor the Crimson Legion Reservist. He appears to be an Elf. He is tall. He appears to be youthful. He has bright pale marine blue eyes and lightly tanned skin. He has short, crimson-tipped silver hair up-swept into a riotous mass of spikes atop his head. He has a chiseled, angular face, a straight nose and a thin, smooth scar running just underneath his left eye. He is wearing a silver dragonfire opal crown, a string of vermillion-streaked golden flame box elder beads, a silver-runed ruby flame talisman, a billowing crimson cape, a dark red longcoat, a crimson flame-shaped pin tipped with yellow sunstone, a gold-clasped sturdy leather pack, a crimson silk shirt, some crimson wool pants, and some golden leather thong sandals.

WATER You see High Lady Avawren Fiora Nalfein the Botanist. She appears to be an Elf. She is moderately tall and has an hourglass figure. She appears to be young and robust. She has almond-shaped glacial blue eyes and sun-kissed, unblemished skin. She has long, glossy seafoam-hued hair worn in a myriad of shell-beaded braids. She has a well-defined, oblong face, a classical nose and a plump-lipped generous mouth and a pale redness spreading over her hand. She has a delicate crimson symbol laid across the back of her neck, and arcing gently over her left ear. She is wearing a water-filled glass seaflower pendant, a low-cut thigh-slit dress of overlapping mist blue sea glass sequins, a squared sea glass bangle caged in silver filigree, a delicate silver anklet of interlinked crystal shells, and a pair of crystal-heeled slippers.

Monochrome Magic

For those seeking a more straightforward approach to fashion, there is black and white; most often, together.

The perfection of a high contrast look is hard to put into words, but the editorial team know chic when they see it. Wearing black and white head-to-toe has become an Elanthian Vogue standard, as our editor-in-chief acknowledges, it's the easiest formula for an elegant, put-together look. Whether it's a white gown with black accessories, or a white blouse paired with this season's must-have black pants or a bourde waistcoat, it's hard to mess up this timeless, no fuss, color combination. You don't have to spend time worrying about what accessories will coordinate since black and white goes with everything from crimson lips to a leopard-print sandal.

Add in the current mood of restraint with cropped hairstyles, tight lacing, rigid collars, or manacle style bracelets, and you have a cutting-edge look that will see you through to winter when everything is generally hidden beneath fur.

In case you needed more proof, the team have collected some of their favorite outfit pieces that highlight why this graphic way of dressing is a lifestyle not a passing trend.

BLACK with WHITE

He is wearing a black leather satchel clasped with an onyx eye slung over one shoulder, a long black leather duster buckled in steel, a black leather vest buckled in eahnor across the chest over a loose-necked white silk shirt, a silver-haloed onyx crescent ring, a pair of loose stygian black leather trousers, and some tooled black leather shoes.

WHITE with BLACK

She has beautifully onyx-outlined eyes.
She is wearing a fur-mantled snow white leather greatcloak, an ivory-striped black satin waistcoat over a semi-sheer white linen tunic, some slim-cut black linen pants, and some slouched white leather boots.

All of the items can be found on the shelves of the town boutique shops. Check out Elaraeyn's Boutique and Dari's Clothiers in Wehnimer's Landing, Flashfeet's Fine Fashions and Two Tarts Trading Company in Icemule Trace, Ta'Vaalor Men's Clothier, and the Island Boutique in Mist Harbor.

To finish your outfit, add an interlocking triple ring in varying shades of red glaes or a pair of carmine silk gloves and a crimson leather belt for a daring splash of color. Alternatively, pick up an amulet or charm from your local magic shop or peruse the pawnshop and jewelry tables for a striking piece that can be imbedded with magic of your choosing.