Sakautari people

The **Sakautari** are three large cultural families who live along the eastern coast of Palkyras. They are the indigenous peoples of the region. They consisted of three groups: the Zalang, the Halwakan, and the Naimeri.

The name "Sakautari" was proposed 2,600 years before the Ontemazei War by indigenous activists during Jauparturnid rule.

## Ancient Sakautari

The pre-Sakautari ancestors were collectively and poetically known as the Wehtali during the Sixteenth Age. These people learned to utilise Celestial technology from the ruins. In their desperation to survive the slaughter of the Gauvajuts and with their scrap, they aided the wights in defeating the undead after the fall of Red Ardesch.

They consisted of three peoples: the Aarvong (Zalangid), Wehtari (Naimeri, Kjongkjong), Tiledžon (Halwaknid), and Tahwan (northern Josol, Naimeri). Other nearby peoples were the Utaweh (Uweh'tal), and the Kalung-Jalung (Baunez).

During the days of Sarmelon I, the natives formed a confederacy to purge undead hordes that infested their homeland, the Nandaba Confederacy or Nandaba League. It remained independent due to an agreement by Sarmelon I, but its successors were enslaved by later Vozonid warmongers.

When the descendants and Zio Do drove out Vozonid rule, some Sakautari joined him as his citizens, while others in the east formed their own separate state, which included the lands that make up Peren and Varn Venn east of Siangwaan. Like the Nandabans before them, this Sakautari state of Ingdahan was a federal republic.

## Zalangid peoples

The Zalangids live at the west and south coasts of the Nereana Bay. Many of them live in eastern Gimbarish (where they willingly converted to Atenism), Iruwasa, and western Siangwaan.

* Ikarul, Nabarul, and Narul (east Gimbarish seacoast)
	+ Most of them converted to Atenism. Only some Nabarul in the south and the Narul retained their native faiths, and were tolerated.
	+ They are known in Gimbarish and the rest of the bay as excellent goldsmiths.
* Kaikuring (Iruwasa) - sixteen tribes
	+ The mixed Iruwasian majority of their country are related to them. In spite of their minority numbers, the Kaikuring were the former aristocracy of the realm.
* Rutai (west and north Siangwaan)
	+ Ei Ka is within traditional Rutai domains, so the Rutai language is also taught there as a classical language.

## Halwaknid peoples

The Halwaknids live at the eastern coasts of the continent. Another name they use for themselves is Jomalerika, the "people of the dawn". Many of these peoples worship the sun, the sea, and the mountains.

* Vamende (Varn Venn) - the ruling people of Varn Venn
* Tanaruki (western Varn Venn, eastern Siangwaan) - venerates bears
* Jalanku and Ilankul (southern Peren) - venerates thunder, stone houses

## Naimeri peoples

The Naimeri live between Siangwaan and Josol. One of their languages, Kjongkjong, became a co-official language of Siangwaan, and one of their names for the country, "Mechaljeng", became its co-official name.

* Kjongkjong (southern Siangwaan, northern Josol)
	+ Their own name is Kregjong, formalised to Kriregjong.
* Nomontu (central Josol)
* Iraskal (southern Josol, eastern Azgo)
	+ The southerly city of Jeknawan is one of their sacred sites.

## Other groups

These peoples practice somewhat different cultures and speak different languages, but they are regarded as honourary members of the Sakautari family.

* Uweh'tal (southern Siangwaan) - they worship phoenixes
* Baunez (southeastern Siangwaan) - they are known for their spices

## Traditions

See also: Siangwaanian mythology, Sakautari mythology

Among their traditions include veneration of dragons. During Vozonid rule, they had to name the dragons as "raptors" or "serpents" to avoid persecution, as dragons were regarded as evil creatures in Vozonid religion.

On the other hand, the Siangwaanians were able to get along with the Sakautari because both peoples venerate dragons.

## Known vocabulary

   See also: Sakautari glossary

* anad - not; stupid; foolish
* baikčo - egg
* čarok - to strike, to beat
* čouka - to strike, to hit
* iña/iŋa - (archaic pre-Sarmelonid) a macaw
* ja(n), jo(n) - (Varn Vennian) holy, sacred, lord, lady
* jomalen, jomalei - (Varn Vennian) people
* kating - man
* mang - sharp
* mavu, maru - new
* ngwe - to show
* ratul - (Varn Vennian) city, town
* rueika, rika - (Varn Vennian) sunrise, dawn, morning
* sóng - (Varn Vennian) to look at the rising sun
* šle - sit
* šoik - year
* toma - (Varn Vennian) house
* usi - (Varn Vennian) sea
* wa- - to start doing
* wa-lang - to work
* zốñ, liéñ - (Iraskal) forbidden, keep out

## Trivia

* The author based the Sakautari peoples on the Taiwanese aborigines.
* "Maprisulan", the Kjongkjong name for Dok Saau given by his caretaker, was from "mapuri" and "sulan", Taivoan language words for "white" and "star". Taivoan is an indigenous language from Taiwan.

## See also

* Vozonic peoples
* Kekhaulids