Umet City Zu'aan

History

Umet City was founded by a group of zu’aan fishers who migrated to the Vuus'acus Great Lakes, a series of large, interconnected lakes. The city is spread throughout the several islands contained in the lakes. After the outbreak, the fishers were drawn towards Vuus’acus. They felt that the only way for them to survive would be to do what they knew best… fish. It was known as one of the best places to fish and have a family outing before the outbreak. The fishers were able to escape the kin’toni hordes by migrating to the lake, though the journey for most was quite taxing. Without the proper knowledge on how to navigate through the rolling waves, strong currents, and winds, many kin’toni perished in their pursuit of the fleeing zu’aan.

The Vuus’acus Great Lakes offered several places for the fishers to settle down and provide for their families. Their new environment allowed them an area of safety from the kin’toni, an abundant area to fish, and fertile soil to plant crops. It wasn’t an easy task to settle in the environment, as none of them were used to staying for extended periods of time. While fish was in abundance, the zu’aan fishers were all prideful in nature and many had their own ideas of how the city should run. Some wanted to create their own little communities on the scattered islands, governing themselves.

A few preferred to go off on their own. While others preferred for everyone to work together as a whole. Many of the disagreements led into physical fights and even a few accidental deaths. There was a lot of distrust in those first days. Fear and despair were prominent and hard to escape. Knowing that the fighting had to end, a few older zu’aan stepped forward. They decided that the best way to move forward would be to incorporate everything. Together, they built what is now the main part of Umet, in the center of the biggest island. This would be their central community where everyone could gather.

The rest of the city would branch off onto the other islands, which allowed for small communities and individual settlements. They were able to build their homes by cutting down the trees on the islands, which proved to be another difficult task. They no longer had the advanced technology that could easily cut through the thick bark of the trees, or to remove tree stumps along with their roots, or pick up logs weighing several tons and carry them into place. Everything was done by hand, so the designs were simple huts. It took awhile, but they eventually created Umet.

A council was created to take charge and handle any issues that arose. Over the years, they would navigate back through the lakes in search of survivors. Many fishers have made their way to Umet, bringing with them news of the world beyond the lakes, of the hordes, of the constant struggle for survival. Umet would welcome them with caution until they proved themselves.

Psychology

There is a great sense of safety in Umet, and an almost naive complacency in that feeling. They’ve been safe from the outside world since they settled in the Vuus’acus Great Lakes. The only danger they’ve faced comes from when they dare to venture beyond the water. Due to this, they don’t realize how dull their instincts, their fight or flight, have gotten. The zu’aan of Umet have forgotten that the kin’toni are struggling and very desperate to survive. When they first escaped the hordes, there was urgency and a mentality fit for survival. They were vigilant and constantly on alert.

Every unknown noise was investigated with caution, every day was met with sharp senses and gritted teeth, and every night was met with wide eyes and sharp spears.They had all survived, somehow, and had found a place to call home in a world that had taken that away. Together, with like-minded zu’aan, they were able to carve out their own little safe haven away from dreadful screams, the constant fear, and the smell of death. As the years went by, the struggles that they had faced faded into the background. Each year, without deaths caused by the kin’toni plaguing them, they loss that urgency that came with running for their lives.

Beyond the complacency, the atmosphere and mentality is very carefree. They celebrate when they can and try not to mourn for too long. They’re like the water, constantly moving and swaying, washing away the unnecessary worries and drowning out the unwanted noise. Fishers are prideful in nature. These prideful natures are almost as natural as breathing and can sometimes run rampant in Umet. The pride that comes with being a fisher and using their own means to procure food, reaches into a very primal and basic instinct. They feel as though they can understand their ancestors that came when the first zu'aan walked the land, long before the kin’toni of the new world and the technology of the old world. When the zu’aan had only their hands to make a living.

Sometimes, the overzealous prideful natures will clash with each other. Arguments over who’s the best or who’s right can quickly turn into physical fights. There is much competition between them as well that will usually turn into a fight. But, the tension never lasts long. Once the will to fight leaves and they’ve said what they needed to say with their fists, they consider whatever they were fighting about as water under the bridge. It’s quickly forgotten and washed away. Even with the constant fighting, the zu’aan considered themselves a big family.

They’re protective of each other and fiercely loyal. Even the few that live off by themselves come together with the rest of the city. Often, dinner is a city wide event, within the main part of the city, that everyone joins in on. They all bring something to eat and drink. Laughter rings out, children run around, and parents look on with genuine joy.

Culture

Umet City is a fishing culture. They live by the way of the water and believe that water is life. They give an abundance of thanks and worship towards it for providing them with food, drinking water, and safety. After each successful harvest of crops and haul of many fish, celebrations are held. The majority of the celebrations, rituals, and ceremonies are held in the main part of the city. On the coast of the main part of the city, the zu’aan gather to witness the sacred water dance, the A’quil Sacra. This sacred dance is performed only by women.

They believe that those who produce life can bless the land and the water for the next harvest and haul. This dance is also meant to bless the women that perform the dance with fertility. They believe that life is precious in a world filled to the brim with death. The A’quil Sacra is performed by four women on a specially made wooden boat. It takes a great amount of practice and focus to keep the boat steady during the dance. The women have to be completely synchronized. If even one zu’aan moves too fast or too slow, the boat will tip over. The dance is a slow one, meant to show their dedication and thanks.

They use cleaned fish bones to tie up their hair and wear as necklaces and bracelets. Those watching are completely silent as the women perform. The only sound comes from the Bai’li, an instrument carved from wood. The sound moves through the hollow tube and carries on the wind, creating a light but very audible melody. Music created with the Bai’li is quite beautiful and is said to bring about a sense of calm and wonder. In Umet, fishing is an art as much as it is a way of life. It requires patience and focus. During the harvest, many fishers, both men and women, compete to see who can bring in the best fish.

Only the best fishers are able to catch the elusive Mahk, a species of large but swift fish with black scales. A giant drum is used to call the Mahk to the surface and allow the fishers to compete. The fishers don’t compete for a prize, only for their pride and the satisfaction. There is a great sense of pride that comes with fishing and the ability to fish is revered. Not only do they have a great sense of pride in fishing, they also have it when it comes to their fishing rods. Each fisher has hand crafted their rods. Incredible and intricate designs are carved into the wood. Each one is unique to the fisher.

With the moderate weather, the men typically only wear short, thin trousers that won’t weigh them down when they get into the water. The women wear wrapping around their breasts and short, thin trousers as well. Pregnant women wear skirts or dresses. Dark green and blue are the colors of the Umet.

Government

Umet City is run by the Council of the Seven. Each member was chosen through an election that is held every few years. Most of the current members have won several elections and have kept their seats for years. The council each oversees different things. The first member oversees fishing. It’s their job to ensure that Umet continues to have fish. They oversee how much fish are being caught and keep track of the fish population to make sure there is no overfishing. The second member oversees the production of crops.

They make sure the harvest continues, the fields are turned, the soil stays fertile, and the food is evenly distributed. The third member oversees important customs and rituals like marriage, funerals, and any kind of festival they may have. With the world so broken, the zu’aan of Umet believe that they still should find things to enjoy. They also handle the induction ceremonies of new members of the council. The fourth member oversees births and the general health of the city. They help nurture expecting mothers, offering them comfort and knowledge, and they handle sickness and injuries.

They have trained a small group of zu’aan in medicine using herbs and plants around them. Due to their job of handling births, this position on the council is always a woman. The fifth member oversees education. There is a school in the main part of the city. It’s their job to provide education for everyone. Everything from the history of the old world to how to properly fish. While children are the main attendants, the older zu’aan are encouraged to attend as well. The sixth member oversees the court. While all members of the council carry out judgements, laws, and punishments for breaking laws, this member decides if a case should be brought before the rest of the council.

They make sure laws are being adhered to and appoint officers to help uphold the law. The seventh member oversees the military. They serve as the head and the voice of the military. While Umet is mainly made up of fishers, they are a fierce city willing to do whatever it takes to protect themselves when threatened. This member is in charge of training, strategizing, protecting the city, and keeping the military in check. If there are any discrepancies within the council on a particular issue, a decision is made with the majority vote. If the zu’aan believe that a council member is not fulfilling their vows, they will raise their concerns to the council as a whole.

An investigation will be held and if it is determined that a member was not upholding their vow, they will be removed from the seat and not allowed to be on the council again. So far, there has not been a member forcibly removed from their seat. While the council is usually made up of a nice blend of men and women, every once in a while men will make up the majority.

Military

Umet is a city made up of mainly fishers, so their military might isn’t as great as other cities. They make up for that weakness with strategy, passion, and their use of the lakes. They have guard stations scattered around the islands, some islands have several. The stations were built in high trees, giving them high lines of sight for several miles around. Some members of the military have built their homes beneath the stations to allow them easier access. They developed an alarm system using smoke. The stations are placed in a way that allows them to see the smoke ahead of them and set their own off for the ones behind them.

No matter what time of day, there is always someone watching and standing at the ready to put out the signal. At night, the fire is stoked and fanned so that the light from the fire stretches high into the sky, allowing the other stations to respond. In the case of heavy rains, horns carved from the tree’s are blown. Their loud sound can travel several miles, easily reaching the next station. With them being surrounded by miles of water, it’s easy to see what’s approaching. This allows them ample time to deploy the military, hide the sick and children, and get into formations.

They rely a great deal on the temperamental waters and on the face that they can see the enemy coming. Both men and women make up the military as Umet doesn’t have the luxury of being picky. Sometimes, those not officially a part of the military will take the time to train. Even children learn how to protect themselves at an early age. The spear, made from tree wood and scavenged metal, is the main weapon of Umet. Some spears use sharpened rocks as their blades. The rest of their arsenal are made up of bows, and a few guns that they only bring out in dire situations.

As they have no way of producing ammo for the guns, they figured it was better to have something that they could make plenty of. The trees scattered throughout the islands offer them plenty of resources to use. There are four different branches of the military. The Scouts, the Warriors, the Guardians, and the Navigators. The Scouts are the eyes in the sky. They use the guard stations in the trees. It’s their job to always be on the lookout, not just for the kin’toni, but also for dangerous predators, and other zu’aan.

The Warriors are one the front line. They are the first to make contact with the enemy. They try to keep the fight away from the main part of the city. The Guardians are the ones who protect the zu’aan of the city. They are the second line of defense. They gather the zu’aan into the center and set up a defensive line. The Navigators are the ones who evacuate the zu’aan. They prepare the boats and stand at the ready should the other lines fall.

Religion

Religion in Umet is a bit loose. They do not believe in a particular god or deity, they believe more so in the idea that water is life. They simply worship the water around them. They see the water as its own entity, uncontrolled by any. Water is something that can not be claimed or controlled, and it decides whether to bless you. They believe that by worshipping the water, they will be blessed with an abundance of food, health, and safety in return. Respect for the water will bring forth great rewards. They show their thanks with sacred ritual dances like the A’quil Sacra.

A dance meant to not only thank and appease the water, but to also ask for its blessing in return. They believe that not only will the water bless them with fish, but with fertility as well. Water is the beginning of all life, the nurturer of life, and the way life will eventually end. Women in Umet who are trying to create life will sometimes lie on the coast of the islands and allow the water to wash over them, making sure it goes over their stomach. This ritual is called the Ami’un. They are asking the water to bless them with children and to allow them to safely host new life.

They perform this ritual several times before pregnancy, during, and once after. They perform the ritual during pregnancy so that their child may continue to grow and come into the world with full health. They perform once more after the birth of their child to thank the water for granting their wish. Once the child is born, they bring them to the coast and perform the Tae’li. The Tae’li is a ceremonial baptism meant to bless a newborn with an abundance of life and health. The zu’aan of Umet believes that one day, far into the future, the water will take back the world.

When it is time for life to start anew, a great flood will consume the world, washing away the world of the old to usher in the world of the new. Most fishers say a simple prayer before and after fishing. The prayers may differ from zu’aan to zu’aan, but they are asking pretty much the same thing. “Steady my hand upon the water.” This is said before fishing. They ask that their hand be steady as they cast their line so that they may be successful in their hunt. “May this catch stay plentiful.” This is said after a successful bout of fishing.

They thank the water for allowing them to fish and ask that they continue to bring forth good hauls. There are no churches and no priests that hold large religious convenes. There are no repercussions for those who do not say the prayers before fishing. While prayer is the go to for most zu’aan of Umet, as long as genuine respect for the water is shown, how that respect is given does not matter.

Miscellany

Nearby Groups

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Umet City Zu'aan

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