Zaré

The Zaré are a people composed of a multitude of tribes residing east of the river Adelsan in the Odravast region. Zaré is the term they use to identify their ethnicity; in the kingdom of Artan they are commonly referred to as barbarians or Odravast barbarians. They are a semi-nomadic people, who tend to move mainly in terms of latitude, approaching the South Sea in the colder months and moving up towards the Odravast forest in the warmer months.
Their skin is reddish, typically slightly darker than that of the Artanians, making the Zaré instantly recognizable. They are also of average shorter stature than the Western men. They have black or brown hair, while their eyes are usually brown, occasionally green.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

The Zaré speak their own language, called Keish, which is completely different from those of their neighbours.

Shared customary codes and values

Each tribe is called a kerkias, which in the Keish language means family. It is governed by two figures, the toròs and the kithlas, and a council, the tapawè. The toròs is the strongest warrior of the kerkias, the one who holds military power and leads the tribe in war. Before doing so, however, he is obliged to consult the gods through the kithlas, the tribe's shaman. Every other decision is discussed by the tapawè, the council of the tribe's elders, of which the toròs and the kithlas are members. The kithlas is the spiritual leader of the kerkias; he is in charge of officiating at rituals, healing the sick and witnessing the birth and death of the tribe members. His figure is commonly associated with knowledge of magic and the will of the gods. Unlike the toròs, who becomes a chief after a show of strength, the kithlas is trained from an early age to one day take over the role that was his parent's. With rare exceptions, a kithlas procreates only once in a lifetime, following a magical ritual and a union blessed by the gods.
The tapawè is the council of elders of a kerkias. There is no set age required to join, as it is the tapawè itself that approves the entry of new members. Each individual within it has an equal right to express his or her opinion and a meeting cannot be said to have ended until every single member has expressed their opinion. There is no voting system within the tapawé as the aim is to discuss until a unanimous decision is reached.

Common Dress code

The Zaré wear simple clothing crafted from animal hides obtained through their hunting endeavors. Both men and women dress similarly during the winter, typically donning skirts and ponchos. In the summer, it's not uncommon to see men going shirtless, while some women opt for minimal coverings for their chests. They commonly wear footwear that wraps around the foot and extends up to the knee, but in the summer, they often prefer sandals or go barefoot. They enjoy embellishing their garments and hair with feathers, bones, and wooden jewelry. While they abstain from wearing rings, they have a fondness for necklaces and earrings, with women frequently sporting piercings. On special occasions, such as religious rituals or times of war, they take pleasure in painting their skin with religious symbols.

Art & Architecture

The Zaré do not construct buildings, living as semi-nomads in tents. These tents are typically octagonal, with eight long poles driven into the ground and converging at a central knot; additional support poles are placed around them, and animal hides are stretched over to serve as the covering for the interior space. Zaré art is primarily associated with the decoration of their tools. Since they do not work with metal, the Zaré are skilled craftsmen in wood and bones, essential for the production of bows and arrows.

Foods & Cuisine

The Zaré do not practice agriculture and instead rely on what the Odravast has to offer. They primarily raise chickens and goats, making eggs and milk central ingredients in their cuisine. They are skilled hunters and supplement their diet with roots and berries.

Common Myths and Legends

The Zaré believe in the existence of multiple deities that take the form of animals. There are eight primary deities recognized by every tribe, along with minor ones serving as patrons for various kerkias. However, these deities are only a fraction of the many entities populating their universe. The eight major deities, referred to as "gotàs," are benevolent beings who have bestowed magic and knowledge upon the Zaré. The origin of both these deities and humans can be traced back to the earth, known as "cawàl." Despite its neutrality in nature, cawàl isn't venerated, as it possesses the capacity to generate both good and evil. The latter is represented by those who disregard the gods, as well as demons and their servile creatures. The clergy consists of the kithlas, who serve as intermediaries between the deities and the people. Among other responsibilities, the kithlas interpret the signs of nature and read the threads of fate. The Zaré believe that certain events are predestined, although human intervention can alter the conditions from which these events stem. They also believe that the outcomes of certain decisions can be foreseen, particularly in the context of warfare.

Ideals

Gender Ideals

In Zaré society, there is no clear distinction between the roles that men and women can occupy. However, it is common for women to spend a significant portion of their adult lives engaged in pregnancies and breastfeeding, which is why they constitute a much smaller percentage of warriors in a tribe compared to men. On the other hand, the tapawè, the council of elders, is primarily composed of women since men often fall in battle and do not reach old age. Lastly, the kithlas can be either male or female, depending on what destiny has in store for their parents.

Relationship Ideals

The Zaré practice polygamy, both for men and women. This reinforces the concept of kerkias, where all members of a tribe are considered brothers and sisters. In practice, only the kithlas can definitively identify their parents. Others generally only know their own mother, even though not necessarily every mother raises all her children. Each child is, in fact, considered a son, brother, and sister to every other member of the kerkias and is raised as such.