#i imagine the relationship between saxós and drús to be like a scarf and a hijab

[magicalmanhattanproject]

Pixandrian Customs: the Saxós and the Drús

Here is an exciting piece of trivia that may be of interest: the sun is bright. Very bright, in fact. This fact is especially relevant to Pixandrians. Traveling long distances without a means to protect themselves from the sun is something that Pixandrians prefer to avoid. 

Kohl, known as píyal to Pixandrians, is a popular choice, of course. However, it’s less useful for laborers who may sweat it off throughout the day or for people who simply don’t enjoy the sensation of foreign materials caked onto their face. 

For the working Pixandrian, the saxós provides a comfortable alternative. It’s a veil made of loosely woven linen, usually undyed, that covers the eyes, nose, and mouth. Typically, it will be pinned in place over a hood or headscarf and will drape about halfway down the chest. This is simply to make sure there is enough fabric to cover the face effectively; a shorter than average saxós would not be considered immodest. Rather, the saxós is also prized for its ability to keep sand out of one’s face. 

Etiquette surrounding the saxós usually forbids wearing it inside or during casual conversation. While few people would be stupid enough to raise their saxós during a sandstorm, Pixandrians–as with most other nations–prefer to communicate face to face when possible. The saxós will be flipped back over the head when not in use to keep it out of the way, though, again, there is no cultural taboo against simply removing it altogether if one prefers. In fact, there are Pixandrians who don’t bother with a saxós. 

The item that no Pixandrian will leave their home without is the drús. To an outside observer, the saxós and the drús are nearly indistinguishable. The fabric of the drús is more likely to be dyed, but that is not a guarantee, and it is also a loosely woven linen veil that covers the entire face. In fact, poorer Pixandrians may also use their saxós as a drús. The primary difference between the two is the context. 

The drús is worn by attendees at funerals and deathbeds, by those who go to pay their respects at the Vigil, by those who dress bodies for burial, and by clerics giving services of remembrance and mourning. The word “drús” is also used to describe the burial shroud that a Pixandrian will be wrapped in before their inevitable return to the desert. Whether this superstition serves to ward off death or to invite it in amongst the mourners is unclear, but even guests who have no part in Pixandrian religion will not be permitted in the aforementioned situations without wearing a drús themself. 

There is only one person who steps onto Pixandrian sands who will not be asked to wear the drús should the need arise: the Copper King himself. Indeed, Lenva Pikseste the Third was famously removed from his position when he was seen wearing the drús at the Vigil. These days, it’s rare for Copper Kings to even wear saxóso, preferring píyale or headscarves that leave the eyes exposed. 

#pixandrian tag #empires smp #esmp #pixandria #pixlriffs #empiressmp #conlanging #worldbuilding #a bit more explanation ooc here #i imagine the relationship between saxós and drús to be like a scarf and a hijab #like you can totally use a scarf as a hijab #but using a hijab as a scarf is jsut kinda Not A Thing