A Turkic Mythology Game: Tengri, Umay, Albastı and Ergenekon in Kuzark

Turkic mythology is a world of sky, earth, spirits and heroes, a perfect fit for games. Yet few games put it at their center. Kuzark draws on it everywhere, from region names to classes, skills and dungeons. Here is what each mythological reference in the game means.

Tengri: the sky and the Humans' fortress

In old Turkic belief, Tengri stands for the sky and the order of the universe. In Kuzark, the home of the Human race is Tengri Keep, with its river bridges, northern slopes and valley.

Tamu: the land of the Monsters

In Old Turkic, tamu is the underworld of punishment. The Monster race's land carries this name for a reason: it is the harsh, wild home of a race that fights with bone, fire and fury.

Kut Yurdu: the middle land

Kut is the sacred power and right to rule that the Sky grants to a person or a people. In the game, the middle land both races pass through is called Kut Yurdu.

Umay: the path of healing and protection

Umay is the benevolent spirit who protects mothers, children and birth and brings abundance. In Kuzark, one of the two paths of the Shaman class (Kam) is the Umay path: lightning and healing. The "Umay's Healing" skill keeps the party standing.

Kam: the voice of the sky

A kam is the shaman of Turkic and Altaic peoples, the go-between of the spirit world and people. The Shaman class carries this role: fire and blessing on the Sky Dragon path, lightning and healing on the Umay path.

Alp and Kara Alp

An alp is the brave hero of the epics. Kuzark's Dark Alp (Kara Alp) is an alp who fights with dark power: with an enchanted weapon on the Spellblade path, with dark magic on the Dark Magic path.

Albasti's Lair

Albastı is an evil spirit of folk belief, said to haunt new mothers and infants. In Kuzark, Albasti's Lair is the dungeon you enter with your party. At its bottom wait the Black Dragon Zorgath and golden chests.

Ergenekon

The Ergenekon epic tells of ancestors trapped in a valley ringed by mountains who melted an iron mountain to break free. The Ergenekon region, with its canyons and red cliffs, recalls that epic.

Akıncı and Kemankeş

There are traces of history too. An akıncı was a raider of the frontier light cavalry, and a kemankeş is a master archer. The game's Raider class (Akıncı) joins both traditions: ambush on the Dagger path, the bow on the Bowman path.

Discover the mythology by playing

Kuzark is free. Download it, pick your race and explore this land yourself. See the Wiki for more on regions and classes, or our class guide if you cannot decide.