Hexe
The Grand Duchy of Hexe is a member state of the Holy Gilder Empire. Its territory was partitioned from the Estates Imperial and gifted to provide a homeland to the nomadic Hexe tribe. Hexe is the political manifestation of the Hexen people, the most magically-inclined people of the North. Due to the invaluable assistance of Court Hexen for all Gilder dynasties, the tribe was given its own Grand Duchy in the form of Hexe, upon an island in the centre of a lake. Due to their unique position within the Holy Gilder Empire, the Grand Duchy is sworn to maintain a position of neutrality in disputes between states, which has prevented them from interfering directly in the ongoing civil war.
Culture
Walhurgen (From the Tearvin Walgen and Hur, meaning "Wander" and "Sage") was originally a term describing the journey of Hexen spellcasters to broaden their knowledge or peddle their service. Walgen or The Walg was also used to describe the nomadic lifestyle of the Hexen as a whole, generally with a negative connotation. Once the Hexen received their own homeland however, stories about their past quickly became romanticized and several generations after Hexe's initial founding, few addressed the hardships of the past with sincerity. With Hexe's limited space and range of impressions, younger generations eventually adopted the Walhurgen for their own purposes and began to strike out into the Gilder Empire in increasing numbers and the tradition was soon integrated into Hexen culture.
The Walhurgen is a journey undertaken with the goal of broadening one's horizon and understanding of the world. Most commonly, it is undertaken by young Hexen after their adolescence or once they have completed education in their profession. It is however not limited to them and not unheard of to be embarked upon by older members of society who wish to break out of their daily routine or distance themselves from the greater Hexen community for whatever reason. Lasting between just a few weeks to several decades, it is often difficult to tell what is considered as part of the Walhurgen or simply the Hexe in question settling down. In either case, a Hexen will often return to their home of Hexe once they reach old age, where they'll bestow their knowledge upon the younger generations. The sudden leave of a Hexen in any community has since become part of their wider perception as somewhat whimsical and fickle people.
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