Quick Facts
Government: Tribalism
Religion:
Ethnicity: Zerseic
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Zersei is a hidden and well-defended group of tribes inhabiting four islands off the coast of Isahai.
The Zerseic people have no truly unified government. Each tribe has its own method of governing and they only meet when there is a threat. Most tribes are ruled by a council of the most skilled or wisest. In times of need, the tribes form a coalition called Zhu Inkri, or the Shield Council. Each tribe that wishes to participate sends their wisest or strongest leader to represent them in the council, which controls all willing tribes until it is disbanded. There can be multiple Zhu Inkrin at once, and under rare circumstances the two councils have gone to war.
Zerseic culture is focused around close bonds and independence. In the harsh rainforest environment in which they live, trust is extremely important, both in oneself and in one's allies. Many celebrations in Zerseic culture stem from connections to the rest of their tribe. To be exiled is the worst punishment one can have.
Zerseic clothing is simple and easily adaptable to the conditions. The main base for the outfit consists of short pants that reach just above the knee and a loose sleeveless shirt. Things are added to the outfit based on the need of the person. For example, hunters and others going out into the rainforest wear leather shin guards to protect them from thorns and other plants. Ceremonial outfits are much brighter and more elaborate. Feather headdresses are worn by important people such as shamans or leaders. Story dancers wear strings of holllow animal teeth and bones around their arms and legs that rattle when they move. When one tribe visits another to call for a Zhu Inkri, the traveling party paints their faces with black lines and wear skirts made of reeds and bones strung together. Those nominated for a Zhu Inkri wear red feather collars and paint their faces and bodies with clay to mimic the stripes of the wildcats native to the islands.
Zerseic architecture is build to defend the people against animals and floods that are common on the islands. Houses are built in trees, with narrow walkways in between some houses, others only accessible by ladders to the ground. Some rare houses are built on the ground or on smaller stilts. These houses are usually for elders, expecting mothers, those recovering from an injury, and visitors, and are guarded by some of the youth of the tribe. Zerseic children are taught from a very young age how to climb trees and navigate the treetops. A popular event to watch is the addition of a new bridge. The event is turned into a contest, with teams of two people for each bridge. The team ties each end of the bridge to the two people, and they climb the tree as fast as they can, fastening it at the top. The speed is measured from the moment the first teammate's feet leave the ground to the moment the last teammate reaches the ground.
Each island has a distinct culture developed by the cultures they have most contact with and the unique dangers that present themselves on certain islands. The easternmost island is home to the firetop, a bioluminescent mushroom that is widely cultivated around villages on that island for its light-giving properties. This gives the eastern villages a unique and ethereal glow at night, which they worship in the form of Ekihu, a protective spirit. The northern island is home to the predatory Sukihi, a large canid predator that hunts in small packs. The northern people have adapted to this by studying their movements and behaving like them to avoid them, as well as domesticating the Sukihi as guard pets. The western island is home to a flower that induces vivid dreams and hallucinations. As a result of this, the western people are much more spiritual and have a strong emphasis on omens seen by Dreamtellers, who drink the juice from the flower and interpret what they see. The central island is sheltered by the other islands, and therefore rarely is involved in outside affairs. The central people are more peaceful and isolated than the others and are relatively unaware of outside events.
The main demonym for people from Zersei is Zerseic. Zerseian is sometimes found in archaic texts. People from the northern island are known as Kuni. If someone is from the eastern island, they are known as Ekenui. Western islanders are called Shui. Central islanders are known as Ikuri.