The Zarfaim

Note: This and the Saddle-Arabia profile are all headcanons made up by me and Imperator Aetheris for our AU, Karamverse.

The Zarfaim are one of the most hated and most loved nations in the world. Although their bloodline is ponies, they also have a religion which any creature can join, making the Zarfaim a nation that spans all creatures willing to follow their ways. Sadly, many times in their history they have been ignored, mistreated, or killed. However, they still stand strong and today are known for their intellectual gifts, as well as their clothing style and jewelry-making abilities.

History

The ancestors of the Zarfaim are believed to be pony tribes traveling from the Eastern Steppes to the South and West in the times before the Alicorn Palatial Era. At some point before 4000 BSE, the Proto-Zarfaim ponies settled on the mouth of the Hysarat River, soon building twelve trading cities. During the Alicorn Palatial and the early period of the Alicorn Empire, the Zarfaim were known as sailors and explorers. In fact, They opened the first trade routes between the Zebrican and Alicorn Realms. However, their monotheist religion made the Zebras wary of them, and several differences between the Zarfaim and the Old Alicorn Religion (which was also monotheist) led to some degree of distrust. This however did not stop either realm from trading with them.

As tensions grew between the Alicorns and Zebras, the Twelve Cities became a buffer of sorts, and their annexation by the Alicorn Empire in 1600 BSE was the reason for the beginning of hostilities between the two powers.

Under Charcoal’s Empire, the Zarfaim were rebellious and fiercely fought in two great rebellions during the war. The First Zarfaim Rebellion (1581-1575 BSE) Forced the Alicorn Armies to retreat from a very successful offensive in Zebrica, possibly saving the Zebras from defeat. The Second Zarfaim Rebellion (1548-1541 BSE) led to the Alicorns completely razing the cities, and expelling the local population to be spread across the empire, and this along with a ban on the Zarfaim Religion led to a rift between a zealot faction (led by Emperor Charcoal) and a tolerant one (led by Crown Prince Stonewall).

Since then, the Zarfaim have been wanderers and traveling merchants. From around the 1st century of the Solar Era, an increasing number have been settling down in Equestria Proper, Trotomia and the Nocturnal Kingdom.

Culture

Overall, the Zarfaim are known for their belief in one God, their generosity, their exploratory way of thinking, and their modest clothing.

Life Cycle

Zarfaim celebrate whenever a new foal is born, and have a special ceremony for naming the child. When a filly or colt discovers his or her cutie mark, there is also a large celebration, but instead of a cuteceñera, they have a Bat/bar Mitzvah, where they not only celebrate the cutie mark being found but also celebrate the youngster coming to the age where he or she can choose to follow the ways of the Zarfaim for themselves. After the pony finds his or her cutie mark, it is considered to be an adult in Zarfaim culture. Soon they are sent to be an apprentice under a trustworthy master, and the pony grows up learning that trade until they are able to open their own shop. If the pony wishes to be something more intellectual, such as a lawyer, the pony is sent to the nearest school to learn what he must. However, the mares are kept at home, and taught how to be good mothers and wives, and go through their own personal training in this manner. Eventually the parents select a spouse for their child, and after several months of courtship, there is a lively wedding. When the time comes, the parents are laid to rest at a mournful funeral, afterwich the family gathers together, discussing their favorite memories of the lost loved one. They go through seven days of deep mourning, and over the next few months will move forward in their lives as their hearts slowly heal. With time, everything returns to normal.

Clothing and Naming

The Zarfaim have a firm belief that a pony’s name becomes that pony’s destiny, hence they give their children names that are meant to be blessings, or are related to how the pony was born. For example:

Morning Dew (A symbol of hope)

Rising Up

Breaching Birth

Great Riches

Blessed One

Brave

Strong Back

However, they also have names from their own language, Ladino.

As for their clothes, they firmly believe in modesty, and as such the mares and stallions always cover their hindquarters as well as their forelegs. Even in Saddle-Arabia the Zarfaim wear special tack that covers the hindquarters, although they do not cover the front legs as much as in other places. The mares also cover their manes when they are married, and wear special necklaces indicating further that they are married. Likewise the stallions wear special necklaces and grow out their beards to indicate that they are married. However, they still do value showing their cutie marks, and as such embroider their clothes with the design of the cutie mark, to show it off while still being modest. Indeed, while most ponies and other creatues wear clothes only during special events, the Zarfaim always wear some form of clothing.

Food

Over the centuries, Zarfaim have spread far across the world, making their food very diverse. However, they do have some delicacies unique to them: a special type of bread called Challah, special types of coffee, and a cakes made from flower petals, among other ingredients.

Jobs

Zarfaim can have any job, but there are some fields that they, strangely, are often employed in. For some reason, the best lawyers, doctors, scientists, economists, and highly talented goldsmiths are found among the Zarfaim, as well as many matchmakers. It is suspected that after the Zarfaim dispersed, they realized they had to get a job that they could take in their minds, or hooves, hence many of them are in intellectual fields or jewelry today. Of course, since they wear clothing almost all the time, the Zarfaim do have many tailors as well. Other than that, they can have any job any other creature can have.

Marriage

Before the stallion and mare are married, they are not allowed to touch in any manner except in circle dances or if the mare is serving food. The couple is always chaperoned as they discuss their wedding plans and court each other. Furthermore, the couple is often put together by a matchmaker and the parents; they usually do not go out and seek their own spouses, for they do not want emotions to get in the way of good judgement. However, they are allowed to voice their feelings for each other, and romance is not actually discouraged.

When they are married, the stallion is the head of the family, but the mare is in charge of running the house. Although the final decision in major matters belongs to the stallion, the mare still has a very important voice, and is respected and loved by her husband. While the stallion goes out and earns money for the family, the mare rears the children and teaches them all she can, and if she cannot teach them enough, she will find a good school to send them to when they are old enough.

Music and Dance

Zarfaim music is as varied as the food, but is known for its use of tremolo in violins, as well as a certain lighthearted quality to it. Zarfaim traditional instruments include:

Oud
Violin
Tamborine
Lyre
Flute

Furthermore, the Zarfaim enjoy dancing together in large circles, and truly know how to be joyful about something

Beliefs and Habits

They are monotheistic and have Scriptures that they follow devoutly. They also have certain personal rules they follow, such as always washing their hooves before eating, and mares do not touch stallions they are not related to or married to unless they are dancing or serving them food. Furthermore, they respect their elders and support large families with many children, because they see foals as a blessing, and not a burden. Also, whether or not they are rich, they try to be thankful for what they do have, and give generously to charity when they can. Among their many widespread proverbs are things such as “it is better to give than to recieve,” “a talkative mouth is harbor to many griefs,” “A wonderful wife is a gift from The Lord,” and “a brother offended is harder to win over than a vast city.”

Moreover, they have a different way of thinking: oftentimes they will answer a question with another question, for it is their belief that the answer is not always the important thing, but the question, because learning comes from questions and searching. They also do not care too much about being on time, and instead of linear train of thought such as from A-Z, they have a more cyclical thought system-- from A-B, B-D, D-A, X-R, O-P and then somehow back to A, so to speak. Nevertheless, they have a good understanding of organization, somehow. To better explain: instead of the glass being half full or half empty, why not both? Or perhaps neither? Why focus on the answer when the real knowledge comes from asking the question? And who says it's the end of the year when it's really the start of the next?

Stereotypes against Them

Zarfaim are often portrayed as sly or untrustworthy due to the revolts of the ancient past, and many perceieve them as greedy or stingy due to their great understanding of how to handle money, and many despise them for their religion. However, it seems that no matter what they do, there is always somepony hating them for whatever reason.