Ni'zi

The Ni'zi are a caste of slaves in Za'ah who are directly serving the Devayani. This means that while they are slaves, they enjoy considerable wealth and can exert command over freeborn Za'aheen. The Ni'zi are given excellent education and are advancing within a meritocratic system. Slave children who show exceptional skills within a field can be chosen to apprenticeship for Ni'zi status.
Freeborn Za'aheen are fearing them, as their presence indicate that the individual subject have gained Devayani attention.
==History==
The Ni'zi - as everything with the Radiating Empire of the Devayani - are shrouded in mystery. Apparently, they are a very old institution, and claim that they were the first humans to be blessed by the loving light of the Devayani, and chosen to be servants for the Devayani when there were only primordial chaos.
==Ritual mutilation==
The Ni'zi were given a mark to recognise them. They always go - or rather limp - barefoot or wear sandals, and carry canes of ebony denoting their status, what house they serve and their personal wealth.
The reason for this is that during childhood, the toes of a Ni'za are amputated, all apart from the large toe and the smallest toe.
The surgery is taken care of in this way. A mu'za with surgical skills ties the child or adolescent naked on a rack, facing the sun as it is rising. The child is given a potion to enhance the sensations, and then the feet are tied very hard with leather ropes to prevent all too great blood loss. Then, the toes are removed with obsidian knives or bronze scissors. The wounds are healed with burning coal.
Especially beloved Ni'zi are having expensive mutilations, with beautiful slave girls  and boys who lick the soles of their feet, wash them with wine, suck on the toes and stimulate the genitalia of the subject.
Some Ni'zi are having their genitalia removed when they undergo the mutilation process, as their owners have specified that they wish to remove the sexual appetite from their slaves.
==Special status==
The Ni'zi can - unlike normal Za'aheen slaves - own property (both land, real estate, slaves and production), travel relatively freely over the Empire (something which not even freeborn Za'aheen can), have concubines and marriage partners (though they need to marry other Ni'zi). All of these privileges can be removed by their masters and mistresses however.
When a ni'za is connected to any aspect of Za'aheen society - no matter whether administrative, mercantile or military - he/she is automatically superior to anyone else there. The Ni'zi are also the only ones presumably in regular contact with the secretive Devayani (though some blasphemers claim that the Ni'zi are the true rulers of Za'ah and that the Devayani do not exist).
==Appearance  & Behaviour==
The Ni'zi have - apart from mutilated toes - other distinct characteristics. They are completely shaved from all hair, and have their bodies painted in striking and garish colour patterns, reminiscent of butterfly wings. They also wear colourful saris of expensive cloth and often wear jewellery.
The Ni'zi are often fluent in multiple languages, have extensive knowledge of various subjects and are excellent diplomats. They should never raise their voices or be exalted, but always mellow and smiling, ready to service. However, failure to obey the Ni'zi will be noted and will be punished, one way or another...
==See Also==
Castes and Classes in Za'ah
Category:Za'ahene people
Category:Za'ah
Category:Culture
Category:Empires
Category:Politics
Category:Moaseraianan people