Tzumisui Culture

The Tzumisui Culture is a group of semi-nomadic people of shapeshifting otters who are well adapted for life near water and fishing.

Origin
The origin of the Tzumisui Culture and people is unknown. They are from a distant, lost land and how they came about is a mystery. Some legends say that the Tzumisui were humans cursed to have the true form of otters but given the ability to shapeshift back into human form. Other legends say they were otters blessed with man's mind and the ability to become man.

Arrival on Eldham
The first Tzumisui to arrive where the Tzurii, who to came Eldham to seek better life in a new land. A prominent Tzurii to arrive in Eldham was Arokiku Kawa who first settled in Stoneport. There he developed his skills and after a while moved around a bit until finally settling in Hagusaki and starting Kawa Corporation.

Early Establishment
The Tzumisui to arrive in the lands of Kanahulu were the Tzukamui, who just wondered into the land due to their seafaring life style. The Tzukamui first seafared in the eastern seas of Kanahulu setting up a settlement on an island they called "Uekaomiwahi," meaning "Land of Eastern Shrubs." One day a new people arrived on the small island. These were the Utharu. The two peoples agreed to live together in peace and began to build a new, better settlement called Uthraraomi. Both people groups soon left the island as the Order of Luserose to their north claimed the island. Both cultures ventured westward where the Tzukamui settled and seafared around the islands in the Mutyas Archipelago who they call "Tzufugu" in their native tongue; meanwhile the Utharu settled north on a island larger landmass. Other than the Tzukamui Culture, the Tzuana Culture also arrived in Kanahulu but their presence is small. The Mutyas Archipelago consists of six main islands in the following order (west to east): Iwaozaku, Iwaodaori, Iwaokurao, Iwaokaha, Iwaotaoyao, Iwaoaone.

The Maritime Kingdom of Iwaomutzu
The Tzukamui pf Kanahulu began to develop a more settled culture in the Mutyas Archipelago eventually forming The Maritime Kingdom of Iwaomutzu. The Kingdom developed a hierarchy of a Head Monarch followed by a Lord Protector, then by Dukes representing each island and then finally the commoners. The Kingdom established its capital of Tzuzakubaya on the largest island Iwaozaku. Tzuzakubaya quickly developed into one of the largest port cities in the region having an economy based on fish.

The History of the Kingdom
When the Kingdom was formed, Iwaomutzu's Lord Protector, Kikuaro Umi, formed a Personal Union with the Kingdom of Astoria which was the land of the Utharu. Astoria was the Senior Partner while Iwaomutzu was the Junior and Ezekial Utharus was made 1st King of Iwaomutzu. At some point the Drowned God attacked the shores of Tzuzakubaya but a coalition of peoples helped the otters crush the threat. Eventually tension in the region exploded with the Supercolony of Antíšnoq invading Astoria which had formed a bloc against Antíšnoq aggression in the region. Iwaomutzu was dragged along on the side of Astoria and its bloc against Antíšnoq and its allies. Lord Protector Umi fearing the island's way of life was going to be devastated by a war opened negotiations with the ants. After a small skirmish in the Astorian capital of Astorin the conflict was over and both Astoria and Iwaomutzu became ant vassals. After the disappearance of King Ezekial after the conflict, Umi passed over Ezekial's son and heir ,Sercona Utharus, for King and instead crown Queen Avery of Antíšnoq the new Queen of Iwaomutzu creating a new Personal Union between Ant and Otter. Iwaomutzu continued its peaceful island way of life and saw further growth with Duke Tohaori of Iwaodaori developing the city of Ohaobaya on Iwaodaori.

Whispers across the waves still say that the Kingdom of Iwaomutzu is still living its peaceful fishing way of life.

Culture Groups and Society
The Tzumisui Culture can be split into smaller different cultural groups that live in different environments. One thing all subcultures share is their skill in fishing, affinity for water, and worship of ancestors. The Tzumisui are a race of shapeshifting otters who disguise themselves as humans.

The Tzurii Culture
The Tzurii are an ethnic group of the Tzumisui that live exclusively by fresh water sources. They prefer to inhabit flowing sources of water like rivers as they can more easily traverse water ways. The Tzurii tend to be less nomadic than other groups of the Tzumisui as they live by fresh water sources inland and thus have more contact with continental peoples whom they are influenced by. Like other groups the Tzurii are very skilled in fishing and life by water. Unlike other groups, the Tzurii are less zealous in honoring ancestors and are more industrious than other Tzumisui Culture groups. The Tzurii tend to form businesses and facilitate trade. They are skilled craftsmen with their most prized tools being their famed "Tzurisao" fishing rods and their "Yumi" long and short bows. The Tzurii are quite social interacting with their own and other people's. They often form clans and come together with other clans to form larger groups.

The Tzukamui Culture
The Tzukamui are another ethnic group of the Tzumisui. Rather than live by fresh water sources like their Tzurii cousins, these Tzumisui people live exclusively by saltwater bodies like oceans or seas. The Tzukamui are so well adapted to life by the sea they are able to drink sea water or water with high saline content. They are expert seafarers and island hop across the seas. The Tzukamui are more nomadic but also more primitive in their way of life. They are the most zealous in worship of ancestors, building small shrines on islands they land on and plan on staying on for a while. They also believe in a moon god/goddess and water spirits. The Tzukamui, like the Tzurii, also form clans and join up with other clans. In some cases, like with the Tzukamui of Iwaomutzu, Tzukamui are able to form larger entities other than united clan groups.

The Tzuanai Culture
The Tzuanai are the third major cultural group of the Tzumisui. The Tzuanai are far different than the Tzurii and Tzukamui. The Tzuanai have abandoned the surface waters and have ventured underground to live near waters beneath the surface. Although called the third major culture group, little is known about the Tzuanai.l They are very illusive and solitary. They only meet others when it is time to start a family.

Etymology
The name Tzumisui is a name derived from the words: "tzu", "misu", and "i." The words are derived from the extinct language of Tzukahikolelo, which is thought to be the original tongue of the Tzumisui Peoples. "Tzu" means fish, "misu" means water, and "i" means people; all together it means "Fish water people" or "People who fish in/by water."