Honestly, I sort of ran out of ideas when I got to the perks and origins. I stand by the two I did write, but I need help with the perks, and I'm iffy about Zuna Trader. The Physiology and History sections are pretty beefy though, especially since I had to account for their experiences in the Gerudo War, which would have been a major moment in their history. Zuna: Character Creation Brief Despite their reptilian origins, Zuna do not resemble Lizalfos in any way. A Hylian examining one at a distance might be forgiven for mistaking them for green-skinned Hylians, in fact, due both to their body structure and loose, all-covering clothing. Despite serving under the Gerudo in the Gerudo War, Zuna are seen more as victims than as monsters by most residents of Hyrule, and they currently enjoy a strong tie to the nation that freed them. Male Zuna traders are a decently common sight in Hyrulean ports, but few ever lay eyes on Zuna women or artisans, who seldom venture out of their cities. A Zuna begins with a PWC of 2/1/1 or 1/2/1 having a 2 in Power or Wisdom. This starting PWC can be defied by using the Exception racial perk during character creation. A Zuna character can have up to three racial perks. In addition to the general perks available to every race, a Zuna can also choose from: -Charmed Speech: Usually exclusive to Zuna women, Charmed Speech has helped them retain control of their society for centuries. -Gerudo Affinity: Years of service to the Gerudo have left the Zuna with knowledge of many of their techniques. Recommended Origins Zuna Matriarch Although the political scene in Zuna lands has changed much in recent years, Zuna Matriarchs still hold the highest positions of power. You are likely well educated and used to having others obey you, whether you are a diplomat, a politician, or a bureaucrat. If you have left your home city at all, it was likely on some sort of official business, and you almost certainly have little familiarity with the lives of lower class citizens. A Zuna Matriarch begins with a PWC of 1/2/1. Her racial perks include Charmed Speech, _________, and __________. Zuna Warrior The Zuna were not a warrior race prior to their enslavement, but they have learned a hard lesson in the importance of self defense. Using appropriated Gerudo techniques and tactics, the Zuna have created a formidable military with some of the most competent skirmishers in the world. Zuna warriors rely heavily on guerilla tactics and the clever use of terrain, but up close they are still dangerous opponents. As a Zuna Warrior, you are likely well trained and disciplined, as well as an expert in desert survival. A Zuna Warrior begins with a PWC of 2/1/1. Their racial perks include Gerudo Affinity, _________, and __________. Physiology Unlike most races, the Zuna suffer from a large disparity in genders. Male Zuna compose about three-quarters of the race, and due to sexual dimorphism and numbers, are typically treated as tools by the ruling matriarchs. Zuna are reptilian, and reproduce via hard-shelled eggs laid in clutches of three to six. It is currently unknown why Zuna males occur more frequently than females, but many clutches do not contain a female at all. The eggs hatch after incubating for eight months. A Zuna hatchling is smaller than a Hylian or Gerudo child, but functionally identical save for the ability to eat solid food. Males reach full maturity in only twelve years, being smaller than females, while females take a full sixteen years to mature. Zuna young are typically raised exclusively by the parent of the same gender; male Zuna, due to their numbers, are often raised jointly by several related males. Male Zuna are usually smaller, in the range of five to six feet and 120-160 pounds. Zuna females are usually between six and seven feet tall and 140-180 pounds. Despite being smaller, male Zuna are usually stronger than females, although females typically have a hardier constitution due to additional stores of water and nutrients. Males are typically held to be less intelligent than females, although whether this is true or a internal cultural stereotype has never been proven since few beings have access to Zuna females. All Zuna are generally green to blue-green in coloration, with fine scales that may resemble skin at a distance- and often feels like it up close. They are most recognizable by their large, black, unblinking eyes covered by a clear protective coating, as well as their long vertical nostrils which run straight from their eyes to their mouths, almost appearing to connect the two. Zuna nostrils contain a filter just past the opening meant to stop sand from entering, and this gives them their black coloration. The shape and size of their nostrils allows them to taste the air, making it easier to locate prey or water in the desert. Unlike many reptilians, they have visible ears, which have solid, forward facing ridges that collect and focus sound. Zuna are otherwise quite similar to Hylians and Gerudo- their bone structure, nails, mouths, and organs are almost exactly the same, save for their less visible lips. Their skin tone is uniform across their bodies, and neither gender displays mammaries, as they are reptiles. Additionally, Zuna are purely carnivorous. Culture & History The Zuna rose from the desert on the same continent as the Gerudo. Theirs was a hard existence, and relied heavily on the abundance of expendable males to work. Early Zuna survived as nomads, wandering the desert with hunting parties ranging out around the path of the group. The Zuna matriarchy arose during this time, as although the Zuna had many men, only a few were ever actually needed for reproduction, whereas the loss of even one woman could be catastrophic. The women, as a result, remained in the protection of their group, and over time became the primary decision makers due to their ever-central location. Eventually the Zuna learned to carve cities from desert rock, an art they would pass to the Gerudo in time. The Gerudo were the first race to encounter the Zuna, given their inhospitable home. In the throes of total loss of their male members, the Gerudo formed a mutualistic relationship with the Zuna, whose numerous males were less necessary in a sedentary lifestyle. In the beginning, this trade benefited both societies: the Gerudo needed mates, and the Zuna males were ready and willing to provide them, faced with a life in which few of them would ever catch the eye of their rare women. As the Gerudo grew more militaristic, this partnership grew closer and closer to outright slavery. Suddenly, the Zuna men were no longer equals: they were easily replaceable foot soldiers, placed in the front of Gerudo armies to absorb the first casualties and break the enemy formation. Collected as status symbols by powerful Gerudo women. Zuna women were never quite so blatantly controlled, but an unspoken ultimatum hung over their heads- provide us with your men, and keep your power and your lives. Trade between the two races became increasingly one-sided as the Gerudo demanded grist for their war machine, and the Zuna as a whole found themselves increasingly displaced to retain populations near the front lines. Years passed, and Zuna cities were ever more sparsely populated. The end of the Gerudo War signaled the freedom of the Zuna as a whole. With the bulk of the Gerudo population wiped out, few Zuna felt compelled to remain with them- although many, mostly males with legitimate relationships, did so anyway. The Zuna have retreated to their homeland to repopulate and rebuild in the years since, but their traders are still a common enough sight in the greater world. Zuna culture is still recovering from the shock of slavery by one-time allies. Many Zuna are, understandably, somewhat xenophobic even decades later. Still, they are making great strides in regaining their cultural identity. Zuna women still fill most positions of power, but their men, emboldened by years of war, have taken up some of the slack left by widespread depopulation. Overall, the lot of Zuna men has significantly improved since their race gained freedom from the Gerudo, and their society is far closer to equality than it once was. As Zuna women do not keep harems, their family units are surprisingly recognizable to other cultures. Unmarried men live in sibling groups, which often follow along when one of their brothers marries, filling many other roles in the household including male childrearing. As a result, Zuna family units are tightly knit, with siblings, cousins, uncles, and- to a lesser extent- aunts, being very close. Large amounts of livestock are kept by these family units, cared for by the unmarried siblings, so Zuna must seldom participate in barter for food. Ready abundance of food and unmarried individuals allows the Zuna a sizeable artisan class, however; the Zuna economy, as a result, thrives on fashion, art, music, instrument-making, literature, and architecture. Zuna architecture is notable for its jagged, square surfaces, often creatively integrating ziggurat-like edifices covered in intricate carvings, and Zuna stoneworkers are rightfully legendary for their prowess.
