Duōzhǒng

Duōzhǒng is a blanket term which refers to the indigenous inhabitants of northern Kazzak, prior to their displacement by Tiěbàng. Duōzhǒng are not necessarily unified in language, race, or culture, it simply refers to any native north Kazzak group which was deemed as such by the decree of the United Government.

## History

### Pre-Revolution

Before the rise of the United Government, Duōzhǒng groups dominated the north in a patchwork of feudal states and tribes, under the theoretical overlordship of the Gnoss Lords, but in practice, were largely left alone to quarrel amongst themselves. Gnoss rule was more strongly concentrated around The Obelisk in the Ozymandium region. As a result, the north was only occasionally used for exploitation of natural resources and slave labor, as opposed the much harsher conditions and experimentation in the south. Local princes were granted significant autonomy, and in-fighting among the various groups became common.

While some rebellions against the Gnoss Lords occurred prior to the 1802 revolution, success was often hindered by local in-fighting and conflicting loyalties. Some princes would revolt, while others would remain loyal, this resulted in a constant ebb and flow of loyalties which frequently worked to the benefit of the Gnoss Lords. Finally, the cruelties of the Gnoss Lords became too much to bear, and even tribal conflicts were not enough to prevent the northern clans from joining the Whillin Knights in their overthrow of the empire.

### Post-Revolution

In the aftermath of the war, some of the clans, fearing a return to the in-fighting and chaos which defined much of their history, founded the United Government of Tiěbàng, calling for unification of the long-warring tribes under one banner. At the time, joining the United Government was considered voluntary, and the government promised to serve as a neutral mediator between group conflicts, while respecting extant land rights.

For 20 years, the agreement was maintained, but as Tiěbàng grew in size and power, it began to encroach on local Duōzhǒng groups, often forcing them out of their borders, or forcibly integrating them into the provincial system. Finally, a brutal civil war broke out, which ended in the defeat of the rebelling Duōzhǒng, and the mass exile of the remaining Central Province clans into the south.

### Present

In the present, while the United Government officially proclaims that all Duōzhǒng have been exiled or integrated, in truth, many still survive in the mountainous west and tropical east, in small, isolated communities that present no interest to Tiěbàng's ambitions. In addition, many groups survive beyond the Great Southern Barrier where they have settled in Ozymandium, maintaining their practices and beliefs.

## List of Duōzhǒng Peoples

On account of the sheer diversity of Duōzhǒng groups, and the extent to which Tiěbàng has gone through to erase or obfuscate their existence, it is difficult to enumerate every single group which exists. This list is not comprehensive, and many other groups exist beyond the ones shown here.

### Àijīng (愛晶)

Àijīng refers to several Duōzhǒng groups that populated the northwestern mountains of Kazzak, unified by their worship of a local god known only as The Den. Some scholars have theorized that worship of The Den may have originated from an Aspect that used to exist in the region, though none have been able to confirm this since Tiebang established control in the area. Legends say that in ancient times, the Àijīng once built massive networks of underground cities, though they were purportedly destroyed by the coming of the Gnoss Lords.

### Fǎdé (法德)

The Fǎdé are a group native to the tip of the Jiānyá peninsula, believed to have close historical ties with Midi. Some theories speculate that the Fǎdé emerged from Midi traders who settled around northern Kazzak, assimilating into the local population while retaining some markers of their origins, such as some linguistic and culinary aspects. Today, the Fǎdé occupy some small villages along the northern coast, as well as some smaller migrant communities in Midi.

### Huàjiā (畫家)

The Huàjiā were among the first Duōzhǒng groups conquered by Tiěbàng, a mere 21 years after the country's founding. They were renowned for their artistry, both painting and performance, and their work was, at one time, circulated around the world. With the rise of Tiěbàng, their art became seen as increasingly dangerous to the status quo, and they were purged, their works banned and burned. Despite this, they have left a deep cultural legacy in northern Kazzak, and some small performance groups travel in areas where Tiěbàng cannot easily control. Some within the United Government itself have even advocated repurposing the Huàjiā style for state propaganda pieces, though Tiěbàng has denied these claims.

### Huánghūn (黃昏)

The Huánghūn originate from the northern coast of Kazzak, a largely migratory group that conducts commerce and travel between Krépuskultè and Tiěbàng. They began as Kazzak natives along the coast who converted to the worship of the Vledinan Rèv, after proselytizing from the Barony. With the rise of Tiěbàng, they were ordered to give up their faith or be deported. In response, the Huánghūn largely abandoned the country, taking to a nomadic seafaring existence between the continents of Galvasitz and Kazzak.

### Huǒshí (火食)

The Huǒshí are a people that originate from Midi, an earlier wave of migration than the Fǎdé. According to their legends, they were followers of a powerful fire elemental in Midi. When it was defeated by the early elven inhabitants of the region, they fled to Kazzak, where they hid in the jungles of North Province. With successive waves of newcomers from Midi, first from the Fǎdé then from the Dragon Knights, they were driven further and further into the jungles, eventually disappearing from the written records of Tiěbàng.

### Jiànshèng (劍聖)

Jiànshèng is less a group of people and more a way of life, once practiced in the western mountains of what is now Tiěbàng. The existence of the Jiànshèng was a deeply monastic one, forsaking all worldly attachments for perfection of a specific form of combat-- the famous maxim of their priests was to "reach heaven through violence". The Jiànshèng were largely hermits, forsaking large groupings in traditional monasteries or participation in social and political life, and as such, simply faded into obscurity and legend when Tiěbàng banned them from traveling within their borders.

### Jīmǎ (雞馬)

The Jīmǎ are a nomadic people who populate northeastern Tiěbàng, known for their mastery of archery and Mazhao-riding. They are a resilient people, who threatened Tiěbàng three times before their largest host was broken and defeated by the Ordinators. On account of their migratory lifestyle, they have been difficult for Tiěbàng to fully extinguish, and many of their tribes still cross the region atop their Mazhao.

### Lóngxué (龍學)

Lóngxué does not actually refer to a culture of people, it refers to The Academy of Dragon Knights, who, under the classification of Tiěbàng, were considered a Duōzhǒng group. The Academy and Tiěbàng were engaged in a long-standing conflict, with the Academy's staunch refusal to submit to Tiěbàng's domination. Their power struggle lasted for nearly two centuries, with Tiěbàng unable to fully overcome the Academy's defenses, until at last, the Academy was destroyed in mysterious circumstances. Since then, Tiěbàng has committed to utterly wiping its memory from the face of Meia.

### Shénbēi (神碑)

The Shénbēi are named such for their worship of The Obelisk, which continues to persist despite Tiěbàng's efforts to exterminate the cult. They originate from the northern Badlands, and share much in common with their Ozymandian relatives. Aside from their worship of the Obelisk, which Tiěbàng considers an extremely dangerous heresy, they are also renowned for their usage of the Ozymandian boomerang in hunting and combat.

### Xījī (西羇)

Xījī is a broad term referring to refugees from Vislaw, primarily from the Duchies of Valdokta and Kartovic. The nation rages with frequent wars and oppressive rulers-- few can make the perilous journey across the distant ocean, but those that do and end up in Tiěbàng are settled on the western coast. Typically they are too few in number to make up a cohesive group, but recently, the United Government has taken to inviting refugees from the duchies, in exchange for military service.