Tsu-tsu

The Tsu-tsu (or "Tsu-Tsu" ) were a tribe of the Plain of Horses in the Hordelands. They were one of the three major tribes of the plain, alongside the Fankiang and the Khaghun.

Language
As one of the major tribes of the Plain of Horses, the Tsu-tsu spoke their own dialect of Chuchian, called "Tsu-tsu".

Territory
Tsu-tsu territory stretched from the base of the Chigidi Mountains in the north, to the Shou Lung province of Chukei in the east, and to the Khaghun territory in the west. Its southern tip met the northern end of the Dragonwall.

Society
The Tsu-tsu tribe were semi-nomadic, spending most of their year on the steppes, where they herded sheep and cattle, before returning to their villages or the city of Jugicha. Thus, each Tsu-tsu family had two homes: tents in the summer and brick houses in the winter.

They were considered to be among the top hunters and fishermen of the Plain of Horses, as well as superb herders and producers of livestock. They were proficient in breeding horses, and were the only tribe in the area to breed pigs.

In Jugicha, the Tsu-tsu maintained a number of temples staffed by lamas, for the various faiths known in the Plain of Horses. At least one of the Tsu-tsu, Aghul Balai, was a follower of the Way.

History
The Tsu-tsu tribe were born when a band of rebels split from the Fankiang city of Li-Raz around the mid–800s DR. They desired to found their own community, which developed into Jugicha. This triggered a realignment of the hsing (clans), of the Plain of Horses, ultimately giving rise to the Tsu-tsu.

Around the mid–1200s DR, the Tsu-tsu sought to conquer the Fankiang in Li-Raz. To this end, they made a treaty with the Khaghun and allied against the Fankiang, proposing they assault them from opposite sides. Although the Tsu-tsu attacked the Fankiang from the north, the Khaghun changed their mind. The Tsu-tsu were forced to withdraw.

Circa 1337 DR, the qaghan (ruler) of the Tsu-tsu was Shajji Ghoiji. Ghoiji was corrupt and his government fell into chaos and finally rebellion. Ghoiji's apa qaghan, his assistant and brother Shajji Hoijarek stepped in, gathering capable advisors to his side and becoming qaghan in his place.

Over the next two decades, Hoijarek worked to reestablish order in Jugicha and revive Tsu-tsu prosperity. He welded the Tsu-tsu together by holding a strong front against the Fankiang and Li-Raz. When Fankiang raiders killed Hoijarek's own wife and children, all the Tsu-tsu swore a vow of vengeance with him. Hoijarek also conquered a number of lesser neighboring tribes by slaying their livestock and poisoning their water supplies to force them to submit to the Tsu-tsu.

In 1357 DR, Hoijarek hatched a scheme to lure the Fankiang into a trap. He ordered forty camels be stained white and left to graze a day's ride west of Li-Raz, where they would inevitably be spotted by Fankiang scouts or herdsmen. Tsu-tsu horsemen then lay in wait to ambush any Fankiang who came to round up these apparently valuable beasts.

In 1359 DR, Aghul Balai of the Tsu-Tsu was among the teachers, magical advisors, and agents of Second Empress Bayalun of the Tuigan at Quaraband. Aghul sought to convert Bayalun to the Way.

Government
The ruler, or qaghan, of the Tsu-tsu around 1357 DR was Shajji Hoijarek. The qaghan ruled from the city of Jugicha.

Relations
The Tsu-tsu and the Fankiang were bitter enemies since the failed conquest in the mid–13th century DR, but they maintained an uneasy peace in 1357 DR.

Similarly, the treaty between the Tsu-tsu and the Khaghun was still in place after the abandoned alliance, yet had no real significance.