Jerellis/Jerelli (Jah-rehl-ee)

Who

Jerellis is one of four primary tribes living in the Lonthan Desert. Researchers across several universities have found, through studying the Lonthan's oral history and what is recorded among the ruins, that Jerellis was the first tribe to split from the others. While all of the Lonthan Tribes have a largely shared history and culture, Jerellis is set apart in two primary ways. 

First, the Jerelli are the most open to trade of the Lonthan Tribes. While most of the tribes stay within the desert, or far west along the mountain range, Jerellis are most commonly found by the border of the Lonthan and are welcoming and easy to trade with.

Secondarily, and what is hypothesized to be the reason the Jerelli were the first to split from the other tribes, is their belief in the Soul system differs from that of the other tribes. While most writing and teaching about the Cardinal Souls talk about the Western Soul as an agent of chaos, by far the least liked Soul, the Jerelli believe and teach otherwise. The kindest way the Temple speaks of the Western Soul is that it's spontaneity, it brings to life everything in the world that is unexpected, but often the discussion in the Temple devolves back into discussions of death, war, and hunger being the direct result of the Western Soul. Jerellis, however, speak of the Western Soul in a far kinder light. When researchers investigated the matter there was a saying that kept coming up From ashes, all things grow stronger. And in this way, the Jerelli speak often of the Western Soul as a Father figure to the Eastern Soul's Mother. The Western Soul in Jerelli teaching is a teacher, a leader, a creative soul that makes things stronger, more beautiful, and more vivid. They say the Western Soul's influence is what makes life worth living. Unsurprisingly, the most common patron soul among their people is the Western Soul, and many of the heads of the Temple for the Western Soul have come from the Jerellis tribe.

Trade

The most common item traded by Jerellis is Rune Ink, which they harvest the butterflies and produce the finished ink to trade. They also create the jars that Rune Ink is contained in, which they make from the sand and clay of the Lonthan Ruins, though the process of creating the glass itself is a Jerelli secret.

The Jerelli, in return, most commonly ask for cloth, preferring undyed cloth that they can then dye themselves, and foodstuffs such as grain and dried meats, which they can carry with them but have difficulty producing.

Territory

When the central countries were less established and before trading routes with the Jerelli began, it was believed that the Jerelli would scavenge in areas now occupied by Geld, Holton, and Viora and travel through the desert to get from place to place. As the countries solidified and borders were established, nomadic tribes were pushed further and further into areas considered inhabitable such as the Lonthan Desert and Surli Forest. This pushed the Jerelli and other Lonthan tribes into the desert. As the countries rose in power and the nomadic tribes were splitting, the Lonthan tribes went further into the desert because it is easier to find what the desert has to offer the closer to the mountains you are, and it's easier to survive the further from other rulers you are. Jerellis, however, began trade with the countries as they formed, trading things they need to survive the desert for items only the desert can offer. When asked why they didn't go to the mountains as the other tribes did, one tribesman explained that the materials they use for the Rune Ink Glass is found along the base of the Great Barrier Mountains and along the edge of the desert "where the air grows wet". So Jerellis tribes (which are estimated to number about 13 different bands of 30 or so members) travel back and forth along the borders of the Lonthan.

Jerellis Bands

The Bands of the Jerelli tribe hold small festivals each time one band runs into another, trading news, resources, and sometimes members before continuing on. All thirteen Jerellis bands meet up once every five years at the base of the Barrier Mountains, halfway between the border of Attan and the Lonthan Mountains as the Barrier Cluster leaves the sky. No researchers or outsiders have been granted permission to attend this festival. At this meeting, however, the Jerelli take stock of their numbers, list the members of each band, and submit a census of sorts to the Lonthan Temple for record-keeping. The records contain careful marking of all births, deaths, marriages, and big events that occurred among each Band, as well as any notes of unique gifts that have arisen, or any prophecies thought to have occurred during the five years.

The last record received by the Temple from the Jerelli included reports of three unique gifts arising, and a prophecy fulfillment that is currently under evaluation.

The Four Lonthan Tribes

1. Jerellis
2. Jaile
3. Emerees
4. Rylan

The Significance of Ash

From Ashes, all things grow stronger.

Though credited to the Jerellis Tribe, this saying is now used across the continent by those who claim the Western Soul as Patron. The Jerelli live by the saying and it defines their tribe, as such, they use ash in many of their ceremonies, festivals, and rituals.

The significance of ash, as explained by the Jerelli to researchers and Temple associates, is that it is both the origin and the destination, it's what all things come from, and where all things one day return. Ash, symbolically, is also a connector to their ancestors in many of their rituals, ash smeared in precise points and patterns along their bodies. Expectedly, the most common funeral rites of Jerellis is cremation.

Variants of the word "ash" are also very common names among Jerellis.

Names

Jerellis names are often based either on Ash or Runes found within the ruins and mountains, a rune assigned at birth by the head of the band. Jerellis do not carry family names, but when they travel from the tribe use the Tribe's name as their last name. The Temple does not assign Jerelli children middle names at birth, but instead a Jerelli child when they come of age makes a trek on their own. Part of that journey includes the Lonthan Temple, where they receive their middle name. This coming of age is shared across the Lonthan tribes and also mirrored by the Surli tribes, see the Lonthan Trekk for more information.

Notable Jerelli Members Among the Central Counties

• The Current Western Soul of the Temple is Ashe Jerellis, raised to the seat approximately six years ago
• The King of Geld has a Jerelli advisor named Ashlyn Jerellis who travels frequently between the Kingdom and her Band.
• Viora has a Jerelli Head of Nomadic Relations names Domini Jerellis who attends several functions throughout the central countries, spending roughly a year among the countries, and a year with the bands.