“Yes, well, the biggest strength and weakness of Zhāng is their loyalty. If he wants his own room, then I’m sure he’ll start asking for his whole tribe to get the same treatment.”

-Overseer Niyazi

The Zhāng were migratory warriors and a member of The 44 Peoples. Many species of Zhāng existed, but three genus (or clans) could be found in the volcanic region of Trinity in Frauji. Between all Zhāng clans, there were a few consistent biological attributes. Zhāng were parthropods, exhibiting traits of both reptiles and arthropods. They had thick exoskeletons, three-toed feet, and muscular stinger tails. Zhāng had a sac organ which made their tail stings venomous, but the lethality of the venom was highly influenced by Zhāng’s diet. The pair of chelicerae, or mouth parts of a Zhāng, are capable of crushing bone, and their coarse throat allows the food to pass down better when crushed this way. Zhāng are unable to speak the common language of Glakesh, which is the primary language of the Eavons, due to the physical limitation of a lack of lips. Their language is Zhāngian, which is primarily sharp constants and little vowels. Zhāng also tend to be born with genetic “heirlooms” around the facial area, such as frills, tendrils, horns, or crests.

Zhāng had an incredibly responsive immune system, with the ability to heal wounds and overcome sickness much faster than many other Peoples. The trade-off was a reduced lifespan of only around 15 trisolars. Zhāng have trouble in cold environments and usually live in warm, dry areas such as deserts or plains. Their homeland of Trinity had consistently warm ground soil to keep their energy up. Zhāng would also travel south towards the territory of Pahru along the planet’s equator during the winter Solsta season. These mass migrations would take on highly ritualistic significance, with young warriors from all clans hoping to prove themselves before the return home. 

The Zhāng would often mark their graduation to a novice hunter by finalizing the creation of their first weapon. These often included spears and other long weapons, but also bows and even swords for the most daring of warriors who valued close combat. Zhāng creativity was also unmatched when it came to weapons technology, each tribe often having their own unique creation that all warriors were expected to be proficient with. Firearms were used by Zhāng tribes, but they were used more for protection of the village instead of ritual hunts. These rituals often included pre-hunt feasts to increase the potency of the venom of the hunters, with many tribes stating that to become a recognized adult warrior, an individual would have to slay a dangerous creature with nothing but their tail and the venom within in front of three witnesses. 

Trinity is named after the three supervolcanoes within the land, each one named after a founding member of the distinct Zhāng clans; Keye, Kailee, and Kasse. Each clan claimed their respective volcano as their home and was made up of over a dozen tribes. Given their short lives, Zhāng culture highly valued the ability to make changes to the world. These changes would often be prerequisites to become a Hunt Chief, the position of tribal leader. It was not merely the ability to kill that made a warrior, but the ability to adapt and overcome a great challenge and live to tell the tale and earn great respect. 

When the Zhāng were emancipated by the newly formed Holy Eavonian Confederation, a strange occurrence known as the sǐsāng overcame the Zhāng. Indebted to the Eavons, Zhāng formed a compulsive loyalty response with all Eavons who crossed their paths. As the centuries went on, the sǐsāng resulted in many pacts with the Confederation limiting the Zhāng’s ability to migrate south during the Solsta as Pahru became industrialized. The Zhāng were then limited to travel within their homeland and many rites of passage became lost to history. The sǐsāng would be further exploited near the end of the Solstice War, as the Silver Lining required more soldiers on the battlefield and had to rely on levied tributes from Zhāng tribes. In time, the power of the sǐsāng began to wane or would be corrupted, with one Zhāng named Magistrate Ghorai forming a post-war paramilitary extremist group called the Blackguard in the name of Eavon safety. 

Average height: 2.0 meters (F) 1.7 meters (M)

Average weight: Unknown

Average lifespan: 14-15 trisolars