These small industrious folk are one of the most populous of all of the Dagati. They form a permanent underclass in most cities. Jzega tend to be simple farmers and laborers, performing a vital function in the economy. However they receive nothing but scorn in return for their cheerful acceptance of their plebian status.
Personality: A simple and cheerful folk that take joy in the simple act of work, the Jzega hold a man’s labor as the highest measure of his worth. The other races look them down upon as un-ambitious fools, and those who wish to rise are at a significant disadvantage. However most are content with a happy family and three square meals a day.
Physical Description: Gnolams from MOO2
Alignment: The Jzega are honest and hard workers with perhaps an undue respect for external authority. They tend towards the lawful and neutral.
Effects of War: The role of Jzega in war has typically been to sit back and wait for the others to hash it out amongst themselves. It was the Great War that finally changed this. When the Kaelra had finally taken control of most of Dagat following the War of Falling Stones they began to loot and burn Jzega farms and generally act like conquerors. This was the catalyst for the War of Oaken Blades, in which the Jzega rose in the countryside in doomed uprising after doomed uprising. After these revolutions were put down the Kaelra stopped oppressing the Jzega and attempted to turn them against the other Dagati. It is a shameful episode in history, but in many cases they were successful. During the War of Daggers many resistance cells were ratted out by Jzega. In fact this race became both the primary means of support for the resistance and their primary foe. As the War of Daggers progressed the internecine conflict between Jzega loyal to the Kaelra and those loyal to the Dagati became more and more brutal, with open lynchings and riots against collaborators (as each side called the other). During the War of Lighting Fire many Kaelra troops were bolstered by Jzega forces and many Jzega fought in resistance cells against their Dagati liberators. The upshot of Jzega participation in the war, on both sides, is that now most governments are aware of the immense potential power of the Jzega masses should they ever get stirred up. Some fear this power and some seek to use it, but all know it exists.
Known Jzega Lands: Jzega tend to inhabit any area where there is arable land, but prefer rolling, tamed lands. There are many Jzega living in the cities though. Jzega currently make up 20% of the population of New Wessmark, just behind the Kimasxi and Selevani. But they tend to be out of sight, in the gutters or in isolated hamlets and thorps.
Religion: Jzega worship Hyi the Stoic, god of hard work and endurance. Their temples run the gamut from simple farm-shrines to magnificent edifices (where wealthy Jzega coughed up the dough) and there are services every day. However most Jzega attend at least 2 or 3 times a month.
Language: Jzega usually speak the vernacular of their area. However they tend to speak very slowly and to cut off their sentences in mid-thought. This isn’t much of a handicap when speaking to other Jzega, who can figure out what is meant, but is somewhat of an annoyance to other races.
Names:
Male - Aadhinarayanan, Aadil, Aadinath, Aapt, Abhicandra, Abhinava Acarya, Adhira, Adhiraya, Adisisira, Amaya, Amzad, Anish, Anway, Apnavana, Arhan, Arun, Arunjunainathan, Asit, Asjita, Baindur, Bakshi, Balasalin, Bali, Balvan, Banalinga, Barid, Bashir Bibhavasu, Braj, Caidya, Cetana, Charanjit, Chittaranjanan, Cirayu, Datar, Dev, Dhama, Dhar, Dur, Ekbal, Emir, Faisal, Falah, Gajra, Giridari, Girisankar, Gunin, Hasanti, Himaadri, Ihsan, Iksura, Jaigata, Jaitu, Jaivaha, Jatacira, Jhilmit, Jihan, Kalidasa, Kasim, Khasand, Kunal, Lalith, Lohita, Madin, Malik, Manthri, Mazin, Medh, Miland, Mrudu, Muja, Muhsin Oni, Panvi, Prasath, Rahul, Rajani, Raksha, Saiprasad, Samit, Sharad, Sheshadri, Srini, Subesam, Sumitro, Thinakar, Tilekar, Vali, Varij, Vasant, Vivek, Zahur.
Female - Aashay, Adjani, Aekta, Aelene, Ajmer, Amala, Amvi, Anaja, Anisah, Anjanah, Aolani, Aris, Banhi, Bhaktri, Caksani, Cauri, Chakila, Chavi, Darele, Deepini, Dhatri, Duli, Dyotana, Eira, Eloksi, Eshani, Gaeti, Hamsa, Harshi, Henna, Ilaxi, Insol, Jai, Jannat, Januja, Kajari, Kajol, Kaksi, Kalpna, Karia, Kashi, Katki, Khasa, kisori, Krpa, Krsana, Krsi, Laksha, Lavali, Madhi, Madhevi, Madira, Manasi, Manimala, Manjari, Manvi, Maram, Mariaye, Matsyam Medina, Meghana, Mirunalini, Myna, Nairita, Namjot, Nandana, Nargis, Narkunavathi, Nasira, Neva, Octavia, Onawa, Osadhi, Pallavi, Pathana, Perani, Pial, Pinaki, Pra, Pradeep, Puravi, Rakshita, Radha, Ratana, Ratanjot, Ruju, Safiya, Saluja, Sanwari, Saroja, Satvi, Savitari, Seir, Shalini, Shaswati, Shriya, Srilekha, Sristi, Sudhira, Sujata, Suneina, Tarpani, Tharangini, Thilaka, Trupti, Urvasi, Valini, Vanhi, Vasanti, Veda, Yasti, Zuleika.
Surnames - The Jzega almost always live in small communities made up only of Jzega. Most Jzega put Var[name of village where they were born] after their name. They will keep this name no matter where they go (and sometimes their children will take it even if they were not born in that village). So a typical Jzega name might be Iksura Varstreza, where Streza was the name of his home village. Sometimes adventuring Jzega wish to distance themselves from their peasant roots and will drop their last names entirely or take use-names (thinks like "the Bold", "Farwalker", etc.)
Accent: Indian
Adventurers: Jzega have few opportunities for advancement in every-day life. Something they don’t mind overmuch, most are content with being simple farmers and not high and mighty types. However those who are more restive often find themselves barred from most professions. They find their only hope of a better life to be in the military or by adventuring. Most Jzega adventurers are fighters or rangers. Religious orders usually won’t take Jzega, even Hyi’s clergy respect the Jzega but don’t accept them into their ranks. Most Wizards won’t even think of taking a Jzega apprentice, seeing as how they are from a notoriously simple race. But Jzega some Jzega manifest the powers of a sorcerer.
Notable Rituals:
Jzega Racial Traits