Kriptrani (culture)

The Kriptrani (culture) are a group of people indigenous to the states that make up Altowood, consisting mostly of the Kriptrani race, hence the name. Well known for their gruesome history and their modern honor, the Kriptrani have always been a culture of war and violence.
About 100-200 years prior to the Cyanni War, the Kriptrani were savages by every stretch of the word. In these days the Primevals regarded the other races of Avani as nothing more than prey to be hunted and eaten. They also had no problem with cannibalizing each other. Groups of them would often terrorize nearby towns, kidnapping Avani to release them in the wilderness and hunt for sport. These tribes were also a source of income for the now-derelict slave trade. The primitive groups, which hadn't yet formed a true civilization, had no use for metal, and slavers didn't care about their victim's fates so long as they got paid.
This changed gradually when one of the tribes was swept by a counterculture with the belief that this senseless violence against other avani was wasteful. Gradually the idea spread and the Kriptrani culture underwent major shifts. It was sped along by the fact that these reformed tribes had military advantages from the trading they briefly did with other avani. These changes quickly shifted to a cultural restructuring. Though the Kriptrani maintained their violent ways against each other, this violence became more refined and honor-bound. It is now a fully-developed Chivalry code and honor system between sportsmanlike combatants.

Culture

Shared customary codes and values

In the modern day, the Kriptrani code is the most sacred facet of their culture. Every noble, aristocrat, gentleman, or soldier has it memorized if they intend to have anybody take them seriously. This Code is about three pages long and full of many rules. Its core tenets revolve around honor in warfare. Warriors are supposed to be impersonal about any combat they undertake, not enjoying it nor fearing it. They are never supposed to initiate combat with another person of less skill except when ordered to by a superior officer. If fighting an Avani of a physically weaker race, a Kriptrani soldier is to engage them on the ground even if they could easily pick them off from the sky. There are many other rules like this that make fighting more difficult, rather than easier. These self-inflicted handicaps make a successful warrior's abilities all the more impressive.