Kresh

Located high in the Abjurer Mountains, Kresh is more of a religious community than a powerful eastern nation. They seek the true path to human enlightenment, the purification of body and soul.

Their priests travel the lands, even into Turan where its death to practice their religion, offering assistance to any who have need. They are the only people that can travel throughout the mountains freely. Although many of the people living there do not follow the path of the Kreshites, they allow them to bring succor to their people.

The first Kreshites were Turanians that claimed they had achieved a more enlightened state of being. They claimed they sought the truth of the universe and peace for the inner soul. While this sometimes put them at odds with the worship of Uhl, the Kreshites were considered harmless enough to continue their practice.

However, it was when Azekial Haziem reached the peak of his own enlightenment that he issued a statement that changed everything. He claimed that Uhl was merely the embodiment of all human souls that had achieved true enlightenment - this blasphemy resulted in his immediate stoning by the Followers of Uhl. However, the damage had already been done.

Kreshites across Turan began to take up Haziem’s matra and soon found themselves hunted for their beliefs. However, so true was this statement that many Kreshites would rather die that lose the truth. They tried to resist, but they were scholars and philosophers and not warriors. The break came with the Followers of Uhl captured ten Kreshites and burned them alive in the Punishment Square at Dariabar.

The Kreshites had long considered the northern spur of the Abjurer Mountains to be a place of complete enlightenment and many of their wisest converts had travelled there. However, the Kreshites always stayed among the Turanians so they may pass on their knowledge to those who would listen. While their wisest leaders burned, Kreshites everywhere heard a call to travel to the mountains.

By the thousands the Kreshites left behind everything and took to the road travelling north. Northern Turan was sparsely populated so the number of pilgrims far outnumbered the local Satrap’s troops.He called upon his Vizers, who issued a request to the Sultan for more troops. The Sultan sent his wisest general with ten thousand men to bring the Kreshites to heel.

The troops came upon the Kreshites at the Shining Pass, entrance into the Abjurer Mountains. As they moved into position a great rumbling came from the earth. As the ground shook, the nearby peaks collapsed into the pass, killing nearly all of the soldiers. Less than five hundred Turanians left that pass alive; however, the Kreshites continued unopposed into the Mountains.

Over the years they constructed large schools in the mountains so they could teach their followers. They saw the need to train physically and spiritually, as many Kreshites died on the pilgrimage north from simple exhaustion. Each year more humans from across the world hear some inner calling that leads them to Kresh. Once there they all those who wish to journey upon the path to true enlightenment are welcomed into their dojos.

The Turanians have tried several times to force their soldiers into the mountains to eliminate the blasphemers, but each time the Kreshites have turned them back with great losses. Meanwhile, the Kreshites have splintered into various factions as each dojo seeks its own true path to enlightenment.

The highest part of the Abjurer Mountains is located in a large spur in the north-east. The peaks rise high into the sky often shrouded in clouds, while the valleys cut deep enough to support streams, lakes, and herd animals. It’s a dangerous land of predators, volcanic tremors, bitter cold, and icy winds. However, the snow-capped mountains are considered quite beautiful during the dusk and twilight.

Considered the father of modern enlightenment, it was Azekial that first obtained enlightenment. It was his words that set the Kreshites upon their path, a path that has brought them closer to their goal. However, it was his words about opening up their belief to others through both thought and action that was considered his greatest achievement. Currently, over half of all people that now consider themselves Kresh come from lands other than Turan.

The Tiger, Condor, Ki-Rin, Dragon, and Ape - these are the five guardians along the path to true enlightenment. The Tiger represents strength, the Condor is vision, the Ki-Rin brings intelligence, the Dragon is power, and the Ape is clever. Each dojo will have a place where the five guardians stand watch. It is here that students must stand before their masters and defend their own basis of existence.

Once a student has mastered all five basic understandings they are named a disciple. Unlike a student, a disciple is expected to pursue their own path to their personal enlightenment. Many do this by teaching other students, learning from the masters, or even travelling to other lands to seek their own answers.

Kreshites have no true leadership. Instead, each dojo maintains its own path from Student to Master. The status of each dojo varies as each rises or falls in strength upon the strength of its masters.

The masters are those that have reached the next step on their own path to enlightenment. They know enough answers to understand the questions they have not yet uncovered. Like all other Kresh, they are constantly learning and seeking to uncover their own stumbling blocks of their view. Masters will often oversee the teaching of the students; although as the dojo grows a master may just teach the disciple who then teaches the students.

Most Kreshites are disciples. A disciple is someone that has gained the basic tools of understanding, but has not yet gained the mastery over their own enlightenment. They can further their own understanding by understanding the founding principles of their dojo, teaching the students, or even travelling among the humans throughout the world.

The students are those that have not yet mastered the five basic truths. Many people spend years gaining enough understanding to become a disciple, while others seem partially on the path before they reach Kresh. Some students will leave Kresh in disgust if they find they cannot master the basic techniques - it is just not yet time for their understanding.

The Turanians have waged a religious war against the Kreshites for hundreds of years. Once tolerant of their belief, the Followers of Uhl have become so blinded by faith that they can no longer see the truth of Uhl. Some Kreshite disciples and masters still travel the lands of Uhl, offering what assistance they can. However, any Kreshite priest caught by the Followers of Uhl is put to death - typically burned alive or drawn and quartered.

The Kreshites have a great deal of respect for the Carthins. They see the journey they were forced to make over the Abjurer Mountains as one of personal sacrifice. Through this sacrifice they were able to throw off the bindings of their previous life and achieve their own internal harmony. Many Kresh travel the Carthin lands, often relying on their martial skills to gain respect from the local tribe. Then they may stay with them and learn their ways, since learning and understanding is often the path to enlightenment.

The Kresh consider the Kithkin to be where the Carthins were several generations ago. They have achieved the first few steps towards enlightenment with the understanding that the spirits of their ancestors are the truth. However, they have not fully understood that their spirits are also part of their ancestors. Unlike the Carthins, the souls of the Kithkin are not part of the Kresh - a Kithkin soul is part of the Kithkin Kresh.

However, the Kreshites have several masters and disciples among the Kithkin. They teach them the philosophy behind the martial skills the Kithkin desire. Although the path to enlightenment is very different from humans to kithkin, the priests that travel among the kithkin are trying to begin the long journey the kithkin must make to their own fulfilment.

Like the kithkin, the orcs have their own Kresh, or enlightened state, that they must achieve for spiritual perfection. However, unlike the kithkin who have begun along this path, the orcs of the Red Wolves have never started. Unlike their western cousins the eastern orcs are more aggressive, forging a bond with the other races of the Abjurer. Several Kreshite priests have been killed when they wouldn’t teach their “warrior art” to the orcs; however, some Kresh have traveled to these dangerous lands seeking their own enlightenment.

They have no military; however, it would be foolish for anyone to try force against Kresh. Their constant training in martial arts has expanded their fighting capability to a point beyond all other nations. They constantly practice; it’s a part of their daily ritual, to keep the perfection of their body in sync with the understanding of their mind.

The Kreshites have a simple closed agrarian economy in its purest sense. The people raise sheep and goats for their meat, skin, and wool. However, most of their diet is comprised of fish, tubers, and other vegetables. Students and disciples are expected to work in the gardens and small fields. This is just another step towards their own understanding of their true nature. Everything the Kresh need they can provide.

The Kreshites have no real external economy. While several nations and mercenary companies have offered everything from gold to furniture to teach their soldiers the Kresh martial arts, no dojo has so turned their back on the ways of enlightenment. The study of martial arts is an exercise in training the body and protecting a travelling priest - it is not used for war and indiscriminate killing.

The Kreshites were originally Turanians; however, most of the student in the past few generations have come from the western nations. Most of the masters are still Turanian, since it takes many years to become a disciple, and many never obtain the rank of master. In accordance, the most common language spoken in Kresh is Turanian; although many of the dojos have their own side language to convey very complex thoughts to a written language.

Although more philosophy than religion, it is the driving force that holds Kresh together. The Kresh believe that all things are part of the same spirit, it is from their spirit that humans draw their strength and perseverance from - in into which they shall return the sum of their knowledge and experience. When the human spirit reaches its highest form it will then transcend its form and proceed to a higher plane of reality.

To this end, each Kreshite must achieve the highest enlightenment for their spirit so that the day of transcendence can arrive. Many have also seen their own enlightenment mirrored in complete perfection of their mind and body as well, so that they may always have the strength to seek the path that often seems fraught with danger.

The Kresh cannot teach a non-human as each sentient creature has its own kresh, or celestial spirit. The path to their kresh is unique for each race. Several dojos have begun to study the other race’s kresh in the hopes of furthering the understanding of their own kresh. This is a difficult task, but often the most difficult road is the most interesting.

Many have debated exactly how the Kreshites do the things they do. Shattering stone with their fists, moving faster than normal sight, and deflecting swords off their bare skin. Sure, every Kreshite disciple cannot accomplish these superhuman tasks, but their masters can do many of these things and so much more.

Many magicians and clerics have travelled to Kresh to study their ways and unlock their mysteries. While most returned home completely unsure, others learned their teachings and have stayed on to become a Kreshite. The only thing they all agree on is that a Kreshite’s ability is neither magical, divine, or infernal - it appears to be something that defies explanation.

There are no actual cities, most of the people live in small villages. However, there are large dojos where the people travel to learn, teach, and practice. The name of each dojo is the style of martial art they teach to achieve enlightenment. Aside from being a fighting style, their martial arts are teaching tools and closely follow the philosophy of the dojo. In this manner a student studies philosophy while perfecting their body and enlightening their soul.

While the Brothers of Fire are completely opposite in thinking to the White Crane, they are both seeking the same goal. However, instead of approaching the goal through self-examination, the Brothers of Fire believe in tearing down all learned preconceptions and then building your soul anew. This is typically done while surrounded by fire, masters have been known to set fire to their own bodies to rid themselves of all current preconceptions. The fire represents the destruction of the current in order to give birth to the new.

One of the oldest dojos, the White Crane is founded on the principals of enlightenment through long periods of self-examination. As such, many of the newer people attracted to learning from the Kreshites have found inner peace with other schools. It is not rare to find a White Crane sitting with two buckets of water on their head over a bed of coals contemplating their own existence.

Their dojos are located high in the mountains, such that few people could survive the trip. Those that do will find one of the most spartan of dojos. Mostly comprised of whip-thin columns covered with flags, ribbons, and chimes in a dizzying array. The Sky Dancers believe that enlightenment is best achieved by denying focused thought, instead rely on the body, soul, and mind to act as one. As such, a Sky Dancer doesn’t walk as much as glide across the ground, their entire body in motion.

Originally the people of Kresh were small enough in number they could live in the open and meet together to teach others what they have learned. However, as their numbers increased it became necessary to set up a school where all students could learn. These dojos became a home and school for the students. They learned their letters and number, studied the mantras, and even began their own internal questioning.

As the number of masters grew they often disagreed on the best way to put a student upon the path of their own enlightenment. These masters eventually split off from the main dojo and began their own. Over time hundreds of dojos have been formed, some are still successful while others withered after their master passed on. Those that withered often merged with other dojos, creating a completely different philosophy.