The Books of Blutora

3 : Northern Civilization

Northern Blutora, a vast array of climates and even wider array of creatures. It plays home to the elven populations of the land as well as a couple of the more unique peoples that call Blutora home.

First of which, is the Dukaze. These are the magic sensitive elves to the northeast. The province of Izheka plays home to these magic connected elves, who have built up two of the most defined kingdoms across the lands of Blutora, in Lethio and Aurora. In a parallel to the Ezeru humans of the south, the Dukaze race hasn't always been around. Originating as Yimaro elves, those without a natural connection to the auras of magic in the world, the Dukaze only came into existence after the event known as 'the banishing of Lundell' in the year A-455. It was this event that converted roughly a third of the Yimaro population to Dukaze, as it bestowed upon the entirety of the two largest elven kingdoms of the time, Lethio and Aurora, an unbreakable inner link to the dormant auras of magic awoken in planet Teldess.

Similar to the Ezeru in the south in this way as well, the Dukaze can pass on this link to the auras of magic through hereditary means, however not all children will retain this trait. As a result of this, the Yimaro population of elves has always remained significantly higher in number than that of the Dukaze. When the Yimaro cannot produce Dukaze children, and the Dukaze parents have a chance at producing Yimaro children, this is naturally the course that time would take.

The architecture of the Dukaze is known to be very mystical and very detailed. Their kingdoms are well balanced in terms of wealth and as such there are almost no class divides. Because of their heavy focus on what settlements they do have, they've never taken to expanding to other provinces in large numbers. They are a people of building tall as opposed to building wide. Of course, you can find many Dukaze outside of the province of Izheka, all across the lands, but the vast majority remain very proud and fond of their heritage.

When it comes to the relationship with the nine deities, the most common practice is following the path of Rirza, Queen of the Sun and Moon as she's known. Dukaze legend tells of long ago when a certain Lethian attempted to enter the realm of Deaunitka, home of Rirza. As the legend goes, this resulted in a gift bestowed upon the Dukaze population, allowing them to improve their magical abilities just beyond what anyone else might be capable of. This individual was  successful, but never heard from or seen again afterwards.

The origin of the Dukaze, the Yimaro elves, call the provinces of Struetan, Melaverhi, and Mel Alari home. They didn't always call Blutora home though, similar to the Arberi humans of the south. The Yimaro elves come from a mystical land far off the northeastern coast of Blutora, across the deadly Vildryr ice fields, known as Endenxul.

The Yimaro are most well known for their abilities in combat, as strategists, and navigators. As for combat, it's specifically in the field of swordplay, it's rare for an elf of Yimaro origin to go without learning the art of the sword in battle as they grow up. This is not to say that they are a necessarily aggressive or warmongering people however, they aren't. To their people it's about much more than battle, it's an art, a craft to try and perfect. When it comes to strategy, it's often you'll find an elf of Yimaro origin masterminding any given plan. They have a knack for problem solving and solution creating, in all fields. In the realm of navigation, in a big way thanks to their strategic skills, the Yimaro are unmatched. Some of the most renowned ship captains, cartographers, and couriers are of Yimaro origin.

Architecturally speaking, the Yimaro provinces play home to very wide and diverse range of building styles. While Westwend is one of the most unique kingdoms in Blutora with it's stunning underground architecture, the likes of A'Hethas sits deep in the northern forests and would seem as if built by a whole different race of people. If you travel to the western coasts in Melaverhi and you'll find architecture that rivals that of the Dukaze in it's mystic feel.