Taikar val Argata (Leader’s Land of Argata!)

# Taikar val Argata

(Kingdom of Argata)

(Lit: Leader’s Land of Blue Fire)

## Location:

The eastern shores of the Western Continent.

## Language

The people of Argata speak a language known as Argata-Hark (lit: Blue Fire Speak/Talk) which is well known for its rough words, yet gentle “sing-song” way of delivering them. The Argata-Hark language has managed to develop completely independently from most external influences due to the history of its people and isolated location, thus making it quite unique. Another unique aspect of the Argata-Hark language is the lack of words meant to indicate speaking in the first-person. What this means is that the people of Argata literally do not understand, nor have, the concept of “I” or “me.” Instead, they address themselves in third-person. “I am going home,” becomes “This one/(Name) will be going home.”

Also unique to the Argata-Hark is the usage of the dash sign, or Fal-Ëm (Add More). Fal-Ëm is used to combine words or phrases to create a new word or to stress the importance of said word. The Fal-Ëm can be used for titles, names, or cities and overall land. Exceptions can be made, however, in the case of “Taikar (Leader’s Land)” and “Argata (Blue Fire)”. Because of the words taking on an identity, rather than being used literally, they are exempt from the Fal-Ëm.

Above is the Script of Argata (Tork val Argata)

Below are commonly used words and phrases roughly translated to English:

Greetings (Formal): Ätamo

Hey (Informal): Äta

Goodbye (Formal): Galen

Bye (Informal): Gal

You: Sol

We: Sol-Ëm (Lit: You-More)

People: Opran

God: Rinor

Gods: Rinor-Ëm

Adult: Galan

Adults: Galanëma (Exempt from Fal-Ëm)

Child: Mark

Children: Markëma (Exempt from Fal-Ëm)

Wife: Sileliana-Delana (Lit: She Loves)

Husband: Moreliana-Delana (Lit: He Loves)

They (Group): Ëm-Opran (Lit: More People)

They (Gender Neutral Slang): Emeliana)

He/Him: Moreliana (Lit: Rough Skin, exempt from Fal-Ëm)

She/Her: Sileliana (Lit: Soft Skin, exempt from Fal-Ëm)

The: Jor

This: Jorv

Yes: Ost

No: Borla

More: Ëm

Less: Äm

Add: Fal

Subtract: Arram

Has: Tyul

And: Et (Pronounced “ay”)

This one (Substitute for first-person “I” due to lack of first-person words in the language): Jorvask (Lit: This one, exempt from Fal-Ëm)

Is: Rik

In: Gin

Will: Arsh

Now: Uruk

To: Rew

Of: Val

For: Vilu

Happy: Del

Sad: Äwae

Love: Delana

Ocean: Borla-Fullan (Lit: No Land)

River: Morro

Sky: Armola

Land: Fullan

Home: Haal

Farm: Fabu

Fire: Gata

Water: Morroda

Sun: Valenda

Moon: Karina

Day: Valend

Night: Kari

Speak/Talk: Hark

Lizard People: Fulgopran (Exempt from Fal-Ëm, name of the species that inhabits Argata)

For Plural Unless Stated Otherwise: -ëma

Zero: Airo

One: Ask

Two: Klar

Three: Da

Four: Ikar

Five: Nala

Six: Get

Seven: Siet

Eight: Midla

Nine: Perro

Ten: Ask-et-Airo (Lit: One and zero)

Example of sentence:

“Jorvask tyul nala fabu-ëma.”

Capital’s name:

Arhaalvalgala (Lit: Blue Home of Fire)

Note: A person from Argata is called an Argatar

## Religion of Argata

The Faith of Fire (Jor Rarkana val Gata)

The Jor Rarkana val Gata, or The Faith of Fire, is the primary religion of the people of Argata. The Faith of Fire is old, tying directly into the mythology of the culture as a whole.

The Faith of Fire is a polytheistic religion worshipping the God of the Sun, Valenda, which is also the word for “sun” in Argata-Hark, and the God of the Moon, Karina, which is also the word for “moon.” It emphasizes the need for the people of Argata to cherish family and themselves, to love the world so that it may love them. It also speaks about the mystical practice of “setting your soul ablaze,” the act of putting your all into one single goal.

Priests of The Faith of Fire are tasked with keeping the history of the people of Argata written down and protecting knowledge, while also striving for the greatest of all religious symbols: blue fire. Being able to create blue fire is the pinnacle of all religious deeds, and near instantly makes you a Saint.

The mythology of The Faith of Fire can be quickly summarized. Once, there was a man. A wanderer, in a land far away. He wandered the land doing good things, gifted with the ability to manipulate blue flames. One day, he saw a tower on the horizon, and went to investigate it. He found a beautiful woman, kept in captivity by her evil father. And so, he saved her, and the two fell in love at first sight. However, the father was spiteful, and released a curse upon the land, sinking it to the bottom of the ocean. The survivors were led to the land they now call their home, Argata, by the new wife and husband. However, one more curse was placed on them, killing them and forcing their souls to become the sun and moon. Now, the lovers could never be together, forever in the sky watching the ones they saved from the ocean.

## Moral Values and Principles

The people of Argata share similar morals to our real world, yet are a little different in some ways. Slavery is seen as a hard no, tying into the people of Argata’s strong ties to their mythology. People of Argata are known for being gentle individuals at first, extremely open and friendly to strangers. However, provoke a single person from Argata or even worse, an entire community, they will rain hellfire upon you. When someone from Argata gets angry, they get furious.

The people of Argata also lean more towards matriarchal families, though the royal family is exempt from this. Once again, this is for cultural and religious reasons.

The last notable thing to speak about are children in Argata. Never mess with a child in Argata. From the lowliest thug to the most noble warrior, nobody messes with the children. Doing so will lead to immediate execution, no questions asked and no hesitation present.

## Traditions

The Argatar calendar has four months.

Borla-Fabu (Lit: No Farm)

Ost-Fabu (Lit: Yes Farm)

Valend-Armola (Lit: Day Sky)

Kari-Armola (Lit: Night Sky)

On the last day of Kari-Armola the Argatar celebrate “Unita val Gata” (Festival/Celebration  of Fire). The Festival of Fire is meant to give praise to the God of the Sun, Valenda, and to celebrate the sacrifice they made to ensure that the Argatar could live on. There’s even a dance dedicated to it. One man and one woman are chosen to play the parts of Valenda and Karina, and dance from midnight to the rising of the sun with no breaks.

There is also the “Unita,” or Celebration. The Celebration is a simple affair where the people of Argata get together and have an overall day of rest. Members of the ruling class also send out soldiers to find individuals who can manipulate blue fire.

In a formal setting, it is common for the one that is seen as a higher-up to be more polite to the one seen below them, making the one below them respect their position.

When having a feast, it is common for the host to take the first drink, to prove that it’s safe.

## Art

Art is one of the backbones of Argatar culture, from how they speak in their singing way to the way they make their homes. The Argatar primarily use stone in the creation of their homes, with a fire and chimney being almost required for every household. Areas which people settle are planned out in advance to create beautiful streets with painted murals on almost every corner. Fire is also used to light up everything, with places of worship being the most beautiful buildings of all.

## Government

The leader of the Argatar is called the “Tai,” (Lit: Ember), though it is used to describe the leader of the nation, rather than actual embers. The Ember of Argata. The Tai runs the nation with a council of wise men and women with the Tai being given the final choice in all decisions. Five council members are currently present in the Tai council.

The current Tai val Argata (Ember/Leader of Argata) is Ivetarkata Argata, a surprisingly young man at 20 who took the throne after his father died due to disease. He is a fairly kind, though blunt, man, who places the well-being of Argatar above all else. A devoted worshipper of the sun as well, Ivetarkata shares a deep connection with the religion of the land as well, as the Argata family has run the land since they arrived there.

Large swathes of land are separated into Kasra-Ëm (Closest English Translation: States), and handed to governors or members of the council to run for the Tai.

Criminality is dealt with swiftly in Argata, and crimes involving children are the priority above all else.

## Prejudice

The Argatar are extremely friendly people to all outsiders and strangers, though they will start off hesitant as well until they can truly be trusted.

Curiosity is also a staple of the Argatar attitude towards foreigners, wishing to know all they can about strange new lands and cultures and, most importantly, art. The elder generation sees the younger generation as spoiled bums most of the time, focusing more on art than true survival like they had to. Other than that, the only reason an Argatar may have prejudice is the way their horns or scales might be. Longer horns are seen as handsome, and bright scales are seen as a closer connection to the Rinor-Ëm.

## Flag or Emblem:

Blue represents blue fire and the Argatar

White represents peace and prosperity

The five stripes represent the first council made for a Tai