Lok'talu

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Lok'talu is a formerly independent nation, now a part of Calai of Three Lakes. The nation runs as it did before annexation, however the ruler of Lok'talu is a member of The Pent, and answers to it's Pentsynd. The nation has long been in contact with the old Calai, since the founding of both nations at roughly the same time.

## Languages

Lok'talu used to speak Ek’taleta, a language meaning 'largest ocean', which used subject – verb – object. However, as the entire language was used as loan words for Itoni Script, this has overtaken as the official and commonly spoken language.

## Politics

Leader: Urak’reta, said to be descended of Urak’kota’rak the Guide. Urak’reta unified the peoples of Lok’talu through either diplomatic agreement or winning successive me’le’me. She is a level-headed leader of middle age who quickly rose within her own talu as a voice of reason and strength. Urak’reta has occassionally joined in on a me’le’me, particularly when the other talu was greater in size.

Government system: tribal kingdom with succession determined by vote. All talu under Urak’reta’s leadership have sworn their vassalage to her directly, however per custom the opinions of each talu is considered in a meeting with Urak’reta. Each talu appoints a single representative depending on the particular issue (i.e. deciding what crops to plant for each aiwa or what other nations to interact with). Before unification, each talu tended to avoid having a single leader. Since unification, the talu have all agreed that Urak’reta’s successor should be chosen by vote with all members of Lok’talu eligible for nomination, although most favor the successor Urak’reta has designated. Urak’reta has two sons and two daughters supports her younger daughter to become leader of Lok’talu. Those who don’t agree with Urak’reta instead support the succession of her eldest son.

Law and Punishments: Like all important writing in Lok’talu, the laws of the talu are codified on wooden slabs set in a lacquer that protects the wood from time and fire. Lok’talu operates under 4 universal laws which are derived from either waka’ta or cultural customs.

1.      Do not willing kill another Lok’talu’moka.

2.     Do not lie in thought or speech during a woa’woa.

3.     Do not steal from another Lok’talu’moka.

4.     All contribute to the talu in their own best way.

Punishment depends on the determined severity of the crime. For example, if someone steals from another Lok’talu’moka, but they only stole pottery, they will have to give the item back and not be allowed to participate in nightly activities for 4 days. If someone steals food, they not only have to give them item back and not participate for 4 days, but they also must help the person they stole from in planting. Laws are enforced by designated members of the talu.

Social Classes: The talu is relatively equal and Lok’talu has yet to create a single currency system that would create economic classes. Some importance is attached to your family, and families will often choose to contribute to the talu in the same way, but this is not a codified process and exists only as custom.

## Religion and culture

The Asahumu Polytheism Sect Di Waka’ta is the most common in Lok'talu. It focuses on the seasonal worship of the Father of Fathers, and The Mother of Mothers, who they view as a more disembodied still alive entity, who is completely one. They call this united Mother and Father Ek’wota. Ek’wota transforms between the Father-side and Mother-side depending on the season. In the dry season, Ek’wota is the Father, harsh and demanding of the people. During the dry season, the people of Lok’talu celebrate the element of earth and fire by having large bonfires and dances called woa’woa. Each woa’woa is conducted by an individual community (talu) who have developed their own songs and dances distinct from other communities. Ultimately, though, the woa’woa ends with a prayer to Ek’wota the Father for a swift end to the dry season.

In the wet season, Ek’wota becomes the Mother and brings life back to the world with grace and wisdom. The people celebrate the elements of earth and water with woa’woa centered on the gathering of water into central pool, whether natural or crafted, which each member of the talu then bathes in.

There is no formal hierarchy for waka’ta. Each talu may choose a representative to liaison with Ek’wota and make specific prayers or offerings. Usually a talu will change their representative each season, to correspond with whether Ek’wota is the Father or the Mother. Each talu may elevate certain wota to a higher status of worship, but never to equal or beyond Ek’wota. The first humans are now the only worshipped Wota.

This idea of secular prophets is frowned upon by the arbitrators of Asahumu Polytheism.

### Moral values and principles

The Lok’talu’moka consider slavery, war, or any kind of killing for means beyond survival to be a heinous act because waka’ta teaches that only Ek’wota has the right to take or give life to a person. When two talu desire me’le’me, they will agree on a meeting place in which they will send their strongest warriors to fight until one side either gives in or is so beaten that they cannot continue.

The Lok’talu’moka work hard and play hard. Drinking, gambling, games, sports, and all kinds of revelry are not only tolerated but encouraged, and often an entire talu will participate in these activities without differentiating by gender or age. However, it is looked down on to get so inebriated that you can’t assist in the next day’s work. During work, conversation is kept to focusing on tasks at hand or to plan for what is next, but outside of work, and particularly after some festivities, the reserved conversation topics of work quickly morph into good-natured insults or crass proposals.

There is no cultural principle to separate men and women into different tasks or gender roles as each member of the talu is expected to contribute in the best way they can. Helpfulness, patience, and humor are regarded as virtues while cruelty, wrath, and greed are considered sins. The cultural heroes told in wo’tai are ones who solved problems with quick thinking or skill, only resorting to brute strength or threats when all other options seemed extinguished. The most famous mythical figures are Huwa’mo’uwa the Hunter, Poti’rek’oti the Fisher, and Urak’kota’rak the Guide.

### Traditions

Holidays:

-        1st of the year per Lok’talu’moka calendar, E’wo

-        15th of the year, E’wo’ra

-        Middle of the year, O’wo

-        Last day of the year, Re’wo

-        Beginning of the dry season, Me’aiwa

-        Beginning of the wet season, Ta’aiwa

Rituals

-        Dry season woa’woa and wet season woa’woa

o   If a wo’tai is told that involves Ek’wota as a character, then the woa’woa is known as a woa’le’woa

-        When a Lok’talu’moka dies their body is either put on a raft (if the talu is near the ocean) or placed on a raised platform. In either case, the vessel is set on fire to send the body and wota of the person back to Ek’wota.

Sports/Games:

-        Huma’hu, a game like soccer but played between three teams with two balls.

-        Kua’rak’hu, a gambling game that uses 4 dice played over 3 rounds.

Special Food:

-        Ta’moka’leo, a dish made with a certain fish prepared with ripe berries and a grain as a side. Served during rainy season woa’woa.

-        Me’keke’leo, a dish made with meat and a variety of spices with root vegetables as a side. Served during dry season woa’woa.