{"id":41234,"date":"2023-07-06T15:40:29","date_gmt":"2023-07-06T03:40:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/?p=41234"},"modified":"2023-07-06T21:12:31","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T09:12:31","slug":"styling-characters-in-the-gathering-of-the-lost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/2023\/07\/06\/styling-characters-in-the-gathering-of-the-lost\/","title":{"rendered":"Styling Characters in \u201cThe Gathering of the Lost\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Last week, inspired by Kim Falconer\u2019s More Than Meets the Eye: Styling Characters<\/strong> post on Supernatural Underground<\/a>, I took a closer look at styling characters in The Heir of Night <\/em><\/strong><\/a>(Heir)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The premise of Kim\u2019s post is that a character\u2019s depiction through \u201cstyle\u201d, whether clothing or arms, can provide insight into their personality, as well as their part of the story\u2019s narrative arc, or their current mood and motivation.
\n.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

.<\/span>
\nIn last week\u2019s post<\/strong> I also addressed \u201cWhen to Style\u201d, which I won\u2019t repeat here, so you may like to click back<\/a> if you\u2019re new to this post series or just want to refresh.
\n.<\/span><\/p>\n

Styling Characters in The Gathering Of The Lost<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

.<\/span>
\nToday the spotlight\u2019s on Book #2 in The Wall Of Night<\/strong><\/a> series: The Gathering of the Lost<\/em><\/strong><\/a> (Gathering<\/em>.)<\/p>\n

\"\"

USA: Current cover<\/p><\/div>\n

Last week, I set the scene with a brief outline of The Wall of Night environment, which is where the chief part of the Heir<\/em> action takes place. In Gathering<\/em>, the scene shifts substantially, to the Southern Realms of the world of Haarth \u2013 chiefly the city state of Ij, in the region known as the River, then farther south to the independent Duchy of Emer.<\/p>\n

Although the story still follows the central characters from Heir<\/em> they\u2019re operating in a very different environment, which opens the door to styling changes \u2013 both for the characters that readers already know, and when new characters and settings are introduced.<\/p>\n

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“The Heir Of Night” map: artist, Peter Fitzpatrick<\/p><\/div>\n

Since there are a lot of characters, those mentioned are only a selection, not a comprehensive list. \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n

The Heralds of the Guild: Jehane Mor and Tarathan of Ar<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Guild of Heralds operates throughout the Southern Realms but is most prominent on the River, where it originated. Heralds always ride in pairs that between them possess powers of finding<\/em> and concealment<\/em>, and who appear to have a symbiotic bond, chiefly evident by their practice of speaking with \u201cone voice.\u201d They carry dispatches, but also function as emissaries between rulers and the various states of the Southern Realms.<\/p>\n

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Full UK\/AU\/NZ cover<\/p><\/div>\n

Being an \u201corder\u201d, although not a religious one, the heralds wear what is essentially a uniform. Accordingly, their style was established from the outset in Heir<\/em>, when they arrived on the Wall with a secret message for the Earl of Night, and does not change in Gathering<\/em>:<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/em>They were both of middle height and clad alike in grey, their long cloaks cast back. A badge pinned each cloak on the left shoulder and a dagger was sheathed at their belts. Both their faces were drawn and weary, their clothes mired from the road\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Heralds spend most of their time traveling, so in terms of styling choice, their clothing was always going to be in the grey or brown spectrum, i.e. to attract less attention in wild and lonely places, as well as blending with that \u201cmire from the road.\u201d Since brown is perceived as rustic in styling terms, and the heralds are emissaries as well as messengers, that made grey the logical choice.<\/p>\n

When the heralds first appear, they are only carrying daggers, but it\u2019s clarified in Gathering<\/em> that they go armed when traveling beyond the River. In Jehane Mor\u2019s case, that\u2019s still only with what a Derai warrior (Tirorn) calls her \u201ctoy knife\u201d<\/em><\/span>, but Tarathan carries \u201c<\/em>a pair of short, curved swords strapped to his back\u201d<\/em> <\/span>and also uses a \u201c<\/em>horseman’s curved bow<\/em>.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

As noted last week, styling should only convey detail that matters to the story. In the heralds\u2019 case, their grey garb reflects their calling. The style of Tarathan\u2019s weapons is also noted for a reason, which (I hope!) becomes clear once his backstory is revealed.<\/p>\n

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Original US cover<\/p><\/div>\n

The Patrol and Aravenor<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

One reason heralds do not go armed on the River is because \u201cthe peace of road and river\u201d<\/em> <\/span>is maintained by the Patrol. When first met, very early in the River narrative, readers learn only that they are a \u201cmounted unit\u201d<\/em><\/span> and \u201csilent behind their visors.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Soon after, the heralds meet the Patrol captain called Aravenor, whose face is also covered by \u201cthe trademark visored helm.\u201d<\/em> <\/span>At this point, it\u2019s also disclosed that \u201cthe Patrol never revealed their faces, or entered a town or city, or stayed in any of the inns along the main road.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the helms, though, that lead a young woman in the neighbouring realm of Emer to speculate that, \u201c\u2026<\/span>the Patrol are really demons bound to the River\u2019s service and that is why they never show their faces to anyone.\u201d<\/span> <\/em><\/p>\n

In terms of the Patrol\u2019s styling, the helmets are the chief focus because of the associated secrecy. Although because they\u2019re a mounted force, it\u2019s not just the riders that go armored, but the horses as well:<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026the first of the <\/em>of the riders emerged through the fog. The heralds saw the horse’s head first, splitting the white air, its ears forward and nostrils flared. A second later the spiked helmet of its rider appeared, turning slowly in a sweep of road and wood. The visor was lowered, concealing the rider’s face, and the horse too was armored, its breath curling through the metal chanfron as it walked forward. Together, horse and rider looked like some beast of ancient legend\u2014or something altogether stranger, a shape of night itself emerging from the mist.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The styling, together with the fog, is partly scene setting for what\u2019s currently afoot, partly reinforcing the armed strength of the Patrol (which is important to this part of the story) \u2013 but also underlines that the Patrol is one of the great mysteries of the River lands.<\/p>\n

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The “blue” UK cover<\/p><\/div>\n

Raven<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

From the River, the story shifts to Emer, in particular its wild and dangerous northern march (Normarch.) Emer is known for its heavily armored Emerian knights (think Burgundy in the mid-to-late Middle Ages) but one of the first characters readers meet is a hedge knight called Raven.<\/p>\n

Hedge knights are effectively swords-for-hire. They may serve a ruler or lesser lord for a period, but are not retainers. As such they follow conflicts where extra swords are needed, and some may also pursue the tourney circuit in the hopes of prize money. When hedge knights come together as a company, they would definitely be termed mercenaries, but as the \u201chedge\u201d suggests, most spend a great deal of their lives on the road and live rough while doing so.<\/p>\n

Clearly, Raven\u2019s styling needs to reflect the hedge knight lifestyle, so here\u2019s how he first appears:<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/em>The rider \u2026 looked decidedly shabby in an old-fashioned ringmail shirt beneath a patched tunic, and the pot helm on his head had clearly seen better days.\u201c<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

A little later, the character with him (Carick) decides that, \u201c\u2026<\/em>the shabbiness of Raven’s first appearance did not improve upon closer inspection. The old-fashioned sark had been mended with horn and bone in places, and his cracked leather gauntlets, like the helmet, had definitely seen better days. Carick noted other signs of the disreputable as well: the tattoos glimpsed between the edge of the knight’s sleeves and his gloves, the fetishes of bone and feather tied as a crest to his helmet\u2014and horses that answered to a whistle.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Sufficient, I hope, for readers to glean that Raven may be a companion of dubious provenance. He\u2019s very handy in a fight, though, as Carick learns soon enough.<\/p>\n

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Full US Cover (Original)<\/p><\/div>\n

Styling Armor: Audin; The Lightning Knights; Asantir<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Emerian narrative centres around knights-in-training, melees, battles, and a grand midsummer tournament, so armor and weapons play a\u00a0 major part in styling the story. As with the Derai warriors in Heir<\/em>, given readers know this is a militarized society, a certain amount can be taken for granted except when detail matters to the narrative.<\/p>\n

For example, one of the knights-in-training is Audin, nephew to the Duke of Emer. In general, this is not emphasized, but when conflict comes, Carick notices \u201c\u2026<\/em>the black oak of Emer on his jupon, set within the oak-leaf circlet of the ducal house.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The fact Audin\u2019s style includes a jupon also tells readers interested in such things a great deal about the style of armor that he\u2014and by implication his companions\u2014are wearing.<\/p>\n

Similarly, when the young knights arrive at the tourney, styling in armor and weaponry is utilized to emphasize difference (a use also noted in last week\u2019s post<\/a>) when they meet the unknown Lightning knights:<\/p>\n

\u201cKalan took in details without seeming to: blue-black armor beneath a long black surcote, and gauntleted hands resting on the pommel of a tall, two-handed sword. The guard\u2019s visor was open, but he wore his mail coif in the Ishnapuri fashion, veiling the lower part of the face, so that Kalan could detect little of his features. He did not think that the man was Ishnapuri, though, despite the coif.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Kim\u2019s originating post <\/strong><\/a>points to styling conveying information about a character\u2019s \u201cbackground and place in the world\u201d, as illustrated by the heralds\u2019 greys, Raven\u2019s rough equipage, and Audin\u2019s jupon.<\/p>\n

In the section of the book that briefly returns to the Wall of Night, readers re-met the Honor Captain, Asantir \u2013 who has been promoted since the events in Heir<\/em>. Now she\u2019s the Commander of Night and this is reflected in her styling:<\/p>\n

\u201cAsantir\u2019s clothes and armor might still be plain black, but Night\u2019s winged horse insignia on her breastplate gleamed with gold, ruby, and diamond. Even the cuffs of her gauntlets were worked with gold thread\u2014necessary, Garan knew, for the prestige of Night\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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UK release poster<\/p><\/div>\n

Returning to Malian<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

I did promise to return to Malian, when I discussed her styling in Heir<\/em>. In particular, I noted that \u201cMalian\u2019s preference is for less restrictive clothing, where it doesn\u2019t matter if she gets it dirty\u201d<\/em> and that I was \u201cpretty sure\u201d that preference would continue.<\/p>\n

At one point, she \u201csmooths<\/em> the worst of the wrinkles out of her clothes and combs at her hair with her fingers.\u201d<\/em><\/span> Later, when preparing for action, she pulls out \u201cher last clean shirt and hose.\u201d<\/em> <\/span>The shirt and hose, \u201c\u2026as well as the sleeveless tunic she pulled on over the top, were black, but of everyday fabric.\u201d<\/span> <\/em><\/p>\n

Still doing it plain and practical, in other words. Although Malian chooses apparel appropriate to the circumstances, her choices also convey a great deal more than meets the eye, including that clothes are not important to her.<\/p>\n

Next time, we\u2019ll see if that still holds true in Daughter of Blood<\/em><\/a>, (The Wall Of Night, Book Three.) Meanwhile enjoy the Styling Characters fun \u2013 I hope it offers some insight into the style options for revealing character and nuanced storytelling.<\/p>\n

~*~<\/p>\n

Previous Posts<\/span><\/h3>\n

Styling characters in The Heir of Night<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Note: This post features concurrently on Supernatural Underground.<\/a><\/em><\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Last week, inspired by Kim Falconer\u2019s More Than Meets the Eye: Styling Characters post on Supernatural Underground, I took a closer look at styling characters in The Heir of Night (Heir). The premise of Kim\u2019s post is that a character\u2019s depiction through \u201cstyle\u201d, whether clothing or arms, can provide insight into their personality, as well […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,50,30,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41234","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-about-my-books","category-about-writing","category-epicfantasy","category-supernatural-underground"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41234","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41234"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41234\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41256,"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41234\/revisions\/41256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41234"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41234"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41234"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}