A blog for people that like D&D 4th edition

I am Arran, god of the most important thing

Perfect

Fashion is one of my favourite worldbuilding components and choosing which way I want characters to look, is one part of research that is more fun than work. The use of different styles give each culture a defined feel and could act as a symbol of all kinds of lands in your WIP. Since it is your WIP, you can play with different elements of the gowns and pay fast and loose with the styles.

(If you want a more in-depth look at the structure of gowns and the composition of gowns have a look here)

Kirtle

The kirtle was technically an under dress to be worn under a grander gown though some women wore it as a gown itself over their chemise. The kirtle could be made of any material and worn by any woman of any rank. It could be laced at the back, front and even, though rarely, the side.

Sarafan

The sarafan is a traditional Russian dress worn mainly by the peasants (since Peter the Great banned traditional Russian costumes from the nobility in order to drag them toward Westernization). It rather resembles a pinafore and often worm under a lighter gown like a slip. During the reign of Nicholas I, the sarafan was allowed to be worn by the women of the Royal court. They fancied up the sarafan, adding a popular boat-line neckline and long dragging sleeves. It is one of my favourite looks of all time.

Gamurra

This was the most popular gown in Renaissance Italy. The waist was high, usually pleated beneath the bust and had a square neckline. The gown would be worn over the lady's chemise and corset and perhaps another under dress. It was worn by both nobles and commoners.

Burgundian Gowns/Houppelande

These gowns were high-waisted, belted underneath the bust. The neckline was classically shaped in a V, often showing off another fabric underneath. These gowns were worn by highborn women.

The Farthingale

This gown is named after the structure that held it in place. The skirts would be stretched into a dome-like, bell-jar shape, often fitted about the waist over a bum-roll (stop sniggering) a piece of padded fabric hung about the waist to widen the skirt's distance from the bodice. You know what they say, the bigger the Farthingale the bigger the rank. Worn through the 15th & 16th centuries.

Robe à l'Anglaise

This gown is the classic silhouette of the 18th century. The sleeves usually stopped at the elbow. The neckline was usually cut square. The bodice could be done up in front by laces or buttons. The skirts usually were supported by panniers and often reached staggering girth.

Robe à la Française

This French gown was similar to the Robe à l'Anglaise only that the back featured a train made from pleated fabric that draped from the shoulders to the floor. The gown often opened at the front to show another material beneath.

Robe à la Polonaise

The Robe à la Polonaise was similar to the last two gowns excepting a skirt that featured an overskirt which was picked up and pleated to show the under skirt.

Chiton

Also called wind towers and wind scoops, windcatchers have been used in North Africa and the Middle East for thousands of years to provide natural ventilation & passive cooling. They fell out of popularity after the introduction of HVAC systems, but are now experiencing a revival because they’re so practical and cost-effective. Here’s how they work:

Not only are they an engineering masterpiece–they’re gorgeous

Source: [x]

Albert Sauros, Noted Spiritualist, knows his audience. They don’t have patience for a full-length holy book. As soon as he finds a print shop, he’ll be passing these out to every egg-layer he finds.

We’re proud to announce that, thanks to a brave kobold-owned print-shop that shall remain nameless, the initial order of 500 standard print and 60 waterproof editions are now being printed, to be passed out along Albert’s travels, in a variety of languages (as indicated on the back cover). 

Rumors that Albert Sauros and his pint-sized companions have gone underground as “Steverino and the Lightning Lizard Experience” to escape the consequences of some poorly planned but very justified disestablishmentarianism are scurrilous libel of the highest order. We do, however, wish to congratulate Steverino and the Lightning Lizard Experience on a series of very well received gigs, and we look forward to more from them in the future.

This month’s blessed trade is instructional tomes and scrolls. Texts on smithing, farming, strategy, work crafts and art are particularly valued. You are encouraged to use your self-improvement barter goods to trade for these sorts of books with outsiders, and share their knowledge with your brothers and sisters. 

Wishing all of you a warm and well-defended winter season, and for our Aarakocra brothers and sisters, we wish you a very merry St. Puffin’s day!

(Local Monitors are encouraged to follow the reading of this letter with local announcements.)

broke d&d taverns: filled with 50+ people yet only one barman (is often the landlord is just always on shift???) and one floor staff, chef is  n e v e r  heard of, is there even more than one chef? How long are the shifts? Drinks are a pathetically small menu with barely one of each kind of beverage, usually just called ale (wtf just ale? is it dark, amber, light, hoppy, malty??), elvish wine, mead, and dwarven ale. Food? okay, basically just full englishes at any given hour, not healthy or diverse but enjoyable enough if you don’t visit regularly (would explain lack of chefs!). What’s the service time on that food? I hear people be picking bacon off trays as it’s carried past?? HOW ARE THEY CHARGING FOR THAT SHIT?? WHO’s KEEPING TRACK OF THE BILLS?? Also open in at least half capacity all night long every night!?!

I SEE YOU JERRY ‘ONE WOMAN RESTAURANT-PROPHETESS DRAN’ HOLKINS! 

I SEE YOU MATTHEW “1 BARMAID, 1 FLOOR STAFF YET INSTANT FOOD” MERCER!

NO ONE IS SLEEPING IN A TAVERN OR PUB IN THE DINING AREA, YOU GET TOLD TO LEAVE IF YOU TRY THAT ANYWHERE

woke d&d taverns: 2 bar staff, 2-3 on floor, uncoordinated checkbacks, the party is bothered at least twice. You can hear violent yelling from at least 2 kitchen staff whenever the kitchen door swings open. Opens at 8-9am (small crew of 2-3 people) shift changes at 10am (couple more), 3pm (openers leave) and 6pm (night staff). The staff are all vaguely passive aggressive when party are like that. Five meal options, and 2ish light bites. DM gets to create bunch of silly drink names and uses them interchangeably between pubs depending on regions. 5 beers, 4 whiskeys, 3-4 ciders, 2-3 wines, and a brandy. ORDER AND PAY AT SAME TIME!  How often do they have music? No motherfucker is playing lute at 11pm on the regular at the local.

“LAST ORDERS!”…half hour later *waitress* “if you ain’t got rooms GTFO now! I have kids and need to be up at 6am! *Points at barman* “He doesn’t have kids but he’s covering an midday shift so he should have been gone an hour ago!”

ADDITIONALLY: There is a union/guild called HAMAG; Hospitality Against Mercenaries and Adventurers Guild, that makes sure all adventurers are legally contracted to sign a waver and deposit gold as insurance for damages because of the sheer ridiculous amount of violence these people bring to the industry. Spontaneous pub brawls are cracked down upon, there are bouncers, and all staff have cudgels. Absolutely no motherfucker is going to run a pub when it’s at constant peril of being vandalised by nigh unkillable magical superheroes every week.

The long and short, I am  V E R Y petty when it comes to logistical details about the service/hospitality industry. And before you @me I am aware pubs and taverns are filler backdrops for revelry/meet-ups and whatever but my gods the fiscal irresponsibility kills me!