Nanaþ'alinei (nanaːθʔalɪneiː)
Nanaþ'alinei was an ancient city that stood by the western shore of Erra Lake in what is now northwestern Jarrak Forest in western Dragonía, which played an important role in early history of the Útels.
Around 8000 years ago, Nanaþ'alinei became the site of a major turning in Alalarían history, during which the Nanaþans split into two groups, one that wished to move permanently into the cave systems under the mountains, which not only contained ores and minerals but plenty of wildlife as well, and another who remained in by the lake. The former, led by the chiefs Anhele, Nólar and Þer, became ancestors of the Jaarels, while the latter under the leadership of Ela'k became known as Útels.
Ela'k revolutionized the culture of Nanaþ'alinei by introducing a caste system and an increased emphasis on agriculture, and his children later spread the new culture to other parts of Ela'k Forest. Over the next millennium, Nanaþ'alinei's prestige grew due to its special status as the birthplace of Útel civilization, as it shielded it somewhat from the endemic warfare that plagued the other city-states and thus allowed the locals to focus more on trade and refining various aspects of what would later become ubiquitous in Útel culture.
When the chief Zynai convinced the other remaining ones to make peace and form the Útel Alliance around 6000 years ago, Nanaþ'alinei was initially chosen as the capital of the new state, only for the city along with many nearby settlements to be stricken with a devastating plague a few years later. The city was abandoned due to fears of it being haunted by restless souls and evil spirits believed to be the cause of the plague, and centuries later was finally cut off from Ela'k Forest via the Reþokúl Wall, designed to keep the wolf-like Þóvaríans and their relatives at bay.
Today, the site is occasionally visited by pilgrims wishing to pay respects to the spirit of Ela'k -now a culture hero- and founders of the different castes via libations and prayers, as well as adventures searching for legendary treasures such as the famed Amulet of Ela'k.
History
The Alalaríans, common ancestors of the Útels and Jaarels, first settled at this site almost 11.000 years ago, during a time when their tribes gradually shifted towards a more sedentary lifestyle. Initially chosen due to abundance of wildlife and useful plants in and near Erra Lake along with flint deposits in the Vúrakesen Mountains foothills to the southwest, the Nanaþan tribe that lived there eventually began farming, raising livestock and mining for metals as well.Around 8000 years ago, Nanaþ'alinei became the site of a major turning in Alalarían history, during which the Nanaþans split into two groups, one that wished to move permanently into the cave systems under the mountains, which not only contained ores and minerals but plenty of wildlife as well, and another who remained in by the lake. The former, led by the chiefs Anhele, Nólar and Þer, became ancestors of the Jaarels, while the latter under the leadership of Ela'k became known as Útels.
Ela'k revolutionized the culture of Nanaþ'alinei by introducing a caste system and an increased emphasis on agriculture, and his children later spread the new culture to other parts of Ela'k Forest. Over the next millennium, Nanaþ'alinei's prestige grew due to its special status as the birthplace of Útel civilization, as it shielded it somewhat from the endemic warfare that plagued the other city-states and thus allowed the locals to focus more on trade and refining various aspects of what would later become ubiquitous in Útel culture.
When the chief Zynai convinced the other remaining ones to make peace and form the Útel Alliance around 6000 years ago, Nanaþ'alinei was initially chosen as the capital of the new state, only for the city along with many nearby settlements to be stricken with a devastating plague a few years later. The city was abandoned due to fears of it being haunted by restless souls and evil spirits believed to be the cause of the plague, and centuries later was finally cut off from Ela'k Forest via the Reþokúl Wall, designed to keep the wolf-like Þóvaríans and their relatives at bay.
Today, the site is occasionally visited by pilgrims wishing to pay respects to the spirit of Ela'k -now a culture hero- and founders of the different castes via libations and prayers, as well as adventures searching for legendary treasures such as the famed Amulet of Ela'k.
Industry & Trade
During the Alalarían period, the Nanaþans were renowned for their flint tools, carved wooden and bone figurines, and later on traded dried vipló fruits in particular in exchange for palók spice and almond milk. The lattermost was especially sought after both for food and offerings, as the sweet variety of almonds originated wasn't native to Nanaþ'alinei.
Infrastructure
During the Alalarían period, Nanaþ'alinei was planned much like their other settlements, centered on a plaza where elders held their meetings and a low platform where chiefs gave offerings to the nature spirits, with homes surrounding the two. Ela'k modified this layout by dividing the homes into neighbourhoods for each caste, and the plaza was later paved with stone slabs of different colour to form a crude mosaic.
The whole site is now barely visible through the undergrowth.
The whole site is now barely visible through the undergrowth.
RUINED SETTLEMENT
5936 b.Dr
Type
City
Location under
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