Ceremonial clothing worn by opera singers and other performers among the Xun, a gel-based species native to the planet Xunne in the Drakonwing Expanse. The item comprises two lengths of fine silk in contrasting colours, bound constrictively around a Xun’s midsection and clasped with an ornate pin, which is typically a family heirloom. The Itela carries immense spiritual significance to the Xun, and for an artist to wear it is considered both an honour and a solemn duty, not to be taken lightly.
Many aspects of the Itela are laden with symbolism. For the Xun, who more closely resemble giant amoebas than humanoids, the restriction of form imposed by the ceremonial wrap is seen to confer purpose or an assumed role. This undoubtedly accounts for its prevalence in stage performances, where actors don different Itelas to denote the attributes and beliefs of the character they are playing.
The colour of the silk is also highly significant, as each shade represents a different value which is of fundamental importance to the wearer - for instance, maroon typically indicates “justice”, sky blue denotes “hope” and mossy green can be interpreted as “science” or “knowledge”. Though the wearer’s family is traditionally represented by the clasp, some lineages also adhere to particular combinations of dyes.
The use of shades of yellow in an Itela is taboo among the Xun. The atmosphere of Xunne is such that the colour yellow cannot naturally occur there, leading the Xun to hold an inherent suspicion of outsiders wearing yellow.
SEE ALSO:
The Fall of Exia [Opera]
Xu Alpha [Star]
Inkdrop Telea [Flora]
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