The Beziltec (Beh-ZEEL-tehk)

Hailing from a region of the Gouge known only as the Pit, the Beziltec are among the few peoples able to survive in the forested lower elevations of the Gouge. Experts on the strange, mutated flora and fauna of the Pit, the Beziltec are master explorers, and the only group of people consistently able to harvest ruinsap: a strange, yellow fluid that seeps out of the few remaining ruins of the Chains--most of which are located in the treacherous Pit--after it rains, renowned for its ability to ward off hostile spirits. The Beziltec trade this resource readily for anything else they may need--especially bronze for the manufacture of weapons and armor, which are essential for survival in the region--but are fiercely protective of the location of the ruins that produce it.

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

The Beziltec are, in many ways, a window into what the people of the Gouge were like prior to the eruption of Naarvikl, as their lifeways were less severely affected than many other peoples'. They have still had to make massive adaptations, and their culture has been far from stagnant, but compared with ethnic groups like the Vesikatli or the Shredlanders, their lives have remained relatively unchanged.

Art & Architecture

Aside from the huge stone constructions in the three major fortified cities of Kletchtil, Naakilmaan and Huiltan, the Beziltec have very little in the way of permanent structures, and favor easily constructed temporary structures--a luxury they can easily afford, do to the ready availability of wood in the Pit. These structures tend to be simplistic, but are often adorned with portable artwork, such as tapestries, decorated baskets, handheld statues and carpets.
Beziltec art is very colorful, and generally involves trichromatic color-schemes. Unlike much other art in the Gouge, it does not tend to involve much engraving, probably due to the relatively easy availability of pigments.