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Prompt : Tell me a bit about the Gypsies.

The Gypsies were originated very early on in Vearpian history, with their existence outright predating the Brofist. Though a lot of their older history has been lost to time - both incidentally and purposefully, a well-informed historian would most certainly know that the design of their telltale masks is quite similar to Helyrothian Mortuary Masks. One that is exceedingly well-informed and with the right contacts would be aware that the Gypsies are infact a people that originated from Helyrot, having been exiled for a crime so horrid and unthinkable that even after over a thousand of years, they are not allowed to return to Helyrot - on pain of death, or worse. An even scanter few would know that whatever this crime was, it resulted in Helyrot becoming the desert that it is today.

Though many well-read folks would certainly know that Helyrot being a desert that borders both the lush Fagian plains and the dense forest of the Reaches is an enormous oddity that indicates something else is at play, few indeed would be aware that the Gypsies are at fault for it - though whatever this crime specifically was, has been kept so thoroughly a secret that nobody but the highest-ranked members of the Mortuary Cults know, with even the Gypsies being aware of it  being a debatable matter, thanks to the fact that they shun written record keeping, instead preffering to keep their tales alive through oral tradition.

Though their nomadic culture was at first a necessity, as generations passed, it morphed instead into a lifestyle, as their culture preaches seeing new things constantly, and never settling down for long - as such, it is relatively common for a Masked Gypsy to be part of an adventuring group, or to take up jobs that require long stretches of travel, such as postal work, or sailing. Another point of theirs that was originally a necessity - though morphed into something else would be their masks. Indeed - at first, these were magically implanted, cursed items that would never leave the face of the wearer, even upon death, to serve as a mark of shame for their deeds. Though newly born gypsies were not affected by this curse, they elected to wear them regardless, instead as a show of rebelliousness against those that exiled them. Eventually, this morphed into a belief that their masks serve to protect them from those outside their communes, serving to deflect foul gazes, or wishes of misfortune, as such, one should only ever remove their mask if they are truly comfortable with those around them.

The Gypsy Road was so named because it was originally the route taken during their first exodus as they circled the continent, though it truly became established due to it being the only stretch of land that they can actually cross to continue their path along the north or south of the continent without having to pass through Helyrot. Though they bear no actual claim to this territory, as it is located directly between the border of Valveria and Fagia, both nations have elected to maintain this status quo, as it provides either of them with a safe enough buffer zone without stepping on one another's toes.

Upon their exile, all Gypsies were composed of humans, however, across the over a thousand years of their existence, this has changed considerably as their extensive travels inevitably result in interspecies relationships. As such, they actually have a considerable density of "Half" races, such as Half-Elves, Half-Orcs and planetouched, with a common joke which is seen as greatly offensive to Gypsies being that one could even find a Half-Goblin amongst their kind, if they looked hard enough. Though humans are still a documented majority in their culture, it is not an overwhelming number by any amount.

Speaking of relationships, weddings are actually fairly uncommon in their culture - at least traditional ones. Though they are mainly a monogamous culture, they hardly ever elect to make any decision that could be seen as "tying" one down, due to their carefree and spontaneous attitude to life. As such, in places such as Choron, Vogelheim and Lanzeburg, Gypsies are often seen in a harsher light, with Tevans in particular having an utter dislike for them.

Gypsies originally spoke Necril - though overtime, their language has mutated considerably. Due to how close-knit their culture is, they actually have their own language - a highly mutated mixture of Necril and Common which is labeled as "Wanderer's Cant" - it is, effectively, a "secret" language, much like Druidic. Nonetheless, most if not all of them also speak Common as a necessity, and quite often, one or two more languages that are relevant to where they make their travels.

Though a main "caravan" is always present, often in Vearpi, various offshoots exist in multiple continents, lending further variety to their culture.  For an example, one offshoot caravan treks along Choron, specifically in the deserts occupied by the Orcs, while others are effectively sailors. 

Speaking of sailors, another notable thing about the Masked Gypsies is their Arcana. Though it is not something that they originally had, after having contact with some Estierran travelers, a chunk of them found themselves quite interested in the Zodiac and their astrological beliefs, with a Gypsy in particular named Arabella, whom was a competent student of the occult arts adapting the practice of fortune reading through the stars into the "Arcana", a deck of cards which represents a variety of states of one's being, life, past, present and future. Her adaptation and practice was so successful that this particular practice became quite ingrained in the culture of her people, with it also resulting in a surprisingly solid diplomatic tie with Estierra - indeed, Astrologians often enjoy meeting with Gypsies, and provide lavish and ample welcomes to them anytime a caravan is passing by through their controlled territory. Understandably, the Arcana is actually a banned item in Helyrot - it's possession resulting in either jail time or forced labor.

[Lore] What's a drunken bar story that's passed around in Vearpi?

A particularly saucy tale is that of Mount Killynianjaro - The originator of this story was an Estierran bard by the name of Amber Toushou, a political refugee that had been hunted down by the Astrologians after having sung a ballad of Iteza's true origins - a song of which, to put it bluntly, should never be spoken of in polite (or impolite, for that matter) company. 

The story itself essentially tells the tale of Amber fighting through the jungle, slaying fiendish creature after fiendish creature - before defeating and taming a Bearbee, which then leads him to the foot of the mountain - After then using a Speak of Animals spell, the Bearbee regales Amber with the dangers of the enormous mountain and how only the bravest of warriors could ever hope to reach it's peak for the ultimate reward. Undaunted, Amber then proclaims that he shall face any and all dangers, and face the heavens themselves - upon which, he sets forward onto the deadly climb. 

The story then further details how the stifling heat of the Estierran jungle begins to be replaced by the searing cold of the mountain, as Amber has to clamber over mighty crags of stone which then shift into near impassible bundles of snow as he gets higher and higher - at one point barely surviving through an Avalanche by punching a massive, rolling snowy boulder in half (It should be noted that Amber was in fact recorded as being barely above five feet in height, with a build that would be considered lithe at the best of times), and continuing onwards - to then face a whole temple full of "ninjas that swung their blades with their minds" that was set upon protecting  the peak. Amber, of course, overcomes them with remarkable ease, to then reach the peak of the mountain, which suddenly transitions back into warm, lush green land. Making his way forwards, he is met by an enormous statue-like catfolk woman of considerable proportions, which congratulates him on his journey, and introduces him to a tribe of all-female catfolk. The song then goes into a lengthy descriptor about numerous catfolk maids in, before a repeating of verse of "Twins they were, and many sins, beware!".

The story itself is popular amongst seaside taverns, though it's subject matter is seen as highly offensive in places of less ill-repute, being outright banned in Felicia, despite it's popularity, with the ballad itself having been remodeled and reworked across generations, with one version in particular speaking of a Fagian braving an enormous tower full of undead to save a princess, while another version instead inverts the gender of it's participants, instead being about Paprika Toushou, a martial artist that climbs the mountain to discover a group of bodybuilder humans that are "As if they were wrought from the finest marble from the greatest pillar in the heavens" - and is quite often sung in bachelorette parties.

Recently, the tale saw a nyanga adaptation known as the "Adventures of Indigo Toushou", published by the man of the same name, a self-proclaimed descendant of Amber which retells the tale in drawn format. To the chagrin of many Swordfagians, the nyanga is particularly popular and sold in the Estierran Quarter of Vogelheim - though it is, admittedly, essentially just impressively drawn smut and spread pages of Catfolk women in various states of undress.

Attached below is one of the sections of the ballad, effectively compressed to be sung in taverns.

"Oooohhh! Mighty Amber, mighty Amber man!"
"Steps forth towards the mountain, expression most deadpan!"
"Sung in his ears, the tale of the bearbee."
"Could such rewards truly be?"
"Stepping forward through the crags!"
"Without his travelling bags!"
"Up and up, through the dreary stone!"
"Whatever of Amber shall become?"

"Oooohhh! Mighty Amber, mighty Amber man!"
"If anyone is able, surely he can!"
"Yet the gray of stone shifts visibly!"
"To a blinding white, most quizically!"
"To the rumbling snow he does not heed!"
"And undaunted does he proceed!"

"Oooohhh! Mighty Amber, mighty Amber man!"
"Could this be but a scam?"
"Rolling down the  mountain does he see!"
"A boulder of white, it heads straight for he!"
"No time to dodge, no time to think!"
"Is there anywhere he may slink?!"
"With feet planted he faces the hurricane..."
"And with one blow, he cleaves it in twain!"

"Oooohhh! Mighty Amber, mighty Amber man!"
"Continue does he, for his clan!"
"A place most dour, a palace of stone!"
"Yet up above, the sun still shone!"
"Figures clad in ebony, white and silk!"
"They step forward to face his ilk!"
"Mighty blades did they swing with their mind!"
"Yet an opening did our hero find!"
"A crack of bone, they fall upon the snow!"
"For they just can't stop a pro!"

"Oooohhh! Mighty Amber, mighty Amber man!"
"Past the monastery, to skies most Cyan!"
"Afore his eyes the land becomes green."
"Could the Bearbee have come clean?"
"A mighty shape of bronze infront of him!"
"But wait - it sings a Hymn!"

"Oooohhh! Mighty Amber, mighty Amber man!"
"I truly am your biggest fan!"
"Your trials I have witnessed!"
"And our curiosity has thickenessed!"
"Indeed, your power is undeniable!"
"And your skills are most reliable!"
"So stow your gripe!"
"And come meet the tribe!"

"Oooohhh! Mighty Amber, mighty Amber man!"
"Everywhere he looked, large rumps and cans!"
"Sunkissed ladies, frolicking above!"
"And clothes that fit them like a glove!"
"Guided by the shaman, there he met!"
"Two maidens who made his cheeks most red!"
"Twins, they were!"
"Many sins, beware!"

"Oooohhh! Mighty Amber, mighty Amber man!"
"He's the only one who still can!"