Military Sashes of the Augkarate

Part of Clothing of Otheia
Within the Realms of Otheia, the there is no overarching military force. Rather, each realm maintains its own army, which is equipped by its nation. 
Most states supply only armor and weapons to their soldiers, each soldier supplying his own clothing. As such, the clothing of each soldier will often vary widely in color, making identification difficult in battle. Thus, similarly to the nearby peoples of Berlby and Rejerrei, the realms need a way to identify their men. However, the Otheiae do not use feudal heraldry, rather their solution is the Military Sash. 
Worn overtop clothing and armor, the military sash is a long band of colored cloth, typically dyed and patterned according to the the issuing realm’s colors. It is considered a badge of office, and distinguishes the wearer as a soldier and an agent of the state. Even in realms which do issue uniforms to their soldiers, such as the Steel Realm, which provides full outfits of clothing to its soldiers, the sash is still used, as it distinguishes the soldier from civilians. 
The sash, generally measuring between seven and eleven feet in length, and is between six and eighteen inches wide, large enough to form a hammock stretcher for the soldier if wounded. It is often worn over the shoulder, typically baudericke-wise (from the right shoulder to the left hip, and afterwards around the waist again), though it may be worn around the waist. The sash is supported by a belt at the waist, holding it in place as the soldier moves.
Depending on the realm in question, the sash may be styled, worn, produced or patterned differently, depending on the rank of the soldier. For instance, a captain’s sash will likely be made of finer material than a simple infantryman’s, and will probably be dyed and worn differently. The material and color may also be different by the type of soldier in question; a Hunter might wear a sash of fur, a Ranger a sash of wool, a spellsword or battlemage might wear one of silk with gold trim. All serves to easily distinguish, among friendly forces, the role and rank of the soldier. 
=== Differences with civilian sashes ===
The military sash is related to the civilian sash, though with some differences. Civilian sashes tend to be much wider, measuring between twelve and twenty inches in width, and are several times longer. These civilian items, while considered more fashionable, are known to inhibit movement of the arms, which is thought as detrimental to soldiers.
Category:Clothing of Otheia