Draelish Architecture and Fashion

Due to the vast array of different features that can make up any Draelish, the fashion choices and Architectural styles utilized by the clans differ according to the Affinities and preferences present.

Fashion

Because Draelish mature within the egg during most of their infancy, the females of the species do not have breasts. Instead, the women sport at most a small protrusion of the chest, purely for the form-fitting pleasure that comes during Draelish enfolding and subsequent copulation. Due to this and the natural armor provided by Draelish scales, most clothing styles are less form-fitting and caper more towards clothing styles that allow freedom of movement and that accent a Draelish's markings and scales. More substantial body coverings such as armor are usually worn in ways that do not allow any chaffing of the scales. Draelish who wear heavier armor may appear bulkier by comparison. Draelish who sport smoother scales are more comfortable with wearing more form-fitting styles and are comfortable donning armor that fits closer to their scales.
On the topic of fashion, most trends work on a clan-by-clan basis and can be heavily influenced by their Core Affinity and the needs of their everyday environment. Expressions can make typical clothing a bit harder to work with. Draelish who exhibit more robust expressions usually try to wear clothing that would enhance and draw attention to the area of the expression. Beads and other jewelry are a hot commodity among the clans, with rings being heavily worn on horns, tendrils, and digits. Color also plays a part in Draelish fashion, being present in streaks, grooves, and patterns, though rarely covering the whole body. Geometrical patterns and designs are a staple of current Draelish fashion. Fashions do well to accent colors along the lines of a shape, with the most popular shapes being of even sides, though pentagons are seen as denoting new beginnings and are thus heavily referenced. If done correctly, an occasional curve or spherical shape can do wonders, with the most popular designers finding a blend between hard edge and soft curl.
Sigils are another hallmark of Draelish fashion. Created exclusively for each customer, sigil tailors are highly valued among the clans, wielding their expertise in Draelish art and lore to create culturally-significant works of art. Outsourcing a sigil tailor for a specific sigil can be expensive, with certain prestigious and unique sigils being passed down over time from one master to another. Utilizing the innate power within each Draelish, sigils can also glow during times where the Essence of a region is most potent. Priests make use of this during times of worship and prayer, attuning and expressing themselves through different sigils that seem to almost drift off and glow.

Architecture

There are several factors that influence Draelish preferences when building structures and settlements, with the foremost being that they are a species that embrace public life with the private life. It is not uncommon for Draelish families to construct their homes in a way that connects to a common courtyard or plaza that another family frequents. This has led to what Draelish call Groves to form, with the most common residents being comprised of those who frequently nest together or even those who have never interacted before. As such, households are usually comprised of a large, open space for gatherings, with smaller rooms branching off to give the families space apart. Larger households may even have private courtyards with open walkways joining the rooms together.
This joining of the public and private life is due to several social factors. One is that, due to Essence playing a huge factor is regulating how much a population can grow, most Draelish never feel an inclination to mate as frequently as other species. It is usually after the settlement period that Groves start to form. If anything dire were to happen to the population, the Groves form as a good compensator, allowing mating pairs to form rather quickly until the Essence cap is reached. As such, most families that do form only have one child, at the most two. This leads young Draelings to search out friends across the clan, who in turn form their own Grove when the time comes. These Groves are usually constructed together, with each other's Affinity preferences playing a part in the make-up of the Grove. Draelings are even encouraged to find friends of other Affinities in the hopes of keeping the clan strong through interpersonal relationships with the various tribes. The construction of the Grove can start as early as 17, which is when Draelish reach full maturity. Though rare, a Draelish can construct their own Grove with the intent that others are welcome to jump in and join.
In conjunction with their love for geometrical fashion designs, Draelish tend to stick towards geometrical shapes when it comes to their buildings. And like their fashion, Draelish use domes to mark important buildings. Arches, breezeways, plazas, and gardens are a common site to see in a Draelish settlement. Steles, mosaics, and reliefs decorate the land, along with certain Affinity-preferred additions to make life comfortable for the different tribes. Marketplaces take the shape of broad passageways that open up into smaller rooms, with each merchant's wares being prominently displayed on open doors. Buildings may appear clustered together in relation to their Groves, but are spread farther apart between different ones, allowing gardens, plazas, and the natural landscape to be seen. This freedom to spread out is due in part to the Essence cap, but Draelish do love to make use of the land, especially since they are isolated from other species. If need be, Draelish settlements can be closer together, guarding open gardens and plazas hidden within from an outsider's point-of-view. If any buildings have more than one story, the staircase would most likely be found outside, with passageways bridging the gape between different buildings on top of the existing breezeways.
If the space allows it, important buildings such as temples are often raised up above the regular structures on a sort of dais, topped off by a dome. Governmental buildings such as council rooms, military quarters, nests, and clan archives are kept towards the heart of the area closest to an Essence hotspot. Nesting sites take priority here, followed clan archives and military quarters. These sites are often protected by nobles family groups or placed in hidden recesses of the land, with the emphasis being placed on sites that are hard to get to. Very rarely would a prominent building be placed nearby, though a priest may keep a small garden nearby for meditation and prayers, guarding the site physically as well as spiritually.

by Sam Santala

Images by Sam Santala via https://www.artstation.com/samsantala.

Known Clans

Storm's Scar

The Draelish residents of Storm's Scar harbor several different affinities, being comprised of Water, Earth, Hades, and, rarely during thunderstorms, Air. The majority are Water and Earth, leading to various fashion statements being centered around out-bursts of color against a bleak landscape and coral art and jewelry. Capes are in fashion for those with the affinity for Air in this region, with Hades Draelish taking a liking to sigils that tell of their treks through the underground caverns and deeper ravines.