Kins of Arcpunk

An Eternal War Does Not End:

While many Zera fled the violence of their homeland, the most fanatical, hate-driven nationalists—who valued victory above all else—remained behind. These extremists reorganized and radicalized, launching a renewed cycle of endless war over Rakwah. The resources fueling this new conflict primarily came from deals with CoCG trade representatives, who quickly monopolized the domain’s commerce and infiltrated its various factions and orders.

This created peculiar power dynamics, heavily influencing the regional CoCG. Often, extreme nationalist Zera rose within the local CoCG hierarchy. However, rather than adhering to the organization’s principle of remaining neutral between the two Zera factions—the Kweniki and the Aphtenici—they sought to wield the CoCG itself as a weapon against their enemies. To achieve this, they needed to position themselves as the legitimate voice of the CoCG in the region.

Thus, two opposing CoCG subfactions emerged:

• The Free Capitalists of Rakwah (FCoR), aligned with the Aphtenici

• The Legitimate Power in the Name of Kwenike (LPNK), aligned with the Kweniki

Although opportunists occasionally worked for both sides, the two subfactions primarily sought to establish themselves as the sovereign power over Rakwah.

In the last two years—around 17 years after Rakwah’s discovery by the CoCG—both factions have faced manpower shortages, as the brutal frontlines consumed soldiers faster than they could be replaced. Certain regions, especially within the trench-ridden central zone, earned grim nicknames such as Minicerbay, Corpshill Camp, and Shred’o Flesh Mound.

To address these shortages, both subfactions turned to propaganda missionaries to recruit new fighters. Their primary target was the once-migrated Zera or their descendants. With appeals to national honor and promises of camaraderie and adventure, thousands of Zera from the diaspora were drawn back to their ancestral home—only to face slaughter in the brutal battles raging across the war-torn frontlines.

 The Dulay originally came from Piona, a land they inhabited for generations. However, due to a catastrophe known in their legends as Dujan, they were forced to leave their homeland. According to the legend, a massive crystal structure struck Piona and thus dramatically changed the weather, gravity, and the entire nature of the land. Due to these changes, life on the domain became nearly impossible, which forced the Dulay into exile.
The exodus was only possible because their ancestors, according to the legend, were able to tame floaters and ride them. But since the range of their steeds was quite limited, the Dulay ultimately only reached Eik Piona – a place which in their language means “New Homeland.”

Upon arriving in Eik Piona, the Dulay settled and soon formed a strongly feudal societal system. On one side was the wealthy nobility, who lived in ethereal-looking palaces, and on the other side, the poor people, who lived in primitive dwellings.

The construction of settlements or even cities was forbidden for the common Dulay, and so they were repeatedly destroyed to keep the population easier to control. While a cult developed among the nobility around their ancestors and especially around their savior Nikana Tell, who had led the Dulay to Eik Piona, the people held on to the old stories of the people, which told of Vel Huel'ksicht (the “Many Masks”), who had rescued the people from the ruins of the old cosmos and had given them both a history and their homeland, Piona.

This cultural rift had enormous effects on the development of society. While the nobility in their golden and white stone* cities drifted further and further from reality and increasingly saw themselves as god-like, the societies outside the cities developed into technologically rather primitive tribal societies of hunters and gatherers. Out of fear of the well-organized military of the nobility, the tribes paid tributes, which in truth ensured that the city-dwellers were even provided for.

However, these conditions changed drastically with the arrival of the first P’kun-Aloo. These were far superior to the Dulay both technologically and organizationally. The nobility, blinded by their own arrogance, rejected the P’kun as inferior and soon denied them access to their cities. This was a grave mistake. The P’kun, who had a strong “interest” in the wealth of the nobility, forcefully gained access to the few, but densely populated cities and looted them down to the last possession. When the nobility tried to resist, their military was completely wiped out in a very short time. The few surviving nobles fled, only to be brutally slaughtered by the oppressed tribes shortly thereafter.

Within a few weeks, the nobility was completely wiped out. The cities were looted by the P’kun down to the last valuable item and all the buildings were occupied. Administrations were set up, and P’kun conditions were established. In the process, most of the writings and knowledge about the time of the nobility were lost. However, for the tribal Dulay in the rural areas, the fall of the nobility did not come as liberation. For them, only the name of their oppressors changed. Instead of the nobility, they now had to work for the P’kun, who forced them to work in the economic enterprises that soon spread across all of Eik Piona. These were mainly run by the Dulay but led and guarded by the P’kun. Other Dulay fared even worse, as they were abducted and taken to completely different sectors where they worked as cheap labor in mines and other industries.

Despite all attempts by the P’kun to assimilate the Dulay and impose their culture, many of them held on to their traditions. Furthermore, the Dulay became indispensable workers in many areas, which allowed them to repeatedly fight for rights through strikes and protests. In many areas, for example, the Dulay tribal masks were quickly re-permitted after the original ban was lifted by protests from the workers. Over the years, many Dulay communities began to develop into economically significant markets, which, in turn, drew the attention of the CCG.

About 50 years ago, when the CCG finally officially recognized the Dulay as equal citizens, many things changed, though this largely happened because many Dulay had eventually integrated very strongly into P’kun society.

Today, only a few traditionally living Dulay remain, and mostly only on Eik Piona. In the large metropolises, strong hybrid forms of traditional Dulay and P’kun culture have developed. This shows in their clothing, jewelry, and often also through a strong slang that uses many terms from their former language. Furthermore, Dulay cuisine has gained many followers, not only among the Dulay.

*White stone is a natural stone that came from a several-kilometer-large chunk that fell to Eik Piona before the arrival of the Dulay.

The Shugi are the original inhabitants of Mananra, a domain in the Oneiros sector shaped by vast lakes but primarily dominated by towering rainforests with a uniquely vertical, interwoven ecosystem. From these labyrinthine forests emerge these relatively small beings, perfectly adapted to the demanding environment, living largely isolated from the rest of the cosmos.

Throughout Mananra’s history, various peoples have come and gone - stranded Aloo settlers, deported Dulay, and eventually the CCG administration - yet the Shugi have always remained hidden. They took no part in the conflicts over Mananra’s control nor in the societal upheavals that reshaped the domain.

Their deep knowledge of the forest and its hidden pathways makes them nearly invisible figures, rarely seen by outsiders. Those fortunate enough to encounter a Shugi experience a rare and special meeting with a culture that has largely escaped outside influence.

Even today, the Shugi play no role in global politics. They preserve their traditions and their secluded way of life while Mananra continues to change.

Yet, rare exceptions exist. Despite their reclusiveness, not all Shugi are mere observers. Every now and then, a few dare to step out of the balance of their natural sanctuaries into the often wildly unbalanced, chaotic, yet undeniably adventurous outside world. It is estimated that only a few tens of thousands of Shugi exist in total, with an even smaller fraction ever having left Mananra.

Thus, their existence remains a fascinating mystery to most. Even for those who explore the depths of Mananra - discovering only fleeting traces of the Shugi’s presence - or for those who happen to encounter one of these peculiar little beings in the streets of a metropolis, the Shugi leave an impression that is not easily forgotten.

Coming soon...

Coming soon...

Coming soon...