Sholi
The Sholi are an ancient people group who live between the Al'salaan and Iajephic - Alyubians cultures. They were mostly conquered by the Orcish invasions, with many of the half-orcs of the region being of Sholi stock. The only remaining Sholi nation, Zammur, is a rump state in the mountain range, surrounded by orcs and half-orcs. Most of the remaining Sholi now follow the Illahi faith, primarily the Al'shahr sect. This is due to being conquered by the Al'salaanic Holy Successor Empires and gradually converted. Those in Zammur, however, practice a sect of their ancient faith which primarily venerates the Earth Mother, known as Damkhic.
The history of the Sholi is rather sad, as it is one of conquest and oppression- not of their foes, but of them. From 1100-1250, the Sholi were conquered in near-entirety by the Jafarid, and although those who converted to the Illahic faith were treated well, those who refused to convert suffered from high taxes and unjust laws. The Sholi were greatly harmed by the civil war over the Empire during the 1250s, as they were far from the center of the Successorship and thus fell under control of rebels, brigands, and warlords who sucked the lands dry to feed their ambitions. In the end, the Uthmarid Empire of the Holy Successors reestablished control over the region, but it would be many years before it recovered. Prioritizing Illahic citizens, they largely ignored those who hadn't coverted, with missionary work convincing many to convert in order to obtain tax breaks and privileges. Such pressures led to the loss of most of the Damkhic religion, with it only surviving in a few isolated pockets. Still, the Sholi lands remained impoverished and largely outside of the notice of the Holy Successors for the entire reign of the Uthmarids. Their fall to the Fatimi would lead to roughly half of the Sholi staying under control of the Al'Shari sect, while the others came under Fatimi sway. This led to sectarianism and division in the Sholi on the basis of religion once more. Either way, the Sholi were mostly foreigners, with just a few tribes in the north and around the mountain passes gaining freedom during this time.
The Orcish invasions were a mixed bag for the Sholi. On one hand, they were freed from foreign control by the Al'salaani, but this was replaced by Edemalik Orcish dominance. In a lot of the easternmost regions, the Sholi were driven out entirely by Orcish settlers. Still, in many cases the Edemalik treated the Sholi better than the Al'salaani. This is testified to by the Jatimurku urukai, largely born from marriages between Qizalit tribes and local Sholi, becoming prominent rulers of most of the Sholi. In the northern reaches of the Sholi, however, things went far worse. The Edemalik who invaded here were caught up in wars with the human Taltas as well as giants, which led to violence towards the Sholi communities despite these Sholi being uninvolved in such conflicts (they weren't far enough north to come into contact with the giants). Though things eventually calmed down over the course of a hundred years, the invasion of the Great Maw from 1991-1998 devastated the Sholi. As the Maw rolled across the land, the Sholi in the region were treated far worse than ever before. Many towns were destroyed in blood orgies, captives were taken as slaves, and entire populations were moved to make room for orcish and demonic settlement. Humans having little to no rights, many of them have been placed into slavery by the Teghin (essentially nobles) or even sold as food to demons.
Despite all this suffering, the Sholi retain a number of different subgroups and isolated ethnicities due to the mountainous and hilly lands they inhabit, though many of these groups are very small now due to the orcish invasions.
The various Sholi Peoples
The history of the Sholi is rather sad, as it is one of conquest and oppression- not of their foes, but of them. From 1100-1250, the Sholi were conquered in near-entirety by the Jafarid, and although those who converted to the Illahic faith were treated well, those who refused to convert suffered from high taxes and unjust laws. The Sholi were greatly harmed by the civil war over the Empire during the 1250s, as they were far from the center of the Successorship and thus fell under control of rebels, brigands, and warlords who sucked the lands dry to feed their ambitions. In the end, the Uthmarid Empire of the Holy Successors reestablished control over the region, but it would be many years before it recovered. Prioritizing Illahic citizens, they largely ignored those who hadn't coverted, with missionary work convincing many to convert in order to obtain tax breaks and privileges. Such pressures led to the loss of most of the Damkhic religion, with it only surviving in a few isolated pockets. Still, the Sholi lands remained impoverished and largely outside of the notice of the Holy Successors for the entire reign of the Uthmarids. Their fall to the Fatimi would lead to roughly half of the Sholi staying under control of the Al'Shari sect, while the others came under Fatimi sway. This led to sectarianism and division in the Sholi on the basis of religion once more. Either way, the Sholi were mostly foreigners, with just a few tribes in the north and around the mountain passes gaining freedom during this time.
The Orcish invasions were a mixed bag for the Sholi. On one hand, they were freed from foreign control by the Al'salaani, but this was replaced by Edemalik Orcish dominance. In a lot of the easternmost regions, the Sholi were driven out entirely by Orcish settlers. Still, in many cases the Edemalik treated the Sholi better than the Al'salaani. This is testified to by the Jatimurku urukai, largely born from marriages between Qizalit tribes and local Sholi, becoming prominent rulers of most of the Sholi. In the northern reaches of the Sholi, however, things went far worse. The Edemalik who invaded here were caught up in wars with the human Taltas as well as giants, which led to violence towards the Sholi communities despite these Sholi being uninvolved in such conflicts (they weren't far enough north to come into contact with the giants). Though things eventually calmed down over the course of a hundred years, the invasion of the Great Maw from 1991-1998 devastated the Sholi. As the Maw rolled across the land, the Sholi in the region were treated far worse than ever before. Many towns were destroyed in blood orgies, captives were taken as slaves, and entire populations were moved to make room for orcish and demonic settlement. Humans having little to no rights, many of them have been placed into slavery by the Teghin (essentially nobles) or even sold as food to demons.
Despite all this suffering, the Sholi retain a number of different subgroups and isolated ethnicities due to the mountainous and hilly lands they inhabit, though many of these groups are very small now due to the orcish invasions.
The various Sholi Peoples
- Pasosedvenik - The northernmost Sholi, within the region conquered by the Great Maw. Previously mostly pastoral with small villages, now enslaved.
- Nehdonki - Sholi people who live in the country of [tbd] as well as surrounding mountains and hills under orcish or dwarven control.
- Karvadrase - Western Sholi living near the river systems and in the lower, fertile hills. Entirely under Urukai control.
- Dabarkalkh - Sholi living in roughly the center of Sholi settlement, in the highland mountains.
- Sjaisi - Sholi living on the western shores of the lake as well as along the rivers up to the Karvadrase. This transition roughly follows the Urukai borders.
- Ochajor - Sholi to the southeast of the Sjaisi, in the drylands and hills adjacent to the lesser desert
- Dashron - The westernmost Sholi, living in highlands under Al'salaani control.
- Dagharki - Sholi in the southern hills under the Great Maw, who were recently conquered and are not yet pacified.
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