Bartering Hood

Summary

The bartering hood is a detached hood worn by the party members during their travels. In Session 7, the hood serves both its traditional function as a merchant identifier and as a tool for concealment. The hood is designed to be worn like a headscarf and is typically kept around the neck like a neckerchief or towel, ready to be pulled up over the head when needed.

Properties

The bartering hood is a detached hood, essentially functioning as a headscarf without an attached garment. The hood rests around the wearer's neck when not in use, similar to how one might wear a neckerchief or towel. When pulled up over the head, it covers the wearer's face and hair, casting shadows over the eyes and facial features.

Traditionally, the bartering hood identifies the wearer as a merchant or trader during commercial transactions. However, its concealing properties make it useful for obscuring one's appearance in situations beyond bartering.

History

Session 7

In Session 7, Vasso pulls his bartering hood up as the party prepares to enter New Smoke. Rather than using the hood for its traditional bartering purpose, Vasso wears it to hide his vine-covered appearance, fearing he might be bullied in the industrial town. As one party member notes, "Vasso, I'm. I'm pulling my. My bartering hood up not for the purposes bartering, but for the purposes of sneaking, I guess, or being sneaky and being in theme."

The hood's concealing effect is significant—when Vasso wears it, his eyes appear even darker than usual. The party observes that "Vassal's eyes look even darker now that he's got the hood on." This additional shadowing helps obscure his distinctive features as the group attempts to blend in with New Smoke's population.

The casual manner in which the party discusses the hoods suggests they are standard equipment, kept accessible at all times. As described during the session, "I always imagine that the bartering hoods are like around your neck all the time. Like a neckerchief, like towels. Then you pull them up over your head."