oh i just had a fucking revelation about the ghoul outfits
so. meliora and prequelle era ghouls are very butler-esque. the spats, the neat button downed cassocks of meliora and well-fitted suits of prequelle giving more of a โfashion and formโ look, along with the appealing and fluid, attractively-featured chrome masks. it really drives the point that the ghouls are nameless and faceless, simply hired minions. theyโre servants- they do the menial work. (in this case in the lore, menial = being hired help for the band and possibly servants for the abbey)
even in the older eras of infestissumam and opus eponymous, the ghouls outfits are monk-like in nature;
which is telling us, again, that the ghouls are uniform because theyโre meant to be, its their role to blend into the background.
but all of a sudden, cardinal copia becomes a candidate for reign. he keeps the prequelle look as his time as cardinal because heโs not papa yet, itโs not his place to make drastic changes.
as soon as he gains the title of papa, however-
boom.
this is not typical ghoul fashion. sure, its still fairly glitzy, (as tobias forge is wont to do,) but this is much more streamlined. military. the
epaulettes, the roughed seams of the coat, the bulky, practical helmet look of the masks, even the high leather boots evoke an aura of militia garb.
group photos in the impera age dont look like an important church figurehead being surrounded by lackeys and servants. this looks like a man being guarded.
they arenโt dressed for just appearances anymore.
SILMARILLION references in The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power (2022) Tirion upon Túna The Two Trees of Valinor Ungoliant’s Destruction of the Trees Morgoth — the First Dark Lord The Darkening of Valinor Oath of Fëanor Elves leaving Aman Wars of Beleriand War of the Wrath / Sinking of Beleriand