Post by Zrined on May 30, 2011 23:42:40 GMT
When the Jade Wind swept through the branches of Echovald Forest, it turned everything to stone. Birds crashed to the forest floor in mid-flight. Deer leaped from the ground as flesh and blood, and came to earth little more than life-like statues. Now, two centuries later, life has cautiously returned. The Kurzicks were the first to venture back to the forest. There they have adapted to their petrified surroundings and have begun to carve their culture into this new landscape.
History of the Kurzicks
Though it is unknown exactly when the Kurzick culture emerged, it is known that they were referred to as Kurzicks long before the Empire of the Dragon was united by Kaineng Tah. Like the Luxons, they suffered due to persecution and the war with Yian Zho which started in 51 CC (459 BE). This persecution led to the unification of the Kurzick people in a bid to fend off the Empire, and when this failed, to them becoming a vassal of the empire in an attempt to prevent any more bloodshed and to focus on the threat of the unified Luxons.
During Emperor Angsiyan's reign, the Kurzicks became more and more enveloped by the Empire through treaties, which led to peace with the Luxons for a short time, until Shiro Tagachi slew the Emperor and the Kurzick and Luxon champions, Saint Viktor and Archemorus. With their deaths, the war between the two nations resumed, and even intensified due to the new inability to gather their own food.
In 1527 CC (1017 AE), the Kurzicks and Luxons openly declared war, acknowledging that the so called 'unofficial skirmishes' that were constantly occurring as official acts of war.
However, in 1568 CC (1058 AE), the formal war returned to a series of border skirmishes due to Emperor Kisu creating and signing new treaties with the Kurzick leaders.
In 1582 CC (1072 AE), the Kurzicks and Luxons forged a temporary peace once more due to Shiro Tagachi's return and the newest threat to all of Cantha. This peace did not last long, and war quickly resumed shortly after Shiro's second death.
Culture of the Kurzicks
The Kurzicks are very religious and most of what they do revolves around their practice of worship of the True Gods and their saints. The different houses, whether part of the Great Houses or not, all have a different characteristic among the members of the house. All of the characteristics of the houses are based on the idea of art, music, and religion. The Kurzicks are also focused on preserving and restoring the Echovald Forest to how it was before the Jade Wind. This includes the creation of wards and stone guardians that defend the Kurzicks against the monsters, unless they are not maintained - in which case the wards will simply fail and the stone guardians will become hostile. The spells are by the House zu Heltzer. Along with the House zu Heltzer's wards and protections, the House Lutgardis is "able to reinvigorate the forest through song" as said by the Historian of Houses.
Since the Jade Wind, the Kurzicks have built their buildings out of the stone-turned trees. Currently, only a very few structures remain that are constructed from the original stone from before the Jade Wind, one example being Fort Aspenwood. Due to the petrification of the Jade Wind, both the Kurzicks and the Luxons fight over the limited resources of Amber and Jade.
Along with their own characteristics, each Great House has a different patron god from the other houses which they revere more than the other gods. They also have patron saints, who are usually - if not always - an ancestor of that house. It is unknown if the lesser houses have a patron god or saint. Many Kurzicks look toward their Redemptors for spiritual guidance and to act as connections to the saints and the gods. The Redemptors also council the Council of Nobles that leads the Kurzick nation. Aside from the Redemptors, other highly honored positions among the Kurzicks are the Tree Singers, which are the main force behind the Kurzicks' most honored ceremony, the Awakening Ceremony, in which Kurzick volunteers become Juggernauts. Although, some outsiders may consider the way Juggernauts are created - which is through a volunteer "sacrificing" their body, though they at least seem to retain their original personality - as inhumane.
Kurzick Attire
Here is some art of typical Kurzick attire:
