Ghyll:Banter Scarves

First discovered by explorers in the Eirbrivian Sectors of the Azura Mines, Banter Scarves have quickly become the latest absurd fad among the upper-class society of Iganefta and the surrounding area. The scarves, also known as Polyhue scarves, change color based on the quality of the wearer’s repartee. When not involved in verbal exchange, the scarves appear as purest white. As soon as conversation is joined, they change to a deep reddish hue, which will slowly work its way up through the spectrum to violet if the converser’s retorts and witticisms are consistently clever enough. At the end of the bantering, the colors of the scarves of those involved is compared, and the owner of the purplest scarf is declared the winner. In some cases, if a scarf-wearer’s dialogue is pathetic enough – a single use of “I know you are, but what am I?” is usually enough to provoke this – the scarf will turn pitch black in indignation, and the offender is considered “out” of the discussion.

The greatest possible comeback rated by a Banter Scarf was supposedly made by Kebonston Lefkrane, who reputedly made his own scarf turn such a brilliant ultraviolet that he had a tan line on his neck for weeks. The fact that the actual remark has been completely forgotten, despite its incredible potency, casts doubt on the factuality of the claim, as does the fact that Kebonston lived way back in –1648EC and Banter Scarves were only just discovered in –6EC. Theoalchemists studying these scarves have determined that such shades are, in fact, possible, but at the time this article is being written, no statement of this level of quality has ever been recorded.

An average Banter Scarf is 1 nanit wide and 7 or 8 nanits long, although length can vary from as long as 20 nanits to the clearly unwearable half-nanit long scarf.

Citations: Iganefta, Kebonston Lefkrane, Eirbrivian Sectors

--Dfaran L'Eniarc 18:52, 24 May 2005 (EDT)