Zeswa Clan

The Zeswa'Sopyu,Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Journal Upper Plains Knowledge, Zeswa more often known simply as the Zeswa, is a clan of Na'vi nomads that live in the Upper Plains. They are led by Nesim, with her sister Minang serving as tsahìk.
The clan lives with zakru, and are skilled direhorse riders.
==Culture==
They are a colorful, boisterous and ferocious warrior clan. Proud and loving, the Zeswa talk loudly, feel strongly, and play fiercely. They are a clan of fearless direhorse riders, renowned for their war-like competitions and over-the-top celebrations.
"Dance-fighting" is a practice seemingly unique to the Zeswa. Not much is known about the practice, but it seems to be a ritualized hand-to-hand spar between two participants.
The clan connects to Eywa at the Chamber of Echoes, located just a short ways east of the clan's location during the events of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
=== Crafting ===
==== Signaling Kites====
Kites are important to the clan. The path leading to The Circle, the clan's home, is marked by colorful, soaring kites, which are made of easily found materials such as reeds, poles, and woven zakru wool.Xenoethnographic Report XXVII: Zeswa Kites Kites have many shapes, sizes, and purposes. Some mark zakru migration paths, while others indicate a celebration is underway, or that games or dance-fights are being held. Kites may also signal that a camp is welcoming weary travelers, offering warm meals and zangke.
Raising the signal kites for celebrations is considered an honor. It was previously bestowed upon Sarentu visitors to the Zeswa.
Kite building is a respected profession, practiced by Akru and previously by Fa'zak. Kite builders also craft the tents which make up the Zeswa camps.
====Wind Flutes====
The strong winds of the Upper Plains are also harnessed by Aeolian Wind Flutes crafted by the Zeswa and dotted throughout the land. When in tune, they emit a harmonious hum which is intended to sound similar to the vocalizations of the zakru. The densest concentration of flutes is at the Zakru Graveyard, where their tune is intended to soothe the zakru who have passed on.
===Relationship With the Zakru===
The Zeswa are wanderers, traveling along with the zakru who only move around once per generation. Until then, the clan sets its tents around the zakru to shield them from the strong winds.Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Journal Upper Plains Knowledge, Zakru Culture
left|thumb|A vat of zakru milk.
Young zakru, such as Ko'akte, are cared for by the clan in a nursery tent. To be born on the same day as a zakru, as Tamu was, is considered a good omen.
The Zeswa drink zakru milk, which forms the basis of the clan's diet. Zakru milk can be consumed on its own, but the clan makes it into a variety of foods. Zakru cheese is a popular dish, as is zangke, a fermented drink made with zakru milk and fiery herbs. Dairy crafters such as Kìn and Akoray are greatly respected within the clan.
left|thumb|A cliff mural depicting a soundblast colossus.
Zakru milk is used not only as food, but as a base for paints as well.Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Journal Upper Plains Knowledge, Cliff Murals Various pigments are ground and mixed with the milk, which creates paint used for body decoration, for decorating the zakru, and for cliff murals. The murals themselves have many purposes. Some function as signal paths, while others celebrate legends or important moments in the life of the clan.
Zakru wool is woven into tents and garments.
===The Burden Carrier ===
Due to the clan's nomadic nature and need to follow the zakru, the Zeswa have developed a philosophy centered around traveling light, without unnecessary burdens.
When the clan has accumulated too many items to take along on the next migration, a clan member earns the role of burden carrier (Na'vi name: txoa hena) through a competition.Sosul's bio The burden carrier then takes the excess weight away with them and lives in exile for a time.
Sosul was the last burden carrier for the clan, and he settled among the bones of the zakru graveyard until the Sarentu urged him to return home.
===Dusk Riders===
As revealed in the note on the topic, Zeswa who are near death sometimes choose to leave the clan and enter a form of self-exile. Prior to this journey, the Na'vi connects to Eywa one final time, and then disappears into the wilderness, never to return. Na'vi who choose this end to their life are known as 'dusk riders' and are remembered as legendary heroes.
Yarun is one example of a Zeswa dusk rider.
Zeswa hunters discuss Dusk Riders
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According to background chatter able to be heard in Zeswa camps, dusk riders do not actually exist. They are instead a metaphor for death. The Zeswa who elect to take the path of a dusk rider choose to do so in order not to burden their loved ones with their passing. Saying that someone "went seeking the riders" is an easier to accept, gentler way to say that someone has passed away.
==History==
Historically, the Zeswa have hosted the Games, a gathering to foster friendly competitions between the clans of the Western Frontier. The events involve feats of strength, archery, and direhorse riding, to name a few. The spirit of The Games appears similar to the Olympics, on Earth.
After the disappearance of the Sarentu clan and the choice of the Kame'tire to seclude themselves, the Games ceased to be held.
==Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora==
The Zeswa clan is introduced in the second act of the game during the quest The Wandering Clan. 
The player character meets Nesim and Minang, is introduced to Zeswa culture and tradition within their home encampment, and later helps the clan end the poaching of zakru and other wild animals led by Angela Harding.
The Zeswa later choose to join the Resistance and aid the player character in the final battle against the RDA in the Western Frontier.
===Associated Main Quests===
*The Wandering Clan
*Hunters Hunted
*The Lodge
*The Weeping Gorge
*Call to Battle
*Combined Forces
*A Victory Celebration
*A Distant Storm
*Rising Pressure
*Last Strike
===Associated Side Quests===
*Zeswa Community Contributions, parts 1-3
*The Wind Will Carry Us
*The Missing Colossus
*The Celebration Mural
*A Father's Fear
*A Shadow and a Threat
*The Black Wind
==Members==
Na'vi 	Status 	Title 	Portrait
Nesim 	Alive 	Olo'eykte of the Zeswa Clan 	
Minang 	Alive 	Tsahìk of the Zeswa Clan 	
Akoray 	Alive 	Dairy crafter 	
Akru 	Alive 	Kite builder 	
Faiu 	Alive 	Direhorse rider 	
Fa'zak 	Alive 	Kite builder (formerly)/Zakru caretaker 	
Hawm 	Alive 	Traveler 	
Karmong	Alive 	Direhorse rider 	
Kìn 	Alive 	Master dairy crafter 	
Niwin 	Alive 	Direhorse rider 	
Noka'pe	Alive 	Dairy crafter 	
Novao 	Alive 	Cook 	
Solali 	Alive 	Noka'pe's implied niece/Direhorse rider 	
Sosul 	Alive 	Solali's implied uncle 	
Tamu 	Alive 	Zakru caretaker 	
Tukru 	Alive 	Noka'pe and Sosul's father/Artist and Zakru caretaker	
Tu'kari	Alive 	Karmong's sister/Direhorse rider 	
Woai 	Alive 	Solali's sister/Direhorse rider 	
Yarun 	Unknown (likely deceased)	Kìn's implied mate/Direhorse rider 	
== Trivia==
*"Zeswa" means "grass" in the Na'vi language, likely referencing the clan's habitat in the grassy plains. Their full clan name, "Zeswa'Sopyu," means "grass traveller."
*While the clan is the second canonical clan with a female Olo’eykte — the first being the Tayrangi — it is the only clan in a canon Avatar source where the Olo’eykte and Tsahik are siblings
*The clan is inspired by the real-world Maasai people or the Native American tribes in the North American Great Plains.
*According to concept art and in-game footage, some of their skin has a blue-purple gradation, but some have full purple skin. Their grown-up hair was red, but the children's hair was black.
*They share similarities with the now defunct Olangi Clan.
*Zeswa is the first known clan to have two female leaders.
==References==
pl:Zeswa
ru:Зесва
Category:Clans
Category:Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora