Azcorian people

The Azcorian people, uncommonly called Azcos, are an ethnic group predominately living within Southern Eldham. They are a human ethnic group.

The Azcorians derive from the Selidoarians, an ancient population of people ancestrally from Cymru in Rathnir, before settling in Ryzan, and eventually making their way to Eldham. There is considered to be two Azcorian homelands on Eldham, the first is Old Azcoria in Southwestern Leifmyrr and the second is Nova Azcoria, in Northwestern Serrona.

There are three countries today predominately populated by Azcorians, the Fifth Republic of Nova Azcoria, the Azcorian Democratic Republic, and the Principality of Prosperita.

Appearance
While most Azcorians are human, a variety of species have resided within Nova Azcoria, and Azcorian culture has never been seen as explicitly human or human-only. Vulps comprise the largest non-human species of Nova Azcoria, with many immigrating to the country during the Second and Third Republics. Alongside that, with the formation of the Federation of Southern Stars during the Fourth Republic, a variety of species hailing from many of the FSS' member-states moved to Nova Azcoria during its existence. This has resulted in a multi-species and multi-ethnic nation that has had a wide variety of cultural and ethnic influences on its people.

In terms of fashion and dress, Nova Azcoria's customs are, in large part, centered around its maritime tradition. With Horizonte existing as a port city, and Nova Azcoria being founded by crossing the sea from Old Azcoria to Serrona, a variety of naval and sailor clothing has become commonplace among Azcorians. This even true of those who aren't employed on the docks or seas as maritime dress has gone from being practically useful to a cultural custom and norm.. This is combined with the adoption of vibrant colours as many Azcorians use the same dyes produced to create Horizonte's iconic colourful buildings to dye their clothes in a wide range of blues, reds, yellows, and so on.

Religion
For most of Azcorian history a wide variety of religions have dominated its society. The first of these religions is the now relatively unpracticed religion of the "Sunsoul Cube", sometimes referred to as the "Sunsoul Cult". Little is known about the religion besides small texts describing a monotheistic deity residing within the Sun. The Sun is a commonly used aspect in Nova Azcorian, Azcorian, and Selidoarian flags and representations of culture. The only one of these religions to be explicitly 'Azcorian' in nature was Donalucianism, a state-sponsored religion dedicated to worshipping the Sun-Goddess Donalucia. While this religion would, in practice, exist largely within just the First Republic's timeframe, falling out of favour with the Second Republic and its secularism, parts of it would survive. The grandest being the large Donalucian Temple near Memorial Square, which has become one of the many monuments of the city. Otherwise, hints of Donalucianism exist in parts of Azcorian culture, such as the sun symbol in the national flag and other architectural remnants of the First Republic's religion.

The most prominent of Nova Azcoria's religions, however, was Cubism. With the discovery of the Cube underneath Horizonte during the Second Republic by one Wolfik, and its following removal and replacement by the void, adventurers, academics, and spiritualists across Eldham came to Horizonte to view and investigate the incredible anomaly. Of these foreigners one Batu Shaman, Yimis, quickly became devoted to the Cube and spearheaded the formation and distribution of the Cubist Religion across not just Nova Azcoria, but Eldham at large. Cubist religious festivals, events, and traditions became commonplace across much of Nova Azcoria as the religion grew in size and influence, and the Cubist Church quickly rose to prominence in Azcorian society. In the latter years of the Second Republic, however, and in its successor governments, Cubists found themselves facing greater and greater government persecution. Splitting from previous policy of religious tolerance and secularism, Chancellor Koru came into conflict with the Cubist Church. This was due to her attempts to convert the Cube's spiritual power into electricity for Nova Azcoria, a blasphemous act in the eyes of Cubists. In response, Cubist Radicals quickly took arms against the Korutocracy and began a guerilla war against the government. This resulted in heavy government crackdowns against the Cubist religion, culminating in their prohibition. After the collapse of the Second Republic, Cubism would see a moderate revival within Nova Azcoria, but would not rise to its former glory. Eventually, continued government persecution resulted in the destruction of the Cube itself, and Horizonte's Cubist temple. While still present, and Nova Azcoria's most prominent religion, Cubism has been slowly falling into irrelevance since Koru's crackdowns, and while no government has outlawed the Church, it remains a shadow of its former self.

Beyond the two major religions of Nova Azcoria, a variety of minor and foreign religions have, in the past or present, found worshipers within Nova Azcoria. Thanks to the establishment of a secular state with the rise of the Second Republic, religious refugees fleeing persecution elsewhere, and missionaries hoping to convert Nova Azcoria's population, have regularly came to Azcoria as a place of refuge and opportunity. Of these spiritualists, Batuan and Vulpinian religions have found the most success. For the former, a combination of religiously-important salt lakes within Azcoria and the annexation of Batuan lands and peoples during the Second Republic has resulted in the development and spread of Azcor Shamanism, a variation of Batuan Shamanism. For the latter, the large immigration of Vulps to Nova Azcoria, and the Vulperian occupation during the Third Republic has resulted in an active, if minor, Vulpinian religious minority.

Language
The first ever Azcorian language was developed by ancient Selidoarian Jebediah Dienn, the bookeeper in an old Selidoarian community in Viodoxa. This language would find its origins in Palatine German influences and would be unqiue through the usage of double consonants to describe specific things, such as "aa" or "uu". This Seliduarisch language would be simplified and evolved by those who established Prosperita in Eldham.

By time of the Azco-Kaladinian War, the language was nearly extinct in public use, as many of the newly-found Azcorian ethnic group preferred local languages such as Oceanumite by this time. After the Kaladinian occupation of the region, many in Old Azcoria would learn the Mari language as well. After the war, when many of the Azcorians fled the region for Nova Azcoria in Serrona, people en masse learned the Batu language which was the most commonly spoken language of the region. Additionally, the Batu Khaganate formerly owned it before giving the land to the Azcorians. To this day, Batu is the most spoken language by the Azcorian people.

During the Second and Fifth Republics of Nova Azcoria, communists were purged from the region, forcing many of them to leave for nations like Shakumagu. The Western parts of Shakumagu quickly became mostly populated by the Azcorian ethnic group, today called East Azcoria. Those in East Azcoria mostly speak Maharian as opposed to Batu, as Maharian was the common tongue of Shakumagu. Today, most Azcorians are fluent in both Batu and Maharian, often picking up a third language as well.

Prehistory in Cymru
In the dawn of Rathnir, the first ever Azcorian culture was born in a forested field in central Cymru. This ethnic group would call themselves "Selidoarians", and would survive through an extensive farming network. A town would eventually be established and would hold a steady population. This town would help facilitate and protect the first trade routes across Cymru. In this blossoming town, a culture built around Palatine German influences would be developed. Following this, the Selidoarian language of "Seliduarisch" would be formed, first ever religious discussions would be hotly debated, and a system of public welfare and protection would be established. The Deitsch family would be the leading figures of the town, yet would give most power to the "Poliizei". While the majority of the following events have been lost to time, the Selidoarians would be forced out of Cymru following rampant attacks on their town, and the eventual total destruction of the community. This small band of Selidoarians would take a long trek across Rathnir braving famine, violence, and desertion. Only few Selidoarians remained when their boats landed on the coast of Ryzan in the Sea of Volkore nearby the city of Volkoregrod.

Selidoar and the Free City
With the escape from Cymru and the landing on the Ryzani coast, the already unsteady government in Ryzan would be forced to handle this incoming refugee crisis. The Ryzani government would be already dealing with a cold war with Bardonia and other countries in the Syltor region to maintain hegemony for their democratic nation. Maximillian Deitsch, the leader of the Selidoarian people at the time, would call for a conference between the Ryzani, Aurlunoren, and Selidoarian nations in the city of Volkoregrod. These three groups would sign the "Treaty of Volkoregrod", which would create a Selidoarian port City that would be focused on facilitating trade between the isolationist Aurlunoren and the interventionist Ryzani governments. With the signing of this treaty, the Free City was finally independent.

An international call for Selidoarians to come to their new home would be recieved, and the population of the city would massively grow. M. Deitsch would establish governing systems in a semi-democratic City Council under a hereditary "Director". Alongside this; a city police force, a national bank, and a bereuacracy would be established. Seats would be apportioned through granting the majority of them to public election, a fraction of them to business appointment, and a minority of them to direct appointment by the Director. Following the establishment of the "Free City of Selidoar", M. Deitsch would pass away and hand the reigns of control to his son, Aleksander Deitsch. The cities advantageous position between multiple great economic powers would give the city an incredible influx of wealth, which would be handled by the talented Selidoarian bankers. Foreigners would integrate into the Selidoarian culture to include themselves in the flow of wealth transferred within the Free City. The city would be mostly completed, and construction projects would be incredibly fruitiful. A religious center and city government building would be completed to towering heights. The Selidoarian Union of Trade and Business Councils (SUTBC) would become the economic wing of the government, and would double as the economic management sectre of the state and a political organization.

Within this Selidoarian society, a small grouping of radical nationalists influenced by Bardonian politics and the Hands established themselves as a strong faction of the major right-wing Selidoarian National Party (SNP). These radical nationalists would eventually split off and form the far-right National Front of Selidoar (NFS). They would be influenced by the ideals of the ancient Selidoarian thinker Horan Megail, who theorized that Selidoarians should enact revenge on the globe for the mistreatment of their people. Their message would be faced with staunch opposition. Liberal parties would unite under the Civic and Democratic Alliance (CDA) and socialists would unite under the League of Social Democrats (LSD). Politics would continue to become more polarized following an incredibly tight second election, in which the seat apportionment system would lead to a loss for both the Pro-Democracy camp (CDA, LSD) and the Pro-Doasterrock camp (NFS, CUPS). The Pro-Establishment "Third Way" coalition of the SNP and SUTBC would come out victorious despite recieving the least amount of votes due to the seat apportionment system. Society would begin to crumble around them as violence in the streets became increasingly non-stop.

Settlement in Old Azcoria
In an attempt to limit the violence being instigated by radical nationalists, the government would authorize the creation of the "Azcoria Colony" in the newly discovered region of Eldham. While created under the guise of resource and gold prospects, the colony would be created to unofficially exile some NFS and Pro-Doasterrock politicians to keep the peace back in Selidoar by making them incredibly far away, limiting their political damage. The first expidition sent out to look for a land to settle would be mainly commanded by the most extreme of Selidoarian politicians, with some moderates sprinkled in to keep order. These explorers would find a rocky mesa penninsula, and would discover gold, establishing the town of Prosperita, after their hopes of newfound prosperity and development. Ferd would be appointed the director of the colony, and construction of the town would move along swimmingly.

Back home in Selidoar, the Free City would collapse following a failed coup, civil war, and the eventual resignation of the police force. The city would be re-integrated back into Ryzan, where about 63,332 Selidoarian-Azcorians remain today. However, the majority of Selidoarian loyalists and moderates would flee to the last bastion of Selidoarian government, in the radical nationalist influenced Azcoria. The arrival of the refugees would balance out the radicals, and eventually their ideals would die out. A monarchal system would be established, and the Kingdom of Azcoria would be formed by the fleeing Selidoarians. Prosperita would flourish and the gold mining operations would continue and grow exponentially.