Suzmites

The Suzmites tend to patriarchal as men are seen as leaders of their communities, however women enjoy equitable rights to the communal lands.

The Suzmites practice strict monogamy that lasts for a lifetime as the concept of divorce is unheard of in their culture. Even the assimilated Jerrichan Suzmites maintain their historical relationship ideals.

Most Bsharri still speak the old language of their ancestors, an alien togue developed in an unknown and faraway land. However, the Jerrichan Suzmites have picked up the language of their fellow human neighbors with some families even unable to speak their old language.

The Suzmites are divided into two cultural groups one based in the Bsharri Forest and the other based within the southern and central Celvant.

The Bsharri Suzmites were the ones who settled in granted lands with the Bsharri Forest and continue to uphold the tightknit and insular ways of the Suzmites.

The Jerrichan Suzmites are those who settled within the human (mostly of the Falinite tribe) cities and villages, adopting many of their cultural practices and becoming integrated within their communities.

The history of the Suzmites in Ki is relatively short (much like themselves) due to their recent arrival within the Land of Ki and their rare involvement in outside affairs.

The Suzmites first appeared in Ki 400 years ago during the reign Pharaoh Fai-Soter-Majay. First spotted in small ships of Kemits northern coast they were noticeably malnourished and in despair. The refugees stated that they originate from an unknown land far to the west (which the Suzmite call Suzama) and left due to disasters that left their homeland uninhabitable. Pharaoh Fai-Soter-Majay with the approval of the north shore Governer allowed the Suzmites to erect a collection of villages along Kemits northern coast. For 200 years the Suzmites lived in their insulated community providning tribute to the officials of Kemit in return for protection. During the period of reunification when Pharaoh Nefiti-Afar-Majay waged war against the warlords of Kemit, the Suzmites were fairly unaffected as they were not recruited to fight, and their newly settled land was already under the control of the Pharaoh herself early on.

After a plague swept across northern Celvant, Pharaoh Nefiti seeing their industrious value and desire for autonomy granted the Suzmited granted them the depopulated lands of the Bsharri Forest. A migration occurred as the Suzmites left their homes to travel to their newly granted lands in an unfamiliar land. Many of the Suzmites managed to reach Bsharri and founded a collection of autonomous and self-sufficient farming villages naturally insulated from the outside world.

During their migration to Bsharri, a large contingent of Suzmites rested at the city of Jerricho, a Falinite stronghold. The vassal King of the city offered the resting Suzmites gold, citizenship and land in return for military service as a neighboring rebel Torrahite tribe was set to siege the city. Some of the Suzmites agreed and their descendants know known as the Jerrichan Suzmites still live amongst the human cities and villages of the Celvant, never reaching the Bsharri Forest.

During the Period of Stable Caution, the Suzmites continued their insular existence. They were known for their agricultural skills and their ability to cultivate even less fertile lands while the ones that lived side by side with the Humans of the Celvant became distinguished merchants, farmers and craftsman.

In present times the way of life for the Suzmites is in upheaval as the Celvant region has been greatly impacted by natural disasters and the invasion of the Sea Peoples. No longer under the protection of the Pharaoh and Kemit, the Suzmites have to fend for themselves against the cruelty of the outside world.