Slavery

The Zuberi believe in reincarnation, and that your actions in life will determine your station in the next life. Slavery with emancipation is a predominant part of the Zuberi culture, but the role of the slave may surprise outsiders.

Zuberi slaves are either born into slavery or enslaved due to their criminal actions. Those born into slavery are called Rasa after the ancient prophet Rasalgethi who was slave born. Criminals who are enslaved are called Al'misam after the ancient prophet Maasym, who not only chosen when he was a criminal slave, but was even then not freed from his service.

Al'misam

Criminal slaves are those that have committed some crime for which death is too severe but fines and punishment are not enough. The term of service is always seven years, after which they are freed. The life of a Al'misam is harsh, and they spend most of those years in heavy chains or caged. Those that purchase criminal slaves are honor bound to teach the criminal to mend their ways. And warn them to learn their lessons so as to avoid coming back as a desert rat in their next life. Many of the condemned and some criminal slaves are bought to fight in the gladiator pits.

See also: Slavery as Punishment on the Law Page

Rasa

The Rasa on the other hand live very different lives, while bound to their owners, they have much more freedom and a great deal more comforts then the Al'misam. The slave born must purchase their freedom or be freed through marriage. The Rasa may engage in trade, travel or even manage property on behalf of their owners. Those that own the slave born treat their property with kindness, for to do otherwise is to invite the same fate down upon their heads.

All Rasa wear an iron collar around their neck to denote their position. You can not become Rasa, you can only be born into it. Once they have purchased their freedom, they often enter the community as a member of their owners family, and in some cases marry younger sons. Some of course strike out on their own. Depending on their owners own financial state, the recently freed slave may in truth be gifted with all or most of their purchase price to begin their new lives.

Punishment of the Rasa is simple in its message, they are hobbled for a night and a day outside the home of their owners, neither fed nor cared for, their masters speaking the ritual words “Return to the sands, and may Acrab see to your care”. On rare occasions the slave is found dead the next morning, stung to death. The owners will sprinkle grain on the ground to feed the desert rats.

Some Rasa do in fact leave their master, but this is rare. Finding someone to remove their collar is condemning both of them to death, and the un-collared Rasa live their lives in fear of being caught and returned to the cycle of life.

Slavery among the Shaula is a bit more fluid. A woman with out male protection or ability to defend herself may very well find herself at another’s mercy.

Men of the Zuberi prefer soft, meaty slaves. A slave may be stuffed with food for several days before her sale to get her into that condition. Cold, white-skinned women are also of interest to the men of the Zuberi. They enjoy turning them into hot slaves. Blond, blue-eyed women are rare in the desert regions so they are eagerly sought after. Slaves in the Zuberi culture are commonly branded. Slaves are often made to perform on submission mats, very coarse mats. It is considered a horrible degradation to make a Zuberi woman, free or slave, dry a man's feet with her hair.

Men in the Zuben deserts, like in most places, enjoy slave dancing. Many of these girls may use finger cymbals. They may also use dancing chains. There are many varieties of dancing chains. They enhance a girl's beauty and do not interfere at all in her dancing. They do impose subtle limits on her dance but that only adds to the experience. A dancing chain is basically a long, light chain. It connects to two wrist rings and her collar.

Clarification:  Rasa are male and female.  The examples given above are about female Rasa, but there is an equal number of male Rasa.

OOC on Applying

Obviously if you are going to play a Rasa, you are owned. However, you do not need to be owned by a player's character.  Your owner can be fictional.

Zuberi Sensuality

Public Baths
Certain public baths in the city are traditionally for adults only.  Like all hamman's the bath has both a man and woman's side separated by a curtain.  It isn't spoken of much, for to do so would put many from the highest levels of our society into question.  *says quietly* It is believed that very often the "rasas" serving on the men's side, are not rasas at all!"

Petal Tenders
Some women once widowed, take on special role, they are call the Petal Tenders.  It is their sacred duty to teach both the rasas and the young woman the joys of the wedding bed, how to entice a man, and other aspects of the art of being feminine.
These women are released from the strict behavior bonds thru a simple ceremony and special tatoo they wear high on their cheek.  It has also become tradition, that when in an appropriate setting, the Petal Tenders may choose to demonstrate what is expected of rasa's, wives and soon to be married women.
Over the last few centuries, it has been come the norm for all women, including wives, to follow the lead of those called to the sacred art of feminine education.  Often a delightful time spent after children are abed, as the Zuberi women give voice and grace to the belief that they are the most sensual of all women.

Unmarried Women
It is considered appropriate for a father to allow their unmarried daughter to dance (zuberi term for "in a seductive way") before potential bride-grooms in the hope of attracting wealthy son-in-laws".  Under their fathers watchful eye of course!

Henna Parties
Henna parties were a traditional time for Zuberi women to discuss all manner of feminine topics, including childbirth, parenting and conjugal relations.  Often with the elders shocking their youngest with amusing and detailed accounts.
 

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