Usttor City Zu'aan

History

Usttor City is a violent city with a violent history. It lies in the Nalrod Red Rock Mountains, a place also called the Blood Mountains due to its red color and violent history. This city was founded by a zu’aan by the name of Tyeyr. He came from a long line of wandering priests who spread the teachings of Imlous, the God of Everything. During the beginning of the Shattering age, he became a beacon for many zu’aan. Droves of zu’aan followed him, hanging on to his every word. Through him, they believed that they had found their salvation.

Tyeyr was a bit different from his ancestors. He wanted a place to settle down and call his own. He wanted a place where he could really spread Imlous fully. As he journeyed, he discovered the Nalrod Red Rock Mountains. It was far enough away from the rest of the zu’aan to escape their wandering eyes and a perfect place to defend against the kin’toni. It was exactly what he was looking for. After founding and building Usttor, it was discovered by a small group of zu’aan that Imlous was a false god that had been created by Tyeyr’s ancestors.

They had created him to gain followers willing to do whatever they told them to do, to become gods themselves. This secret would never see the light of day. Tyeyr discovered that they knew and ordered his followers to seize the group. He said that they were blasphemers tainting Imlous’ name. That they wanted to destroy their safe haven with their lies. The group was offered as a sacrifice to Imlous and executed on the highest mountain. Tyeyr said that it was the only way for the rest of them to gain Imlous’ forgiveness for the sins of this group.

Thus began the bloody history of Usttor City. From that point on, whenever the truth was discovered, the zu’aan were offered as sacrifices to Imlous. Tyeyr was a violent and cruel man who used religion to control the city. A tyrant of the worst kind. The smallest of offenses were met with execution and the free will of the zu’aan was completely stripped away. Many of the zu’aan who had migrated to Usttor searching for safety and sanctuary quickly discovered that it was not so. They had escaped one hell to only find themselves trapped in another. Only the most devout followers were safe from his tyranny.

Many tried their best to escape only to fail. The only way someone could leave the city was through death. To stop the outside world from knowing the truth about the city, Tyeyr would not allow anyone to leave. The zu’aan were stuck there, forced into slave labor and at the complete mercy of Tyeyr. Each leader that came after him seemed to be far worse than the last. Life in the city grew worse and worse. The zu’aan had no choice but to follow them or be killed in the name of a false god.

Psychology

On the outside, Usttor is simply a devout city following a great god. It is a welcoming city that opens its arms to all who want salvation. On the inside, it is violent and hopeless. The majority of the zu’aan live in constant fear for their lives. This is a city where there is no warmth, no free will, and no love. They are oppressed, trapped, and forced into slave labor. They must follow the strict rules that have been put into place or face severe punishment that often leads to death. The mentality of the zu’aan is devoid of anything but fear, contempt, and desperation.

Most of them wish more than anything to be allowed to leave. Some wish to kill those in charge. They would feel great joy in watching them burn. There have even been a few attempted riots that have ended before they could really start. Those zu’aan were executed before the entire city to decrease morale and the chances of it happening again. Those in power want it to be known that there is no hope for the desperate zu’aan. Women are degraded and used for breeding. They have no rights and no say in anything, even their own bodies. They are expected to do their job with no complaints and bring life into the world.

Men are forced into labor once they’ve reached a certain age. They are severely whipped in the middle of the city if they slack off or don’t meet their quota. Imprisoned if they get sick and killed if they resist. They are treated as fodder on the front lines, expected to give their lives for the sake of the city. The zu’aan that want to live stay in constant fear that they will be the next to die. Their complaints go unheard or flat out ignored. Oftentimes, a complaint is seen as resistance and ends in death. Only a small group of the most devout followers of Imlous have any power.

They stand far above the rest of the zu’aan. Their lives are great, full of everything they could ever want or need. They have the freedom to do whatever they want whenever they want, without worry. They are free to move about the city and outside of it, spreading the teachings of Imlous. There is no consequence they face unless they betray the faith. They could care less about the rest of the zu’aan in the city as long as they get to keep the lives they have. Most of the zu’aan would prefer to face the kin’toni head on than continue to stay in Usttor.

Some have even gone as far as to kill themselves. They’ve either done it by their own hands or they have willingly gotten caught trying to escape as that is a guaranteed way to die. That is how desperate many of them are to end their pain. Most no longer care about escaping the city, they just want to escape their lives.

Culture

The culture in Usttor City is a highly religious and violent one. Every zu’aan most worship Imlous, the God of Everything. Executions and sacrifices are as normal as breathing and happen constantly. The majority of the zu’aan have no say in how they are treated nor in how the city is run. They are considered to be nothing but objects for the high status zu’aan and the Prophet to play with as they wish. There are no festivals or celebrations for low class zu’aan. They are not allowed to enjoy the things in life. Too much morale for them could lead to them wanting to revolt against the city.

The high class zu’aan and most devout of worshippers on the other hand are allowed to participate in many celebrations. One of the biggest is a celebration for the founding of the city. The Founding Day Festival is a grand celebration for them. They thank Imlous, the current Prophet, and Tyeyr during this celebration for allowing them the lives they have. It can last for several days each year as there is no set amount of time. Sometimes it’ll only last for a few days, but it’s rare that it’s that short as most of them love to party.

During this time, the low class zu’aan are to serve the devout on hand and foot. They cook, clean, provide drinks, and sometimes they have to provide themselves. They have no choice in the matter. This is a time where the devout lose themselves. It’s not surprising to see zu’aan, both men and women, being assaulted in some way. Luckily, children are not subjected to this treatment. They are allowed to retain their innocence for a little bit. The Prophet will often hold several sacrifices during this event along with others throughout the year.

It is said that the Founding Day Festival is the best time to give offerings to Imlous as it is a celebration of him. There’s no real meaning behind sacrifices other than to please the Prophet and allow him to keep order. The mountains received the name Blood Mountains due to the constant barrage of sacrifices. Beating a woman is one of the most normal things to do in this city. There is no use for a woman other than pleasure and to bring life into the world. It’s not shocking to see a man beating his wife in the center of the city. It’s become so normal that other zu’aan will walk past without saying anything.

Women are the most mistreated in the city. Marriage is a contract, a woman being sold to a man. There is no equality in marriage or in the house. Women are expected to cook, clean, and raise their children. They don’t control their husbands. Many men are known to blatantly cheat on their wives. They have many mistresses that they’ll actually move into the home with. Women in the more abusive marriages are quite happy and accepting of mistresses and sometimes encourage it. It means that their husbands' attention will not be on them.

Government

The government in Usttor is a tyrannical monarchy. Only male descendants of Tyeyr inherit the seat of power. There is no election nor any removal from power. There is nothing the leader, or The Prophet as he is called, of Usttor could do that would force him to be removed. The male is groomed from a young age to prepare for the position. While he has the absolute power, he disperses responsibilities between the most devout followers. Men and women in low positions have set roles that must be followed without question. Women are to be completely subservient towards all men, regardless of the status of either.

They are objects whose only job is to create, carry, and bring life into the world. They are not to speak nor are they to resist. Men of low status are to serve the city. They are the labor force, whether they want to be or not. They are treated as objects to be used as shields in battle. If war was to ever come to the city, they would be the line of defense standing between the enemy and the rest of the city. The laws in the city are simple but strict and expected to be obeyed without question. There are only four laws of true importance.

The first is that the Prophet’s word is law and must be obeyed. He can decide at any time what is law and what isn’t. All zu’aan, regardless of status, are to be subservient towards him. His words are considered to be the words of Imlous. Failure to follow his words will lead to immediate execution. The second is that no other form of religion is allowed. Imlous is the only “god” one can pray to. If a zu’aan is caught worshiping another god, they are shackled and beaten before everyone. All other gods are considered to be false gods. The third law is that false claims against Imlous and the Prophet are considered slander and blasphemous.

Any talk about Imlous not being real or the Prophet telling lies about him is answered with execution in the name of Imlous. The fourth law is that any complaint against the Prophet is a complaint against Imlous and shall be met with imprisonment for a specified amount of time. Some zu’aan have been given life sentences for complaining about the Prophet. Depending on his mood at the time, many have been killed on the spot. There are no trials to determine if a zu’aan is innocent or guilty. A zu’aan can not plead their case before a jury. There is no verdict to be debated or made.

Once a zu’aan has been accused, whether they broke the law or not, they are to be punished. Execution, in the name of Imlous, is the most common form of punishment for breaking the laws. A whipping of fifty lashes is the second most common. They’re justified as being the only way to receive forgiveness from Imlous for offending him.

Military

The military is made up of low status men. The high class zu’aan see no reason to put their lives at risk when they have others to do it for them. Women, no matter their status, are not allowed to join. Not because they could get hurt, but because they are considered a useless and unnecessary liability. There is no place for women on the battlefield other than to boost the morale of men.

Usttor City does not engage in fights with the kin’toni, they haven’t for decades. Instead, they offer them sacrifices throughout the year. Not long after founding the city, Tyeyr made a deal with a group of kin’toni that had been attacking them.

In exchange for not attacking them anymore, the city would supply them with zu’aan sacrifices. These zu’aan were chosen completely at random. Tyeyr and the kin’toni came to an understanding with each other. Now, the city is safe from kin’toni attacks. While they don’t fight with the kin’toni, they do fight other zu’aan. They tried to make a deal with the surrounding cities and still wandering tribes, but there was nothing that they could really offer them. So they often engage in war with other zu’aan. The lower class zu’aan are not allowed to have weapons of any kind. All weapons, are in the hands of the high class.

They believe that the military doesn’t need weapons to fight against their own kind who are of similar strength. They are also not allowed to learn any highly advanced fighting techniques. The only thing the military is allowed to have are shields, not that they help much. Many zu’aan are known to lose their lives due to lack of weapons and proper equipment. And the rest of the zu’aan offer no real support to the military. They are seen simply as sacrifices to keep them safe. Due to not having any proper training, there is no order in how they fight.

They have no strategies or traps to display. The only thing they can do is rush the enemy and hope that they can reach them before being run down. Their anger at their situation aids them the most. Getting injured in the military is not a valid reason to be discharged. The military is a life long position. The only true way out of it is through death. If you can still move, you can still fight. It doesn’t matter if a limb is missing or if there is head trauma. The rest of the city could care less. There is no compensation for serving the military, no gratitude from the rest of the city, nor is there any change in status.

Running away or deserting the military is an offense that is punishable by death in Usttor. It is their duty to risk and sometimes give their lives for the city. They believe that the low status zu’aan should be honored to give their lives to protect the city. They should feel honored to serve Imlous.

Religion

The zu’aan of Usttor City follows Imlous, the God of Everything. He is said to be a god that has control over everything. His teachings began to spread long before the creation of the kin’toni. For decades leading up to the Awakening Age, followers of Imlous had grown enough to draw in believers and worshippers. They had heard of the benevolent god who would always protect them. After Usttor was settled, it was proven and then hidden that Imlous was a false god and Tyeyr was a false prophet. Imlous was created by Tyeyr’s ancestors long before the Awakening Age. He was created so that they could have power over desperate zu’aan.

They wanted zu’aan to flock to them, to look to them for answers and protection. They wanted to be gods. Every zu’aan that has ever discovered the truth about Imlous and tried to come out with it has been killed in his name. The devout worshippers can’t have the truth leaking out, though many zu’aan suspect the truth and just haven’t confirmed it. There is an unsaid understanding that speaking out against Imlous is a guaranteed death sentence. The religion in Usttor is one made to look warm and welcoming, but to be controlling and oppressive.

It is used to justify killing, abusing, imprisoning, and controlling the zu’aan of the city. High status zu’aan can get away with anything by saying it’s for Imlous. Mornings are a long process in Usttor. There is daily morning worship that every zu’aan is expected to attend, no matter what. They come before the Prophet, get to their knees, and bow towards him. He is the conduit between Imlous and the zu’aan. Bowing to and worshipping him is the same as bowing to and worshipping their god. This practice has been happening since they created Imlous.

On top of daily worship, the zu’aan are expected to place a kiss at the Prophet’s feet to show their gratitude. Everything bad that happens is blamed on zu’aan. It is said that Imlous senses the sins already committed and the sins to be committed. In actuality, the Prophet has eyes all around the city that report back to him. The Prophet claims that Imlous looks at the sins of the zu’aan and terrible things happen in the world in response. When there is a terrible storm, the Prophet says that the zu’aan angered Imlous. The only way to appease him is to offer a sacrifice.

Every year, countless zu’aan are sacrificed to “appease” Imlous. When the kin’toni come to the city, it means that Imlous is disappointed with the zu’aan and has turned his back on them. The only way to appease him was to offer zu’aan to the kin’toni. The Prophet states that the kin’toni are soldiers of Imlous, who have come to take away sinners. There are some zu'aan who don't understand Imlous or what he wants from them. They don’t dare to raise their concerns. A majority knows that to understand Imlous, they have to understand the Prophet as they are one in the same.

Miscellany

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Usttor City Zu'aan

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