Forgotten Realms Wiki
Advertisement
Forgotten Realms Wiki

Breeches, also known as britches and occasionally as pants, were a form of outergarment for humanoid races. They covered the hips and legs, all the way down to the knees.[2]

Description[]

Breeches came in a wide variety of styles, colors, and materials.[2] Those sold from Aurora's Emporium were known to have a draw-string waist, allowing the wearer ease in adjusting them, as well as double stitching for extra strength.[5] They were often worn alongside some form of codpiece.[6]

History[]

Though the exact date of their invention on Toril was unknown, breeches dated back to the days of the Netheril empire.[7][note 1] Netheril breeches had a style distinct from that of breeches in the Present Age.[8]

In 1491 DR, members of the Cult of the Eternal Flame took up residence beneath a ruined temple of Cyric in Mulmaster.[9] There they wore leather aprons and breeches as they worked at braziers to sacrifice people as part of a process to reanimate azer.[10]

Varieties[]

Cannon breeches
A fashionable, tube-like form of breeches that fit tightly to the wearer's legs.[5][3] They were usually embroidered in gold, silver, silver thread, or colored silks.[3]

Reputation[]

Up until the late 15th century DR,[11] breeches were generally considered a form of clothing reserved for men.[2] By the late-15th century it was commonplace for both men and women across the Realms to wear breeches, often of the leather variety.[11]

Some people believed that breeches were a sign of civilized society, at least according to Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue.[5]

Notable Wearers of Breeches[]

General[]

  • In Amphail's annual Rite of the Stag Lass celebration, it was tradition for the eponymous lass to dress in a pair of dark green breeches.[12] This village also had a garment shop, Imbryl's Cloaks, that was known to sell breeches.[13]
  • Breeches made of leather were often worn by blacksmiths and dockworkers.[14] They were also typically worn by women when gardening or traveling in a muddy environment.[15]

Individuals[]

Races & Intelligent Creatures[]

  • Leather breeches were usually the only form of clothing that korreds were seen to wear.[19]
  • Kobolds were typically known to dress in breeches.[20]

Regions & Settlements[]

  • In Barovia, it was quite common for men to wear heavy breeches.[21]
  • The City Guard of Waterdeep typically wore leather breeches in a variety of hues, often mismatched, whenever they went undercover. Their "undress" uniform also featured breeches, but ankle-length and of a gray hue.[22]
  • Citizens of Mulmaster typically dressed in leather breeches.[23]

Religions[]

  • Priests of Deneir typically wore breeches as part of the priestly vestments.[24]
  • Newly accepted members in the Church of Bane's clergy were given black tunics and crimson breeches as their priestly vestments.[25]
  • Both clerics and druids of Silvanus typically wore green breeches as part of their priestly vestments.[26][27]
  • Breeches were among the types of garments the priests of Uthgar typically wore during high rituals at their ancestral mounds.[28]

Appendix[]

Notes[]

  1. In the adventure module How the Mighty Are Fallen, which is set within the Netheril empire, players encounter a frozen skeleton in the Eastern Forest that is described as wearing breeches.

Appearances[]

Novels & Short Stories

Organized Play & Licensed Adventures

References[]

  1. Eric Cagle, Jesse Decker, Jeff Quick, and James Wyatt (March 2003). Arms and Equipment Guide 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 29. ISBN 978-0-7869-2649-7.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 122. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 123. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
  4. Eric Cagle, Jesse Decker, Jeff Quick, and James Wyatt (March 2003). Arms and Equipment Guide 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 29. ISBN 978-0-7869-2649-7.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 79. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
  6. Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 80. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
  7. slade (1996). How the Mighty Are Fallen. (TSR, Inc), p. 22. ISBN 0-7869-0537-9.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 83. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
  9. Daniel Helmick (2015-03-13). Embers of Elmwood (DDEX2-02) (PDF). D&D Adventurers League: Elemental Evil (Wizards of the Coast), p. 16.
  10. Daniel Helmick (2015-03-13). Embers of Elmwood (DDEX2-02) (PDF). D&D Adventurers League: Elemental Evil (Wizards of the Coast), p. 18.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 96. ISBN 0786960345.
  12. Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 19. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
  13. slade, et al. (April 1996). “Cities & Civilization”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 5. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  14. Ed Greenwood (1987). Waterdeep and the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 43. ISBN 0-88038-490-5.
  15. Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 97. ISBN 0786960345.
  16. Lew Wright and Terry Wright (July 1991). “The Living City: Port of Ravens Bluff”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #61 (TSR, Inc.), p. 21.
  17. Mel Odom (1998). The Lost Library of Cormanthyr. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 2. ISBN 0786907355.
  18. Lynn Abbey (December 1997). “In the Bleak Deepwinter”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #242 (TSR, Inc.), p. 67.
  19. David "Zeb" Cook et al. (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume One. (TSR, Inc), p. 78. ISBN 0-8803-8738-6.
  20. Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, Kolja Raven Liquette (2006). Races of the Dragon. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 40. ISBN 0-7869-3913-3.
  21. Andrew Cermak, John W. Mangrum, Ryan Naylor, Chris Nichols, Andrew Wyatt (September 16, 2002). Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I. (White Wolf Publishing), p. 20. ISBN 1-58846-080-0.
  22. Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 65. ISBN 0786960345.
  23. Ed Greenwood (October 1991). “The Everwinking Eye: Daily Life in Mulmaster”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #64 (TSR, Inc.), p. 20.
  24. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 55. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  25. Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 142. ISBN 0786960345.
  26. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 147. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  27. Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 30. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
  28. slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 32. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
Advertisement