"You seem worthy enough... I'll split your head with my hooves and not my hands. I hope you appreciate the honor you receive from this..."

Among Verdimm, the Brusticai are known to be vicious, ill- tempered braggarts; among themselves, they are honorable, misunderstood upholders of Luna's Vision. Violent even by Crinos standards, the Brusticai live short but colorful lives, constantly seeking to improve the honor of themselves as individuals, of the herd, and of the tribe. A nomadic tribe inhabiting, but not adverse to straying from, the plains, they roam almost exclusively in their herds (rarely will one see a lone Brusticai) and delight in disrupting other tribes (or other Brusticai herds) with either complicated status games, or straightforward violence. The Brusticai's sense of honor is highly developed, but mostly unfathomable to anyone not Brusticai. They rarely use any but the simplest of combat magics, preferring a more direct and loud approach.

Hierarchy

The Brusticai hierarchy seems, on the surface, to be a simple affair. Highest is Luna, the Grand Mare. Her children are the people known as Brusticai. The tribe itself is quite numerous, and split into groups called herds. Each herd has one and only one leader, to which all other members of the herd are completely subservient. The herd leader, called the Ses'Reidla (or Hes'Reidla, if male) has absolute power within the herd, and the power of life and death over its members. If the Ses'Reidla decides that a herd member must be killed, there will be no questions asked -- or the herd may turn on the questioner and trample her to death, as well. To question the Ses'Reidla is to question Luna's Will, something Brusticai consider blasphemy (of course, to interpret Luna's Will differently from another is a completely other matter...).

Herds are named according to the Ses'Reidla. For example, the herd led by the mare Bonebreaker would be simply called Bonebreaker's herd. The tribe itself is led by the Ses'Reidla of the dominant herd. A dominant herd is determined simply by the herd's and Ses'Reidla's Kora (honor); all Ses'Reidla know which is dominant, and it is their duty to inform their herds if needed. The dominant herd tends to cease its wandering and settle in one spot, while the Ses'Reidla takes on the duties of leading the Brusticai. Soon, though, the members of the dominant herd become restless, and it doesn't usually take long before the Ses'Reidla is challenged for supremacy... again and again, until the Ses'Redila finally falls in challenge. By that time the herd is generally soft from good living and weakened from internal squabblings, and it no longer becomes the dominant herd.

A Ses'Reidla is sometimes challenged for supremacy. Many forms of Kora must be honored for this; but the Ses'Reidla must acknowledge a valid challenge. A Ses'Reidla may or may not choose to fight the challenger herself, and may appoint a champion in her stead. Oftentimes the Ses'Reidla will appoint another would- be challenger or supporter of the challenger as her champion, and the champion must fight the challenger or lose Kora. Strict observances of Kora is maintained for each issue and settlement of challenge; in times of war (which is often) the challenge is rarely issued. The only way for a Ses'Reidla to be deposed is by challenge; if the Ses'Reidla falls in combat to another not of the herd, the members of the herd challenge one another as determined by Kora to ascend to be Ses'Redila.

The Ses'Reidla is responsible for the welfare of the herd, and has absolute authority to manage that how she sees fit. The Ses'Reidla has first pick of and sees to the distribution of food, mates, wealth, weapons, and spoils of battle. Generally she distributes that which she takes not for herself to her Favored, who in turn distribute it as they see fit. The Ses'Reidla will have a circle of those favored with whom she mates, and are allowed to fight alongside her in battle; called Favored, aptly enough. Elders are greatly respected in the herd, and although rarely among the Favored, are accorded preferential treatment for so long as their strength does not fail them. Otherwise, one's rank within the herd is determined by Kora.

There are a few who have no herd. Challengers who fail in combat with the Ses'Reidla are sometimes killed outright, or if the Ses'Reidla wishes to be cruel, maimed (the manner determined by Kora; ranging from one foot being cut off to being rendered sterile) and cast from the herd. Likewise, Brusticai who betray or fail the herd in some way are maimed and cast out. A Brusticai who has offended the Ses'Reidla may be rendered sterile but allowed to remain within the herd (of course, this forbids them from ever becoming Ses'Reidla). And it is possible for a Brusticai to switch herds, though rare. The Brusticai must publicly abandon her current herd (for which she may be hunted, and if caught, killed or maimed), and then approach another herd to be accepted into. A herdless Brusticai has the least Kora, and is looked down upon by all other Brusticai.

Honor

Brusticai honor is called Kora; this is a Brusticai's standing under Luna's eyes. Kora can be applied to an individual Brusticai, a herd, or other combinations, such as a pairing of mates. The Brusticai's honor system is known, fully, only to other Brusticai; it's simply too complex for an outsider to fully grasp, though they may understand some basics. As well, the system of honor is constantly in flux; a slight change in a definition of one thing may affect an individual's Kora from one day to the next. Brusticai live, eat, mate and die according to Kora. Some concepts are easier to grasp for outsiders than others; battle prowess is a great source of Kora, and obviously the Ses'Reidla (herd leader, or Hes'Reidla if male) will possess the greatest Kora of the herd. To sire a child provides a great amount of Kora; to bear a child supplies even more (granting female Brusticai potential for more Kora than males, generally).

Forms

A Brusticai's dimoh form is human in appearance, of course, generally stocky and well-muscled. They have a savage, even outlandish appearance... often very ecclectic in clothing and ornamentation.

Khiulnter form for the Brusticai is equine, with much variation in color and features. The bulk of the little magic that Brusticai do practice is quite often spent to maintain and repair their hooves, which crack and split often due to their aggressive nature. Brusticai in khiulnter fight with hooves and teeth; unlike Earth horses, Brusticai are more flexible with their legs, and can deliver a nasty kick to the side.

Dimo-khu is a centaur-like beast; a horse's body with a humanoid upper body. The facial features and speech of this form are rather beastial. With four legs and two arms, the Brusticai in dimo-khu combine the best warrior aspects of the other two forms, and becomes an able and fearsome warrior. In combat, this form produces an impressive capacity for violence, with the ability to deliver four powerful independent kicks, and the two arms are used either for holding weapons or unarmed combat.

Religion

It's a Brusticai's firm belief that all Verdimm not Brusticai are lesser than they; Bruticai are descended directly from Luna, the Great Mare, and the Brusticai are her favored children... that is, She doesn't torment them quite so much. In the eyes of the Brusticai, Luna is a vicious but loving Mother -- She is the epitome of their honor, and the perfect Brusticai. Any pain she inflicts is merely to better Her children, and She constantly seeks to better them. Worship of Luna is a serious thing, but not often spoken of, save to the herd's Sha'cri. The Sha'cri of the Brusticai herd is one of those most skilled in sha'crin, and plays the part of the priest to the entire herd. There will be one, perhaps two, Sha'cri who are considered Sha'Cri to the entire tribe, and may or may not be assosicated with any particular herd.

War

The Brusticai indulge heavily in battle, and it has provided them with the skills to be some of the most feared and respected warriors in Crinos. They not only enjoy fighting, but lust after it; seeking to hone their combat skills and raise their Kora constantly. Aggressive and unforgiving, the Brusticai fight most often in herds, using devastating group tactics to smash their enemies. It is of note that Brusticai prize honor, and will rarely fail to respond to a ritual challenge to single combat. Often an outsider can earn much honor by succeeding at this. Brusticai in general rarely indulge in magic, considering it too flimsy and esoteric, and are often very susceptible to magical attacks. Of course, Brusticai Sha'Cri are not unknown, either.

For weapons, Brusticai use a wide variety, though they're most proficient with spear, staff, and bow. They're widely reknowned for their skill with the bow, and bows made by Brusticai hands are highly prized elsewhere. A Brusticai is also deadly with her own natural weapon as well; see 'Brusticai Forms' for more.

The Brusticai are loud in battle; screams of victory and pain, war cries or chants, even songs are raised as they fight.