Kurzick
From Guild Wars Wiki
“When the Jade Wind swept through the branches of Echovald Forest, it turned everything to stone. Birds crashed to the forest floor in mid-flight. Deer leaped from the ground as flesh and blood, and came to earth little more than life-like statues. Now, two centuries later, life has cautiously returned. The Kurzicks were the first to venture back to the forest. There they have adapted to their petrified surroundings and have begun to carve their culture into this new landscape.
To the devout Kurzicks, everything is a sign; a portent of what is to come. They find a divine message and meaning in everything they witness. This church-state is ruled by the Council of Nobles, which makes decisions and laws only after receiving counsel from the spiritual leaders, known as the Redemptors. Great Houses govern the Kurzicks, ancient families that can trace their origins into Cantha’s distant past, and beyond.
Today there are five main Houses, two of which are the most powerful and influential. It is common for the Houses to argue among themselves, but when it comes time to fight the Luxons, the Kurzicks quickly forget their internal squabbles and focus their hatred on their long-standing enemy. Since Shiro’s death and the petrifaction of the forest, the Kurzicks have built their elaborate homes and cathedrals directly into the fossil trunks of enormous trees that make up the forest. Kurzick culture is built on ceremony, rituals, and traditions, and this is reflected in their elaborate architecture and art.
The Kurzicks occupy the Echovald Forest and are one of the two vassals of the Empire of the Dragon, the other being the Luxon Armada. The Kurzicks are a very religious nation of people who take the worship of the True Gods very seriously. They are at constant war with the Luxons due to the desire over the scarce and precious Amber and Jade that was solidified from the Jade Wind. Their nation is led by the Council of Nobles and their culture by the Great Houses - House zu Heltzer, House Vasburg, House Brauer. House Lutgardis, and House Durheim.
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[edit] History of the Kurzicks
Though the Kurzicks' origin is unknown, as is when exactly they appeared, it is however known that they were known as Kurzicks long before the Empire of the Dragon was united by Kaineng Tah. Like the Luxons, they suffered from persecution and war from Yian Zho that started in 51 CC (459 BE). This persecution first led to the unity of the Kurzick people to fend off the Empire, then to a vassal of the empire to prevent anymore killings, and to focus on their threat of the unified Luxons.
During Emperor Angsiyan's reign, the Kurzicks became more and more enveloped by the Empire through treaties, and with that, gained peace with the Luxons for a short time. Until Shiro Tagachi slew the Emperor and the Kurzick and Luxon champions, Saint Viktor and Archemorus. With their deaths, the war between the two vassals continued on and became even more intense with the loss of being able to gather their own food.
In 1527 CC (1017 AE), the Kurzicks and Luxons had openly declared war. Although it was well known to be war long before, the so called 'unofficial skirmishes' that constantly occurred became official acts of war.
However, in 1568 CC (1058 AE), the all out acts of war returned to back to boarderline skirmishes due to Emperor Kisu creating and signing new treaties with the Kurzick leaders.
In 1582 CC (1072 AE), the Kurzicks and Luxons found a temporary peace once more due to Shiro Tagachi's return and the newest threat to all of Cantha. This peace did not last long though, and quickly resumed shortly after Shiro's second death.
Sometime after the year 1127 AE, Emperor Usoku defeated the Kurzicks and Luxons forcefully assimilating them into the Empire of the Dragon, completing what Yian Zho never could do.
[edit] Culture of the Kurzicks
The Kurzicks are very religious and their practice of worship of the True Gods and their saints revolves around all most of what they do. The different houses, whether part of the Great Houses or not, all have a different characteristic among the members of the house. All of the characteristics of the houses are based on the idea of art, music, and religion. The Kurzicks are also focused on preserving and restoring the Echovald Forest to how it was before the Jade Wind. This includes the creation of wards and stone guardians that defend the Kurzicks against the monsters, unless they are not maintained - in which case the wards will simply fail and the stone guardians will become hostile. The spells are by the House zu Heltzer. Along with the House zu Heltzer's wards and protections, the House Lutgardis is "able to reinvigorate the forest through song" as said by the Historian of Houses.
Since the Jade Wind, the Kurzicks have built their buildings out of the stone-turned trees. Currently, only a very few structures remain that is made out of original stone from before the Jade Wind, such as Fort Aspenwood. Due to the petrification of the Jade Wind, both the Kurzicks and the Luxons fight over Amber and Jade for resources.
Along with their own characteristics, each Great House has a different patron god from the other houses which they revere more than the other gods. They also have patron saints, who are usually - if not always - an ancestor of that house. It is unknown if the other houses have a patron god or saint. Many Kurzicks look toward their Redemptors for spiritual guidance and act as connections to the saints and the gods. The Redemptors also council the Council of Nobles that lead the Kurzick nation. Aside from the Redemptors, another high honor position among the Kurzicks are the Tree Singers, which are the main force behind the Kurzicks' most honored ceremony, the Awakening Ceremony, in which Kurzick volunteers become Juggernauts. Although, some outsiders may consider the way Juggernauts are created - which is through a person "sacrificing" his body, though the person at least seems to contain their original personality.
[edit] Kurzick NPCs
[edit] Kurzick houses
| House | Leader(s) | Main settlement | Patron god | Patron saint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Houses | ||||
| Brauer | Count Archek Brauer | Brauer Academy | Lyssa | Saint Perahta |
| Durheim | Count Durheim Countess Sandra Durheim | Durheim Archives | Grenth | Saint Ehren |
| zu Heltzer | Count Petrov zu Heltzer | House zu Heltzer | Dwayna | Saint Viktor |
| Lutgardis | Duke Holtz Lutgardis | Lutgardis Conservatory | Melandru | Saint Melodie |
| Vasburg | Baroness Attia Vasburg Baron Mirek Vasburg | Vasburg Armory | Balthazar | Saint Anjeka |
| Other Known Houses | ||||
| Gorhopf | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| Ulrikar | Baron Ulrikar | unknown | unknown | unknown |
See Also: Historian of Houses
[edit] Trivia
- The Kurzick structures are highly similar to Medieval Gothic Buildings.
