Krebin
The storm of hooves bearing down on an opponent is an image commonly associated to Krebin riders. Hailing originally from northern Rustil, these nomadic tribesman would fight amongst the other local tribes, and would eventually commonly sell their services as mercenary hordes. However, during the War of Dark Skies, where the tribes of Ustaria were beset by demons, it was the krebin horsemen who proved a vital force of light cavalry troops who would harry and devastate demonic enemies with accurate arrow shots and the slashing of their sabres. Due to their service, a year after the war, Tzarina Mosaleva Amaliya Petrovna would grant the krebin people a degree of autonomy, in where they could live however they saw fit and live without rules (within reason of course) in exchange for military aid when Rustil was threatened. AS such, the krebin have been a breed apart from the average rustilian, bred almost solely to fight and die in the bloody wars of the Rusilyvanian Empire, but in this sacrifice know the privilege of living an almost completely free life.
As Chaotic as a Snow Storm
The famous temper of the drunken krebin warrior is infamous even outside of Ustaria, where many see them as violent, drunken thugs and cutthroats. The problem with this stereotype, is it has quite a degree of truth behind it. Any attempts to "tame" the wild nature of the krebin people end in misery, some saying that krebin blood runs so hot in them, it is impossible to tame or breed out. One such example is the Rascali Civil War of 3155, where a local rustil governor proposed to the Tzarina a tax to apply on the krebin people, to help reign them in and make the land wealthier. This angered the krebin and riots ensued, even though the Tzarina at the time hadn't even confirmed if she would approve of the law, she was merely just taking it into consideration. Bloodshed did not start until a drunken krebin warrior wandered into the woods where he received a vision from the rustil god Svetoslav came to him and told him that this was not the way the world was supposed to work, and to take up arms to stop this law from poisoning the land beyond repair. This krebin named Somov Sergei Sergeyevich, would rasie a krebin host and begin to raid villages. This would spiral into chaos as krebin hosts were split down the middle between loyalty, albeit begrudgingly, to the Tzarina and their own freedom. The resulting civil war would last for 2 years, but would end up with the rebellious krebin hosts being entirely wiped off the face of the world, and estimated to leave 12 million dead, as help from outside rustil from the rest of the Rusilyvanian Empire came in, as well as foreign powers sending secret aid to the rebellious krebin escalated scale of death and destruction. However due to many krebin still remaining loyal to the Tzarina, she managed to finally convince the tribes that she wasn't going to instate this law, and any animosity between the two peoples dissipated fairly soon after.Culture
Major language groups and dialects
They share a language with the Rustil.
Culture and cultural heritage
Free spirited cannot even begin to describe the wild nature of the krebin. Due to their wild nature and fairly autonomous nature, their culture is all about free will and the skill one displays in combat. They are at once an ethnicity as much as they are mercenary companies at the same time. They are master horsemen and warriors, due to the centuries of conflict they have had to endure, for the lanes of Ustaria are never truly peaceful. Ones horse was considered their greatest bond, and as such it is said small magical rituals take place to bond rider and steed, so that both can act in perfect unison together.
Due to this focus on warriors, society is heavily militarized, with people divided in regimental and company districts. This is due to their nature as a mercenary people, who brave the Rustil Steppes and wide open plains of snow to fight monsters and invaders, when they aren't drinking themselves into comas or causing bar fights that is. Yes, the wild nature of Krebin has led to many arguments and even entire minor wars, especially when foreign officials end up getting roughed up from rowdy krebin horseman and the foreign power demands compensation and punishment, but Rustil hardly would bend to the wishes of a foreign power. However, despite many cursing them as drunken thugs and vagabounds, none can argue that they are devoted family people, and when paid the right coin, there a few more loyal to their employer then a force of krebin riders.
Common Dress code
Typical krebin dress includes cloth trousers, a papakha, smock, and kaftan. The papakha is an important part of their uniform, as taller and more grander looking ones can determine status among the Krebin Hosts. Krebin are superstitious and believe that they must wear their uniforms as much as possible, for it is believed that the family forelock on their uniform will be used to help them in the afterlife. They believe that due to the great demonic hordes that ravaged the north has cursed their kind, so much so that the second they take one life they will be sent straight to hell when they die. However, the goddess Melania knows that they kill out of a love for their motherland and their fmaily, and will pull them out of that horrific furnace by said forelock. It is famously said "A krebin without a forelock is no krebin at all."
Coming of Age Rites
When a child is born, the relatives present them with an arrow, bow, bullet, and a gun. These are hung on the wall over the child's bed, and are to be the weapons he will fight and die by. As early as age 3 the child begins to ride a horse, and by 7 or 8 they are allowed to ride in the street and hunt with adults. When reaching adulthood, they must go on a contract to prove their metal to their family and show that krebin blood runs hot in their veins.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Curiously krebin funerals are held for people that are not actually dead typically, but for those who might as well be dead. Krebin casualties are typically high due to their fiery nature, and so when marching off to war a funeral pyre is erected in a public place and the relatives begin to mourn his death, as the "dead" person typically their first time casts a symbolic childhood possession into the flames, though after their first funeral they typically throw a bouquet of flowers into the fire instead. After this the locals will gather in a circle and sing songs of the "dead" person, while the "dead" person stays out of the circle and stands behind whoever is talking. The circle will tell stories of what is expected of the krebin warrior in his next life, typically telling stories of heroes and what they should aspire to be. After this the dead person mounts on their horse and leaves the village, with the wailing of his mourning family and neighbors in his ears. This practice is to prepare the warrior for the possibility of death, meant to shock someone into a state of calm when on the battlefield.
Naturally, foreigners find this incredibly creepy, even standard rustil tend to find this an odd practice at best. However to the krebin it hardens their souls for the grim duty they must take on, that being to die in droves to defend their home from any who would dare invade it, and to make their relatives proud of the warrior they helped raise.
Ideals
Gender Ideals
Krebin gender ideals differ from typical Rustil culture in that they believe that both men and women are of equal worth, rather then the matriarchal values of the typical Rustil population.
Courtship Ideals
Krebin, due to their free spirited nature, view courtship as an all or nothing affair, with some saying they are "as wild as lovers as they are as riders". Marriage rituals consist of the when who proposed taking their soon to be spouse to the local church, where they are followed by a marriage train. After the wedding, all present are to adjourn at the proposers house. There, the parents bless the couple, break a loaf of the best bread they have above their heads, and sprinkle them with wheat, buts, sweets, and hops. Typically a woman's hair would be unbraided at that point.
Relationship Ideals
Krebin have very large families, and as such relationships are tended to revolve around who does a krebin want to start a family with. As such, krebin couples are almost fanatically devoted to one another, and nothing can drive a husband or wife into a berserker frenzy if they see their spouse hurt.
Major organizations
They are split up into Krebin Hosts, and are employed most often by the Tzarina of Rustil, within the Rusilyvania Empire.
Related Locations
