The Lightless

Not everyone bowed to the leadership of the Kerek League. Those that refused to unite under them were driven to the fringes of the Shards or the Crys and forced to work the dismal and dangerous mines. Deemed "lightless" for refusing the light of reason and science that the League brought, they are little more than slaves, living in the roughest, most impovereished areas of Kerekos.

Origins

During the Kerekan Unification, most of the warlords' followers quickly turned to the League's side, drawn to the promise of plentiful food and an end to constant war. But many didn't like the idea of giving up traditions and cultures that had stood for centuries, and some outright refused. The League's forces drove these people from their homes, forcing them further and further eastward. The refuges sought shelter with one of the last of the old lords, Rekazi Vort, until a catastrophic clash of her forces with the League caused the complete destruction of her lands and formed the Shards.
The refugees that survived, hopeless and homeless, surrendered to the League. But with their domination of the isl complete, the League declared that the remaining old believers were heretical murderers who deserved neither mercy or protection. The survivors were enslaved and put to work in mines, foundries, and other dangerous posts, and upon the official formation of the Kerek League, a law was established that "those that refused the light of reason and peace were never to benefit from it, nor were any who aided them". The law established a sense of fear in the populace for the consequences of showing the "lightless" any kindness, and that fear extended to their descendents as well.
Over the years, many Lightless have escaped and fled into the Shards, establishing hideouts and a new culture that blends the old ones with their defiance of the League.

Customs and Culture

Lightless culture is a melting pot of ideals and values, as the Lightless came from several different nations. In general, each settlement has a central culture based on where most of the population originated, but because of their oppression by the League, all Lightless are careful not to allow one culture to dominate or overthrow the others. Above all, Lightless hate the League and its agents, and this unity has led to several universal customs.

Language

While Lightless still speak, read, and write standard Kerekan, they have developed a second, secret written language called Shadowscript. Invisible to the naked eye, Shadowscript can be viewed through specially-made starglass lenses, which only the Lightless possess the knowledge to make. Lightles use Shadowscript to leave hidden messages for each other, warning of dangers or giving directions to hideouts. Recently, they have even begun using it to pass messages to Lightless sympathizers, further formenting the growing unrest in the Kerekan populace.

Clothing, Art, and Architecture

In their enslavement and banishment to the Shards, Lightless lost almost all of their historic or creative accomplishments. The only sense of art or history they were allowed was what they had in their memories, and they were forbidden to speak of it within the slave camps. Some of the original escapees made it their mission to preserve what they could, and somewhere in the Shards is a hidden "school" where Lightless can be taught about the old ways if they desire.
Currently, Lightless creativity is expressed in ways that cannot be found and taken or destroyed by League forces. Wall paintings are done using star ink so they can't be seen without a starglass lens, and story songs are sung only in well-hidden locations. Some Lightless weave cultural patterns into their clothing, but even this small expression of art is viewed as risky.