| affiliation = [[Drakes]]
| inhabitants = [[Drakes]]
'''Zeres''', also known as the <strong>City of Waves</strong> and the '''City of Storms''', is one of the six [[Walled Cities]] of [[Izril]].
[[File:Coats_of_Arms_Zeres.png|thumb|200px|Coat of Arms for Zeres in tower shield format, by Enyavar]]
It is most famous for its sea harbor, sailors and ships; but like all the walled cities it has many amenities to offer its [[Drakes|Drake]] (and [[Drowned People|Drowned Drake]]<ref name="6.32" />) residents.
In comparison to the other Walled Cities, Zeres is among the stronger ones with regards to military, as even [[Manus]] residents admit. Moreso, it is rich in trade, its wealth coming right after [[Salazsar]].<ref name="6.33">[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/07/23/6-33-e/ Chapter 6.33 E]</ref> Several references in the story have been made about Zeres being a hub in information brokering as well.
Zeres is ruled by [[nobility]] who are famous for their unique glowing or flame-like scale coloration.<ref name="5.13">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/08/21/5-13/ Chapter 5.13]</ref> They have "Lords of the Wall"<ref name="s02-1">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/28/s02-the-antinium-wars-pt-1/ S02 - The Antinium Wars Pt. 1]</ref>, but the current city's ruler is the so called Serpentine Matriarch of Zeres,<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/07/29/2-41/ Chapter 2.41]</ref> [[Ieneessa]].
Zeres existed 43,000 years ago in the Empire of [[Iltanus]] as the Port City of Waves, making it the oldest of the extant Walled Cities by most margins.
Historically, Zeres has been the closest ally of [[Pallass]], whose democracy even has a faction called the ''Zeresian Group'', which is in the current storyline one of the smaller political parties of Pallass.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/07/16/6-31/ Chapter 6.31]</ref> Pallass also maintains strong trade relations to Zeres, buying from the distant harbor city.<ref name="6.32">[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/07/20/6-32/ Chapter 6.32]</ref> However, these strong ties don't mean that Zeres' strategists don't bicker during Joint Sessions about Pallassian "greedy" "idiots".<ref name="5.49">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/12/25/5-49/ Chapter 5.49]</ref>
Zeres was the first Walled City to be besieged by the Antinium during the [[First Antinium War]]; none of those sieges successful.<ref name="s02-1" /> In the [[Second Antinium War]], they attempted this a second time.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/26/s02-the-antinium-wars-pt-4/ S02 - The Antinium Wars, pt. 4]</ref>
<nowiki> </nowiki>A decade ago, when [[Flos]] launched his invasion from [[Chandrar]], his armies never made it past Zeres, although [[Amerys]] was able to lock down Zeres practically by herself.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/05/14/6-16/ Chapter 6.16]</ref>
During the storyline of books five and six, Zeres was locked in an ongoing conflict with [[Oteslia]] and was besieged by the other's city military. This siege also involved the [[Liscorian Army]].<ref name="5.13" />
To counter the goblin/human attack on [[Liscor]] led by [[Reiss]]/[[Tyrion Veltras]], Zeres pledged 80.000 regulars and 5000 elite troops, the Saltscale Wardens,<ref name=":5.54">[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/01/22/5-54-2/ Chapter 5.54]</ref> who then battled Veltras in the [[Blood Fields]].
Zeres is laid out as a circular harbor surrounded by the famous walls all Walled Cities are known for. Its port is large enough to hold multiple fleets. The harbor is also a vast gateway that can be closed if needed. Huge towers called the 'Fangs of Zeres' are visible, from which offensive spells are cast.<ref name=":8.01" />Each tower is different. One looks scaled, built in mimicry of Drake scales. Another looks like the shining head of a serpent.<ref name=":0" />
Zeres is ruled by the Serpentine Matriarch and the Admiralty.
Serpentine Matriarch/Patriarch - Ruler
The Serpentine Matriarch or Serpentine Patriarch acts as the central ruler of Zeres. They are not a Monarch, as Drakes would not stand for that. Her lineage is related to [[Wyrms]], and this is evident from some genetic tells in her features such as a longer tail.<ref name=":8.01" />
Current Matriarch: [[Ieneessa]]
The Admirals of Zeres are not merely stand-ins for [Generals]. They are leaders in multiple areas, like managing certain aspects of the city. They are semi-autonomous, each Admiral is a law onto their own. While they answer to the Serpentine Matriarch and each other, they can and do act without each other's approval. Their offices are located within Zeres' towers.<ref name=":8.01" />Zeres has a tradition of always keeping at least one Classless individual in the Admiralty.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/05/03/8-85/ Chapter 8.85]</ref>
* Admiral of the Supply - [[Asale]]
* Admiral of the Navy - Krallow
* Admiral of the Land - [[Horsthe]]
* Admiral of the Sea - Irevescale
* Admiral of the Harbor - ?
* Admiral of the Fleet - ?
The Sharkcaptain of Waves, or just Sharkcaptain, is another unique post in Zeres, for it is for the champion of the Serpentine Matriarch. The Sharkcaptain post is a hereditary post appointed to the fighter the Serpentine Matriarch chose to represent her—and accompany her. Personality and a talent for battle went hand-in-hand—not necessarily grand strategy. Hence the ‘captain’ bit. It differed from Sharkcaptain to Sharkcaptain. In its own way the Sharkcaptain is as important as an Admiral.<ref name=":8.01">[https://wanderinginn.com/2021/01/13/8-01/ Chapter 8.01]</ref>
Current Sharkcaptain: [[Femar]]
Zeres maintains a powerful navy. They own one of the Tide Skills, the First Tide.
A unit of over 5000 Elite Soldiers.<ref name=":5.54" />
Slave-trading is forbidden outside of the docks.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/06/27/9-49/ Chapter 9.49]</ref>
TBA From [https://wanderinginn.com/2021/01/13/8-01/ Chapter 8.01]
Zeres has a patriotic national anthem song, with at least 5 verses. Currently only the first 3 verses of the Anthem are known so far, which are:<ref name=":8.01" />
<blockquote>''“Through storm and Kraken’s Pass, do I see the shore at last?''</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Standing tall amidst the waves?''</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Where Dragonsail flies, my harbor remains.''</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Zeres, City of Waves to shelter me~?”''</blockquote>
<blockquote>''“I shall sail to world’s end and carry my head high''</blockquote>
<blockquote>''For I have seen my Ancestors fly.''</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Each land I pass by, each sea I travel''</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Leads me ever to my glorious home.”''</blockquote>
<blockquote>''“No city shall compare to Zeres’ sights,''</blockquote>
<blockquote>''No glories safe but the ones I leave behind''</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Oh come, travellers, and [King] and [Queen]''</blockquote>
<blockquote>''And speak jealous of where I have been.”''</blockquote>
* When [[Wistram]] started exporting [[Scrying orbs|scrying orbs]] for television purposes, Zeres and First Landing were the ports where the stuff sold for at least 400.000 gold coins.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/06/29/6-29/ Chapter 6.29]</ref>
* When the Walled Cities arranged for Lady Veltras' death, the [Assassin] was paid in Zeres with Zeresian money.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/02/16/5-60/ Chapter 5.60]</ref>
* One of the most renowned Drake strategists is living in Zeres;<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/01/12/5-52/ Chapter 5.52]</ref> while apparently [[Wil Kallinad]] has a [Strategist] pen pal in Zeres.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ Glossary - Wil]</ref> Also, incidentally, the Zeresian [Strategist] Kissi is famous for pettiness.<ref name="5.49" /> Those strategists could well be different Drakes, naturally.
* [[Savere]] sent ships to raid Zeres four month before the [[Conference of Pomle]].<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/05/11/6-15-k/ Chapter 6.15 K]</ref>
* The Drake Gallheart was legendary as a [Ship Captain] from Zeres.<ref name="6.33" />
* Among all the Port Cities and Nations, Zeres is one of the top 5 worst places that <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Pirates]]] avoid. While among dangerous spots at sea ''in general'', Zeres isn’t even in the top 50.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/09/03/interlude-rufelt/ Interlude – Rufelt]</ref>
* Zeres once endured an event called the World's Floods.<ref name=":0">[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/05/03/8-83/ Chapter 8.83]</ref>
*Convicts in Zeres may serve their sentences as rowers.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/12/14/9-28/ Chapter 9.28]</ref>
*Currently, the admiralty of Zeres is entirely male.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/09/05/9-56/ Chapter 9.56]</ref>
[[Category:Walled Cities]]
