Kassa, the Oronai beret

I don't know any other piece of headwear or indeed any piece of clothing that inspired so much patriotism and pide among the people that wear them as the beret of the Oronai.

— Yuya, the Seris adventurer, one of the entries of his diary

Origins

The first depictions of the Kassa or of an Oronai wearing it date back to the 7th century BP and on the first minted Oronai coins, two centuries later some kings choose to represent themselves wearing this piece of headwear. Its origins are uncertain, some speculate that the Kassa might derived from another, broad brimmed hat worn by farmers and travellers during the warm months.
Over time some versions of this hat became smaller and also flat, giving birth to the Kassa as we know. This hat in contrast with the previous one was worn by every Oronai male, both in the cities as well as in the rural areas.

Design

by Callyxtus

This hat is usually made of felt and usually has a mushroom shape, it's main purpose is to protect against the sun, keeping off the heat. It can be dyed in multiple colours (aside of purple because that's the colour of royalty). In later designs the mushroom-shaped part of the hat became a little taller and its shape became more wavy, something considered elegant and very fashionable for the time, even to this day.

Variants

In the Elvish-Oronai lands it is common to adorn the frontal side of the Kassa with a feather. This feather can be from whatever bird you want, usually from chicken, eagles, parrots or even small Dragon Birds. This custom was believed to have been invented by the first half elves as a tribute to their elven ancestry (In the Southern Elven lands it was common to decated hats or diadems with feathers). They felt that they were honouring both sides of their ancestry by wearing the hat of their fathers and the decorative feathers used by their mothers. But nowadays this custom has also been adopted by humans alike.

Elvish-Oronai boy wearing a Kassa by Callyxtus

As it was said, the Kassa can be dyed in every colour aside of purple because only the Kings can wear a purple Kassa, and only the monarch can combined the Kassa with a royal diadem.

A symbol of pride

It is said that the mere sight of a king wearing or weaving a Kassa in front of an Oronai army was enough to embolden it. It has become such a part of the Oronai identity that the ceremony by which Oronai citizenship is bestowed upon a foreign individual (often for meritorious services to the community or marriage to an Oronai woman) is called the Kassa ceremony because the governor of the town or the friends of the foreigner in front of the authorities place a Kassa over that person symbolizing that from then on, it's part of the Oronai peoples.

by Callyxtus

Many Oronai veterans from the campaigns of Boros The Conqueror in the Southern Elven lands wear the Kassa as a symbol of pride and comradery. And it has been said, in these territories their mixed offspring also wear this piece of headwear with great pride, and although it is considered a men's garment, in these exotic lands you can also see women (specially warrior women) wearing the Oronai beret.

Item type

Clothing / Accessory

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