Vaiho

Fear of being discovered? No, not at all, most humans wouldn't notice someone changing hair color even if it was mid conversation!

— Vin

Vaiho is a secretive people living in the fringes of the Ionian society or hiding in plain sight in their midst. There are also several settlements living in plain sight outside the Ionian Empire, even though they might disguise themselves if travelers pass through. Their ability to change their looks at whim has defined their whole society. When born they are pale with white hair that can seem almost like silver and colorless eyes, but most learn to change their appearance at a very young age.
The Vaiho live in secrecy due to the fear and mistrust of the other races. Tales of Vaiho, changelings as they're called by other races, are accused of stealing children and trading them with their own. They're also seen as deceitful as there have been Vaiho using their gift of change to do ill deeds. The Vaiho who lives within a non-Vaiho society usually live as only one alter-ego and might get a partner that is non-Vaiho. The resulting child of such a union might become a Vaiho themselves. This is believed to be the cause of the child stealing tales and is used as a cautionary tale among young Vaiho wanting to travel and see the world.

NAMING TRADITIONS

Family Names

Different Vaiho villages have somewhat different naming conventions for last names, but a few common names are Lassi, Lahti, Niemi and Vuolo.

Unisex Names

The Vaiho have no division between the feminine and masculine as a persons gender can change from day to day, hour to hour depending on their mood. Therefor children are given gender neutral names, which traditionally could be Vinsa, Tuulia or Koria but with time the naming convention went more monosyllabic - Vinsa became Vin, Tuulia became Tuu and Koria, Kor. Some of the elder Vaiho still cling to the old ways though and some younglings have taken to naming at least one alter ego with a polysyllabic name.

Other Names

Vaiho sometimes have one or multiple alter egos, aspects of themselves that they feel more comfortable with or that they use to travel among non-Vaihos with. There are no naming conventions for the alter-egos but custom is to use a culturally appropriate name to easier blend in on the Outside.

IDEALS

Gender Ideals

There is no decisive way to view gender in a society where it can change at any time. Some prefer to have one gender, others change over their life while some change after mood. The spectrum is as wide as there are Vaihos. The ideal is to express your true self whatever that might be.

Beauty Ideals

Due to their ability to change their appearance the Vaiho value external beauty and some Vaiho travel the lands looking for the most beautiful, extravagant or unique people they can find. These looks or aspects they back to their settlements, gaining fame and renown. This also help expand the communal pool to change in to. Looks are traded freely and those with the gift to combine them in the most unique and pleasant way is usually those who are considered most beautiful.

Fashion

The Vaiho have a elaborate sense of fashion. Traditionally loose fitting clothes are preferred, to accommodate a potential shift in body shape. Most common is a large piece of fabric that is wrapped around the body in different types of traditional wraps and not any piece of fabric will do, the different fabrics for the different wraps are meticulously crafted. A wrap that will go around the waist and over one shoulder uses a different weave technique than a wrap that will go over both shoulders and be accented by a sash. Everyday clothes are usually colorful but only have minor embroidery the edges woven into the fabric. Sometimes the fabric is sown up to a more substantial garment, still loose fitting. Most common are robes with wide arms that are tied with a sash. These are often more heavily decorated with embroidery along the sash, the edge of the arms and at the bottom hem. Capes are often worn if an extra layer is needed.

There are occasions when a tight fitting bodies are used, usually when preforming traditional dances the dancers wear tight fitting clothes to accentuate the body shape customary to the dance. Some of the more fashion interested Vaiho also use close fitting clothes to further highlight a particular body part or aspect, combining the body with clothes and decoration to embody a certain aspect or just turn everyone's heads with their stunning visage.

Tattoos, piercings and scars

The tradition of tattooing and piercing yourself is not widespread throughout all of Vaiho societies and is usually only found in the south-eastern settlements. Tattoos are the most common ones and while some go to the process of actually needle ink into their skin, the most common way is to incorporate it as a part of the design of the look, much in the same way as birthmarks and hair color is incorporated. The non-permanent nature of the tattoo, with freedom to change color, location and style at a whim compared to other species have rendered it just another aspect of the look.

Piercings are similar but takes longer to master the shape-changing aspect of, due to it's more invasive execution. Younger Vaiho are unable to create, move or remove a puncture wound like that, small as it might be, on a whim and therefor piercings are more rare. The few who master the execution of flexible piercings are therefor held in higher regard as their shape-changing skills clearly is above the norm. These Vaiho are also know to combine all the aspects of shapeshifting, turning their bodies into true works of art.

Scars are the most difficult to master the shapeshifting aspects of. Minor scars are easily hidden but deeper scars are almost impossible to shape-change away. The aspect of how the scar came to be also affects how easily it can be removed or changed. A scar connected to a traumatic event, even if the scar itself might be small, resist the shape-changing as if the subconsciousness of the person have integrated it to be a part of the the person regardless of looks. This is of course linked to the skill of shape-changing, but there have been shape-changing masters throughout history that have gotten a scar from a very traumatic event and struggled for years to be able to control it.

Scars are a part of our history as a person and sometimes our bodies refuse to forget, even though the mind might.

— Laavala, severe burns

Art by Juno (haematicartwork.tumblr.com).

Generated with Artbreeder