Baluster Shanya came by today. I don't know why. I think her rather nosy. They all are aren't they. She asked about the fabric hanging on the wall above my bed. I wanted to yell at her. Tell her she didn't deserve to even look at it. What could she possibly understand about this blessing from the sea! But I couldn't. I had to keep it a secret.
For her.
And for all of us.
I told her it was just a pretty fabric that was passed down from my ma, and that I just kept it over the bed because it made me think of her. She wanted to know what it was made of and I told her I didn't know. That Baluster bitch said I looked ill, and I quickly concurred. I didn't feel well. Not at all. She said I should lie down and that she would take her leave. I nodded and showed her the door. I remember her looking back so 'concerned'. Biting her dumb lip and pretending to be worried about me. I thanked her and told her that we'd have to meet again in a few days when I felt better and closed the door in her dumb face.
I vomited after that - I was so upset.
Then I slept.
- from the diary of Nina Roscet
Mollusks extrude a group of filaments that allow them to adhere to rocky surfaces in the ocean. These filaments, called byssus or byssal, are characterized by their uncanny combination of strength and elasticity. Byssus manages to adhere to the rocks despite the presence of water which normally degrades adhesive properties in man-made glues.
In the fishing town of
Byssal Sound, mollusks such as the
Big Sounder(species:a2274833-8269-40b6-adf1-2d6eb7dc43a9) are prized and are considered the village's life-blood. These filaments, referred to as "beards", are removed during harvest or before cooking and collected. This collection of byssus is given to @[Illyana Otama who has discovered the secrets to weaving the fibers into fabric. Incredibly lightweight and warm, this material was used by Otama to create gloves and stockings for the men and women of Byssal Sound, who worked so hard in the winter.
Those who have watched Illyana Otama's process for weaving this fabric liken it to a spiritual experience. They say Otama signs to the byssus in a language they don't understand, as though awakening the threads to their new purpose outside of the ocean. Townsfolk enamored with her mysterious techniques and unique philosophy have made her a kind of spiritual advisor, kept secret from the Structuralist officials the oversee the town.
The fabric has become a sacred material to the citizens of Byssal Sound, who now request Otama use her skill to create small artistic tapestries instead of something more practical. Otama obliges, and the people feel as though her weaves speak to them in a way that Structuralism, the official religion of the territory, does not. No one discusses this aspect of the fabric, not even to each other, as it could be considered blasphemous and yield a severe punishment.
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