Eyudzeni Biiame (eh'YOO'dzeh'nee BEE'ah,mey)

Overview

The eyudzeni biiame (lit. mark of a former slave) is a silver band placed around the arm of former slaves once they obtain their freedom. It is most commonly worn around the wrist, but higher bands are sometime seen. The height, thickness, and intricacy of the band can state a great deal about the former slave's occupation and master.

Common Types

A standard biiame is approximately 1cm in width and rests somewhere on the arm. Most slaves owned by private citizens are given these upon their release from service. Variants are listed below.

• Government slaves (Shvendorii): former slaves owned by the government are presented with bands that rest at the mid-forearm. They often have the symbol of the department and city for which they worked during their servitude. These are considered honorable and those who wear them are seen as trustworthy.
• Tueori: these highly expensive and specialized slaves are given wide (3cm) bands when freed. A tueor is almost always owned by nobility and their bands have other precious metals or jewels inlaid into them, the intricacy of which is dependent on the rank of their former master. Generally, they are placed above the bicep.
• Kunmesini: the biiame of artisan slaves are engraved with a symbol representing the skill(s) they were trained in. More often than not, they are approximately 1.5cm wide and rest just above the elbow so as not to interfere with crafting.
• Marriage: these biiamei are generally a combination of whatever station the slave previously held, if applicable (ex. tueor, shvendori, etc), and something more personal to the couple, although it is always silver and worn somewhere on the arm. Often, this personal touch includes the crest or animal of the family they are marrying into.

Significance

It is given as a symbol of freedom to slaves who have either bought their freedom or had it granted to them by their former master in some other way.

Item type

Clothing / Accessory

Rarity

The biiame is a common sight among the population, particularly in cities where there is a concentration of former slaves.

Weight

5g

Dimensions

0.5-1cm

Base Price

free