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Zanaryans

Where the Anyeli can be, and often were, described as angels, Zanaryans have what many call a "demonic" aspect, with bat-like wings and sharp horns. Their appearance, and the sulphuric stench their young give off, quickly got them cast out by the humans, and they fled to a realm specially created for them. Here they advanced, learning to harness the elements to power their patriarchal society, which has since become very focused on rank.

At the forefront of many areas, including music, art and science, the Zanaryan people as a whole are xenophobic and keep their advancements to themselves. Those who do leave their homeworld often face dual prejudice and admiration.

Physical Characteristics

Zanaryans are mostly human in appearance, usually being somewhat dark of complexion and averaging about six feet (1.83 metres) in males and five-ten (1.78 metres) in females. While some have white hair and/or red eyes, otherwise running the gamut of natural human colouring, their most distinguishing features are the large bat-like black leather wings (ranging from half a foot (15 centimetres) across in infants to a whopping twelve feet (3.66 metres) in adults) and the sharp, twin horns that curve up from just above their temples.

They do not owe the "demon" descriptor merely to their appearance, but as much to the sulphurous stench exuded by their young which led to the belief among humans that they had ascended from Hell itself. Sadly, where Zanaryans are not at all affected by this smell (even finding it appealing as a human might with baby powder), it can be over-powering for most Elysians and has thus led to them being marginalised.

This is perhaps one of the reasons that their fashion differs so greatly from their Elysian counterparts, as a means to prove there is more to them than meets the eye: Their tailors use only the finest of silks with a passion for vibrant colours and an enthusiasm for matching jewellery (usually gold).

Original image from Alpha Coders

In fact, such is the appeal of such accessories that many women, especially in the upper echelons of Zanaryan society, are expected to decorate their wings and horns as well as their ears, necks, wrists, ankles and belly buttons. Some also dye their wings, shucking the natural black shades in favour of colourful hues to match their costumes, and even men (who otherwise view jewellery, such as necklaces and earrings, as a woman's domain) can often be found wearing intricately designed bands around the wrists, biceps and horns.

Clothing for the Zanaryans is just as much a symbol of status as it is a means to protect against the cold, and the higher the rank, the more luxurious the outfits - and the more numerous and expensive the adornments.

Life Cycle

Zanaryans are one of the longer-lived of the races, easily passing eight centuries.

Of course, living that long means they don't age in the same fashion as humans, and while their gestational period is shorter at only 38 weeks, they take much longer to mature through all other stages of life.

It should also be noted that Zanaryans appear to age much more slowly and never look older than the mid-50s.

In Zanarya's hierarchical society, age is usually equivalent to how powerful and knowledgeable an individual is (though not necessarily how influential a person is politically) so there is a much greater respect for the older generations than the young.

Zanaryans typically die of old age by the time they've reached their ninth century, and while there are a couple of exceptions on record with the oldest being 912 years old, these are very rare cases that spurn a great deal of speculation about mystery cures and life elixirs.

Reproduction

Gestation takes 38 weeks from conception to birth. While late onset of labour (up to 3 weeks) is not uncommon, it and prematurity (of more than 2 weeks) most often leads to the death of both infant and mother. Twins (and greater) are extremely rare.

Politics

Official Name: Rajin al-Zanarya (pl. Rajiim al-Zanarya; fem. Emrah al-Zanarya) meaning "man (or woman) of Zanarya". Only Zanaryans themselves use this name, and often only among their own kind. Certainly when speaking to Elysians, they seem content to use the common name instead.

Common Name(s): Zanaryan

Pronunciation: zan-AHR-yuhn

Zanaryan politics can be quite difficult to grasp, even for Zanaryans themselves. There's a lot of intricacy involved that interconnects the elemental (often referred to as the religious sector by outsiders) and political sectors, making it possible for the power to travel in both directions from the top-most level to the bottom and back again.

Further, it's incredibly important to choose allies wisely, as the strength at a Zanaryan's back can be the difference between a seat in the government - perhaps even the Naharar's throne - or, at worst, demotion all the way back down to Djan.

The two circles of power, elemental and political, are just as intricately interwoven. While great emphasis is placed on developing one's ability to manipulate the elements in exchange for political influence, it's not impossible for someone who is completely inept in this area to gain status if they can navigate the political eddies well enough to forge strong allegiances with influential people who can nudge them to the top (see Socio-Political Hierarchy for more).

Affiliations

Socio-Political Hierarchy

National Politics

Zanaryan society can seem quite complex. Based on ranks that can be earned either through personal merit or family connections, their government is divided into six official tiers, though there are finer intricacies within these. For instance, while any Zanaryan will say that it is the Naharar who governs their people as a whole, it is widely acknowledged that the Shrine Lords hold a great deal of sway over political matters to the extent that, even outranking them, the prince will often find himself serving their interests. And, similarly, where the Lords technically outrank the Nahani, those with wit and wisdom can sometimes influence their decisions by way of manipulation, allegiances, bribery or outright threats.

In this way, the flow of power can go both ways.

Family Politics

In the midst of such political complexities, families also have their own pseudo-feudal ranking system. At first glance, the hierarchy seems to follow age, with the first-born commanding the most respect with an eye to someday taking his father's place as the patriarch, or perhaps forming a patriarchy of his own. After him, each brother garners less attention by degrees to the youngest, while females are often ignored altogether.

However, this is not always the case. Certainly, age (often coming hand-in-hand with wisdom and power) is respected, but it's not unusual for younger siblings to outrank their elders if they serve their masters well or display greater control over their element. In these cases, it is always the elemental title that comes first, so it's not surprising that so many of the grabs for power that have occurred throughout Zanaryan history have been started by jealous elder siblings.

Females of Power

Zanaryan females are not often included in political dealings nor do they technically hold any political sway (though that does not mean they cannot manipulate the men in their family for such). However, there are some women throughout Zanaryan history (Shrine Lord Kaia included) who display a command over their element, or a talent for politics, that is unsurpassed. In these cases, the women are afforded the full rights of their title as individuals, yet even then are still tightly attached to their family. Indeed, no matter how powerful a woman becomes, they are never permitted to form their own zubaida as a male might, and can only detach from their family by marrying into another.

Allies & Enemies

It would seem that the Zanaryans are their own worst enemy, with numerous border skirmishes, tribal wars and international 'upsets' throughout their history. They can be quite dogmatic in their loyalty to a particular element, with this being the cause for many of the outbreaks up to, including, and since the Hundred Year War, but the strictness of their political hierarchy and their dependency on displays of power to rise through the ranks often also leads to friction between competing families.

As a result of this, many families attempt to align themselves with others, and often those with greater political influence. This is perhaps where the idea of tribes in Ilia and Reixos originated, as such alliances can take on an umbrella-like life of their own, and one that does not always benefit the families involved.

However, despite their own conflicts, Zanaryans also consider most of the other races to be enemies in some part. Centuries of prejudice, which is still ongoing and which led to the creation of Zanarya in the first place, has left them embittered towards the other races and largely xenophobic. There is also lingering jealousy towards the Anyeli for the way the "angels" were received so well by humans, compared to their own ancestors being shunned as "demons", but very few Zanaryans will openly admit to this.

Racial slurs: Demon, Dog's Breath, Bat, Spike/Spiky, Helspawn

Territories

Zanaryans first appeared in the Middle East of Earth's Eurasia, and it is from them that the peoples of the region inherited much of their original culture. They moved to Zanarya just two hundred years later when, after suffering extreme prejudice, they begged Xanth for aid.

There are no territories set aside for Zanaryans in Elysia; at least, not officially. There are so few of them there that such considerations are largely unnecessary, even if the local populations were more tolerant. Some of the larger towns do have neighbourhoods where Zanaryans seem more prevalent, however, and it is assumed that they cluster together for a sense of familiar community and to avoid intolerance.

Population

• There are currently 5,695,323 Zanaryans living in Zanarya.
• Zanaryans make up just 2% of the overall population on Elysia.
  • Just over 80,000 live on the Elysian Mainland.
  • Zanaryans make up 17.2% of the population on Dardanos.

Culture

Zanaryans are a deeply patriarchal and tightly structured society. While some families are less misogynistic than others, often being influenced by deeper cultural and/or mercantile ties with Elysia, many treat their women as little more than commodities to be bartered by way of arranged marriages in exchange for greater political or commercial influence.

This is not to say women are mistreated. In fact, many males take great pride in showering the women in their families with affection and gifts, and ensuring their safety and well-being is a family patriarch's most important duty.

It's also not to say women have no influence at all. While it's true that many have learned to use the subtle art of manipulation to affect the world around them because they otherwise have no political say, they are not often outright ignored, nor are they forbidden from gaining elemental power in their own right (as Shrine Lord Kaia - a woman - would attest). It's only politically that they are restricted, and this is perhaps in large part due to the structure of the Zanaryan government rather than an outright attempt to keep them downtrodden.

Zanaryan culture is quite often brutal in other ways, too, having little tolerance for crime despite (or perhaps because of) their many wars and skirmishes. Thieves caught in the act are often punished right away - and quite severely - by cutting off a hand or, if caught stealing from the homes of high-ranking officials, the wings. (Indeed, the Shrine Lords and the Naharar have had people killed outright for attempting to steal from them.) Murderers, too, are immediately executed unless of a high enough rank or political influence to warrant mere exile, with citizens permitted full rights in defending themselves or their homes.

However, there is far more to the Zanaryans than their misogyny and their conflicts. Their society is highly dependent on and devoted to their elemental abilities and technologies to the point where they shun others. Perhaps it is because their technology differs in so many ways from those of Earth and Elysia, being much more reliant on the elements for power, that they are respected as great scientists. There is also a "Renaissance Man" flair about them as they are responsible for nearly half of Elysia's classics in literature and art.

Languages

The Zanaryan language is quite complex. Originating in the Middle East back on Earth during their creation, it has evolved over the centuries into a beautiful, if somewhat convoluted, tongue that can differ greatly between the nations.

Zanaryan script is a flow of elegant symbols written from top to bottom and right to left, and many Zanaryan books and scrolls overflow with decoration. Indeed, writing in Zanaryan is considered an art form all its own, so it is not surprising that many of the lower classes never actually learn more than the basics.

Naming Conventions

Names for the Zanaryan people are more than simple monikers: They have great meaning and are, essentially, a census of personal and political data in and of themselves.

Zanaryan names have a three-part structure: NAME ibn PATRIARCHAL LINEAGE al-PERSONAL MARKERS.

From this, a Zanaryan can trace his entire lineage through the ibn prefix, starting with his father and then tracing back through his ancestry one by one. (In rare cases, lineage includes females wherever they held or still hold more political influence than their husbands.)

They can also indicate personal markers, such as their geographic history and other important information (eg. current occupation) through the al- prefix, like their current town of residence, their hometown, and all the places they've lived in between. This can be important information when considering employees, marriage proposals, and so forth.

For the most part, Zanaryans don't bother giving a ton of this information when introducing themselves. At lower ranks, the most one is expected to give includes their proper name, their occupation, the name of a parent (usually the father), and the town in which they currently reside. An example could be Abdul ibn Kajil al-Jawahir al-Reixos (meaning "Abdul, son of Kahil, a Jeweller of Reixos").

However, at higher ranks, and especially when a display of power is important, they might list as many as ten ancestors and each of their personal markers, along with the individual's own information. Because of this, most Zanaryans at this level have servants dedicated to announcing them from a scroll (and whose job description includes keeping such family records up-to-date), rather than doing it for themselves.

Following from the previous example, in formal situations Abdul ibn Kajil al-Reixos may instead introduce himself as Abdul ibn Kajil-al'Reixos ibn Hatim-al'Reixos ibn Nur-al'Ilia ibn Nazih-al'Ilia al-Jawahir al-Reixos (meaning "Abdul, a Jeweller of Reixos, son of Kajil of Reixos, son of Hatim of Reixos, son of Nur of Ilia, son of Nazih of Ilia" - and that's actually the short version!)

Currency

In Elysia, Zanaryans use xanthai like everyone else, though the value of the Elysian coin differs somewhat in their own economy. However, they use minted gold coins in Zanarya called masaari.

Calendar

Zanaryans use their own calendar based on Zanaryan Time (ZT), which is estimated to begin about sixty years after the first Zanaryan appeared (in 7,000 BC). Years using this calendar are always referred to in full (that is, "eight thousand, nine hundred and forty four", not "eighty-nine forty-four" or otherwise), even in informal speech. Zanaryans also usually give the full date at length in written documents and formal speech (eg. "[Day], the [Date] of [Month], of the nth year since Creation"), but may shorten it to simply "[Date] of [Month], [Year]" in informal speech.

Religion & Philosophy

It is not that Zanaryans worship the elements; they do not. They do not even consider themselves religious, having no gods to pray to or lore they consider more than myth. Even though the majority still believe in Xanth, this belief is considered absolute truth rather than faith since so many Elysians have seen her or her work for themselves.

It is difficult, then, to pin down exactly why, from the outside, their connection with the elements seems to be a religious one. The great palace where the Shrine Lords and the Naharar reside, it being both the seat of political and elemental power, is called a temple. The Shrine Lords themselves are often considered by outsiders to be worshipped as elemental gods, and theirs is thought to be the religious branch of the Zanaryan government.

Further, each town and village across Zanarya displays its allegiance to its Lord, its Nahan and its element with shrines where many festivals to honour that allegiance are held throughout the year. Many Zanaryan homes even put up wall art or paintings that feature depictions of their element.

Yet still, few Zanaryans would call themselves religious.

Zanaryans & Xanth

To this day, some 8,000 years after the creation of Zanarya, the majority of Zanaryans still believe in Xanth despite having little to do with her or Elysia since they closed their portal all those millennia ago.

This is perhaps partly owing to their incredible skill in not only recording history but also preserving and storing those records, thus making it difficult to forget the hand she played in their independence. It is also, perhaps, because one of their most recent Naharars, Kiril Lokinos (brother of Shrine Lord Kaia), served as one of Xanth's Aides - and a liaison between Elysia and Zanarya - for more than a century, thus helping to cement relations between his people and the goddess he served.

The Zanaryans' relationship with the Creator is still a muddled one, however. There is still some resentment towards her for her inability to prevent, and her unwillingness to punish, the prejudices their people have suffered since the very beginning. There are also records that early Zanaryans had begged her to alter their DNA further in an effort to make them more acceptable to the others and that they were infuriated when she refused to even try, but most Zanaryans are either unaware or would flatly deny that such records exist.

However, there is also a remaining fondness. She did, after all, forge a new home for them, where they prospered greatly, and allowed them to sever all ties as they wished. She even, through her Aides, helped to negotiate their peaceable re-entry into Elysia, which in itself was enough to ease most of the bitterness for many Zanaryans who wished to rediscover their roots.

Few Zanaryans will admit to actually worshipping her, though. While many do consider her a god, if only from a lack of a better term for someone so powerful, they do not consider her worthy of their reverence.

Education

There are two circles of education for Zanaryans, one being all those skills required for day-to-day living (which also includes the teaching of skills necessary to survive the convoluted political system), and the other their manipulation of the elements.

The Mundane Circle

The former, a lumpy mass of skills and knowledge that is sometimes referred to as the Mundane Circle, can be taught anywhere and by anyone since Zanaryan schooling is much less formal than the education systems of Earth. Many children are home-schooled in groups of like age or skill; these groups vary in size from place to place, depending on the number of children in a particular town and the number of parents available to teach them.

Anyone can be asked to teach the Mundane Circle, which includes trade skills such as carpentry, cooking and stone-carving, as well as general and specialised knowledge such as vulcanology or history. Teachers draw on their own particular areas of expertise so Zanaryan children may have more than one teacher at various stages of their education, but it is usually left to the women (often being the mother of at least one of the children in the group) and the Djans of the household.

However, Mundane lessons never end. While Zanaryans do end their formal education at the moment they swear fealty to a Shrine Lord (ostensibly to focus on their elemental training), they are expected to continue their Mundane training in their own time. Depending on their chosen career, they might choose a single teacher under whom they serve as an apprentice (this is especially true of the specialist careers, trades and crafts), or approach multiple mentors to learn assorted skills from each. Because of this, many Zanaryans have at least two mentors - one for their Mundane education, and one for the Elemental Circle.

The Elemental Circle

In order to learn and practise their manipulation of the elements, a Zanaryan must swear allegiance to one of the four Shrine Lords who is then responsible for teaching them to utilise their new powers.

That responsibility does not include teaching every Zanaryan personally, of course. Primarily, this is because there are just too many Zanaryans all wanting to learn at the same time (and each requiring years of tutelage), and only one Lord (per element); there's no way they could physically mentor them all. (Also, the Lords are, to a one, too lazy to even try.)

Instead, young Zanaryans are expected to find a local mentor close to home, this often being an older family member (although it can also be any Zanaryan the protege trusts), and usually of the rank Aziz (a more experienced Azat will also do in a pinch). It is through this mentor that they swear fealty to a Shrine Lord indirectly.

Once the oath is approved (this usually only involves sending the official papers to the Temple to be signed by the appropriate Lord, then sent back to be kept in safe-keeping by the mentor), the mentor is permitted special privileges in order to pass on their elemental knowledge and to act as a representative of their Lord. Any orders coming from the higher-ups usually pass through the mentor and, more than this, it is their responsibility to find ways for each of their students to serve their Lord to the best of their ability. (In other words, it is the mentor who assigns the majority of the tasks a Zanaryan is asked to perform, though they are also expected to pass on requests and orders from the Lords - and the royal Houses - themselves.)

Any mentor found to not be doing his job properly is liable to suffer harsh punishment (this often being a demotion, which can be politically disastrous), so even when their Lord desires nothing, they will usually still try to find ways to keep their proteges busy. Mentors may also take on multiple proteges, and during 'dry' periods they are known to set their apprentices against one another in 'friendly' competition just to amuse their Lord (should they even be watching).

Elemental training is thought to never end. While a Zanaryan might dismiss their mentor once they reach the rank of Aziz, many believe that wisdom comes from age and so they will usually continue to learn from their mentor long after they are considered masters themselves. Once at the rank of Aziz, however, they will no longer serve their mentor as they once had, and may take on apprentices of their own.

Daily Life

Half-Breeds

Zanaryan half-breeds are rare, simply for the fact that the species rarely intermingles with others to that degree. Few Elysians can tolerate the smell their young give off, and there seems to be a general assumption that all Zanaryans smell the same even though this is not the case. This has led to the other races keeping their distance, and the Zanaryans' xenophobia tends to do the same in reverse.

Of the few hybrids in existence, mostly born and living in Elysia, Zanaryans have only this to say: There are no half measures. One is either Zanaryan or not, and this is usually measured by the existence - or lack thereof - of the Zanaryan's wings (this perhaps being the reason that the more brutal punishments entail cutting or tearing off the wings as a means of exiling the felon). Because of this, even those hybrids who are predominantly another species may be considered Zanaryan by the Zanaryan people if they have wings.

Zanaryan Technology & Science

Zanaryan technology is heavily dependent on their ability to manipulate the four elements of Earth, Wind, Fire and Water. Because of that, each of the original four Great Nations has developed its own methods for doing things, though they can be somewhat similar, and the youngest nations of Ilia and Reixos reflect a hodgepodge of the four.

It's difficult to describe exactly how Zanaryan technology functions as they keep it very close to their chests. In some ways, they are far more advanced than Elysia or even Earth, and yet they shun modern technologies such as COMs. They use natural, reusable energy sources (for instance, the Djinni of Paia use windmills while Ifriit use the geothermal energy from their volcanoes in Keikis), and can maximise their efficiency by manipulating the fuelling element to increase output.

History

Only five hundred years after the first Anyelos emerged in -60 ZT (7,000 BC), Xanth created the Zanaryans who quickly developed the power to control the elements of Fire, Water, Earth and Air. At first a mischievous species, the Zanaryans were always at odds with their human and Anyeli neighbours. While the label of demon was not entirely earned, the less-than-pleasant stench that clings to their young, along with the stubby horns that grow as they age and the red eyes that many Zanaryans possess, served to frighten the already increasingly superstitious human population who were only too eager to label them as monsters.

Almost to spite the general opinion about them, Zanaryan society quickly evolved, particularly after the mass exodus to their new realm. They shut themselves away from Earth and Elysia, breaking off all contact until centuries later, and - without external influences to interfere - have built a glorious civilisation that spans a dimension almost as large as Earth.

Skills & Weaknesses

Zanaryans do not have classes nor specialities in the strictest sense, though it may seem like it since they are separated according to the element they choose to serve. Servants of each Shrine Lord (Daos, Djinni, Ifriit and Mariid) have exactly the same manipulation skills (as seen below); the only difference is which of the elements they can control, and the only limitations to that control come from the individual's own creativity.

Rising through the political ranks (which counts as class at the level of Azat and speciality at the rank of Aziz) brings no new elemental powers but grants the Zanaryan greater political influence instead.

Areas of Proficiency

Individuals tend to specialise at an early age. Much of their technology and scientific advances are hidden from outsiders, however, so Elysians can only garner vague impressions. That said, as a people they are known for their skilled artisans and their love of beautiful things; some of the best (read, most expensive) jewellery, fabrics, clothing and furniture comes through the Zanaryan portal.

Zanaryans in Elysia also find a niche in entertainment, displaying their power over the elements with dramatics such as the Ifriit Fire-Eaters that wander the New Alexandrian marketplaces or the Mariid Aquamancers and Raindancers who grace Espur's sea-front promenades. Those trained in the Scribe's art may also find employment illustrating official papers, scrolls and manuscripts.

Of course, the list of potential occupations does not end there. Zanaryans are capable of many things.

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