Urizan

## Description

“To live by the sword is cheap, to die by the sword is priceless”

* Harbinger Vaxez Gai Zakera

Adherents to the martial art and philosophy of Urizan, colloquially known as the Zyyntorean Code of Honor, the Urizae are the warrior class and true cultural foundation of the zyyntorean people. Even before the creation of Zyyntorism, the Urizan has remained the true constant of the zyyntorean people, so much so that Urizae itself can be used to describe a zyyntorean. Urizae are men and women who have dedicated their lives to selfless service to their people, spending their entire lives training in the art of swordsmanship, marksmanship, and meditation. Living by a strict code of discipline and honor, Urizae are considered by the zyyntorean people and the rest of the galaxy as the most dedicated and skilled of their kind. For several thousand years there was no foundational text or doctrine that the Urizae followed, but after the creation of the Zyyntorist faith and the writing of the Tractates of Honor by Vaxez Gai Zakera, the Urizan has seen a revival in zyyntorean society, gathering almost as many adherents as their all-encompassing faith.

The Urizan’s most defining feature is its concept of honor, which for the most part centers on martial skill and honorable conduct in battle, but is also meant to serve as a way of life in general, where even in peacetime proper Urizae live an honorable and selfless life.

Throughout the history of the Holy Zyyntorean Empire, the Urizan code has gone through several iterations and evolutions, though since the drafting of the Tractates the code has remained largely consistent and unchanged, though the most recent Harbinger Viacota Gai Zelem was writing a new code of Urizan before his untimely death in 954 AUA.

## Etymology:

“Urizan” translates literally to “Life of Honor” based on ancient Zyyntorae. The first recorded usage of the word was written in 9923 BCE on an ancient tablet in the city of Hevress, one of the Holy Cities of Valeez, which is now simply known as the Urizan Stone. The word is compounded from the word uriz meaning “honor” and -an, a suffix that translates literally to “of.” The lack of an official word signifying “life” implies that the term was originally longer, leading some older Urizan and particularly orthodox younger practitioners to include the word vomort, or “life” in contemporary Zyyntorae, thus being known fully as “Vomort Urizan.” However, most still refer to it only as Urizan for simplicity and familiarity.

The term Urizae, used to describe followers of the code, is a shortened term derived from the ancient Zyyntorae dialect of Imkran, the word being zelem-urizan, meaning “Warrior of Honor.” In modern Zyyntorae, the term was shortened to Urizae, meaning “Honor Man.”

### Usage:

“The Urizan is not a code, it is a way of life.”

* Harbinger Vaxez Gai Zakera

The usage of Urizan has fluctuated throughout the millennia long history of the Holy Zyyntorean Empire. It was heavily used by the Urizae warrior class when they dominated the society of the Crystaria. Following the First War of Revision and the dissolution of the Urizae as the dominant warrior class, the Urizan changed from an all encompassing law code to an individual code of honor and conduct. Though there was no official litigation to enforce the code, social law and the great respect for the code kept Urizae in check and ensured that they remained true to its ideals.

After the revitalization of the Urizan, known as the Urizvosous (literally “Honor Reborn”), the code came back into the forefront of zyyntorean life, with many adopting it as a form of solace and believing that it would assist in rebuilding society after the dishonor of civil war ripped the empire apart. This form of Urizan focused heavily on morals, namely on individual honor and especially respect, as it was intolerance that began the civil war.

At this point, the Urizan focused on these key tenants;

* Honor
* Honesty
* Bravery
* Swordsmanship

These four tenants, known in Urizan thought as the Urizevaenagon (Honorable Diamond), dominated the thought of Urizan philosophers and writers, who mythologized the four tenants through legends, romanticism, and actual history as they recounted the events of the civil war and the core beliefs of Urizan. During the Zunni War of 2895 BCE, the zyyntorean people and their precious honor code were challenged by the dreaded Zunni Empire, forcing many to abandon the code just to survive, leading to the Urizan falling out of fashion once again. After Harbinger Vaxez Gai Zakera wrote the Tractates of Honor, or Urizan Tokava, the Urizan reached its definitive and current state, which kept the same ideals from the Urizevaenagon but also added new additions;

* Honor
* Honesty
* Bravery
* Swordsmanship
* Discipline
* Patience
* Tolerance
* Fairness
* Piety

This form of Urizan is the current framework of all Urizae, which is used as the primary form of instruction for the armed forces of the Holy Zyyntorean Empire as well as an aspect of the Imperial Court.

## History:

“To enter battle with the intent to survive will lead to death. To enter battle with the intent to die will lead to survival.”

* Maxim of the Urizan Tokava

The earliest recorded form of the Urizan can be traced back to 10,000 BCE inscribed on a wooden block. Consisting of just three lines of readable text, this wooden block became the framework of the Urizan code and its evolution. The Urizan’s practitioners, the Urizae, were the noble warrior class of Crystaria and the zyyntoreans for millenia, ruling over individual provinces and kingdoms known as Heia, meaning land. The Urizae used the Urizan as not only a training manual, but as a legal document, thus the laws and beliefs of the Urizan fluctuate depending on the Urizae ruler of each Heia, leading to a infirm foundation for determining the true ancient beliefs of the code. It was not until 9981 BCE with the founding of Zyyntorism and the spread of paper that the Urizan became more homogenized across the planet’s surface. This period of religious spread and the solidifying of Urizan doctrine is known as the Vongaku Period, consisting of the unification of the zyyntorean people and the ascendance of the Urizae as the dominant social class of early zyyntorean society.

Though the Urizan is known now as a code of honor, at the time honor only really included skill in combat, meaning that many Urizae were corrupt and truly tyrannical to their subjects, leading to discontent amongst the populace and the clergy class, which stood alongside the Urizae as the other leading class of the Holy Zyyntorean Empire. After the coronation of the first emperor, Optious Gai Arcos in 8981 BCE, the planet was plunged into a brutal religious civil war known as the 1st War of Revision, which symbolized the end of the Vongaku Period and began the Arcos-Raederati Period.

The Arcos-Raederati Period saw the complete dissolution of the Urizae as the leading noble class and instead replaced them with the Palatinate System, which is the current form of government in the Empire in the present.

Under the Palatinate System, the Urizae still enjoyed relative privileges. While they may have been dethroned, the Emperor recognized that the Urizae still held considerable influence over society, and believed that completely stripping them of their rights would only lead to further violence. It was during this period that the Urizae became more introspective of their role in starting the civil war, leading to the creation of the Urizevaenagon, pioneered by the zyyntorean philosopher and Urizae Hamous Gai Zeerax, who would later become the first Harbinger of the Holy Zyyntorean Empire.

With a code now heavily focused on moral integrity, the Urizae regained much of the respect they had lost amongst the lower class, and were now known as the protectors of the laity, or peasant, caste of zyyntorean society.

In 8873 BCE, the first public Urizan school was established. Previously, such institutions were only available to Urizae noblemen, thus the revolutionary creation of a public school meant that the ideals of the Urizan could be spread to the common folk of the Empire, allowing the code to gain widespread popularity, especially amongst the legions of the Empire. These schools, known as Seras, caused the Urizan to become almost as popular as Zyyntorism, an idea that threatened the dominant clergymen of the Zyyntorist Church. Rather than stamp out the schools through violence, the church instead took a more diplomatic approach, requesting that in addition to Urizan thought that religious ideals of Zyyntorism be taught as well.

The masters of the Seras, known as Serosae, obliged, essentially turning Urizan schools into miniature churches or seminaries, which led to an increased focus on military service as a form of religious service in Zyyntorist teachings, a concept that would be fully integrated into the Script of Valeez during the 2nd Revision thousands of years later.

The end of the Arcos-Raederati Period was signaled by the Sonderati War of 3001 BCE, ushering in the Langasu-Mortanae Period, or Imperial Crusade Period. The Sonderati War was also known as the 1st Zyyntore Crusade, and signaled the first time since the War of the 1st Revision that zyyntoreans would spill the blood of other zyyntoreans, an idea forbidden by the tenants of the Urizan. The war shattered the Urizan core beliefs, as many common people believed that the code was antiquated and failed at its objective of preventing moral degeneracy in zyyntorean society, leading to the number of Urizae plummeting through abandonment and the war, which killed hundreds of thousands of faithful Urizae.

Things were made worse for the code shortly after with the ushering in of the Umbrous Period, named after the Black War, or Zunni-Zyyntorean War, which nearly saw the complete destruction and genocide of the zyyntoreans as a species at the hands of the vicious Zunni Empire. Though the zyyntoreans just barely survived the war after the Blights rebelled against their masters, society as the zyyntoreans knew it was completely annihilated, with so many dead that entire cities were rendered empty.

Like the zyyntoreans, the Urizan too barely survived and found its ideals tested once again, as the zyyntoreans were forced to resort to underhanded tactics and blatant disregard for its rules to survive the conflict. Such dishonorable acts included surrender, desertion, execution of unarmed prisoners, and murder of civilian populations. In an effort to revitalize the beliefs of the Urizan, Harbinger Vaxez Gai Zakera, who himself was an ardent Urizae, wrote the Urizan Tokava, or Tractates of Honor, which he believed would cause the zyyntoreans to remember themselves and what they stand for; honor, justice, and most importantly, piety, as the church was hit hard by the war as well.

The Tractates of Honor signaled the first time that an official treatise was written on the Urizan, laying out concrete rules and codes that left little to interpretation, causing the Urizan to become more rigid and focused on constant practice and training, leading to renowned skill that zyyntorean warriors are known for.

With the creation of the Tractates of Honor, the Urizan has been unchanged well into the present day, now a constant of everyday zyyntorean life and essentially becoming an aspect of their personalities, so much so that other species joke about the solemn attitude of most zyyntorean individuals in conversation.

## Core Beliefs and Practices:

“Dedicate your life to honorable living. Display honesty even when it affects you negatively. Be brave in times when others would be weak. Treat the sword as if it is an extension of yourself. Discipline yourself through modest living and constant practice. Meditate to imbue your soul with patience. Associate with all walks of life to learn tolerance. Be fair to even those who do not deserve it. And dedicate yourself to living in the name of Valeez, for He offers true salvation.”

* Maxim of the Urizan Tokava

Based upon the Tractates of Honor, the Urizan clearly lays out the ideals that are meant to be taught to all Urizae, focusing on honor, honesty, bravery, swordsmanship, discipline, patience, tolerance, fairness, and piety. Because of this wide range of tenants, many Urizae will dedicate themselves to specific aspects of the Urizan based on their job. Warriors will focus on honor, bravery, swordsmanship, and discipline. Priests and clerics focus on patience, tolerance, and piety. Palatines and government officials focus on fairness, discipline, and honor while many other Urizae will practice a combination of all.

Practicing the art of the Urizan does not limit itself to the walls of  Seras, as the Urizan is considered by its followers as a way of life that must be practiced at all times. As such, Urizae are never to be seen in public without a sword by their side so they may defend themselves and others at a moment's notice. Urizae are expected to always be ready to assist those in need, and thus must keep their minds and bodies sharp to be ready for any situation, be it as dangerous as an enemy invasion or as simple as helping an old woman tend to her yard. To encourage these beliefs, Seras do not only teach adults, but children as well, ensuring that the beliefs are taught and practiced for the entire extensive life of a Urizae to ensure maximum proficiency and honor. Though aspects of the Urizan advocate for emotional detachment and discipline, the Urizan Tokava also states that in matters of warfare and blasphemy that zealotry and passion are essential to success, hence the reputation of the infamous “Zyyntorean Rage” that can be released in time of stress.

The most encompassing tenant of the Urizan is the concept of honor, which in a sense covers all the other core beliefs of the practice. Thus, if one is asked how to sum up the Urizan in one word, the answer is simple. Urizae Honor is deeply laden with tradition and ritual.

One such tradition of Urizan Honor is the concept of Tozamorti, or ritual suicide following defeat or dishonor. Following defeat in combat that ended in survival, proper Urizae are instructed to commit ritual suicide by taking a dagger embossed with Zyyntorist hymns and slit their own throat, atoning for the sin and dishonor of defeat and thus regaining his honor.

Though most zyyntorean legionnaires are Urizae, very few follow the ritual of Tozamorti, with their commanding officers discouraging the practice, seeing it as wasteful. However, cases of Tozamorti are still common amongst zyyntorean officers and even generals, with their sacrifice honored despite objections to the practice. A specific element of Tozamorti is the Mortous, or Death Poem, a will of sorts that is half prayer, half affirmation of honor. Mortous Poems are traditionally five lines long with a maximum ten syllables in each, which a Urizae writes before he begins the Tozamorti. An example of a Mortous is shown below;

The creek of the branch sounds in my ears; Leaves fall on my steel blade; I beg for forgiveness in dishonor; The steel slides across my taught throat; Washing my failure away from my soul

Another ritual is known as the Gladanous Fexous, or “Relinquished Sword.” During combat, if an enemy is disarmed but not killed in the process, a Urizae is still obligated to kill the enemy to cleanse them of dishonor, but will do so by disarming himself, impaling the ground with his blade and killing the enemy in hand-to-hand combat to ensure that the fight is fair. In reality, if the enemy is physically weaker than the zyyntorean, the battle is hardly fair, but the principle remains so. In the legions, this practice is also discouraged, as the ritual wastes time and could possibly get the Urizae in question killed if other enemies are nearby, but there are still countless cases where the practice is witnessed, most notably in wars with the gorgons, who also possess their own distinct code of honor during battle that shares many parallels with the Urizan.

The Urizan also serves as a martial art, as one of the core tenants since its inception has been swordsmanship, and many schools of swordsmanship have sprung up across the various Seras across the Empire. Of the many techniques that are taught, there are two key disciplines of swordsmanship that have developed.

The first is known as Victrix Gladanae (swift blade), a technique that emphasizes quick strikes and light footwork designed to dazzle the enemy as much as it is to kill. It focuses on the more ritualistic side of swordsmanship, and is most commonly associated with the ritual of Gladanous Fexous. A practitioner of Victrix Gladanae uses a two handed longsword, known as a gladanous, the most recognizable zyyntorean blade, wherein the swordsman uses his offhand to stabilize the blade for parrying and heavy cuts. Victrix Gladanae is also always preceded by meditation and prayer, which is recited aloud before the duel begins, even in the heat of battle.

The second discipline is Mortous Katanous (blade of death), which focuses on a more brutal and deadly form of swordsmanship renowned for the amount of heads it severs from the shoulders of its foes. The art is infamous for its difficulty to master. The sword used is a katanous, a curved one handed blade that is usually paired with a dagger or second sword, where it then becomes Mortous Katanae, or “two blades of death.” A Katanan (katanous swordsman) is instructed when practicing the art to focus on his anger and passion for combat, leading to the belief that katanous blades emanate an aura of hatred and fury when brandished, and it is considered improper and even blasphemous to unsheath the blade without the intent to kill. If there is no one to kill, the swordsman must draw his own blood to honor the weapon. In that respect, Mortous Katanous is the preferred sword art for training legionnaires for frontline combat.

While the art of the sword is the most recognizable practice of the Urizan, it is not the only one. Another is the practice of Zukushi, or meditation, which is meant to serve as an exercise in patience and spiritual discipline. While not inherently religious by nature, the Script of Valeez also recommends meditation, thus many Urizae will combine the two meditative practices to also exercise their piety.

The practice of Zukushi is highly ritualized, with each stage of the exercise requiring precise movements and environment. The Urizae first must polish his blade with a silk cloth, removing any impurities before placing the blade, unsheathed, on a rack surrounded by burning incense and scrolls inscribed with Urizan maxims of the Urizae’s choosing. The Urizae then kneels before the swords, inhales the incense deliberately, and transitions to a sitting position with his legs crossed and his palms resting symmetrically on his knees. For hours on end, the Urizae will remain in that position, silently reciting the scrolls in his mind from memory and contemplating the true meaning of them. In this state, the only sense that should be active is the Urizae’s Okala Vaca (Mind Soul), which the zyyntoreans consider their sixth sense. The Urizae will, in theory, relive memories old and new, great battles, and even past lives, making the Zukushi a highly sacred and transcendent experience in the eyes of the zyyntoreans. The concept of meditation is so popular in zyyntorean society that even non-Urizae will practice it to teach themselves discipline and to experience their memories in a spiritual and clear state.

## Urizan in Society:

“The Urizae does not fear death, death fears the Urizae.”

* Maxim of the Urizan Tokava

The Urizan, like Zyyntorism, is almost all-encompassing of zyyntorean society. Local Seras not only serve as schools, but places of tranquility and general learning where citizens are able to enter free of charge and peruse the writings within the massive libraries of the schools. The maxims of the Urizan written by Vaxez Gai Zakera can be seen inscribed on street signs and hanging from flag poles, serving as a constant reminder to the citizens of the importance of honorable living.

The zyyntorean Civil Battalions, the national militia that guards the Empire, are trained and commanded by Urizae masters, and Urizae writings and philosophical thought are sold in bookstores and available in libraries across the whole of the empire.

In the military, the martial and moral practices are worked into the training regimen of the Imperial Legions, causing most if not all of the soldiers in the Imperial Armed Forces to become Urizae. These Urizae soldiers, after leaving the military, will then teach these ideas to their children, which in tandem with Zyyntorism makes zyyntorean culture highly collectivist and homogenous.

In the greater galaxy, the Urizan is just as popular amongst non-zyyntoreans. Many Japanese humans have adopted elements of Urizan due to its similarity to Bushido. International Seras can be seen in large cities across the galaxy, always run by zyyntorean Urizae, who teach thousands of students of all species every year, spreading the ideals of the Urizan throughout the galaxy.

Supporters of the Urizan claim that it provides a concrete set of universally moral ideals that serve for the betterment of society, praising the code’s teachings on honesty and personal integrity as especially essential. Critics claim that the code is too rigid and warlike, turning its followers into a cult of death, worshipping violence without any thought to the suffering they could commit. Even more vehement critics believe that the Holy Zyyntorean Empire uses the Urizan as a propaganda and imperialistic tool, most prominently the anarchistic radio show host Drifter’s Radio. Some fear that their citizens will become more loyal to the zyyntoreans than to their own species and government, which the zyyntoreans have patently denied, though some government officials have admitted that they approve of Seras being established within tyrannical and dishonorable nations. Peace groups frequently praise the Urizan for its codes on justice and morality, but condemn it for its emphasis and spiritual approach to combat and death, believing all Urizae to be warmongers that luckily are constrained by their rigid morals.

The Urizan is also extremely attractive to extremist groups, namely far-right fascists and left-wing extremists, who admire the Urizan’s rules on warfare, collectivism, and piety. Many Zyyntorist minorities on other planets that are discriminated against adopt militant Zyyntorist beliefs and combine them with Urizan teachings, adopting Zyyntorist names and practicing the code to the best of their own ability.

The most infamous of these radical extremist groups is the Imperial Army of Honor (IAH) on Aterich, the capital of the xamon splinter nation Vondrak Empire. Seeking to bring the Vondraks back into the fold of the Xamon Empire, the IAH is an extremist Zyyntorist group of right leaning Urizae that believe in an even fuller militarized state while eliminating slavery, instead creating a theocratic junta style of government. The group is considered a terrorist organization by both the Vondraks and the Xamon Empire, as well as several other nations allied with the xamon. However, while publicly disavowing the IAH, the Xamon Empire secretly arms the IAH through third parties, supporting them in their fight against the Vondraks, though the Emperor shows no intention of allowing the IAH to survive once the Vondraks have been destroyed.

Within the Tayrigo Empire and later Republic, there is a major Zyyntorist militant group that arose due to the harsh persecution and oppression that they faced at the hands of the Kreyo government. Fueled by the Urizan’s tenants on honor and piety, the militant group has been waging an insurgency against Kreyo for centuries. This group, calling themselves the Zelo Urizious Vonious (Free Honorable Wanderers), were originally a Zyyntorist Sandborn tribe that began gathering several other tribes to their cause in the 7020s CE after the Spravac-Delta War. The presence of zyyntorean missionaries accompanied by Urizae bodyguards inspired the impoverished and disaffected Sandborn tribesmen in the area, who began ministering to other tayrigos in the major cities on Kreyo.

This alien religion and philosophy began perturbing the Empress Qwb’Marious, who ordered the forced removal of zyyntorean missionaries from the planet and the destruction of all Zyyntorist places of worship. Additionally, all Zyyntorists who wished to continue their worship were required to pay a “religion tax” every month to continue their existence peacefully. The impoverished tayrigos who were typically drawn to the religion were naturally unable to pay the tax, causing mass incarcerations and even killings against Zyyntorists who resisted arrest. Many newer converts simply abandoned the faith, but the zealous Sandborn tribes refused and struck out, launching attacks on government buildings and imperial law enforcement, immediately garnering a reputation as a fearless and brutal terrorists.

Their infamy has been met with both support and opposition. The Ures Federation, refusing the recognize the terrorists, has assisted the tayrigo government in joint operations against the ZUV on several occasions with mixed results, however even within Ures’ borders there are Zyyntorist populations that support the ZUV in solidarity. The Holy Zyyntorean Empire publicly disavows the terrorists for their violence and indiscriminate killings, however in secret they ship weapons and ammunition to the ZUV to assist them in their insurgency, as their theocracy dictates that they support all Zyyntorists in their struggles or at least guide them on the right path.

In recent decades, the zyyntoreans have even unofficially sent Vonin advisors to assist the ZUV to not only increase their effectiveness, but monitor their morals and teach them to only attack military targets, where the Urizan Code is used as a template of moral education.

## The Zyyntorintern:

“It is the mission of the Holy Zyyntorist International to spread the glory of Valeez and the honorable lifestyle of the Urizan to the laity of the galaxy, to support and protect our oppressed brothers and sisters on distant worlds, and to stamp out hatred and misinformation of our faith so that the galaxy may better understand the true goal of the Zyyntorist Faith. Avous Ivae!”

* The Zyyntorintern Mission

Perhaps the largest Urizae group in the galaxy aside from the Holy Zyyntorean Empire itself is the Zyyntorintern, or Zyyntorist International, which is an international support group that seeks to spread Zyyntorism and the Urizan throughout the galaxy. Founded in 5034 CE by the human expat from the Sol Confederacy Rhesous Gai Johnston, who was forced to flee the planet after he attempted a coup of the Sol Confederacy to institute a Zyyntorist theocracy aligned with the Holy Zyyntorean Empire, the Zyyntorintern is the second largest Zyyntorist group in the galaxy, so prominent in fact that its Holy Council regularly meets with the High Priest to discuss strategy.

The main goals of the Zyyntorintern is to spread Zyyntorism and Urizan ideals throughout the galaxy, provide protection for Zyyntorist minorities on planets where the Holy Zyyntorean Empire cannot go, and educate and create awareness of the faith to the galaxy to do away with any misconceptions. Though not classified as a terrorist organization, the Zyyntorintern is a paramilitary, as it fields its own navy and security force to protect its stations and to protect other Zyyntorists. Zyyntorintern installations, known as Worship Camps, are banned on several worlds, however most typically regard the Zyyntorintern as helpful due to its commitment to fighting crime and protecting the weak, thus law enforcement and militaries will often cooperate or assist Zyyntorintern members in their missions if their goals align.

Zyyntorintern propaganda posters and missionaries are often seen throughout the galaxy, often protected by volunteer Vonin, which is the main tactic of the association in achieving their divine mission, a mission which is often advertised and supported by the Holy Zyyntorean Empire, though the Empire is critical of the organization’s corporatist approach and aggressive propaganda machine.

The Zyyntorintern is organized into several branches. The Holy Council is the main ruling body, establishing the strategies of the organization as well as appointing new managers of the other branches. The Young Zyyntorists Club, a youth group that holds daily classes for its members on Zyyntorist thought and activism. The International Conversion Committee (ICC) is responsible for propaganda and missionary work. They build churches on impoverished worlds, host a radio show, and publish hologram newspapers reporting news regarding the Zyyntorist faith abroad. Last is the Urizae Security Group, the paramilitary arm of the Zyyntorintern. Applicants who wish to serve in the USG must prove their dedication to the faith, provide a proven record of prior military service, and pass an exam held by the ICC that tests their faith and knowledge of Zyyntorist history.

The Zyyntorintern regularly hosts the International Zyyntorist Convention, a massive gathering of various Zyyntorist groups, including the Holy Zyyntorean Empire, which meets every five years on the planet Jolothane in the Empire to discuss current issues regarding the faith. The IZC is available for anyone to attend, so it is often covered by foreign press and frequented by ambassadors from other nations. However, much of the IZC’s conferences are attended by unofficial groups such as the IAH, the ZUV, as well as Zyyntorist aligned political parties. Most often the topic of the conference always turns to war and how the oppressed Zyyntorists on other planets are going to be rescued. When that occurs, the conference is then dissolved and the parties concerned go to the Interior Conference, where they discuss war strategy in secret with the Holy Zyyntorean Empire to figure out how to achieve their goals of intergalactic Zyyntorism.