One of the goals of the Sartar Book is to really show the people of Sartar, how they look, how wide the range of diversity is, down to things like hairstyles. So the amazing Anna Orlova and Jaye Kovach put together this awesome Hairstyle and Beard sheet as an art reference that will be in the book. And because I thought it would cool, here’s Jaye’s wonderful art direction:
RQSS14 Hair and Beard Guide
General:
This pieces will be two halves with the top half as men’s hair and the bottom half as womene’s hair. We need drawings similar to what is seen in the source art that shows an example layout. These are just head and neck views. In middle-aged and older men, we should see one or two with balding or bald styles. Hair colors should be black, dark brown, medium brown and 1 dark auburn but only
1. Eyes should be brown, black, green, or hazel. Skin tones should be C3-D9 on the Human Skintone Chart. Hair textures and shapes can be super straight, slight wave, light and fine, heavy and course, and curly.Men’s Hair:In longer hair and beards, they can have a few larger, colored, stone beads as well as a few brass, gold, or bronze rings. Make sure that the faces have some tattoos and at least 1 person is painted blue with white lines similar to Orlanth. Tattoos can be runes for Orlanth, The Storm Bull, Humakt, Ernalda, or The Red Goddess. I’ve also included some other designs that will be great for tattoos so you can be creative. Some men can have a few small braids or be partially buzzed. Jewelry on men can be neck torcs and/or necklaces. You can use Bronze, Silver, or Gold. You can use stones as long as they aren’t faceted.
1a. Long hair + long beard: The hair is tied at the brow, with long locks. The beard is long and allowed to curl. Most popular among older men.
1b. Long hair and Beard is in ringlets, hair is braided. We should also see a slightly greying and a mostly grey as well.
2a. Long hair + no beard: The hair is tied at the brow. The face is clean shaven or might have a few days of stubble. Most popular among younger men. This is the “Argrath” look. I’ve included Argrath’s head turn for reference.
2b. Hair Braided: Hair is braided and no beard
3a. Short hair + beard: The hair is fairly short, and the beard is kept trimmed.
3b. Short hair + no beard: The hair is short, the face is clean shaven.
4a. Broad Brimmed Hat: A stout, broad brimmed hat with band of larger, blue beads. Should be made of leather.
4b. Tall Brimless Hat: This is primarily for warmth. Made of wool.
5a. Holy Man Head Gear: Conical Hat with Ram’s Horns. There are source pics for each of these.
5b. Man of Higher Standing: Ruling men sometimes wear a circlet if they are officiating
Women’s Hair:
In longer hair, they can have a variety of, colored, stone beads as well as a some brass, gold, or bronze rings. Make sure that the faces have some tattoos and at least 1 person is painted green with white wheat shafts painted on. Tattoos can be runes for Orlanth, The Storm Bull, Humakt, Ernalda, or The Red Goddess. I’ve also included some other designs that will be great for tattoos so you can be creative. Most women have medium to long hair. They wear it down, partially down, or in elaborate up-dos. Warrior women should have their hair pulled back into braids or ponytails. Please create at 8-10 heads for women’s hair. Women wear earrings, necklaces, hair jewelry, and 1 woman should be wearing a headdress. The woman from 1a who also has an up-do should have an elaborate, many tiered necklace. You can use Bronze, Silver, or Gold. You can use stones as long as they aren’t faceted.
6a. Long with Braided Bangs: See Source6b. Long with Bun: Up-Do into a tidy bun and a few simple decorations
7a. Long partially shaved: Hair should be down. Skull should have a tattoo where the hair is shaved.
7b. Elaborate Ponytail: See Source and be creative.
8a. Shoulder Length Down: Down and loose.
8b. Shoulder Length Braids: Smallish braids.
9a. Fillet: See source for the fillet and ring. Leave off the neck Whimple.
9b. Headdress: See source
10a. Holy Woman: Should be painted green with Runes of Ernalda on her. She is s priestess of Ernalda. She should have snake jewelry and wheat shafts. Plus a crown similar to the one Ernalda is wearing.
10b. Woman of Higher Standing: Long hair is in an up-do. It has jewels and gold rings throughout. There is an elaborate circlet holding things in place.
One of the many wonderful things that worked into this is the use of beads or silver tubes in hair of men and women.
Do any people in Glorantha not have tattoos? In truth that goes back at least to the early 80s in Greg’s material. In our RQ games once we realised spell foci could be tattoos, everyone ended up looking like a Portland bartender. And of course Greg himself was a model for that.