literature

Masks of the Tarael

Deviation Actions

Published: Jan 28, 2018

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Literature Text

General Information:

For the Tarael species, masks are a very important part of their culture for a number reasons, with most all of them relating to one very important piece of anatomy: their mouths. Within a mouth of a Tarael are large, venomous fangs that can impart anything between a light cold-like illness or a near-lethal reaction, depending on the species and exposure that the Tarael had bitten. The mouth of the Tarael is held in very high importance not only for the hunting and consumption of prey, but also in bonding, reproduction and spiritual importance. Due to this intimate connection with their mouths, the Tarael have, since the dawn of their earliest civilizations as tribes across their homeworld, have held a cultural taboo and norm that the mouth should be covered and unseen in public areas.

Much like how ankles are to the old Victorians, or perhaps even breasts are to modern-day earth-goers, the mouth of the Tarael plays an important part to very personal matters but is not inherently sexual in nature. It isn't uncommon for one to see a Tarael's mouth in a public setting if they are feeding a child or eating food (though most places that serve food are built with more private booths than what is seen on earth), but it is otherwise considered crude to have it visible otherwise. Private settings are another matter, such as within a family or friend's home, where it's considered normal and platonically (or romantically) intimate.

Due to this level of taboo and importance placed upon the wearing of such masks, it is in itself a large industry and fashion statement for the type of masks one wears. Much like the luxury of clothing and how it can be a tell for the wealth and influence of the Tarael wearing it, a mask also plays an important social queue and can speak much about the wearer in their wealth, stature and even their age in some respects, as younger Tarael generations have begun to protest such an 'archaic' symbol that has no practical purpose.

No Mask:

In public, if a Tarael is not wearing any sort of mask, they're certainly a deviant in the eyes of most others. It's looked at much the same way as someone scantily-clad or perhaps even walking around without a shirt on; not inherently illegal in any way, but certainly strange and crude, it may even get the ire of older generations. Though some Tarael simply don't care about wearing a mask (as is common for many younger Tarael), others may not even be able to afford a mask or, depending on the social situation or the context, some may even be trying to impress a possible mate.

Due to their large maws and teeth, it's very difficult for a Tarael to speak with a moving jaw, especially a language that requires a lot of rapid movement or complex tongue-to-teeth motions. The language of the Tarael has developed with this challenge, evolving into something spoken completely with a static, unmoving jaw, and most of the sounds being made with the lips or the tongue behind closed teeth. If a Tarael is speaking while moving their jaw or otherwise showing off their teeth, it's unspoken, but culturally-known that they are trying to show off to a mate. Sharp, cared-for and shapely fangs are seen as aesthetically pleasing.

Paper / Disposable / Temporary:

The most common and easy-to-get masks are those that are simply disposable. Looking similar to masks one might wear on earth while being ill, they are typically made of paper or other disposable materials, and are the kind most often handed out freely in a variety of social and cultural situations. This is the kind most-often seen on younger Tarael, as they're inexpensive to purchase, come in a variety of colors, and cost very little to continue purchasing as the young Tarael grows into their adult size.

Leather / Cloth:

A good middle road between expense and durability, leather and cloth masks are quite common for Tarael with little money to spare or simply don't bother with luxurious or otherwise expensive masks. They are relatively inexpensive to customize, with many Tarael dying the fabric to be a variety of colors or painting symbols and other things on their masks. One of the most common insignias or shapes is stylized mouths if only because, well, why not? Many older Tarael don't apparently find such a logic all that amusing.

Metal / Stone:

Often considered one of the most durable (and expensive) of the mask types, many wealthy Tarael can be seen wearing ones made of various kinds of metal or precious gemstones. Those who really love to flaunt their wealth may even have the metal or stone imported from another planet and carefully crafted to fit their face perfectly, keeping the aches and pains of an ill-fitting mask something they never have to worry about. It similarly isn't uncommon to see painted masks of this type, but most often they're simply engraved, bejeweled or otherwise decorated.

Full-Face Mask:

What's more lovely than a full-face mask? Considered perhaps the most graceful and beautiful of the whole lot, full-face masks are often made out of metal, porcelain or high-grade plastic and are the items almost always decorated or customized to fit the wearer. The variety that these come in is numerous, as many as there are Tarael themselves. If your Tarael is particularly cheeky, one may even find a half-mask, with the mouth area exposed and the eyes covered. These are another middle-road in terms of cost, as it depends on the material that the mask is made from and the level of detail in the decoration, though many Tarael with any artistic ability like to create their own. The market for these in the Shun'ja district is very large.

Improvised / Other:

If a Tarael for any reason has no mask and wants to keep their mouth covered, it isn't entirely uncommon to see improvised masks used in place of any of the options above. There are all sorts of items that can be used in-place for permanent masks, such as clothing, scarves, ripped cloth pieces--anything that would cover the lower half of the face and is mostly comfortable (ish) to wear makes a good candidate for being an improvised mask. Many Tarael consider the attempt at a mask far more respectful than one who doesn't try at all and goes maskless.

masks original_species tarael open_species

Masks are an important aspect of the Tarael culture; here's a little informational guide to help you understand all the different kinds often seen in the species!