Irilani Peoples

The Irilani (people of the desert, in the Irilani language) are a people group that inhabit the deserts, savannas, and mesas of the land of Iringa, otherwise known as The Free Territory of Iringa.

## History

It is unknown when exactly the Irilani inhabited Iringa. It is estimated by Irilani scholars that the Irilani must have migrated into the desert/savanna at least five thousand years before the present day. Almost no evidence of the existence of the Irilani in Iringa has survived from this time, as the Irilani at this point were nomadic hunter-gatherers and fishers. There is only one known piece of evidence which confirms the existence of the Irilani in this part of the world at least 3000 years ago. The rose bush Nirolas, whom was unearthed from a mine underneath the city Ngibamma by Ananda II, and then replanted on a floating island in the middle of a lake to the south, told Ananda II of their people.

Nirolas then asked Ananda about their people. Ananda replied, and learned that Nirolas had heard of their existence. Nirolas did not know how long it had been since they were buried, but it is estimated that this must have happened at least 2000 years ago. The tribe of Nirolas, the Stratiena, were largely destroyed long before the present day. Nirolas is the only remaining member. When Nirolas was a human, they heard rumors of a great nation to the east that match the state of Iringani society at that point in time.

Due to what the Iringani oral tradition has recorded since and before that point, scholars estimate that the first Iringani migrated from elsewhere around 5000-3000 years ago, and then began to establish themselves as a civilization around 4000-2000 years ago. There is no agreed upon date for these time periods. This civilization thrived, and continues to thrive in the present day, although beset with new challenges to overcome.

Just as the Iringani were settling down, The Church of The Wheel was founded by the nun Angang (a common greeting in the Iringani language meaning "I am peaceful"). The Church of The Wheel came to replace the dominant religious, philosophical, and spiritual, worldviews of the Iringani peoples at that time. Angang had many successors over the centuries. At first, they all adopted the name Angang, but as time progressed these leaders began to add numbers to their title. Eventually, as the Iringani language changed, and as there were more and more Angangs, the title changed from Angang to Ananda ("the one who is peaceful" in Irilani).

The church functioned as a way of uniting the Iringani people under a common banner. Though it did not govern their activities, it did bring them all closer together. This paved the way for future developments in the country.

## Language

The first language which was spoken by the Irilani is not known. The oldest known Iringani language is Iringani. It was spoken from around 2000-100 years ago. It evolved into Irilani, and is still spoken for religious purposes.

## Lifestyle

The average Irilani spends their time farming the savannas and deserts for wheat, sugarcane, and cacti, as well as whatever vegetables and fruits they can get their hands on. Though it is also not uncommon to see glassmakers, goldsmiths, bakers, bookbinders, and miners. Glassmakers mostly come from the deserts, and miners and metal workers from the mesas. Bakers and bookbinders can be found all over.

Being a largely agrarian people, the Irilani mostly export foodstuffs. Though the gold rich mesas provide a steady supply of income to the country as a whole. The abundance of granite and clay in the caves and Stratic mountains to the west of Iringa also provides the people with rare and valuable resources for trade.