Dear reader,
First, allow me to thank you for choosing this book, because the topic it deals with is, for several reasons, something very close to my own heart. Educating the Equestrian public on the rich, fascinating history and culture of the Crystal Empire has been my desire for the longest time, and I am overjoyed that I finally have the opportunity to do so. Your interest in this subject means much to me, and I spared no effort to ensure that this work can answer almost any question you could possibly have.
Several years have passed since the reappearance of the Crystal Empire, but to most Equestrian citizens, our northern neighbor remains an enigma. During the Empire's thousand year absence, virtually all knowledge about it faded into obscurity, then into myth, until even among the most ardent scholars and historians, few remembered that it ever existed at all.
Now that the Empire has returned, many ponies have become curious about the strange and unknown nation that seemingly appeared out of thin air beyond our northern borders. I wrote these books to satisfy that curiosity, and hopefully encourage ponies to take the next step by reaching out towards the citizens of the Empire in the spirit of harmony and friendship. I hope that in time, we will be able to reforge the bonds of trust and cooperation that used to connect us before the tragedy that befell the Crystal Empire so long ago.
Our nations share so much that a visitor from Equestria would probably be surprised to see how many similarities can be found, even after centuries of separation. However, the Crystal Empire still possesses its own unique and distinctive culture, and, once they have gotten past some of the more superficial resemblances, ponies from Equestria will find many things about the Empire that may strike them as surprising or confusing.
It is a common misconception that crystal ponies are merely an exotic offshoot of the earth pony tribe. Crystal pegasi and unicorns do exist, but they are so rare among the Empire’s population that one could live there for years without encountering them. Furthermore, even though most crystal ponies superficially resemble earth ponies, and also tend to share their abundance of strength and stamina, the two tribes actually differ from each other in more than just the appearance of their coats. The inherent magic of earth ponies usually gives them a natural understanding of plants and animals, while crystal ponies generally share an affinity for working with rock and metal instead of crops and livestock. There are thousands of incredibly skilled miners and architects among the Empire's citizens, and I can say without any hint of hyperbole that when it comes to shaping stone, gems and metal, their craftsponies can work wonders the likes of which I have never seen before.
Another thing that visitors from Equestria are likely to experience first-hoof and may find peculiar is the role of the Imperial nobility. While the majority of our noble class has gradually given up most of its responsibilities and privileges over the past centuries, nobles in the Empire still take an active role in their nation’s government and defense. Undoubtedly, the Imperial knights are the most well-known example for this. Despite the fact that a knighthood is the lowest ranking title of the Imperial nobility, they are by far the most respected and idolized nobles, second only to the Empire’s rulers.
There are several reasons for this. The fact that a knighthood can be bestowed on anypony without any kind of social restriction and purely based on the individual's merit certainly serves to make the Empire's knights seem more approachable to the average citizen. But I would suspect that it is mainly due to the sheer number of responsibilities knights have within the Empire.
In times of war, the Imperial knights form the hardened core of the Empire's army, serving their nation as warriors and military leaders. When the country is at peace, they remain defenders, but also take on additional duties as teachers, administrators, role models and, in a sense, entertainers and celebrities. Some higher ranking knights even govern their own holdings and have their own retainers, much like a minor lord.
Since knights have excellent opportunities to keep themselves well educated, it is also not uncommon for members of this caste to devote themselves to artistic or scholarly pursuits. And while most of them merely dabble in those fields, over the centuries, there have been several knights who earned considerable renown in them.
So, while it may be puzzling to modern Equestrians that a single noble class is entrusted with such a large number of responsibilities, within the Empire, this is still a simple fact of life. The citizens revere their knights for the sacrifices they make in defense of the Empire, and for the many important duties they take on. In turn, the Imperial knights are eternally devoted to the well-being and safety of every citizen. Their knights are an important part of the Empires cultural identity, and the importance they have for the Empire as a whole cannot easily be overstated.
– Excerpt from the first chapter of The Lost Tribe: A Brief Introduction to the Society, History and Culture of the Crystal Empire (Vol. I of XXIII) by Princess Twilight Sparkle