what goes into a circlet ? is it an orator thing ?
Orator circlets are unique to each faction!!
They’re similar to crowns in both function and beauty: they’re a mark of status, and of wealth. If a faction is interacting with another, the orators will commonly don their circlets. It’s a very simple, easy display of power. And the construction of a circlet varies from each faction!
For the Woodruffians, and their culture that highly values physical action + battle, their circlets get lost and replaced pretty commonly. The current circlet was made for Songfall, and passed down to Rainfall. The circlet beforehand was deemed as “cursed”, as it was worn by Pineheart, Doedance before him, and Oakstrike; it was thrown away. Their circlets are commonly made of tree branches, brambles, berries and the feathers of birds of prey! They’re also commonly adorned with the claws and teeth of other predators. Rainfall’s is so barren solely because it’s very very new.
The Moorsweepers have had a singular circlet, traced back all the way to their Founder. It is ancient, chipped and tattered, but it is carefully kept-up with a point of pride and grand history amongst their cats. It is crafted out of a massive, ancient stag’s antlers, adorned with dried crops and smaller gems. It sports the biggest shard of the Starstone of the other circlets. They are incredibly protective of their circlet, to the point of where it is only donned for ceremonial purposes; it will not be taken into battle. As such, it’s also a lot more fragile and aesthetically-oriented than the circlets of other factions; lots of dangling bits lol. During the Moorswept Massacre, Dreamtongue stole it; as of the third tome of Ignite, it is still within the Fenland’s possession.
For the Fenlanders, their circlets are tied to their current ruling bloodline. Cedarstep, Raggedclaw and Dreamtongue had the same circlet with the same shard, but upon Slugpelt’s rise, an entirely new circlet was created for him and whatever future his bloodline might hold. Bones and small prey skulls are commonly incorporated into their circlets, as well as marshland plants and venom-drained snake fangs.
The Riverwardens create a new circlet for every new orator, and as such, their shards tend to be the smallest. Their circlets are highly decorated, but easily lost, as they tend to blend into the other shiny possessions that they hold dear + getting swept away in the water + stolen by the Rafters. They’re typically woven out of materials such as willow fronds and branches, reeds, and cattails, and decorated with shells, scales, fins, and greenery/plants sourced from the river. They’ve also been known to decorate their circlets with herbs!