Ritopology 101, Feathers & The Viskin
Welcome to Rito anthropology Ritopology 101, today's class will cover uses for feathers, the cultural significance in using molted verses plucked feathers, and the religious sect known as the Viskin.
See Also: Rito Tribes Pt. 1 & 2.
For the most part going to try to write this from an in-universe perspective. [Stuff in brackets is out-of-universe notes.]
Feather Uses and their Cultural Significance
The Rito collect molted feathers for a wide range of purposes from aesthetic to utilitarian and even medical. Feathers are sorted by type which determines their use. Down feathers are used almost exclusively in bedding and clothing materials, while flight and tail feathers are used primarily for imping, or the practice of using a donor feather to repair a damaged feather. Contour feathers see the widest range of uses. From fletching on arrows to home decorations to jewellery and trinkets for tourists. [Rito have five fingers on each wing that aren't as big as you'd expect. Most of that is feather fluff on their very, very long fingers. The rest of the feathers on the wing are regular birb flight feathers though.]
In Rito culture there is significance in the offering or taking of feathers from an individual outside of molting season. Offering someone one of your feathers is a romantic gesture, akin to a Hylian offering an engagement ring. [Yes I'm using the thing from a lot of Revalink fics. It makes a scene in The Tale of the Realm Walker all the more awkward. 😈] Married or engaged Rito will wear their partner's feather in their braids or on a piece of jewelry.
Another cultural practice involving feathers is the offering of apologies. If a Rito offends another Rito then as part of their apology they will allow the offended individual the option to pluck a feather from them. Most commonly this is a wing covert. However, in case of extreme offense a tail feather or even a flight feather may be offered or taken.
As stated before Rito spouses will often wear each others feathers but this is not the only situation in which a Rito will wear another Rito's feather. Rito will often wear a necklace with the feathers of a deceased family member, spouse, or close friend, usually underneath their clothes so it can't be lost while in flight. While it is not uncommon to continue wearing a mourning necklace long after the death of a family member, it is considered unusual to wear a mourning necklace for a friend after a few months. In addition to mourning necklaces, feathers from deceased Rito are kept on figurines in the roosts of their family members and friends.
Warriors will often have a family member or loved one's feather on either a piece of jewelry or their equipment. The primary difference in these acts is how they are displayed. Spouses publicly display each other's feathers not only as a symbol of their devotion to one another but as a sign that they are taken, while a Warrior will have a loved one's feather on a piece of equipment that is stowed when not in use, and a Rito wearing a mourning necklace keeps a piece of their departed loved one with them at all times.
[FYI: That pin Kass wears is the Loresinger badge in my fics, Loresinger being the village record keeper/archeologist/historian. The two feathers on it are from Amali (but with the tips dyed), but that has nothing to do with marriage displays. Kass's facial markings are facepaint. The color of the circle represents his career while alternating white and black lines represent himself, Amali, and the rainbow fledglings in order of age. Arini Tribe custom.]
The Viskin
The Viskin is a religious sect of the Rito who revere the dragons of Hyrule. Members of the Viskin typically keep a dragon idol in their roosts, although some settlements have dedicated temples. [Settlement Symbols, Rito Settlement Map] Many Viskin, especially Warriors, have a dragon symbol carved or etched into their armor or clothes. [Same thing really. Most Rito clothes are just leather armor. Saki's clothes are different cause the Healer isn't expected to be in danger. All Rito are taught to fight and will take up arms if their village is threatened.]
As they revere dragons, it is best not to let a member of the Viskin know one is in position of any dragon claws, horn shards, or scales. While not always possible, Viskin prefer to be laid to rest at Dragon Bone Mire.
[Fun facts: Nekk and Huck are Viskin members. They used to make pilgrimages to fly alongside Dinraal before Vah Medoh showed up. Misa will not buy dragon parts from Link because of this. Revali's father was Viskin so he had feels when he had to get a shard of Dinraal's horn to become Vah Medoh's pilot.]