THE KARZONS OF THE GREY MOUNTAINS

The term "Karzon" refers to the race of humans who reside in the territories that belong to the Karzonic Duchies, or anybody who genetically originates from the peoples who lived there. Battered by centuries of struggling in the practices of hunting and foraging in the harsh, cold and rocky foothills of the Grey Mountains, the Karzons have grown to value strength and cunning above all, growing to become a warlike collection of barbaric tribes and clans, who often raid each other and nearby countries in a constant battle over resources in a struggle to survive. It was only until recently that the Karzonic people adapted to a more "civilised" way of life, learning smithery and stonemasonry from the dwarves of the Grey Mountains, and turning their wooden hill forts into walled strongholds of brick and stone.

Culture

Shared customary codes and values

A warrior race of men, shaped by the cold, barren and rocky terrain of the Grey Mountains, the Karzons have a "survival of the fittest" mentality; as anybody too weak to meet their standards is viewed as a liability to them, and is unlikely to survive in the foothills and fells of their mountainous home. As a result (traditionally at least), they hold the following values in highest esteem:

Strength

Power

Discipline

Cunning

Efficiency

Bravery

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Aside from being warlike and "hordes of barbaric thugs from the south", as one Mekhoghedien source describes them, the Karzons are also heavily superstitious, and hold many shamanistic and tribal religious beliefs at hand. These take form in many ways, from small gestures and items to complex and detailed rituals.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

When a Karzon is born, the infant, regardless of gender, is laid in front of a fire, and has its forehead smeared over with war-paint (usually consisted of ash mixed with water), which is then sprinkled over with water - a symbol of life to the Karzons - by a priest or clan shaman. A weapon is then laid across its chest, and left there until the infant personally gets rid of it in some way or other.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Karzons are traditionally cremated; a pyre is constructed, and the corpse is then laid onto it with what possessions the deceased wished to take with them to the afterlife. The pyre is then set alight, and the ashes are placed into an urn, which is then placed in a burial cairn.

Ideals

Gender Ideals

A heavily war