Kyn
Originally refugees from the destruction of Kyrr by the wyvern Fiend, the Kyn found a new home in Darkwatch. This group, and their children, sought at first to make their new lives as similar to the old as possible, down to naming their largest city Kirren. However, within a few generations they made changes to their traditions to reflect their new country and their new position; no longer were they part of an empire that spanned all of Terraris and into the islands beyond it, but a humbler people in an underground environment.
The Kyn are a people descended from citizens of the city of Kyrr itself. Thus, their ancestry is a combination of Aeriens, Nerisiens, and Elves. The physical similarities to Aeriens are the most marked- they have blue or green eyes, blonde, red, or light brown hair, slightly pointed ears, and are generally tall with lean builds. Three quarters of their population is made up of mages, two thirds of these being major mages, the influence of their elvish and Nerisien blood. While the people of Kyrr had light tan skin, Kyn are fair, a result of the many generations spent in a land that primarily receives indirect sunlight.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Feminine names often end in "a" or "i," or in a soft consonant indicated by an "e" on either side (such as "ene" or "ele"). A gentler or more subdued sound is preferred. Jierra is a common girls' name, as are Teriene and Anli.*
Masculine names
Masculine names often end in "us" or "an," or in a hard consonant, especially "k." A rougher or bolder sound is preferred. Common boys' names include Kavrus, Elorek, and Rydran.*
Unisex names
Unisex names combine elements of both masculine and feminine names. Either they are rougher or bolder with a feminine ending, or they are softer or more subdued with a masculine ending. Jerius, Ekravene, and Kadri are all names commonly chosen for either boys or girls.* While any of them can be used as either a male or female name, it is most common for women to have names with feminine endings, and men with masculine endings.
*Please note that Kyn do not typically give their children names that hold specific meaning. However, they may choose names that have a similar sound to an Avin word they wish to associate with their child.
Family names
Most of those who escaped the destruction of Kyrr were likely among the middle and lower classes, farmers and tradesmen without surnames. When he began his rule in Darkwatch, however, Reborran Darksun granted those mages who had helped him names and land. These family names have continued among the Kyn nobility. Reborran Darksun wore a symbol of the Darksun, and other Kyn nobles chose their own symbols. Family names have descriptive tendencies, and reflect the abilities of the first mage to receive them. Examples include Silverstar (a light mage) and Greenflame (a fire mage). In larger settlements such as Kirren, some middle and lower class Kyn later took family names along similar lines (most using their trades instead of elements), embroidering their symbol into their clothing. For example, three tailors in Kirren are listed under the family names Goldneedle, Brightbutton, and Longspool.
Other names
Place names tend to be drawn from the Kyn dialect's Avin roots. Kirren is drawn directly from the original city of Kyrr, with modification to the spelling to reflect the less flexible vowels of the Kyn dialect, with "yrr" or "irren" conveying an idea of size or greatness. The conquered stronghold city of Stoneguard, renamed Davirren, follows the same line of thought. The Kyn prefer town names to sound firm and strong, as with Vykra, Adryk, and Kiras, even when those towns are fairly small farming settlements. This is not always the case, though, with gentler names such as Ryselt and Vedrys uncommon but present.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Kyn originally spoke Avin, as citizens of the Kyrrian Empire. While their language has remained very similar, changes were made in spelling and pronunciation, enough that it can be difficult for them to read documents their ancestors brought to Darkwarch with them. The Kyn dialect has a limited approach to vowels, with single vowels only representing one sound. Their "a" reads as an "ah" sound, as in "wall," while their "i" stands for a long "e" sound with the short "i" sound made instead by "y." Most Kyn speak both their own Avin dialect and the Watcher language Xalri, though some in mixed settlements speak only Xalri and those in primarily Kyn cities may speak only Avin or not speak Xalri well.
Culture and cultural heritage
The Kyn are proud of their heritage as descendants of the Kyrrian Empire. However, they are equally proud of their ancestors who carved out a new life for themselves within the cavern of Darkwatch. They hold old and new in equal value. Those who can afford to travel do so, seeing new places when they have a chance. Those who cannot instead are eager to hear stories of other parts of Darkwatch from travelers. In their everyday lives, they hold to the old by encouraging boys to take up the same trades as their fathers, while seeking the new by encouraging them to apprentice outside of the family. They are superficially quick to change while holding on to older traditions.
Shared customary codes and values
Magical ability is highly valued in Kyn culture. The first Kyn nobles were powerful mages who aided Reborran Darksun in his rebellion against the Watchers. During the Darksun dynasty, a few mages who set themselves apart in demonstrations of their skill and ingenuity have been granted titles as well. Within the social structure of the Kyn, especially in Kirren and Davirren as the largest Kyn cities, even low-born mages have higher status than non-mages. Noble families arrange marriages carefully to ensure that magic remains in their bloodlines. Mages within the military are paid more than regular soldiers, and jobs that require enchantment or frequent use of magic are more prestigious and profitable than others.
With the value placed on magic, mages are encouraged to make small displays of their talents, such as a light mage going without a lantern or a fire mage lighting his without a match. However, these displays are not to be overly ostentatious nor draw too much attention. They should be presented as a natural skill rather than a chance to show off one's abilities.
Average technological level
Much of the Kyn's technology is enchantment-based rather than mechanical, due to the number of mages in their population. Quartz, enchanted to glow for a few days, is inexpensive to obtain and renew, and even the poorer Kyn keep a few stones in place of candles or oil lamps (though these are used in small villages without enchanters). Wealthier families use lithil in place of quartz, as it holds the enchantment more steadily and for a longer period.
The Kyn are capable of forging steel, using it to make weapons, armor, and tools. While their foot soldiers use halberds, officers carry swords, and noble-born officers often have an enchanted lithil stone in their pommel that provides a one-use ward or makes the edge dull more slowly. Chain mail is used throughout the Kyn military. While its design works well for protection, the many separate pieces makes it difficult to attach an enchantment to. Nobles and other well-to-do officers may commission a breastplate with a one-use ward on an attached piece of lithil.
Kyn cities and towns have cisterns that are refilled using lithil-powered stone aqueducts. The starting point of each aqueduct is a steel pipe extending deep into the river. Within the pipe and any area that the aqueduct moves uphill, enchanted lithil is set that gives the water the momentum it needs to reach the top. The Kyn also constructed branching aqueducts, sending water to two or more locations from one starting point. From the primary cisterns, supply pipes run to fields, fountains, and public baths, using a pump system that turns on or off with the turn of a lever.
Only information and thoughts that the recorder wishes to remain permanently is written down. For temporary communications, an echo knot is used. This device is formed out of two dozen strings of different lengths and widths, arranged within a frame of metal or wood with a dual rune etched into them. Metal versions also require a lithil crystal to hold the enchantment. The rune is etched on two rings that can be turned to inactive, listening, and speaking modes. A message can be spoken directly into the largest opening in the frame while the device is in listening mode, with the speaker turning it to inactive when they are done. When the speaking mode rune is completed, the enchantment makes subtle shifts to the frame and strings to relay the message, repeated until inactivated again. If someone wishes to record a new message, they need only to turn it to listening mode again. The enchantment needs to be renewed once a week if the echo knot is in frequent use. While it cannot make a perfect replica of a person's voice, the echo knot comes close. There have been attempts to make echo knot music boxes, with little success so far.
Though there are trees within the great cavern that makes up Darkwatch, paper still remains rare. Instead, the Kyn use parchment sheets, made into scrolls or tied together into books. While conventional inks are used, ash-ink pens are common among scribes. These pens consist of a steel tube surrounded by polished wood to serve as an insulator. One end has a plug that can be unscrewed to refill the pen, while the other has a shaped steel tip with a small piece of lithil embedded near where it attaches to the main body of the pen. The pen is filled with freshly harvested sehn reeds, which are carbon-heavy and retain water. The lithil carries an enchantment that heats the reeds near the tip until they burn, leaving a black ash that mixes into the water held by the reed and thickens it, creating an ink that allows for writing smoothly and quickly while the enchantment continues to work. While these pens need to be refilled two to three times an hour, based on writing speed, this interrupts writing much less than constantly dipping into a conventional inkwell.
When copying written works, a development in the past decade may prevent scribes from needing to copy and recopy works by hand. This comes in the form of another enchantment attached to ash-ink pens referred to as a memory walker. The device is made entirely of wood to conduct the magic more effectively, with three small pieces of lithil to hold the enchantment itself. It has two forms of activation. During the recording form, its jointed legs are fully retracted and folded into a ring at the top of the ash-ink pen. The scribe using it writes one page on a standard-sized parchment sheet. Once completed, a new page is set in place, the tip of the pen set in the same place where the scribe began writing, and the copying form is activated. Its thin, jointed wooden legs support the pen's weight and move it, copying the entire page of writing in a matter of minutes. However, this technology is not fully developed yet. Only one page can be "remembered" at a time, and this memory deteriorates after only four or five copies, with mistakes appearing in greater and greater frequency. To erase this memory, the enchantment must be completely redone, not simply renewed. The ash-ink pens also must be refilled at a greater speed due to the writing rate of the copying device, which will not notice if it runs out of ink, following the motions and leaving no mark on the page.
Common Etiquette rules
When first meeting a stranger, it is impolite to introduce yourself. Instead, wait for a mutual acquaintance to introduce you to each other. When your name is given, give a deep nod. When greeting a friend, women shake hands, men tap each other's shoulders, and a man and a woman who are not family or courting ought to instead give each other a deep nod and make no physical contact. If they are family or courting, a brief embrace is appropriate. A bow is the proper way to show respect when meeting or greeting someone of higher standing.
Once over the threshold of a building, gloves are removed and tucked into a pocket sewn into the skirt or pants. Cloaks, coats, and shawls are hung on special pegs mounted by the door. To not remove your outdoor wear insults the hospitality of the owner of the building by indicating that they keep it too cold. Families and those who work within a building remove their shoes upon entry and switch them to thin-soled slippers, while guests and customers keep their shoes on to show they are not planning to overstay their welcome.
Common Dress code
Men wear a long- or short-sleeved shirt and pants, both in neutral colors. Over this they wear a colored vest, buttoned, and a sash of a different but complementary color. On formal occasions, they will wear a vest with embroidered patterns that match their sash's color. If they have a family name, they wear their symbol either as a patch on their right shoulder or as a metal pendant hung on an unornamented leather cord. Outdoors, they wear gloves- white if they are not performing manual labor, brown if they are. When the weather is cooler, they wear long overcoats in either brown or gray.
Women wear high-necked, long-sleeved shirts in neutral colors. The sleeves are tight around the biceps and wrists and loose through the elbows and forearms, with colored bands at their tightest points. The right armband is embroidered with their family symbol, if they have one. Women wear knee-length skirts over leggings while working and ankle-length skirts otherwise. The leggings are a neutral color, while the skirts are brightly colored, either matching or complementing the armbands. Skirts for formal occasions have patterns woven through them in complementing colors Outdoors, they wear light gray gloves, and on cool days they wrap brightly colored shawls around their shoulders.
Art & Architecture
The Kyn have a preference for brilliant colors and sprawling designs in their art. Mosaics take up entire city squares or entry halls and tapestries cover walls from floor to ceiling and end to end, requiring many men to carry and hang them. While some of these show historic events, many are abstract designs of no particular meaning, created to be pleasing to the eye rather than to represent people or nature. The other prominent form of Kyn art is statuary. Many of these are statues of the Darksun emperors and other nobles, though some have been destroyed in the rising conflict. The other statues, phoenixes on Lightbearer chapels and a variety of mythical animals commissioned by nobles for their estates, survive almost entirely untouched and show an attention to detail. Again, these creatures do not represent things found in the natural world, though they bear resemblance to animals. Kyn sculptors work from imagination if they are not making a statue of a real person, drawing out pleasing shapes and forms from the stone they carve and creating beings of fancy. They paint their statues in vibrant colors and patterns. Each one is unique apart from the phoenixes. The original few were carved by the sculptor Rykri upon the building of the first Lightbearer chapels, with later sculptors copying her work to make later chapels as similar to the originals as possible.
Kyn architecture does not contain the same vibrancy and whimsy as their art. Their buildings use squares and rectangles in their layout, with no rounded corners. They are constructed using uniform, heavily cut stone blocks mortared together. Wood or steel is used to support roofs. The only break in the square shapes are found in gates and doorways, which use archways. Sprawling though the palace of Kirren and the nobles' mansions found throughout Darkwatch are, they are distinctively blocky in shape. These simple shapes make city construction simple and practical, with straight roads and alleyways in a regular pattern. Most buildings are two to three stories high, with flat roofs that have a short lip around them. Their interior layouts are as practical as their city layouts, with rooms and hallways segmented simply. They do not use doors inside their buildings, separating rooms and halls with brightly colored curtains. These are hung outside as well, giving the plain, uniform buildings a semblance of uniqueness. No Kyn building has a basement, with carving only going as deep as is needed for the foundation, as they consider what is below the natural floor of the cavern the home of the dead. As such, mausoleums are carved out below the ground, long square halls and vast rectangular chambers housing tombs.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Both boys and girls, once they turn eight, attend a community school (typically run by a Lightbearer priest) for three or four years. On their first day of school, their family celebrates with a special meal, eating the child's favorite foods. On their last day, the teacher wishes them well before they leave and gives them a small gift, with lower and middle class children usually receiving a sweet or a handkerchief and noble children typically receiving a knife (for the boys) or a sewing kit (for the girls).
In towns near the Lifegift River or one of its streams, a community celebration is held the day the river first floods in spring. A feast is held in the town square, with food in abundance to celebrate the planting that will begin the next day. Dancing and entertainment such as storytellers and musicians are held long into the night. A much simpler breakfast is shared amongst the town late the next morning before the farmers begin the work in their fields. Kyn who lived in mixed population towns instead join the Watchers in the Feast of First Floods.
The coronation of the new emperor is held the day after the previous one's funeral. Dressed in mourning, the crown prince is carried in a covered and heavily guarded palanquin on a circuit through Kirren. The people are exempted from work for the day, and required to line the streets where the palanquin will pass so that they can bow to their new ruler. Once back at the palace, the crown prince steps down into the courtyard and ascends the steps. Though the gates are kept open during coronations, only the nobles of the court are permitted within. All nobles who heard of the emperor's death in time to make the journey to Kirren are encouraged to attend. The most senior member of the Silverstar family (their ancestor serving as Reborran's most trusted advisor) places the crown upon the crown prince's head, declaring him Emperor Darksun. The nobles present kneel and pledge to serve him as they did his father.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Kyn births are attended to only by a midwife. When the baby is twelve days old, the parents bring them to the nearest Lightbearer chapel- cities have several, towns and villages have one, and every noble estate has one somewhere within its borders. There they present the child to the priest, declaring their name in the presence of as much of their extended family as can attend. Once the name is declared, the priest prays over the baby and family members present gifts, usually clothes or toys that the child will use as they grow.
Coming of Age Rites
Kyn boys are considered of age when their master declares them finished with their apprenticeship. The master hosts a dinner for the boy, his family, and the other apprentices, and gives the boy his first cup of beer or ale. After the dinner, the newly declared adult packs his things and makes his move to his parents' house for one night before settling into a new home. If he was unable to secure a position in his town or city, he will set out for another in the morning.
Coming of age for Kyn girls is celebrated by only her female family members. When a young woman gets engaged, or when she turns nineteen, her mother, grandmothers, aunts, and older sisters gather and discuss with her what her role will be as a wife and mother. Her mother gives her a piece of jewelry that she has worn herself, and she is given her first cup of beer or ale. That night, she makes her first stitches in her bridal sash, even if she is not engaged.
Funerary and Memorial customs
When a Kyn dies, a member of their family goes to the town or city's mausoleum to prepare a tomb. Should the family have lived in the area for some time, there will already be space reserved so that family members may be buried near each other and their ancestors. Otherwise, the undertaker will choose a tomb in an emptier area of the mausoleum. Once the family member has agreed to the burial placement, the undertaker prepares the materials necessary for the last rites (a bowl of water, a bowl of stone dust, and a candle) and carves a name plate, which includes the deceased's parents and spouse if they were married.
For the burial ceremony, the family member who made arrangements returns with the body and with at least one other member of their family. The undertaker and one family member (should no other living family member be capable of this, an undertaker's assistant will help) lower the body into the tomb while the other performs the last rites. These are as follows, and are taught to Kyn children once they begin school: First, the fingers of the right hand are dipped in a bowl of water while reciting the words "Giver of Life, as the rivers flow, so do our lives." Using the same hand, the fingers are then coated in stone dust, accompanied by the phrase "Another body returns to the earth," the sentence completed "but the soul burns on, an eternal flame in the world beyond," while the candle is snuffed with the coated fingers. As this sentence is said, the body is lowered into the tomb. Once it is sealed, the one who performed the rites brushes the stone dust from their fingers onto the top of the tomb.
The immediate and extended family of the deceased, as well as any of their close friends, go into mourning for four weeks. No alcohol may be consumed, and a black band is worn on the left sleeve at all times. One or more family members visits the tomb once each week, leaving a lit candle on the tomb.
Common Myths and Legends
The two most prominent legends among the Kyn are the escape from Kyrr and Reborran's rise to power. The Escape tells of a great force sweeping down upon Kyrr, led by a giant, looming winged figure. A few brave souls, led by either a prince of the Kyrrian Empire or a simple soldier depending on the telling, fight their way through, their leader staying behind to buy the others time as they flee into the night.
The Tale of Reborran contains fictitious elements combined with historical facts. There are several versions of this story, all lauding Reborran as a hero and portraying his journey into the Lower Darklands as a noble quest, plagued by monsters and evil Watchers. While he indeed hoped to help his people, records showing that they were required to give more than half of their income to the Watchers, he also sought power for himself, as evidenced by his claim to the rule of Darkwatch when his rebellion succeeded. Still, the lauding of their first emperor as a pure-hearted hero is encouraged. However, a few tellers, behind closed doors, speak of Reborran's darkness and his descent to madness alongside his better qualities. It is likely that this more is a more truthful version based on the personal journal, long since lost, of Reborran's wife.
One popular ghost story among the Kyn tells the tale of a nobleman whose wife and son died of an illness. As he was a proud man, rather than having them buried in a mausoleum, he built an extravagant tomb to place their bodies in. Unhappy with the lack of proper rites, their spirits remained and haunted him. He found himself wanting to join them. When he killed himself within the tomb, his spirit was bound there as well, and since he was a powerful illusionist the tomb vanished from view, only to reappear on the darkest of nights.
Historical figures
While their names are unknown, the Exiles, those who escaped from Kyrr to come to Darkwatch, are remembered as the first of the Kyn. One of the first recorded names of their own people among the Kyn is the architect Kykrian. He is responsible for the grid layout of Kirren and other Kyn-constructed towns, along with the slight slope of the streets that directs waste into the gutters that can, when water is diverted through them, wash their contents straight to drains in the outer walls.
Certainly the most notorious figure in Kyn history is the self-proclaimed Emperor Reborran Darksun, who overthrew Watcher rule and set himself as the founder of a dynasty. He first attempted to negotiate on his people's behalf to the Gatewatch Council, and when denied followed rumors of the Darksun to the Lower Darklands. Based on his own accounts of his journey, it seems that he did not feel drawn to it as some of his descendants have, but instead sought it out of his own volition, drawing from it and returning. Seeing the usefulness of the Watchers' knowledge of the gates as well as the difficulty in taking Gatewatch, he focused on the rest of Darkwatch. Making allies of skilled mages among the Kyn, he gave them titles and set them as governors of the conquered lands. Within a year, his control was complete, and the Council surrendered rather than risk an extended siege. Reborran had a palace built for himself in Kirren, the most defensible of the Kyn cities, and made it the new capital.
The current emperor is Reborran's direct descendant, Spiran Darksun. While noted as a scholar in his youth, nothing substantial is known of his studies. He is notable as both the present ruler and as perhaps the worst of the emperors. Since he has taken the throne, unrest among both Watchers and Kyn has increased drastically, and his open hatred towards the Watchers brought on the Downfall rebellion. Since then his rule has become even harsher, with Watchers suffering the brunt of it.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Long hair is admired in both men and women, with men often wearing theirs to just below their shoulders and women growing theirs out to waist length or longer. It is worn loose except when the person is performing manual labor or going into battle, when it is tied back or braided. Height is also considered a mark of beauty in both men and women, though it is preferred for a woman to be an inch or two shorter than the man she is courting. Both sexes are admired when they have a more slender form and smooth hands with paler skin. Heart-shaped faces are greatly sought after in women, with strong chins looked for in men, who are also considered better-looking when they are clean-shaven.
Gender Ideals
Kyn sons are seen as contributions to their society. Men are to work at their chosen trade or serve in the military for as long as they are able to. They are meant to move society forward. A man ought to be intelligent and knowledgeable about what he does for a living, able to argue his points in a discussion. Kyn men are encouraged to marry and have children, so that they have someone besides themselves to motivate their work. Art also is seen as a contribution to society, and is therefore allowed. Men who are disabled, whether from birth or by injury, are pushed to find a way to continue to use their limited capacity, and working in the arts often provides this- a man who cannot walk can still weave a tapestry, and a man with a withered hand can recite stories or sing songs.
Kyn daughters are seen as gifts to their families. Women keep their parents' or husbands' homes, caring for young children and teaching their teenage daughters their duties. They are meant to provide stability. A woman ought to be supportive, caring for her family's needs before her own. While single women whose parents have died take up trades, they are pushed to choose jobs serving in noble homes or as assistants in weavers' or bakers' shops. The only exception is if a woman shows remarkable talent with magic, whereupon she may be recruited as a scribe or informant by a noble family. Also acceptable for women is art; so long as they carry out their other duties, the making of mosaics, tapestries, or statues is seen as an outpouring of talent and emotion, and is a contribution that either sex can provide.
Courtship Ideals
In noble families, marriages are arranged by the parents to ensure the continuation of magic within their bloodline. Some middle and lower class families arrange marriages as well, strengthening ties within the community. For those who do not have an arranged marriage, Kyn couples still each petition the other's parents for permission to court.
The courtship during the engagement period, whether the marriage was arranged or not, follows the same pattern. Engagements typically last a year, with the couple exchanging gifts each month. and eating meals with each other's families once per week. These gifts are small tokens that help the couple get to know each other, sharing things that they appreciate with their future spouse. The family meals offer a chance for conversation with both their betrothed and their families. Should the parents of one of the pair decide that the match is unsuitable, it may be called off (in the case of an arranged marriage) or pressure put on their son or daughter to break off the engagement (in the case of a chosen engagement).
Noble weddings are held at the home of the bride's family. The resident Lightbearer priest leads the couple in vows of love, respect, and fidelity, followed by a celebration lasting three days. Food and entertainment is provided by the bride's family, with feasting and dancing every evening. Weddings among middle and lower class families are held at a Lightbearer chapel and last only half a day. After the ceremony, the bride's family provides a meal, and the evening is spent in singing and dancing.
Relationship Ideals
In a marriage, the husband works in his trade or serves in the military, giving his wife security. The wife keeps the home, providing her husband a place to rest from his other duties. They are to treat each other well, providing an example to their children.
Children are to listen to their parents and teachers and learn their duties. Once grown, the eldest son in a noble household assists his father in management of their lands, with his wife caring for his parents as they age. In middle and lower class families, single daughters remain at home, caring for their parents, with the youngest daughter's husband moving in with them so that she can care for them as they age. The other children visit as often as they can, introducing their own children to their relatives.
Above Image: The symbol and colors of the Darksun dynasty
by Amanda Barylski
by Amanda Barylski
by Amanda Barylski
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