Imaeli

Island Somon

The Imaeli people are Human native to the Awardi Archipelago off the eastern coast of the major continent of Ethae in the Criup Ocean. It is unsure when these people arrived on the islands of the archipelago. First contact with this culture comes at the late Valmon, around 4550sc, with Lakortha explorations into the Cruip. Scholars of the Jenuwan Order have found references in their native myths of ice covering the world and the people walking to and from their homelands to the forests in the west. This put the origins, if true, during the Randagri Period or Randeris Period if not earlier. It is common consensus among the Jenuwan that the Imaeli are survivors of the ancient Awadri people that migrated east into the region around the Gulf of Zeaz and later to the islands they now dwell. This belief is what gave their archipelago its name.

Outsiders may consider the Imaeli a single cultural people, but the islanders have a long history of diversity in their culture, with an early history of warfare between islands based on cultural differences. These wars ended with the arrival of the Lakortha, and while ancient tribal and cultural heritage remain on the various islands, the people stand united today. Though their daily lives and dress look more like a nation of Novyum, the people still embrace and celebrate their history through festivals and rituals. Instead of the ancient wars of the past, the people with 'compete' in traditional dances. Artist travels the islands showing their heritage in works that sell well among the natives. The once warlike people have found a common heritage in remembering the past nearly lost after centuries of contact and conquest by outsider forces.

The Lakortha estimated the population of the islands to be somewhere at 250,000 to 800,000 people during their explorations. However, these numbers were reduced by more than half in the century that followed due to diseases brought by the newcomers. This population reduction made it easy for the Republic of Lakorth to take control of the archipelago with their expansion into Jerain at the beginning of the Lakorthian Age.

Awardi was a major launching point for the invasions of Southern Jerain by both the Republic and its successor the United Kingdoms of Novyum. The later struggled with their domination of the islands as the natives resisted a second foreign power on their soil. Where the Republic allowed the natives to remain independent as long as the Lakortha ports could work freely, the United Kingdom forced their control onto the archipelago turning it into a single province under Novyum control.

The treatment of the Imaeli under the United Kingdom was harsh, but it did solidify what the culture is today. The people that once fought over their differences, united to embrace their cultural heritages, even those of their once enemies. War and disease destroyed much of their ancient ways, leaving the people needing to learn about their history rather than have it handed down from their forefathers. This has also left the Imaeli with a cultural bias against the Normon people of the mainland, justified or unjustified.

The Imaeli of Awardi ally with the Kingdom of Marras in the modern day, in large part due to Marras kings promoting trade and mutual protection against north. The ports established through the centuries remain open and controlled by the islanders. They are a free people and wish to remain independent but allow trade for other cultures to pass through their waters.

Imaeli are a somon people, meaning their will have fair to tan completions. Their hair colors vary, due to generations of forced mixing with Normon families. Dark hair is still dominate and favored within the culture. Men keep their hair short and sport short beards in both upper- and lower-class society. Women of the upper-class keep their hair up and often cover in a coul or other headdress, while the lower classes use simpler shawls. It is an ancient tradition among the Imaeli for women to show very little hair in public, and the people embrace this tradition. Eye color of the Imaeli was once always dark, nearly black in color, however, centuries of contact with the mainland has produced a range of eye colors, with nearly every natural color present in the population. Darker colors are considered the most beautiful among the people.

Race: Human

Ethnicity: Somon

Homeland: Awardi Archipelago

Alignment: Imaeli are a free-spirited people with a deep belief that nature (especially the sea) provides all. This leans them towards neutral and chaotic alignments.

Age: Imaeli live an extremely long life if left to natural causes. The average Imaeli living between 100-120 years.

Size: (Medium) Imaeli are generally considered average for humans, standing somewhere between 5-6 feet tall. Men usually being a few inches taller than women.

Language: A people heavily connected, and largely dependent on sea-trade, the Imaeli learn the the Common Tongue at an early age.