Undbanachusti City Zu'aan

History

The city of Undbanachusti is a city awashed in a mysterious past. No one really remembers how or when exactly it came to be, but it seems like a city that was always there. Even its current inhabitants aren’t really sure how the city came to be or even where their ancestors migrated from. The full history of Undbanachusti has been lost for a long time and only a few tidbits here and there have been recovered. Most of what they do know is mainly based on observation. Some information they do know is that the first inhabitants of the city were from different places all over Taerel.

Bits of different cultures can be seen throughout the entire city. They believe that with the intricate and complex way the city is incorporated within the jungle, some of them must have been builders or architects. And based on how they themselves act, they know that they were kind and welcoming towards others. That mentality has made its way to the present. Undbanachusti City lies deep within the Ver'kal Jungle Monsoon, a dense jungle known for its monsoons. The infamous monsoons bring about both droughts during the dry season and heavy rainfall that causes flooding during the wet season.

To combat the changing conditions, the zu’aan had to get creative with where to build their homes. It’s obvious that the first inhabitants couldn’t put them on the ground due to the bad flooding. The only place left to go was up, but not too high or they wouldn’t have sturdy support and the heavy winds during the wet season may blow them away. They were able to build their city in the thick trees, incorporating the twisted branches of the trees of the jungle. It was a very unique design. They connected their homes with wooden bridges and created zip lines for faster and easier travel through the trees and a safer way to get to the ground.

They created a huge community center in the middle of the city, surrounding one of the thicker trees. They didn’t want to cut the trees down nor did they have the means to do so, so they simply built around them. Many of the homes and buildings have a hole in their center to allow the tree to go through.

This was a city that welcomed all with open arms and warm smiles. Due to different zu’aan coming, they were able to create a diverse community that, somehow, was able to work and thrive together. Working together was the only way to survive.

Between the kin’toni that braved the dense jungle in search of zu’aan and the aggressive wildlife, they only had each other to count on. As the decades went forth, even with the constant threats of the outside world, they still welcomed those who wished to settle down in the city. If anything, as time went on, they became even more convinced that the zu’aan had to stick together if they wanted to survive.

Psychology

The zu’aan of Undbanachusti are of a tough constitution. Escaping the hordes, being constantly on the move before being able to settle down somewhere, and surviving the sporadic changing climate and sometimes aggressive wildlife has made them very mentally strong. They are fierce and not afraid to take the fight to the enemy, whoever they may be. They love the adrenaline that comes with fighting and training. They believe that exchanging blows with each other creates a sense of closeness and understanding with each other. Sometimes, there are no words that can properly explain how one feels.

Sometimes, it takes a good fight to get those feelings through to someone else. While they may be fierce and love fighting, they are also of a kind and open nature. Everyone is willing to help each other and will go out of their way to offer their help. They like to think of themselves like the roots of a tree. A tree can not survive with a single root. Without the dozens, and sometimes hundreds of roots supporting the tree from underneath, the tree would not be able to stand and would eventually die. The roots work together to support the tree just as they work together to support the city.

There are no strangers in Undbanachusti as there is a very strong sense of community. They welcome newcomers with open arms as they feel that the zu’aan only have each other to count on. They don’t understand nor do they condone the hostility that some cities have towards each other and the violence they commit towards each other. As far as they are concerned, the true enemy is the kin’toni. The real war is between all the zu’aan and all the kin’toni. Their sense of community has created a tight knit city that showcases a strength many have not seen before.

Usually, there is always some sort of dissonance or discord within a city. Or some kind of internal conflict between the zu’aan. But, in Undbanachusti, there is no such thing. There are no disagreements that lead to civil war, internal strife, or high crime in the city. It is a city that puts all of its people first and treats them all equally. There is no high status vs low status. There are no higborns enslaving lowborns. Everyone has a voice that they can use to speak out. This has created a sense of comfort and safety within the city that allows them to be who they truly are without fear.

Their strong mentality has helped to take control of their lives. It has kept them sane as the world settled from the fires of change. They have learned to lean on each other when things become rough and seem hopeless. They’ve learned to enjoy the small things in life as tomorrow is never promised. Enjoying the present instead of worrying about the future is what keeps Undbanachusti City alive and thriving in the current violent, death filled, blood soaked world.

Culture

The culture of Undbanachusti is very in tune with the environment. The zu’aan live by and according to nature. During the droughts of the dry season, they spend that time outdoors. They repair any damages caused by the floods of the wet season and make sure to properly store all the mud from the heavy rains before it dries up. They like to spend time enjoying the sun and relaxing. They feel that some time should be spent just enjoying the little things. This is also the best time for training their military. During the wet season, they mainly stay indoors as there is usually bad flooding due to the rain.

Most will temporarily move to the community center in the middle of the city during this time. They quite enjoy the company and closeness that the center offers. Everyone sleeps in the same room. Conversation can often be heard almost throughout the night. The elder zu’aan tell the children stories that had been passed down to them and the children will put on small dance performances. One of the biggest celebrations that Undbanachusti puts on is the Festival of Mud. The Festival of Mud happens during the wet season, after the rains have stopped and most of the flooding has gone away.

The ground is still extremely moist, leaving lots of mud. The festival celebrates surviving another wet season of rain and floods and is used to gather mud. Children spend the festival running around, sliding, rolling, and playing in the mud. It’s very common for them to start a mud fight with each other that the older zu’aan love to join in on. Women love to use mud on their faces for therapeutic and cosmetic reasons. Mud has many benefits for the skin. The men like to test their strength and technique and will oftentimes wrestle each other as the mud makes it more challenging.

Mud is such an important resource in Undbanachusti. It has many different uses from cosmetic purposes to helping with construction. The zu’aan use it as adhesive to help rebuild their homes during the dry season. They also use it for decorative purposes. The zu’aan of Undbanachusti are known for their pottery. They love making intricate and beautiful pots and sculptures out of mud. While most of the pots are used specifically for cooking, they make some purely for decoration as well. There is a contest held during the Festival of Mud for the best looking pottery. Everyone can participate, regardless of age.

Marriage and birth are also hearty celebrations. They view birth as one of the most sacred and beautiful things a zu’aan can do. Children are well taken care of in the city. Many are willing to lay down their lives to protect them. The joining of two zu’aan is one of the most celebrated customs. To be able to find love in a place so full of hate is quite the feat. While divorce isn’t forbidden, there is a general sadness in the air when it happens.

Government

Undbanachusti City is a city run by all the zu’aan, there is no established form of government. Every decision is made as a city and everyone has a vote. They decided it was best to do it this way to make sure that everything was as fair as possible. They don’t believe that just one zu’aan or some elite group of zu’aans should be allowed to make decisions that will impact the entire city. Decisions are always decided by the majority vote. Any issues that anyone has is brought up during city meetings to be discussed and voted on. The zu’aan can call a meeting at any time, though they still have to be considerate.

They try to only have these meetings when necessary, though there are four mandatory meetings throughout the year. There are usually one or two meetings between the mandatory ones. The laws were created with input from everyone. They all threw out ideas on how the city should be run, what is considered a crime, and what punishment would follow the crime. Together, they came up with only three laws that everyone agreed to follow. They haven’t seen a need to add anymore. The first law was that no one shall be silenced. This allows everyone the chance to speak up should they have the desire to.

Whether it’s to make a complaint, defend themself, accuse someone of a crime, or to just speak their mind. The second law was that there would absolutely be no discrimination towards anyone. This city is an inclusive one that treats everyone equally and fairly. Things like discriminating in the work force is absolutely not allowed. As long as one can do the job, they can be assigned to the job. The third law was that no one is to perpetuate unnecessary violence towards anyone. This law covers domestic, physical, and sexual assault, as well as fighting with the intent to seriously harm.

While fighting is allowed, it’s only fighting with good intentions. When it comes to the judicial system, once again, decisions are made by majority vote. Criminals are brought before the entire city below the community center, where they are allowed to plead their case. The city, as a whole, then decides whether or not they are guilty based on the evidence provided by both the accuser and the accused. If proven guilty, the punishment is chosen and they are charged. There are only two punishments for breaking the law, confinement or banishment, depending on the severity of the crime.

Undbanachusti City doesn’t believe in killing those who commit crimes, no matter what crime they may have committed. In a world filled with so much death and violence, they see no reason to add to it when unnecessary. Instead they bar their entrance back into the city with a heavy heart. With this city being as peaceful and united as it is, there have only been a handful of times where banishment is the punishment. They only kill when they absolutely have to.

Military

The zu’aan of Undbanachusti are fierce and strong warriors. Being able to successfully survive their environment has not only made them mentally strong, but physically strong as well. There is no discrimination in the city, so both men and women take up positions within the military. There are actually more women in the military than men. They consider themselves equal parts strong and smart, and use the jungle to their advantage. They are able to make split second decisions that help them face their enemies efficiently. They use hand made weapons, mainly bows and spears, that allow them to easily move through the trees while armed.

They cover themselves in the mud caused by the wet season or paint their skins to match the jungle during the dry season. The mud masks their scent. Sometimes, they are able to store the mud to use during the dry season. The military works as a single unit. There are no divisions, hierarchies, or caste systems. Everyone works together and watches each other's backs. They have zu’aan who take their place in the trees and on the ground to give them greater range. There are three different fighting styles they can learn. Ranged fighting with the bow and arrow, close combat with spears, and close combat with hand to hand.

Those in the trees are able to use ranged fighting techniques with their bows. They have the height advantage and are able to see the enemy approach. They provided cover for those on the ground. The ones on the ground are able to engage in close combat. They use either close combat with spears or with their hands, most prefer to use their hands. The jungle is too compact and they are too close to each other to use guns. Spears are easier to maneuver, faster to use, last longer, and make less noise than guns. They don’t have to worry about low ammo with spears.

As for the arrows for bows, they can easily be made again and there is an abundance of wood to use for them. The military in Undbanachusti is more about brute strength and ranged attacks than strategy. They have no elaborate plans or complex strategies to take the enemy by surprise. They love the thrill of the fight and willingly meet the enemy head on. It’s almost a given that the zu’aan of this city are good fighters. They start training at a young age to discover what they are good at. While they love the fight, they really don’t like taking lives unless they have to.

They know that there is no middle ground with the kin’toni, as it is kill or be killed. But they try to reach an understanding with other zu’aan outside of the city. They try to end the confrontation with a few traded blows, which doesn’t always work. A lot of zu’aan seem to think that they are weak because they don’t like to kill and try to avoid it, only to be taken by surprise at the ferocity of their attacks.

Religion

There is no religion that the zu’aan of Undbanachusti must follow. They believe that whatever happens in life and in the world falls on one’s own ability or inability. To be happy, successful, and safe, you have to take it into your own hands. They have a strong belief in the zu’aan and their ability to overcome and move forward. It takes dedication, mental fortitude, patience, the love of family and community, and the absolute will to live. They do not believe that there is a god or some all-knowing being or beings, out there, pulling at the strings of the world.

The zu’aan here believe that if there was a god in the skies above, there is no way that the previous world would have collapsed. There is no way the zu’aan would have been abandoned to survive the kin’toni hordes alone. There is no way the kin’toni would have been created in the first place. Why would an all-powerful god sit back and watch as the world suffered, as the zu’aan turned on each other. Why would they stay still as monsters roamed the world, took the sky’s, and massacred zu’aan. There’s no way a real god would stand by and do nothing as the world burned.

Now, while they don’t have religion or believe in god, they also don’t mock those that do. If believing in something like a god will increase mental strength and the will to live, they see no harm in it. They are even willing to learn about it and they make sure to respect the customs that come with it, as long as it doesn’t oppose their own customs too much. It’s all about what gives one the ability to cope, grow strong, and stay strong. The zu’aan of Undbanachusti has always viewed religion with a heavy sense of skepticism and trepidation. They have seen the extreme fanaticism that comes with religion.

The obsessiveness that some zu’aan have towards it, going as far as to live and breathe by it. They’ve heard how many cities use religion as an excuse to do whatever they pleased. How they’ve used it to punish zu’aan for the smallest of crimes and take away the basic freedoms of the zu’aan. How they’ve used it to justify hurting, imprisoning, and killing. They don’t understand why some zu’aan use religion to hurt others. They’ve also seen the good side of religion. They’ve seen how some zu’aan were able to pull themselves out of despair by believing in a higher power.

They’ve seen religion bring people together, stop internal strife, and bring zu’aan genuine joy. While they have seen both the good and the bad of religion, they believe that the bad far outweighs the good. To this day, they still won’t implement a mandatory religion that everyone must follow. Those that have come to the city, following a religion, are allowed to keep following it. They aren’t allowed to push their religion onto others in the city though.

Miscellany

Nearby Groups

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Undbanachusti City Zu'aan

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