Burmecian History
Of the Mist-born races, the method or sense behind their birthing is commonly a fact lost to the ages. What separates those creatures birthed by Mist -- those with the spark of intelligence and civilization, and those mad and ravenous fiends that roam the wilds -- is a question with no agreed upon answer by philosophers and scientists.
Still, every race has some way they adopted civilization. Some have integrated seamlessly with the typical mix of races that walk Ivalice. Others, like the Viera of old, have remained largely apart from the rest of the world; influenced in their infancy by what whisps of civilization stumbled across them after the Folly, then left to build thier own society until rediscovered by the outside world. The Burmecian race is amongst the latter sort.
Burmecia is set in the place where the Burmecian race was born: an ancient caldera surrounded on all sides by formidable mountains, with only a few traversible passes allowing entrance and exit to the realm on foot. As a result of the Folly, the caldera filled with volitile Mist; when that Mist had finally leaked free, the Burmecian people were left in its wake; alone with nothing but fertile soil, ample stone, and the Mist-born storm which ensures that the land of Burmecia is plagued with never-ending rains.
Before airship contact was made with the fledgling race, only the bravest souls filled with the deepest convictions would brave the passage of the mountains. Explorers first, bringing back word of a hidden people. Then missionaries, to bring the word of the spirits, of which Bahamut became the most cherished among them. Soon thereafter, the Judges came to spread the word of law, and in the Judge's wake came the wandering folk chasing tales of a new and interesting people, leaving culture and dance in their wake.
It's through these early influences that the modern Kingdom took shape; a society that believes strongly in law, in art, in honor and dignity and community. The people who brought civilization to Burmicea were those who could band together as equals, rather than as master and servant; who could form a strong community of mutual support, rather than serve their own ends. This gives Burmecians a strong national identity and set of values. Combat and dance -- brought by Judges and their soldiers, and gypsy caravans -- similarly play a large role to the small kingdom-city.
The city itself is build around the edge of the caldera, both carved into the stone and built out towards its center in a broad promenade upon graceful support arches. The city is thusly raised to avoid being drowned by the lake the omnipresent rain creates in the lower half of the caldera's bowl. Agriculture is well-suited to a damp environment as a result: rice and fish are key staples of the Burmecian diet.
Clothing is typically of the indoor or outdoor variety. Indoor clothes are lightweight -- and in the case of females, revealing -- designed to accentuate the graceful, tall form of the most common Burmecian body type. Outdoor clothing is heavy and covering, usually infused with oils to aid in the shedding of excess water, while protecting one's fur from becoming soaked through.
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