Design
Presentation matters. At court, it is often said that beautiful looks reflect a beautiful soul, and also whispered that one whose soul is corrupt will display physical signs of that corruption.
Despite wiser words on the subject by Shinsei and other sages, a skilled samurai who dresses shabbily will often be seen as lesser than the barely competent one who is well dressed.
Design covers the act of making clothes for times of peace and formal occasions. After all, arms and armour are not appropriate for all situations in a samurai’s life, much as some individuals might lament this reality.
However, that does not mean that a samurai attending court can afford to choose their garments with any less care than when they take to the battlefield. Carefully selected clothes and adornments are vital weapons and armour to courtiers, allowing them to send subtle signals to others and avoid humiliation at the hands of enemies. Thus, the creation, maintenance, and assessment of clothing is an important field of expertise, allowing a character to create and improve on items worn in many formal situations.
Design Approaches
The Design skill can be used with the appropriate rings as follows:- Restore Approach (Earth Ring): Stitching up a tear in a damaged piece of clothing, storing a piece of clothing such that it will not degrade, replacing lost parts of a piece of clothing.
- Adapt Approach (Water Ring): Repurposing an old piece of clothing to serve a new function, adding a new element to an outfit to let it function in different circumstances, turning an old piece of clothing into raw materials for a new project.
- Invent Approach (Fire Ring): Sewing a new piece of clothing, inventing a new style, crafting a new accessory, conjecturing about possible new trends in clothing.
- Refine Approach (Air Ring): Improving an existing piece of clothing with embellishment, choosing clothes that send a specific message, adding filigree to a piece of jewellery that enhances its beauty.
- Attune Approach (Void Ring): Learning the deeper purpose for which a piece of clothing was made, discerning whether a worn item has any supernatural features, awakening the supernatural properties slumbering in an object of power.