Walt-Hoxonian Culture

From the Northeastern Banks of Lake Gödör, to the shores of the Sea of Lights, the People of Walten and Hoxtontavia live. While today they both live under the banner of the Forzorian Empire, they remain linked culturally, linguistically, and religiously. But the Centuries have caused a shift among the two groups, and many differences have come to the surface over the years, but the people of Walten and Hoxtontavia remain more alike than different.

A History

Origins

According to Legend, the people of Walten and Hoxtontavia came to the lands they now reside under the banner of a Great Horka, his name is not known however, and we only know him by title alone, the Walts know him as the Horka by the Lake, while Hoxtontavia know him as the Horka by the Sea. While Some Sources suggest these were in fact two different Horkas, one seated on the shore of Lake Gödör and the other on the coast of the Sea of Lights, common folk lore among the people of the region identify these them as the same Horka.

According to the Legend, the united Walt-Hoxonian People once lived in the lands of the Rhiaraq, but were forced out after the Rhiaraq migrated into the region and began to wage war with their iron weapons against the bronze wielding Walt-Hoxonian people. This Exile lead them first north, before the Niremirian drove them away from their land towards the northwest, where under the command of their Horka they settled. Some settled in the land between Lake Gödör and the Elválasztó Mountain Range, while others settled in the lands between the Sea of Lights and Elválasztó Mountain Range, creating the groundwork for the divide of the people.

Birth of Two People

If you were to ask any Walt or Hoxonian why they do not share a name, they would point to the same legend, with one key difference. It is said that after the Third Great Horka Died, he divided the realm he ruled between his two sons. He entrusted all land north of the Elválasztó Mountains to One son, and the Land South of the Elválasztó to another, it is said the youngest grew jealous of the oldest, who retained the title of Horka and declared war upon his brother, claiming all the land under his rule a new realm under his rule as Horka.

But here is where the tale changes, when you ask the Walts, they say the Younger brother ruled the lands north of the Elválasztó Mountains, and the Hoxonian people descend from the False Horka and his followers. But if you ask the Hoxonians, they claim the Younger brother ruled the lands south of the Elválasztó Mountains, and that the Walts are descended from the younger brother and his supporters. It is from here many historians also claim the Horka by the Sea and Horka by the lake divide come from, with the Walts claiming the First Great Horka made his court on the lake shore and the Third Great Horka left it to his eldest, while Hoxonians claim the First Great Horka made his court by the sea and the Third Great left it to his eldest.

However, despite this supposed civil war tearing apart their people, trade continued along one of three major mountain paths between the two lands, they continued their common faith, and many records suggest the two dynasties continued mingling in marriage and maintained a common front against foreign incursion. This has led many to theorize that there was no war, and that the two realms simply operated as one nation with two Horka's as they slowly drifted apart due to the Elválasztó Mountains.

An End to The Horkas

In the year of the Imperial Calender 245IE, Horka Árpád and Horka Fajsz of the Walts and Hoxonian's respectively, meet in the city of Napbérlet, placed in the center of three mountain paths through the Elválasztó, here they underwent talks concerning disputes over trade and religious affairs. What exactly happened isn't entirely known, some sources claim one of the Horka's ordered their men to attack the other, some claim anti Horka groups launched an attack on the city, while others claim that a kitchen fire got out of control. No matter the claim, the result was the same, the city was destroyed in a great fire, and Both Horka's along with their court were killed in the flames.

The death of both Horkas left both realms ruled by young boys, not yet adults, in the resulting chaos both would be unseated by unruly vassals and the Realms of the Horkas would collapse, never to be restored. In this chaos dozens of splinter states and minor realms, the Lands of the Walts and Hoxonians would never see unity again under their own banner, instead they would be united under the banner of a foreign empire.

Forzoria Approaches

In 142IE, Under the Rule of Constance I, the Forzorian Empire would conquer the lands that now make up the Provinces of Khira and Ikara from the Rhiraq and Niremirians, next under the rule of Constance I's son, Fredrich I, the Forzorian Empire launched an invasion and conquered the lands now a part of the northern province of Liglen in the year 179IE. It was clear to anyone that the lands of the Walts and Hoxonians were in the sight of the empire for further military expansion, but it would take centuries for them to come with force of arms against them.

In the year 430IE, During the Reign of Fredrich II, his younger brother Prince Flavius, known as the Golden Eagle, would launch the expedition of 5000 into the lands of the Walts and Hoxonians. Over the 6 year campaign to conquer the region, he would make a deal with the Ispán of Horkavár, promising him rule of all lands north of the mountains of Elválasztó in exchange for oaths of fealty to the Emperors of Forzoria in perpetuity. He would accept, and soon the lands of the Walts would be conquered and organized into the Province of Walten, while the lands of the Hoxonians would be united under the Ispán, whos descendants rule to this day.

Modern Walt-Hoxonian Culture

The Horka

While the people of Modern Walten and Hoxtontavia are no longer ruled by a Horka, the title remains of great importance to their culture, with it still being used in many ways. The Ispáns have long since rejected the use of the term, stating they are unworthy of such a prestigious title as long as they are sworn to serve another, stating only the supreme leader of their people may hold such an honorable and mighty title. Among the Walts can be found the Szabad Horka, a title given to the leader of the organization known as Nemzeti Népi Front Walten felszabadításáért, an organization dedicated to the secession of Walten from the Forzorian Empire and the establishment of a free Walt State.

Walt-Hoxonian Cuisine and Eating Habits

The Walts and Hoxonians are unique among the people of the known world, as they consume a mainly green diet of fruits and vegetables, with only certain meats consumed on special days of religious significance. They eat exactly two meals a day, once at sun rise when they wake up, and another again in the evening as the day nears its end. The Single most famous meal they are known for are the salad, lettuce meals filled with all sorts of chopped up and diced fruits and vegetables, accompanied by several special sauces and seasonings.

Naming Tradition

The Naming of people have taken two different forms among the Walts and Hoxonians, while keeping similar rules they differ on others. The Walts keep in line with most of the known world with a Given name followed by a Family Name: Such as Reka Nagy or Zsolt Kovács . The Hoxtonian's however while having family names, make use of the less common son/daughter of name: Such as Bori Rekalány or Csaba Zsoltfiú. A Rather simple system for the two, there is nothing very notable about their naming traditions besides this divide.

Gender Ideals and Relationships

Women have always held a special place in Walt and Hoxonian Society, while never holding the same rights and privileges as men, a woman in their societies still held a better advantage then women in most other places. Women were allowed to hold property, and divorce their husbands for valid reasons such as infertility, adultery or cruelty, they could in times be permitted to wield weapons on defense of themselves or their household, along with being permitted to hunt in Walt society, seen as an honorable and noble pursuit by the Walt people.

Despite this, women were forbidden to do any form of physical work not related to maintaining the household when pregnant, breastfeeding or raising a child below the age of 6, women also held minimal custody rights over their children, so in the event of a divorce the man maintains custody unless the women was the one who started the divorce and presents proper evidence of the man's inability to raise children for one reason or another.