Suikoden VII

Zelant

To the west of the world lies the Western Continent. On an island to the east of the Western Continent is the militant nation of the Zelant Kingdom. Ruled by the Reiser Royal Family since its inception, the Zelant King has always ruled with an iron fist. Strength is power, and no one is allowed to be weak. The populous must always be collectively ready to fight and die. Fighting for the king as a soldier. Fighting for your brigade as a mercenary. Fighting for your guild as a magician. Fighting for crime as a bandit. No matter the reason, Zelantans live for and die for battle. But no matter the reason, the King has all supreme power.

Zelant's closest neighbors are two countries; the island nation Bianca Alliance to the northwest, and the Caelum Federation directly on the Western Continent, nearly touching the Bianca Alliance. All three nations are hostile towards each other, and Zelant has been at war with each multiple times. The feud between Caelum and Bianca is stronger however, as their land is so close that they almost touch each other. Being slightly further away, Zelant is able to control the flow of conflict as it seems fit. But due to the animosity with their closest neighbors, Zelant has naturally looked to the east across the ocean, and to the lands there for travel, work, and trade. Zelant's biggest export is armor and shields, and many countries worldwide are willing to pay heavy tariffs for these well-built goods.

The foundation of Zelant is seven core rules, instilled into the populace since childhood:

1. Mandatory military service for all citizens starting at age thirteen.

2. Ten years minimum of active military service. Lifetime of reserve military service.

3. Eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, eight hours of sleep.

4. Only those who have completed their mandatory ten years of service can grow their hair out. All others must maintain a hair length of no more than twenty-five centimeters.

5. Citizens must marry before the age of thirty, or be granted a waiver by the King. Families must have a minimum of three children.

6. Your weapon is your lifeline. Never lose it.

7. The King's word is law above everything.

The line of succession for the Zelant Kingdom is not based along gender lines, the firstborn, or even whom the monarch personally chooses. As Zelantans live and die for combat, the successor is also chosen through combat. So the heir apparent is declared when one of the monarch's legitimate children challenges them to Royal Combat; a duel for the throne. If the monarch's child wins the duel, they become the next monarch and decide the fate of their parents. But if the monarch wins then they decide the fate of their opposing child; execution, exile, or even cloister-hood. However...since the foundation of the Kingdom, all winners of Royal Combat have been male.

It is the year IS 486. The king of Zelant is Franz Reiser, a fifty-four year old man who became king in IS 452, when he defeated his father in Royal Combat under dubious circumstances. As is the tradition of Zelant kings, Franz rules with absolute power. In the years since his coronation, King Franz has fathered forty-six children, but only seven of the forty-six are his legitimate offspring. Only the seven legitimate offspring are allowed residency in the royal palace. Only the seven legitimate offspring are given government-funded guardians, known as "assists" who will follow and guard the royal wherever they may go. The "assists" swear fealty to the royal they are guarding, and the "assists" are honor-bound to live for the sake of the royal, and die for the sake of the royal. The only other person who is allowed to command an "assist" is the monarch.

Within the past ten years, King Franz's two oldest children have separately challenged him to Royal Combat. King Franz won both duels, but spared his children's lives and allowed them to retain their positions. However, as a consequence of losing Royal Combat, both were banned from marrying or having children for ten years.

King Franz's legitimate children are Prince Brendan, Princess Sigrun, Prince Kion, Prince Vahan, Princess Philomena, Prince Denzel...and Princess Astraea.

—

Note: Many things listed above are fanon, as little has been revealed in canon about both Zelant and the Western Continent. I came up with the concept of hair length because I noticed while playing Suikoden V that seasoned warriors from Zelant (such as Wilhelm and Mueller) had long hair while the younger generation from Zelant (Richard, Norma, and Ernst) all had short hair. As such my headcanon is that having long hair in Zelant is a privilege citizens have to earn.

The Bianca Alliance and the Caelum Federation were both created by me.