Kazdel

Faction

Overview

Branches

Kazdel

Kazdel's coat of arms as shown in Terra: A Journey

Other names

• Teekaz (historical name)
• Holy City (non-canon)
• Nagara Katsidiya (non-canon)

Demonym

Kazdelian

Based on

See Trivia

In Other Languages

Simplified Chinese

卡兹戴尔

Traditional Chinese

卡茲戴爾

Japanese

カズデル

Korean

카즈델

General Information

Type

• Monarchy (until 1094)
• Monarchy under a military junta (1094–1098)
• Monarchy under a provisional government (since 1098)

Head of state

• King of Sarkaz
  • Theresa (formerly)
• Regent Theresis

Head of government

• Sarkaz Royal Court (until 1098)
• Babel (since 1098)

Military strength

Military Commission of Kazdel

Races

Sarkaz

Language

Kazdelian

Status

Active

“	Translates into "home" or "where home is" in Sarkazian. With its unique economy and socio-culture, it is the only nomadic city on Terra where the Sarkaz gather.	”
	—Loading screen tip in Sarkaz's Furnaceside Fables

Kazdel, historically Teekaz, is a Terran country once situated in the region that now encompasses the modern-day Bleached Wasteland. Today, it exists as a small city-state on the borders of Siracusa, Ursus, and Yan. A monarchy at its core, Kazdel is the sole homeland of the Sarkaz, a scattered diasporic race that faces widespread demonization across the world. The nation is considered the "Promised Land" of the Sarkaz, ruled by the "King of Sarkaz," a messianic figure believed to have the power to ease the suffering of the "myriad souls" — a collective consciousness of deceased Sarkaz. While the King of Sarkaz holds symbolic importance, real political power has traditionally rested with the tribal lords of the Sarkaz Royal Court, who represent the surviving pure-blooded Sarkaz tribes.

In Sarkaz culture, the concept of "Kazdel" or "Teekaz" was never meant to represent a nation-state or ethnicity. Rather, it was the name for the entire world and the planet of Terra as a whole—an undisturbed paradise of the Teekaz. Their homeland was forever destroyed when the "alien" Ancients and Elders "descended" upon their world, eradicating their civilizations. In a desperate bid, the first King of Sarkaz summoned the first Catastrophe in Terran history to annihilate their enemies. However, this act became their "Original Sin," resulting in the exodus of the Teekaz, scattering them across Terra and forcing them to live as a race without a country. Thus, the Teekaz became the Sarkaz: A "cursed" people plagued by Oripathy. In the millennia that followed, the numerous monarchs of Kazdel faced constant betrayal and civil conflict in their attempts to rebuild, turning Kazdel into a war-torn backwater with little to offer.

Because of their intertwined history with the alien "Predecessors" as the first Terrans to make contact with Originium, Kazdel plays a crucial role in the Main Theme of Arknights. Rhodes Island's inherited goal has always been to stop the Kazdelian far-right ultranationalists under the Military Commission from unleashing their wrath against non-Teekaz Terrans, to reconcile their relationships and pacify the mourning souls of the deceased Sarkaz, and, ultimately, to restore peace to the nation and end their never-ending exodus.

History

“	The Sarkaz have tried to rebuild "Kazdel", their home for centuries, though they have never succeeded. Everyone has a different idea as to what the term "homeland" means, but as it stands right now, Kazdel is perhaps as close as you can get to the term's original meaning. The "Teekaz" deserve a home.	”
	—Kal'tsit's testimony regarding the Sarkaz

First Kazdel Era: the Farchaser

In the beginning, the Farchaser brought knowledge to his people, gradually molding them into the image of man and giving them the gift of language

According to Sarkaz oral tradition, the first Kazdel began as a civilization after their ancestors became humanoid through the "blessings" of the first Originium. As the earliest race to inhabit Terra, the oldest Teekaz were originally animal-like beings, possessing instinctual behaviors that were perceived as grotesque by non-Teekaz Terrans. The earliest Teekaz tribes had no leader and lived hunter-gatherer lifestyles. During the day, they would enter the "Silver Mountains," descending underground to hunt for prey and collect water before returning at dusk to avoid becoming targets of several merciless beings known as the "Shining Metals" and "Shapeless Ghost Fires."

During a year of famine, an individual Teekaz chose to stop hunting his fellows and instead hunt for his tribe. This act was seen as a crime by many, as kindness was believed to weaken the tribe and ultimately destroy it. The tribe convened to determine his fate, concluding that he would be banished to the dangerous Silver Mountains, never to return. Many presumed he would not survive his exile, but after 3,000 days, when light finally shone beneath the Silver Mountains, this particular Teekaz had transformed into a human being. He returned to his tribe, bringing two relics with him: the first Originium and the Black Crown. Through these relics, many Teekaz were molded into the image of man, and their civilization began once they acquired human language. They started to refer to themselves as "Teekaz," meaning "one who owns a home" in their tongue, and their first city was named "Kazdel," meaning "where home is." Owing to his miraculous transformation, the Teekaz exile was crowned the "Farchaser," the first King of Sarkaz in history.

The establishment of the King of Teekaz marked the dawn of Teekaz civilization. Under his rule, he unified many tribes, constructed numerous castles to provide settlements, and initiated several campaigns to conquer the Silver Mountains. The first city-state of Kazdel was built upon the Silver Mountains, where the Teekaz spoke their first language to pacify its rampaging souls. In the beginning, the Farchaser encouraged his tribesmen to conquer the mountains, but after several failed campaigns, he decided to forbid them from entering again. He feared that the Teekaz language could not pacify all the souls beneath the mountains, and further attempts would bring severe consequences. For the next millennia, the Teekaz adhered to his decree and made great efforts to guard the Silver Mountains, while their civilization flourished. The Teekaz tribes actively built their settlements and spread knowledge to their fellow tribesmen.

The Descending War

The invaders descend from above, and the Farchaser is powerless in the face of their enemies

The Descending War, spanning between ca. 9,000 and 8,000 BCE, marked the end of the first Kazdel era. There is plenty of controversy surrounding the war, but it is unanimously agreed that this war was a series of survival-driven conflicts that gradually drove many Teekaz tribes to extinction. Their psalms narrate the sudden descent of ten Elder Hegemons possessing supernatural traits that overwhelmed the Teekaz by "shunning the sun's rays." The Hegemons were said to have enslaved many Teekaz for reproductive purposes, some of whom would later become the ancestors of the modern Ancients. Along with a substantial gap in weaponry and culture, many Teekaz tribes were unaware of the war from its inception, leading to them being isolated and destroyed until they were outnumbered by the invaders from above.

Out of desperation, the Farchaser was forced to wage war against his enemies, yet his decision would soon become his greatest sin

While the Elders and Ancients continued to conquer the Teekaz tribes, the Farchaser sought to retaliate through several desperate measures. Left with little choice, he allowed his tribesmen to revisit the Silver Mountains. There, they uncovered relics that gave rise to the first Originium Arts in Terran history—later dubbed "Sarkaz Witchcraft" by future generations. The first Teekaz witchcraft altar allowed them to defend themselves against the military might of the Elders. However, although this innovation gave the scattered tribes a fighting chance, the Hegemons coveted this new power and intensified their efforts to subjugate the Teekaz.

The Farchaser's final resort was the summoning of the Amnannam, the first Catastrophe in Terran history. After nearly obliterating all Teekaz civilization, the Elder Hegemons were poised to lay siege to the last city-state of Kazdel. In a rare show of mercy, they ordered the city to surrender and even dispatched a sage as a diplomat to persuade the Farchaser. The Farchaser refused, disappointing the sage, but spared him. The sage was ordered to lead his people eastward before the third strike of the war drums. Upon receiving the news, the armies of the Elders charged toward the city, but the Farchaser responded by summoning the Amnannam, darkening the sky and striking large Originium shards into the ground. Both the Elders and the Teekaz suffered greatly during the calling of the Amnannam: not only did many die during the disaster, but the Amnannam also brought Oripathy to Terra, which would later be known as the Original Sin of the Teekaz. The Farchaser and his loyal subordinates willingly sacrificed themselves to summon the first Catastrophe, using their blood in the process. They vanished, presumably perishing along with their besieging foes. The Black Crown went missing during this time, while the aftereffects of the Amnannam persisted for so long that only the descendants of the survivors would witness the bright sky once again.

Age of Exile

With their inhuman strength, the Elder Hegemons charged against the Teekaz. How many "devils" have these so-called heroes slain?

Between 8,000 and 6,000 BCE, the aftermath of the Amnannam marked the Age of Exile. After their civilization fell to the Elder Hegemons and the Amnannam, hundreds of Teekaz tribes were wiped out, and the survivors adopted the name "Sarkaz," meaning "one without a home." Over the course of a hundred generations, many Sarkaz either dispersed across Terra or remained within the last surviving Kazdelian communities, which had dwindled to little more than ruins. Without a king, these communities wandered aimlessly, searching for a new home free from the influence of the Ancients and Elders.

Attempts to rebuild "Kazdel" and end their exile have repeatedly failed. According to their racial memories, the city of Kazdel was destroyed over 3,421 times during the Age of Exile. One particularly humiliating instance saw its destruction in just three days when the Pegasi trampled its walls. The Sarkaz also harbor deep resentment for the "betrayal" of the Sankta, a Teekaz offshoot that denied their ties to the Sarkaz. This refusal has fueled a long-standing feud between the two races throughout history. Even in the present day, many Sarkaz still believe their "exodus" continues as long as Kazdel remains unrebuilt.

During the Age of Exile, the wandering Sarkaz faced constant persecution. Archaeological excavations in southern Columbia and western Leithanien, conducted by Gaulish archaeologists, have uncovered several mass burial sites of Sarkaz slaves, along with artifacts such as metal tools and clay buildings. Some of these graves may contain the remains of entire tribes, buried alive due to fear of Oripathy.

Second Kazdel Era: the Three Sage-Kings

In an era, there were three sage-kings and three best friends. Their friendship and wisdom brought prosperity to the Sarkaz.

The second Kazdel era, ca. 6,000 to 5,000 BCE, had clearer historical records as opposed to the folklore-heavy era before. This era was famously known as the era of the Three Sage-Kings, named for three influential friends: Gul'dul the Gargoyle "Mason," Balor'sača the Diablo "Sunwielder," and Qui'lon, a mixed-blooded Sarkaz and the "Errant Overlord." Gul'dul became the second King of Sarkaz, and with his tribe's knowledge of earth and stone, spent most of his lifetime further fortifying the walls of his tribe to protect the Sarkaz from the other races. Gul'dul's castle eventually became the target of an unnamed Elder Hegemon who melted his castle, his life's work, with ease. Before he was captured and killed by the Elder's army, Qui'lon the swordsman and Balor'sača the sorcerer appeared to defend their king and expel the threat. With a shared background as members of the Condemnor Clan, they immediately became close friends who protected each other and sought to restore the Sarkaz's glory, and they would later become the subsequent Kings of Sarkaz whose influence remained prominent in Sarkaz history.

During the Era of the Three Sages, there were two conflicting factions within Kazdel; The pacifist faction led by the Gargoyle tribe that sought to live an isolated life from their enemies and prioritize the rebuilding of Kazdel, and the other being the "Condemnors," a radical movement led by the Diablos' Condemnor Clan that denounced the existence of non-Teekaz Terrans and sought to eradicate all other races so that Kazdel would never suffer another invasion. Gul'dul and his friends acted as mediators to ease tensions, and they unanimously believed the Sarkaz were currently at a disadvantage as the civilizations of the Ancients and Elders flourished across Terra. So, the Three Sages organized an expedition to "Sorrow's Ground," a region in modern-day Kazdel that was once seen as a lifeless wilderness covered with only Catastrophes and Originium spikes, and they were amazed to find that the region was both fertile and remained undisturbed by the other races. With his earth Arts, Gul'dul constructed walls and buildings that could defend their settlement, and the construction of the city formally announced the revival of Kazdel. Gul'dul's achievement also received the miraculous anointment of the Black Crown, making him the second King of Sarkaz after two thousand years of exodus. Under his rule, Gul'dul worked with his close friends to unite and rule over the Sarkaz tribes: Qui'lon became a royal envoy who traveled to new lands, and Balor'sača became a military leader and the new lord of the Condemnor Clan.

Their friendship did not last long, as greed for the Black Crown grew; Only one of the three friends would survive to leave an enduring legacy

The friendship of the Three Sages, however, did not last long as they gradually grew distant. Driven by his lingering envy and hatred, Balor'sača sought to reignite the war against the Ancients and Elders in Gul'dul's name. However, Gul'dul refused to support his bloody vision. Tensions reached a breaking point when Balor'sača captured several Caprinae who had disguised themselves as Sarkaz after being expelled from their homeland due to their Sarkaz-like horns. The Caprinae swore that they only wished to live peacefully alongside the Sarkaz, but Gul'dul deemed them spies and had them executed. Balor'sača was furious that Gul'dul refused to wage war in retaliation, resulting in a fight within the palace that ended with Gul'dul's death at Balor'sača's hand. By the time Qui'lon returned, Balor'sača had already been anointed by the Black Crown as the third King of Sarkaz.

Balor'sača's iron rule was tumultuous and violent. He actively plundered settlements of the Ancients and Elders in the name of revenge, further worsening the already negative perception of the Sarkaz across Terra. Seeking to end Balor'sača's reign of terror and avenge his fallen friend, Qui'lon challenged him to a duel in the Bleached Wasteland—the original site of Amnannam’s summoning. According to many Sarkaz chronicles, Qui'lon ended the duel by decapitating Balor'sača with his sword, the Wrathful Cerulean Flame. Before his death, Balor'sača cursed the Sarkaz, decreeing that all future Kings of Sarkaz would face betrayal at the hands of their kin. Qui'lon was soon recognized by the Black Crown after the duel as the first mixed-blooded King of Sarkaz. Regardless of the true efficacy of Balor'sača's curse, the future Kings of Sarkaz would go on to suffer cruel and tragic deaths from that point onward.

For the following three hundred years of his reign, Qui'lon worked to mend the damage caused by Balor'sača. He rebuilt Kazdel and established the Sarkaz Royal Court to both reduce the independent power of the Sarkaz tribes and create a lasting royal lineage. Although he violently suppressed the Condemnor Clan after repeated uprisings, he spared the tribes that followed them and exiled the surviving tribesmen of the Condemnor Clan. His reforms and attempts at reconciliation failed to satisfy the Elders, who launched a military retaliation against Kazdel from the west. Facing dwindling power and a weakened army, Qui'lon abandoned Kazdel and led the Sarkaz tribes loyal to him eastward in search of a new home, but he was never heard from again and vanished into history. His death is the only certainty, as the Black Crown would choose new Kings of Sarkaz in the many years to follow.

In the six millennia following Qui'lon’s disappearance, Kazdel descended into a prolonged era of civil unrest, foreign invasions, and political fragmentation—a time known as the "Chaotic Era." Various Kings of Sarkaz appeared throughout history, chosen by the Black Crown—whether kings of the Royal Court, mixed-blood Sarkaz, scholars, or even commoners—but most quickly fell or became powerless puppet regimes under the influence of the Royal Court. Centuries of war and strife severely weakened Kazdel’s development, forcing many Sarkaz to turn to crime or mercenary work to survive. Though considered a barren wasteland of little strategic value, Kazdel remained a powerful symbol to the Sarkaz, representing their last refuge from widespread discrimination.

Third Kazdel Era: the Eastern Crusade

The Crusade of 898 resulted in the third documented destruction of Kazdel, with an alliance of three nations sharing a common goal despite their enmity: to execute the powerless King of Sarkaz

Entering the Common Era, Kazdel’s conflicts with the nations of the Terran heartland intensified, culminating in a full-scale military campaign in the winter of 898. Composed of armies from several Victorian dukes, various Gaulish Nobles of the Sword, and a Leithanian Kurfürst, the coalition force marched from Leithanien with the aim of invading Kazdel and assassinating the reigning King of Sarkaz, Yliš. In truth, Yliš was merely a powerless puppet, unable to bear the burden of the Black Crown. The Kazdelians were at a severe disadvantage, facing the coalition’s advanced military technologies—including landships, Gaulish Originium guns, and the Victorian Steam Knights. Despite his reluctance, King Yliš was forced to assume command in Kazdel’s defense. Ultimately, Yliš willingly sacrificed himself, vanishing with his chariot into the ranks of the enemy and is ultimately killed by the coalition's general. With his disappearance, Kazdelian morale collapsed.

Despite Kazdel’s looming defeat, the emergence of the Six Heroes marked a turning point in the conflict. These six figures were Nezzsalem the Nachzehrer King, Laqeramaline the Great Banshee, an elderly Lich King, a nameless Goliath warrior, and the twins who had once served as Yliš’s royal attendants—Theresis the general and Theresa the seamstress. Under the twins’ leadership, the Sarkaz royal armies fought valiantly alongside the Six Heroes, but they remained outmatched by the overwhelming technological and numerical superiority of the coalition. In one final effort, the Six Heroes used complex Arts to collapse the evacuated Kazdel onto the invading army, annihilating the majority of the enemy forces. As the remaining coalition forces retreated, Theresis tracked down the Feline general, the coalition’s commander, and killed her.

The eastern crusade of 898 not only brought Kazdel to ruin for the third time in recorded history—it also triggered another major exodus of the Kazdelian people. The aptly named Western Relocation occurred immediately after the war, as many Sarkaz refugees fled westward across Terra, with some reaching as far as Columbia. Nevertheless, the crusade served only to further solidify Kazdel as a central element of Sarkaz national identity—an identity that endures into the modern era.

Era of the Twin Kings

The Twin Kings leave an everlasting legacy in Sarkaz history as the chosen heirs of the Black Crown...

In the aftermath of the war, both Theresa and Theresis were anointed by the Black Crown as the next Kings of Sarkaz. Unexpectedly, Theresis voluntarily ceded the crown to Theresa rather than sharing the throne, instead vowing to serve as her protector. With the authority of the King of Sarkaz, Theresa succeeded in reuniting the Royal Court, while Theresis consolidated the fragmented Sarkaz forces under a newly formed Kazdelian war council, aiming to modernize the nation’s military. Theresa’s ascension marked the beginning of the Era of the Twins, a reign remembered as a major turning point for both Kazdel and the Sarkaz people.

During their rule, the Twins oversaw several groundbreaking achievements. Chief among them was the transformation of Kazdel into a modern nomadic city. According to historical records, the city was constructed in secret under the supervision of the Sarkaz Royal Court: the Gargoyles built the frame; the Goliaths recovered fragments of Kazdelian history from the ruins; the Vampires and Banshees covertly stole modern engines from caravans; the Wendigos and Nachzehrers used their Arts to generate an invisible barrier so powerful that even a fowlbeast could not perceive it; the Liches contributed their vast and arcane knowledge to aid construction. The Revenants settled within the Soul Furnace at the heart of Kazdel, powering the nomadic city with their burning souls. Today, the nomadic city of Kazdel is a densely populated, heavily industrialized hub filled with factories, constantly migrating to avoid regional Catastrophes, with clusters of Originium growing within the city. Despite its overcrowding and pollution, the nomadic city marked Kazdel’s first step toward industrialization. Through Theresa’s leadership, mobile platforms with farmland, hospitals, and schools became accessible to ordinary Kazdelians, reflecting her strong commitment to education and public welfare—values she saw as essential for lasting peace among the Sarkaz.

...But they, too, succumb to the Black Crown's curse; their ultimate split leading to large-scale civil war within and without Kazdel

Following the War of the Four Nations in 1031, which resulted in Gaul’s destruction, Theresis launched a more aggressive campaign to accelerate the modernization of Kazdel’s military. He restructured the existing war commission into the Military Commission of Kazdel. In contrast, Theresa deepened her focus on public welfare and infrastructure. Around the same time, she established the institution of Babel as a diplomatic platform to improve relations with other nations. However, the growing presence of non-Sarkaz personnel in Kazdel sparked tensions between the ultranationalist supporters of the Military Commission and pro-Babel Sarkaz. These minor disputes gradually exposed a deepening ideological divide between the twins: Theresa envisioned peace through diplomacy and reconciliation with non-Sarkaz, while Theresis believed that only strength and fear could ensure Kazdel’s survival against future aggression.

In the summer of 1086, a small altercation—where a pro-Babel teacher accidentally injured a pro-Commission teacher—provided the Military Commission with justification to initiate a coup against Theresa’s faction. This ignited a large-scale conflict that ultimately forced Babel to flee Kazdel. Theresa and her loyalists transformed the Rhodes Island landship into her mobile command center, and over the course of the conflict, she appointed two non-Sarkaz individuals as her most trusted advisors. In the winter of 1091, after five years of small-scale skirmishes, a full-scale civil war was formally declared between the Military Commission and Babel—ending two centuries of relative stability in Kazdel. Though Babel initially held the upper hand through loyalty and individual manpower, a series of major strategic failures in the late stages of the war led to devastating losses and a shift in momentum toward the Military Commission. The war culminated in the autumn of 1094, when Theresa launched a direct assault to reclaim Kazdel and dispatched assassins to eliminate the absent Theresis, who was in Londinium, Victoria’s capital. At the same time, Theresis sent a team of fanatic assassins to infiltrate the Rhodes Island landship with help from a high-ranking traitor—an operation that ultimately resulted in Theresa’s death.

After years of preparation, the Sarkaz finally deem it time to unleash their retribution against Terra through the Amnannam

Despite his victory over Theresa in the civil war, Theresis did not immediately assume the Black Crown. Instead, he proclaimed himself Regent and used his position to consolidate control over both the Kazdelian military and the Sarkaz Royal Court, which had fractured during the war. Operating from Victoria’s capital, Londinium—where he had been invited by the Duke of Cavendish—Theresis intervened in the Empire’s succession crisis. By covertly manipulating both sides of the internal conflict, he orchestrated their mutual downfall and enabled the entry of Kazdelian forces into Londinium, effectively placing the city under occupation. Once entrenched, Kazdelian ultranationalists completed the construction of the Shard and a massive airship, designed as Catastrophe-manipulating superweapons. They also established witchcraft altars throughout the capital, transforming Londinium into a vast ritual site to summon the Amnannam for a second time—an act intended to avenge millennia of humiliation suffered by the Sarkaz. The Kazdelian occupation, later known as the Londinium Crisis of 1098, demonstrated the power of artificially induced Catastrophes and, through the second descent of the Amnannam, hastened the unchecked spread of Originium veins across Terra.

The Sarkaz' retreat from Victoria marked the first step for a new age. But what the future holds is uncertain at best...

The Londinium Crisis ended with the defeat of the Kazdelian forces, but they were able to retreat with minimal losses when compared to the devastating toll on the Victorian army. Despite this setback, Kazdel secured an uneasy peace through the threat of its superweapons, deterring any immediate retaliation from the international community. Additionally, Babel was nominally revived as Kazdel’s provisional government following successful peace negotiations with the Military Commission’s new leader, after the mysterious disappearance of Theresis before the crisis was fully resolved. The Sarkaz Royal Court, however, suffered irreplacable losses. With the death of Nezzsalem, the dissolution of all but two facets of the Damazti Cluster, and the disappearance of the Sanguinarch of the Vampires, the Court's authority was severely weakened. Despite these significant losses, the remnants of the Court remain in Kazdel, protecting the nomadic city.

Alternate history

Holy City

In this alternate history conjured by Nymph and the Revenants within the Soul Furnace, the Sarkaz and the Sankta are one as the original Teekaz, causing a ripple effect that changes Terra as we know it. Based on limited information from various item descriptions and Ending 3's Farseeing Compositions, the following can be extrapolated:

• It is unclear if the Farchaser successfully called forth the Amnannam at the end of the Descending War or if the Teekaz came into contact with Originium in the traditional manner. What is certain is that the Teekaz came into contact with the Law at the Silver Mountain, becoming Sankta.
• The Law becomes fully operational, conquering the Elders and Ancients in the place of the first Catastrophe, potentially ending the Descending War in favor of the Teekaz.
• With a single gunshot to mark the occasion, the traditional Teekaz and Sankta-Teekaz reconcile in an eternal covenant under the eyes of the Law, and the enlightened call themselves Teekaz as a whole. As the other races are conquered, all of Terra becomes "Kazdel" once more.
• A massive gate is constructed at the entrance to the nomadic Holy City of Kazdel. Dubbed the Pilgrim Gate, it is not mobile, instead being anchored into the soil. The Gate is always open and leads to the elevators that allow one to board the nomadic city. It is unclear whether the mobile city stops at the gate intermittently, akin to a bus stop, or remains stationary barring Catastrophe evasion. The interior of the Gate is described as the Untarnished Corridor, an artificially lit hall in which travelers and pilgrims await entry into the Holy City of Kazdel.
• In this alternate history, Buldrokkas'tee is no longer a Wendigo, but is instead Reverend Buldrokkas'tee, Holy Gun-Knight, an enlightened Teekaz. Yelena is also alive, as his adopted Cautus daughter and sister to Grrovae'zeeal, Patriot's biological son who died in an infected protest in our history. Buldrokkas'tee guards the Pilgrim Gate day and night, and Yelena wishes to become a Gun-Knight in his footsteps.
• Kal'tsit is denied entry into the Holy City, and has assembled a group of guerrilla fighters outside the Gate. Her rebel army has been skirmishing with the Holy Knights at the Gate for years, but neither side wishes to actually harm the other.
• The Pope of the Holy City goes insane, wanting to use Originium to break a "restriction". Buldrokkas'tee sides with Grrovae'zeeal to defeat the Pope.

Notable people

NativeExpatriate

NPC

The characters below were born in Kazdel but are living in or affiliated with factions outside their homeland.

Operator
NPC

Other notable people

• Qui'lon
• "Goodluck"^☠: Odda's father, who sold himself into slavery at the Scar Market to protect his family. His name comes from his luck at surviving various battlefields. During the anti-Babel riot of 1086, he was killed in action by Ascalon, serving as a disposable mercenary assigned to execute Odda's pro-Babel teacher. To this day, the circumstances of his death remain undisclosed to Odda, in order to curb his desire for revenge.
• Milton: A young crossbreed Sarkaz mercenary who attempted to kill Entelechia shortly after the fall of Babel. He refused to follow Theresis to Londinium and instead decided to live alongside his sister, a Rose Riverbank agent that went missing. Entelechia later gave him one of her "earrings" and told him to find a certain individual that can save his sister. He might be named after John Milton, the author of Paradise Lost.
  • Milton, albeit shadowed, was first teased in Arknights Concept Trailer 4, standing behind Entelechia.
• Bill Perley^?: A Sarkaz musician who traveled to Columbia. He used his Rock 'n' roll music to protest the injustice he and many other Sarkaz suffered in the country, leaving an impact in pop culture. However, he left to return to Kazdel one day for unknown reasons, and was never seen again. To this day, Perley is considered an icon by many Sarkaz.
• Grimm^☠: Paprika's former captain, a Sarkaz mercenary said to have a smoking habit. He received orders from Theresis to head to Londinium with his team, though he passed away at some point before the events of Episode 11.
• Miss Grimm: An Infected Sarkaz woman who secretly harbored Ezell and Cecelia at the request of Mudrock in their mission to find the latter's father. She was previously tasked by Mudrock to help with the Sauin floats.

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  Goodluck
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  Milton
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  Mrs. Grimm, as she appears in Cecelia and the Sauin Pilgrimage.

Gallery

• 

  A forest in Kazdel
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  A shabby street in Kazdel
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  Ditto, at dusk
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  Ditto, at night
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  A town square in Kazdel, with a furnace node at the center
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  Ditto, at night
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  The interior of a house in Kazdel
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  A dock for Kazdelian airships
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  Ditto, empty
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  The exterior of a Kazdelian airship
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  A corridor inside a Kazdelian airship
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  The power core of a Kazdelian airship
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  A Sarkaz Witchcraft Altar
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  Ditto, amidst Amnannam's summoning.
• 

  The outskirts of a Sarkaz ritual chamber
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  The interior of a Sarkaz ritual chamber

People

• 

  An elderly Kazdelian Sarkaz man
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  An elderly Kazdelian Sarkaz woman
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  A Kazdelian Sarkaz boy
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  A Kazdelian Sarkaz girl
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  A Kazdelian Sarkaz Royal Court Soldier
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  A Kazdelian Nachzehrer soldier (Sarkaz Witherer)
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  A Kazdelian Sarkaz mercenary wearing a black coat and with a two-handed sword
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  Ditto, wearing a green coat and with a greatsword (Sarkaz Greatswordsman)
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  Ditto, wearing ragged clothes and with a sword
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  Ditto, as a member of W's squad
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  A female Kazdelian Sarkaz member of W's squad. This image is also used to represent Maryla the "Driver"
• 

  Ditto, turned into a Heirbearer
• 

  A pregnant Sarkaz woman

Trivia

• Ancient Kazdel is based on the Biblical Israel while modern Kazdel is based on modern Israel and Germany.
  • Kazdel's disunity and internal strife is parallel with the split of the Kingdom of Israel upon Solomon's death.
  • The numerous disintegrations of Kazdel in history and the Westward Relocation are likely inspired by the historical exoduses experienced by the worldwide Jewish diaspora such as the Assyrian/Babylonian captivities and the Romans' repulsion of Jews right after the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE and the Bar Kokhba revolt in 132 CE.
  • Modern Kazdel's Germanic elements could be a reference to the Ashkenazi Jews, Jewish descendants from Germany who mainly makes up of the current worldwide Jewish diaspora.
  • The Terran clothing brand MARTHE is known to be based in Kazdel. It draws visual inspiration from Adidas, a German sports brand founded in the period following World War I.
• Images of Kazdel itself from flashbacks have shown forests of birch, a cold-loving tree native to the Northern Hemisphere, probably implying a temperate and (albeit by real-world standards) northern climate for Kazdel. It could be an allegory to the forests of Lebanon known for its Mediterranean climate and cedar forests, and those of Germany, notably the Black Forest, although this also lends support for many other potential bases such as the Balkans.