Unteroth City Zu'aan

History

Unteroth City lies within the Shadla Fungal Jungle, a jungle filled with various types of fungus, both toxic and non. Unteroth was a nomadic tribe during the Awakening Age that constantly moved. They never truly settled in any one spot for more than a few days. They spent many years trying to find the perfect place to settle down that would protect them from the kin’toni and enemy zu’aan. A woman by the name of Verra, who was the chief of the tribe, had heard tales of the Shadla Fungal Jungle. She’d heard that it was a secluded place that others tended to stay away from due to the various fungus.

Verra felt that if they could get past the fungi, it would be the perfect place to settle down. Together with her tribe, they made their way to the jungle. The first few years were really tough and a bit chaotic, which was what they expected. The fungus in the jungle made several zu’aan sick, even going as far as to claim the lives of a few. Verra was one of the lucky ones who only got sick. She decided that the best way to move forward was to get hands on. It took much trial and error, many failed developmental masks, and a lot of luck to figure out which fungus was harmful and which was not.

After many useless designs that didn’t work, they finally developed masks that would filter out the harmful air and spores from the fungus and would help them move through the jungle. They discovered that the center part of the jungle was the safest place to be. There were less toxic and poisonous fungi there. They still had to be careful as there were no clear sections of the jungle that were strictly toxic or strictly safe. There was just a lesser chance of encountering a toxic fungus in the center.

After fully settling down, they began to experiment more with the fungi. They discovered that some fungi could be used for healing wounds and relieving pain, some could be safely used to enhance the flavor of food, some could be highly poisonous and cause a variety of negative effects, and some could be used recreationally. It was a wild ride discovering that hallucinatory effects particular fungus had on them. From stepping on them and releasing their spores to mistaking similar looking fungi for each other, most of these discoveries were completely accidental.

There were fungi that made them feel like they were floating. Some that made them see things that weren’t really there. Some that made them feel invincible. There were even some that cleared the mind, allowing them to think faster and longer. They decided that they would test and experiment with every type of fungus in the jungle and learn all of their effects. Slowly, they became a city set on a psychedelic path. This led them to discovering their religion, which led to them figuring out how to run their city.

Psychology

Unteroth City is known for their easy going and secluded nature. They don’t venture out of the city much, preferring not to get involved with all the chaos. They are very relaxed and in tune with themselves. There are various fungi within the jungle that can cause a high just by inhaling the air around it. Due to this, they stay in this state for most of the day. They enjoy freeing their minds and just drifting along, any worries they have pushed to the backs of their minds. They love not having to really worry about anything. While in a drugged out state, they don’t get very emotional.

They are usually too high to feel anything other than happy. Outside of this state, they can sometimes get highly emotional. Excitement, joy, and content are the most common emotions that are displayed. Extreme anger can also creep in from time to time, but they are mostly really content. Really potent fungi causes the majority of them to quickly fall asleep, allowing them to spend most of their time lying around. They have a unique way, that some would call crazy, of viewing the world. They don’t really fear the kin’toni, they see them as the poor and unfortunate outcome of zu’aan greed.

They don’t see them as monsters, but as lost souls unable to control their urges and what they have become. The zu’aan have a great sense of sympathy for them. It’s not the kin’toni’s fault that the world is the way it is, that they have become these creatures who have to sustain themselves with blood. It’s the fault of the zu’aan and the zu’aan alone. They believe that the egotistical superiority complexes of their ancestors ended the previous world and sent it into chaos. It was the zu’aan who created them to be used as tools of war, and karma simply came to collect.

The kin’toni are the true victims who are now stuck craving the blood of the zu’aan. With that being said, they still enjoy their lives and don’t want to die at the hands of the kin’toni nor do they wish to become kin’toni. They kill the kin’toni with great reluctance and are known to mourn their deaths. They try to kill them quickly so that they won’t feel too much pain. When it comes to the other zu’aan, they have no qualms about killing. They are known to be quite harsh and unrelenting when dealing with other zu’aan, taking out their frustrations of their current world on them.

The zu’aan in Unteroth are very content with their lives. They believe that they have everything they need to survive and everything that they could ever want to have inside of the jungle. Their city is relatively safe and well taken care of. They try not to worry about what is happening in the outside world. The only time they do worry is when the outside world comes to them. Beyond that, they are happy to stay drugged up and content.

Culture

The culture of Unteroth City is a relatively calm one. The jungle offers a great deal of fungi that has many uses and poses many threats to the zu’aan. In the more dangerous and toxic parts of the jungle, they have to wear specialized masks to block out the air and dangerous spores that are released by some of the fungus. Some fungi can have adverse effects on the body by simply touching them. The zu’aan have been known to fall into seizures, go numb, and even die from just by touching some of the more dangerous fungus. They like to experiment with these fungi and use them to face their enemies in battle.

They have been known to capture zu’aan and experiment on them with the different fungi. This helps them to learn the different effects they have without endangering one of their own in the process. They care very little for other zu’ann outside of the city. There are also fungi that are harmless. Some are used for medicinal purposes like relieving pain and healing cuts. Some add great flavor to their food. The more potent fungi are used for recreational purposes. For most of the day, the zu’aan use the fungi to get high. They quite enjoy the euphoria that comes with it.

Eating or inhaling the smoke of psychedelic fungi is as natural as breathing is to them. The most used fungus to achieve their drugged out state is the Twisted Mushroom. It’s a dark purple, highly potent mushroom that twists up. The most common way they achieve their drugged out states is through smoke inhalation. They crush the mushroom, place it into a closed pot, and put the pot over a fire. After some time, they go into the enclosed Smoke Room and let the smoke fill the room. This mushroom gives them bright and colorful hallucinations.

The second most used fungus is the Dream Fungus. This fungus allows zu’aan to enter a dreamlike state and have visions of the dead. Many use this to talk to dead loved ones. While they know that they aren’t really there, it brings them a lot of comfort to see their faces and hear their voices. The zu’aan love getting high, so much that they hold a festival for it. The Fungi Festival is a festival where zu’aan make and trade different kinds of concoctions they’ve made from the fungus. Many like to experiment with the fungus, mixing them together. The festival is the perfect time to trial out all kinds of new mixes and to get high.

This is also the perfect place to test out what they’ve made on captured zu’aan. The Bitterroot Mushroom is the best fungus to use for medicinal purposes. It’s a light green colored mushroom that grows underground. It got its name from its root-like appearance and its bitter taste. They chew on it to use for pain relief. It can also be crushed and turned into a paste to rub on wounds.

Government

The government in Unteroth is run mainly by the Vassal, the chosen conduit between the zu’aan and Aella, their goddess. The Vassal is chosen through a sacred ceremony using what they called the Moon Mushroom, a greyish blue mushroom that is shaped like the moon on top. It is an extremely potent fungi that they consume whole and raw to bring out its full effects. The one who is able to withstand its effects is chosen as the Vassal, which is a position that can be filled by either man or woman. They choose their Vassal this way because of how potent the Yellow Lotus Mushroom is.

If one can withstand the effects of the Moon Mushroom, they can withstand the Yellow Lotus Mushroom. This city is run by a mix of the visions that the Vassal has and a small council. The Vassal takes the Yellow Lotus Mushroom and talks with Aella. After talking with her, they relay her instructions. They turn to her for everything. The visions that the Vassal has determines the laws, the punishments, and the way the city is run. All issues in the city are brought before the council to be discussed. The Vassal mainly focuses on the grand problems of the city.

Issues that can’t be resolved or are too big for the council to make a decision on, are promptly brought before the Vassal. They then take the issue to Aella and ask for her guidance. There are only a few laws in Unteroth. The zu’aan here are far too busy getting high to really commit any crimes, so they don’t have many laws. With that being said, they do not allow zu’aan to force other zu’aan to consume a psychedelic fungus. They believe that there should be a freedom of choice when it comes to that. They also ask that the zu’aan limit themselves when it comes to mixing and matching different fungi at once.

Too many different fungi being mixed together can cause serious problems, with the main one being death. Unsanctioned fungi experimentation is not allowed. The zu’aan must always get permission from the council to experiment with the fungus. This is to make sure that there are no unnecessary risks and death. It’s to also make sure that they know exactly everything that is being made. As far as punishments go, there are only three if a zu’aan misbehaves and doesn’t use common sense. The first is banishment. This punishment is one that is preferable to the other two.

The second is imprisonment. Imprisonment in Unteroth is not like other cities. The zu’aan are forced and locked into caves with various fungi growing in them. The combination of fungi can cause numbness, paralysis, loss of vision, and terrible itching that leaves angry red splotches on the skin. The third is being subjected to the Gray Cap Mushroom. This mushroom causes nightmarish hallucinations that can drive you crazy if under its influence for too long. While the second punishment messes with the body, it’s something that can and will heal.

But, the third punishment messes with the mind. Those that have been subjected to the Gray Cap Mushroom have never been the same. They come out with broken minds and broken spirits. Some never recover from the experience.

Military

Despite their easy going nature, they have a very strong military force. They use their environment to their advantage. Two of the most dangerous and toxic fungus are Speckled Mold and Weeping Mushrooms. They use Speckled Mold on their arrows. It produces a paralyzing effect when it touches the skin and enters the bloodstream. Not only does it paralyze, it can also cause organ failure, loss of vision, a burning sensation on the skin, and even death if enough is used. It is extremely dangerous to collect and to use. The zu’aan have to wear protective gear so that it doesn’t get on their skin.

Weeping Mushrooms got its name from the way it looks. It’s gray with black circles that look like a weeping face. This mushroom, when made into a powder, can cause whoever inhales it to fall unconscious. With enough, it can cause permanent unconsciousness. If it touches the skin, it can cause disorientation and nausea. There are three sections of the military. The first section is the close combat unit. They meet the enemy first. Their weapons include spears and the Weeping Mushroom powder. They have been trained and are used to handling the powder.

Camouflaging themselves to match the jungle allows them to silently move. They are able to surprise the enemy and blow the power in their faces. While fighting zu’aan on the ground, they will use the Weeping Mushroom powder to capture some of them to experiment on. The second section is the ranged unit. They use bows and arrows coated with the Speckled Mold. All of their training is focused on effectively using the bow and arrows without harming themselves. They make sure they wear the protective gear when they are making the concoction and when they are using it. They climb into the trees and use them for height advantage and cover.

The third section is the defensive unit. They protect the city as the last line of defense. Along with protecting the city, they also help with restocking powder and mold for the first two sections. Both men and women make up the military. Any one that can fight, will fight. When fighting against the kin’toni, they try to kill them as quickly and as painlessly as possible. Usually, a triple coating of Speckled Mold and a sprinkling of the Weeping Mushroom power will cause nearly instant and painless death. They quickly fall into a coma and die without feeling anything.

It is also an extremely tricky process. They reserve the triple coated arrows for the kin’toni. When fighting the zu’aan, they don’t give them that luxury. They could care less if the other zu’aan die fast or slow deaths. There is another fungus called the Asreaf Mushroom, a white mushroom that helps with mental sharpness. Before heading into battle, they consume this mushroom whole to help sharpen their minds and open their senses. It helps them to focus. With their masks on, they will often lead the enemy into the more dangerous parts of the jungle where the very air is toxic.

Religion

The zu’aan of Unteroth worships the nature goddess, Aella. She has rule and control over all things natural in the world. They believe that she created the Shadla Fungal Jungle as a safe haven for them. Aella is depicted as a woman with various fungi growing from her skin. Her hair is made of twisted vines and tree roots, and her eyes are completely black. She is considered to be a gentle goddess that provides. The zu’aan believe that they can see Aella by inhaling the smoke of a special mushroom called the Lotus Mushroom. This pink and orange colored mushroom is shaped like a flower bulb that is closed during the day, but opens at night.

It completely relaxes the body, allowing the mind to drift. This mushroom only allows them to see her. The Yellow Lotus Mushroom is a more potent version that only the Vassal is allowed to use. It was discovered that the Yellow Lotus Mushroom allowed the Vassal to spend a longer amount of time with the goddess and actually communicate with her. The Vassal is considered the closest to Aella. They will often spend several days under the influence of the mushroom, communicating with Aella. After their commune with her, they are able to relay her instructions onto the rest of the zu’aan.

These two mushrooms are the only ones that allow them to see Aella. As a nomadic tribe during the Awakening Age, they had no religion. They simply prayed to whatever higher power was out there to help them find a new home. After finding the jungle, they began to worship Aella. This came after a zu’aan, who would later become the first Vassal, accidentally inhaled the Lotus Mushroom. After coming down from the high, he told the rest of the zu’aan what he had seen. He told them of seeing a woman made of fungus. He said that she told him not to worry, that they had finally found a safe place.

They believe that she was the one who answered their prayers and led them to the Shadla Fungal Jungle. This is how their religion was born. From that moment on, the Vassal would always communicate with Aella. Instead of a church, they have a shrine dedicated to Aella. The shrine is the only place in the entire jungle where the two lotus mushrooms grow. The Lotus Mushroom grows at the base and the Yellow Lotus Mushroom grows all the way up a large tree, that they’ve dubbed the Lotus Tree, with gray bark. Instead of a city wide mass prayer, they go to the shrine when they need to and silently pray to her before collecting the mushrooms so that they may see her.

Luckily, the mushrooms grow a good quantity at a time and they grow rapidly. They believe that Aella has all the knowledge they need, so they will often pray to her for simple things like advice or just to get something off of their chests.

Miscellany

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Unteroth City Zu'aan

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