Cheaid’y Tribal Zu'Aan

History

Within the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake, there has always been plenty of military presence and lots of conflicts, for the region had been in the midst of years of warfare. The name originates from a few possible meanings depending on a person’s perspective, but there are three commonly accepted reasons why it is called the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake and specifically says ‘Shield’. One of these reasons includes the fact that the region was shaped like a sort of shield, which links to the second reason about the idea that its shape provided protection for the environment and decreased severe erosion that could impact the habitats of animals and also result in heavy floods when water flowing into it was plentiful. However, the main purpose for this name is the nature of its history, for it was said that the lake was the protector in the eyes of all the nations as it created barriers and barricaded them from easily reaching each other to unleash their fighting.

The nations that were fighting consisted mostly of three different nations of people that had some part of their regions within the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake: these included the Cheaid’y people, the Geyd Tribal Zu'aan, and the Inekim Tribal Zu'aan. These nations were all within a mesa biome, and the ultimate reason for these conflicts varied, with the majority of the wars they had between each other being simply out of greed and a hunger to take away the land of the other nation to expand their territory and possibly form colonies. Out of the three nations, the Cheaid’y people were in a minority and tended to be fishermen, tactical in using the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake to their advantage.

Before the wars, however, they were a relatively relaxed group of people but were also quite wealthy and well-off, for there would be many merchants using the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake to transport their goods via ships, and the many ports that had been set up along the long stretch of water had plenty of markets and stalls, where goods could be exported by the Cheaid’y people and in turn, the foreign tradesmen could sell their products, getting items imported into the region. This system was very successful and allowed for the region to become one of the most wealthy and prosperous in the mesa area it was located in. Then the wars broke out, and at the time of the first conflict, there was only the Cheaid’y people and the Inekim people. Originally, there had been many colonies set up in the mesa.

But the Cheaid’y people had managed to escape this by using the lake to increase trade and hence gain more profits than their colonisers; meanwhile, the Inekim people had no such opportunity, and out of animosity and feelings of the division they unleashed their attack on the Cheaid’y people, which continued for many years. Soon after, a significant event took place which added to the brutality of the war – the colonisers had divided the Inekim people into two different groups using religion, with the second type of people being the Geyd people. Seeking help and refuge, the Geyd people tried working alongside the Inekim people only to face persecution, so fled to the Cheaid’y people to work with them. Once these initial wars were over, conflict still continued even to this day with each side fighting the other in a nation versus nation versus nation battle.

Psychology

The Cheaid’y people had managed to live a relatively peaceful life when they first began residing in the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake, where they could experience the tranquillity of being simple fishermen and have the opportunity to live a simplistic way of life without having to worry about the hustle and bustle that could be found in many other nations that had chosen to become more industrial and international. Furthermore, their lack of involvement with foreign affairs was another way that enabled them to remain peaceful, and the free passing of all travellers across the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake meant there were no tensions. However, there was a shift in these attitudes, as the Cheaid’y people began to build more ports along the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake, which resulted in more people migrating to the region.

As well as more merchants bringing their ships which allowed for the import of useful foreign products and the export of goods native to the region, aiding the expansion of the economy. Furthermore, the increased migration meant more workers and therefore more industry would take place, which could help in the growth of the region as a whole, and there even came a point where the region became so strong despite being the smallest out of the Ghaz Tribal Zu'aan and Inekim people that it could possibly have rivalled them. Overall, the inhabitants became more welcoming and were ultimately forced to become more flexible and adaptative to the variety of cultures that immigrated into the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake. Furthermore, the inhabitants became even more determined as well as inspired, having the aim of doing their part in making the region become even more prosperous than it already was.

Yet, the well-known colonisers – the Ghaz people – were likely unpleased and fearful of such progression, and hence sent their armed forces to attack the region in an attempt to colonise it. During this period, many atrocities were committed that could cause severe trauma to the people of the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake. As a result of this, the Cheaid’y people became enraged and full of fury, and were ruthlessly in their retribution, trying to battle the most formidable force in those lands of Taerel. But, like many others, they were unsuccessful, and so found themselves victims of the colonial habits of the Ghaz people and their nation. Even then, the Cheaid’y people were still resilient, although this could be argued to be a form of arrogance, for they chose to not accept defeat despite the clear outcome of the skirmishes they had with the Ghaz nation.

A new determination was kindled when the Inekim people started to wage war upon the Cheaid’y people due to many reasons, with one of them being deep jealousy that burned in the Inekim people. This envy fuelled a savage, heartless rage, for the enemies of the Cheaid’y people were merciless in their onslaught, attacking the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake and everything within it. In turn, the Cheaid’y people now had a sense of fury that was powered with motivation – a desire to destroy their opposition and extend their empire, making it clear that the inhabitants of the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake were to be admired for traits of valour and resilience, and not cowardice or weakness.

Culture

The culture of the Cheaid’y heavily depends on the place they are situated in – the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake. This is due to the fact that their diet heavily depends on the lake since it is the provider of many fish. These would often be made into dishes that are very delicious and well-known, ranging from scrumptious fish cakes to succulent soups and in many cases delectable barbecued or grilled fish, which could be marinated with spices native to the region to add flavour. There was also the presence of many animals in the regions. Shepherds became very common and displayed their significance in the region, as well as animal farmers who would be able to get useful animal products – there were some birds that could only be found in that subcontinent where the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake was located, so their meat and eggs would be very valuable when exported to other parts of Taerel.

Additionally, the water has proven to be packed with valuable nutrients which benefits the soil in the region (leading to better agriculture of crops) and when purified and made into potable water it can be very healthy for the consumers of it; oases were also common and were an excellent place of relief, especially for travellers. In relation to drinks, alcohol was a rare beverage that could be found but there was always plenty of juices, with watermelon juice being the most popular due to the fruit being so abundant in the area.Housing in the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake also tended to be slightly different despite being constructed with wood during the early days of the Cheaid’y people’s inhabitancy of the region; most of the huts that lined the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake would be built on stilts.

The purpose for this was – whilst very unlikely – the possibility of flooding as there were a few occasions where shacks would be damaged and must be rebuilt due to extreme rainfall causing the lake to overflow and flood the land. Additionally, the stilts are said to be deep enough to protect the buildings from erosion of the land it is on, although the majority are not willing to take such risks. It can be noticed how there was a shift in the way buildings were built with an increase of bricks being used – often made by mixing sand with clay and other resources – which could provide additional strength and integrity to the structure and show the advancement of civilisation for the Cheaid’y people.

As the region became more progressive, more and more ports were built along the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake, which was able to aid the economy as there was an increase in trading goods and the Cheaid’y people became more connected internationally; trade also soon became more globalised, with native products being exported and foreign goods being imported. There was even a shift in professions, with more people becoming merchants and businessmen rather than labourers or fishermen due to the new opportunities and prospects that were offered.

Government

In the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake, the first inhabitants did not have much of a formal government but chose to have the most influential family and their lineage – the Masa family - make rulings and give orders so that the whole community would remain united. Then there was an increase in the population, and eventually, people found it unfair that for so many years one family was allowed to rule everyone in the region, and hence there were requests for a new system, to which the heir of the family (Adone Masa) immediately chose to reject, fearful that the power the family had would be lost. Then a small uprising took place as well as many strikes by the staff that served the family, so in the end, they were forced to step down and a new system was formed where a vote could take place for who should be the ruler.

To this day, this system is used, but there have been many changes made to make it more just; this is especially because it became easier for fraudulent voting to occur with an increase in the population. However, there have been many noticeable leaders throughout the history of the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake, with one of them being the first ruler that the region had to put up with after being colonised by the Ghaz people – this was Alaric Fenn, who was believed to have been extremely harsh and made severe attempts to restrict the Cheaid’y people, almost punishing them. Those who even dared to oppose him would face reprimands as well as other forms of what was described as discipline, such as torture, public humiliation, imprisonment, or even execution; these were all to serve as deterrents that were meant to intimidate the Cheaid’y people.

Yet, even though he was known for such cruelty, he was still significant as his influence can still be observed to this day, as shown by some of the ideologies he had managed to spread about how the Ghaz people were an example to follow – which was in fact a very foolish move as the Cheaid’y people started learning more about the Ghaz people, which enabled them to overthrow their colonisers. Another person who was very important in the ruling of the Cheaid’y people was Thale Daubeg (who had migrated from his homeland to Winnash Sandy Plains and then from there to the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake), who was the first to make the decision to construct many ports along the banks of the lake. Many were sceptical of this idea, and even members of his councils were wary and tried to stop him from going through with this, but he had a plan and only saw success for the Cheaid’y people in this – he was correct in his thinking.

Due to this, he managed to lay down the foundations that enabled the Cheaid’y people to overthrow the control of the Ghaz people, for the Ghaz people had chosen him as a leader because they saw him as being loyal to them only and not the people. Additionally, all future leaders now had a framework that they could use in order to allow the region to prosper and thrive even more, as well as become even more connected with foreign nations to grow in all aspects.

Military

The Cheaid’y people used to not have much of a military presence, but the first inhabitants were still trained in combat, knowing that they would need to fend for themselves against any possible attacks from foreign raiders or even just thieves and bandits. However, they soon found themselves expanding in population, and hence the government chose to form small units of troops that were on standby in the event that the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake was attacked. These units would be armed with simple but effective weaponry such as swords made out of metal that had been salvaged or imported and also bows that were made using driftwood that washed up on the banks of the lake. As for armour, they would often simply wear leather clothing that could offer slight protection, although they all clearly knew this would never be sufficient in combat.

The leaders who chose to form this small unit were very wise, for the Ghaz people had started to try and colonise many regions in the mesa, with the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake being one of their victims. This led to severe conflicts as the Cheaid’y people became determined to fight back against this threat, so would try to use tactics rather than power to make an attempt at protecting themselves from being colonised, but due to the sheer strength and dominance of the Ghaz people their loss was inevitable, and eventually the Cheaid’y people were forced to submit to their new rulers, their groups of troops seeming like mice whilst the Ghaz people were like big cats.

It was during this time however when the Cheaid’y people became more progressive and made advancements in trading, which then enabled them to overthrow the Ghaz people’s rule and once again establish themselves with an even better military force since weaponry and armour was imported into the region, that had much greater quality and quantity than what the Cheaid’y people had before; they had managed to get armour made fully of metal, and the resources used to make their new myriad of options of weaponry (swords, daggers, shields, spears) were stronger and more durable. Eventually, the Cheaid’y people found that all this would be useful, for their neighbours – the Inekim people – had turned aggressive and were starting to try and attack them, so this led to more battling and fighting.

When the Geyd people became their own independent group, it seemed that the Cheaid’y people would have an ally to close to home for the Inekim people, but they were wrong in thinking this; a minority of the Geyd people chose to believe in the idea that their division from the Inekim people was due to the Cheaid’y people, and eventually, this ideology began to spread. Meanwhile, the Ghaz people had chosen to reduce their control and influence, letting all these events play out and only putting their hand in when they could reap a reward or benefit. To this day all three clans are warring with each other.

Religion

The people of the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake take their faith seriously, though there is quite a range between those close to disbelief and the pious, for there has been a severe shift in those following the faith that was originally followed in the region. There were many reasons for this, with one of them being the fact that the Cheaid’y people were colonised by the Ghaz people and the beliefs of the Ghaz people started to be inflicted on them; this also could have contributed to a huge cultural shift as well had there not been enough progression by the Cheaid’y people in their trading – which is the other reason why there are fewer believers now. As more merchants came from foreign locations, they did not just bring goods but also scriptures and words of knowledge from abroad, and in many cases, there would be preachers who would hope to be rewarded by the deities for spreading the faith.

Additionally, many pilgrims would also use the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake to travel on their journey, often stopping at one of the ports for short breaks before heading off again. The result of this was an increase in people converting, feeling that they were being connected to the true gods and goddesses, and not being led astray. However, there were still a few deities that were native to the region, which would often be commemorated by festivals, which were a great way to celebrate and spend time with the close-knit communities of the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake. There would also be many shrines and temples where services would be delivered, and offerings could be given to honour those that the inhabitants believed in and desired blessings from.

As more faiths started entering the region, more holy buildings were constructed for these new communities, and in most cases, there would not be much tension between these factions. One of the goddesses that were worshipped was one called Lira the Goddess of the Denytur Lake. She was said to have resided in the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake and grew up there, and due to its beauty, she chose to keep it blessed and preserved, so would offer those that praised her for her services with bounties and rewards. In literature, she is described as wearing a silver crown with pearls, amethyst, and aquamarine, and to cover her pale body she wore a sky-blue, azure dress that flowed like the rapids. Lira the Goddess of the Denytur Lake is also believed to have a brother called Limba the God of Fishes, who was said to be the one that would bless fishermen with a good yield of fish during their excursions, as well as provide aid for them in their business.

Additionally, there was another deity worshipped in the Denytur Mesa Shield Lake called Edite the God of War, and He has shown significance throughout the history of the Cheaid’y people since they have called upon Him numerous times during a conflict, where they believe that He will be their provider of strength and also weaken the enemies, as well as put fear in their hearts so that they are unable to succeed in their attacks.

Miscellany

Nearby Groups

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown