Daeliks

**Daeliks** are an ethnic group who inhabit the island of Serdica, where they make up nearly a quarter of the population.

## Origin

Daeliks as an ethnic group emerged during Asturican rule of Serdica.

## History

### **Ancient Serdica**

The Ancient Delliks first colonized Serdica in 700 BCE. They founded several cities on the east coast, the most prominent of which was Selicyon. Selicyon grew to become the largest and most important city in the Dellenic world. The city began creating colonies of its own throughout Serdica, and many Delliks referred to the entire island as Selicyon. The Ancient Delliks were able to assimilate Serdica's native inhabitants—the Siduri, Sabits, and Takurtum—with relative ease.

### **Tonan, Bergaric, and Torosyan Serdica**

The Dellik-speaking east began coming into conflict with the Phonic-speaking west. This tension erupted into the Dellik-Phonic Wars, which ultimately resulted in a period of relative peace and harmony between the two sides. The Ancient Delliks maintained friendly relations with the Tonan Republic to the north, and when the annexed the island they put up little resistance. The Ancient Delliks aided the Tonans during the Phonic Wars, which culminated in the assimilation and expulsion of the Phonic population.

With the Phonics expelled or assimilated, Dellik language and culture became the dominant culture in Serdica. This dominance lasted through both the Tonan Republic and the Empire. The Tonans only had a minimal presence in Serdica, and preferred to funnel colonists and money into nearby Atria instead. After the fall of the Western Tonan Empire the island was invaded by the Bergaric-speaking Bangals and Osterbergs. The Osterbergs emerged as victors and held the island for 100 years before the Torosyan Empire recaptured it. Under Torosyan rule, the Bergaric people assimilated into the larger Dellik-speaking population.

### **Sarabic Serdica**

Torosyan rule only lasted 100 years before the Sarabs invaded and conquered Serdica. The Sarabs brought with them a large army composed of Terzigs, Amaanites, Numerians, Hiberians, and Parsians, all of whom chose to settle on the island. Additionally, the new Hamir acted as a beacon for other Malumans throughout the Malumic world seeking refuge. Serdosarabic, which descended from nearby Amaanite Sarabic, became the *lingua franca* of the island. Many Serdanese Delliks adopted the new religion and language. The Sarabs, Terzigs, Amaanites, Numerians, Hiberians, Parsians, and converted Delliks coalesced into a new ethnicity: Serdosarabs. The Serdosarabs controlled the island for several centuries. By the end, Serdica was composed of two-thirds Serdosarabs and one-third Delliks.

### **Toutainic Serdica**

Towards the end of Serdosarab rule the Hamir fractured into several smaller kingdoms. This lack of unity provided the perfect opportunity for the Toutains (a hybrid of Nordmans and Leppo-Tonans) to invade. The Toutains admired the Sarab-Dellik culture of the island and adopted it for themselves. They encouraged the use of indigenous languages and gave the inhabitants freedom of religion. During this period the Serdosarabs, Delliks, Jads, and Toutains lived in harmony together. The Toutains integrated many aspects of Serdosarab culture into their rule, including dress, language, and literature.

The Toutains also expanded the sovereignty of their domain. They expanded into coastal Atria and southern Itonia. By controlling the passage between the two halves of the Serephanian, the Toutains became the wealthiest state in the sea. This earned Serdica its nickname "The Gateway". Serdica during this time was immensely powerful and the population boomed.

### **Kingdom of Serdica**

Under pressure from the Cosmas, the Chalcolic religious leaders in Itonia, the Toutains were forced to make drastic changes to their Serdanese colony; reforming into the Kingdom of Serdica. The Toutains agreed to transfer the island of Pomegna to the Church, which settled it with Torosyan Dellik mercenaries acting as the Tonic Army in the region.

The Cosmas forced the Toutains to settle large amounts of colonists from Itonia. They also made Tonic the official language of the kingdom and a pattern of forced assimilation occurred. Many Serdanese Delliks were forced to convert from Eastern Chalceanity to the Western Tonan Chalcolic Church and abandon their native language in favour of Tonic. This community continued to speak their language in private and amongst themselves, allowing its survival. The Kingdom of Serdica had successfully Tonanized the island, although other languages continued to be spoken in private, and the unified Serdanese identity emerged.

Due to Maluman uprisings throughout the island, the King of Serdica and the Cosmas used the Pomegnese Torosyans to expel the Malumans from Serdica. Around 8 million people lived in the kingdom during this period; 4 million were Crypto-Malumans and 2 million publicly expressed their Malumanic beliefs. Those who refused to convert were sent to the Jabruz islands. Unhappy with how the kingdom was being governed, the Maximus crowned a Gallonese prince the ruler of Serdica.

### **Asturican Serdica**

Strong opposition of Gallonese rule in Serdica led to the Serdanese War of Secession. The Serdanese turned to the King of Asturica for help, and he in turn launched a crusade to capture the island. Nearly the entire population of Gallonese settlers were killed or fled to Serdanese Amaan along with the Gallonese King of Serdica. A truce was negotiated between the Cosmas and the Asturicans; the former king would remain in control of Amaan and the Asturicans would control the island. Under Asturican rule religious and cultural laws were loosened. This became the ethnogenesis of the Daeliks who were once again free to use their native language. The Pomegnese began migrating to Serdica as the Cosmas' had neglected Pomegna and many Pomegnese wished to practice their religion and speak their language without the constant fear of persecution.

Asturican rule was notable for its increase in immigration. This period saw several waves of large-scale migrations from Arsinia and Dellos as they escaped persecution from the Husamettin Empire. The majority of Arsinians were followers of Tonan Chalcolism and a minority followed Eastern Chalceanity, while the Delliks were devout followers of Eastern Chalceanity. The government encouraged the Asturicans to settle in the island, bringing their language and culture with them. The king allowed the Hyrians to return to Serdica, settling on the northwest coast.

### **Independence**

During the Serdanese War of Independence, the islanders fought against the Asturicans.