Salinia is an Ehrui tribe that constructs their houses on the backs of , which swim around in the Golthyris Lake Sea.
History
- The Salinians were one of the earliest peoples to establish a community by Golthyris. Due to political conflicts, many communities were driven to the Forodir Skyland, where the Ehrui nation eventually flourished. Of the communities that remained, many chose to till the rich land, but a few chose to take to the water and tame the herds of Oryctodiles that populated the lake sea. These people eventually became the Salinians.
- Prominent figures in Salinian history include the two friends Kyr Wavewalker, the first to ride an Oryctodile (and, legend has it, communicate with them and learn the secrets to their songs); and Sharann Icewind, the developer of the Salinian martial art.
Livelihood
The Salinians make their livelihood by fishing, and steer their Oryctodiles closer to land when they need to disembark and sell their catch. They are also skilled at weaving baskets, nets, and traps which they use to catch fish and other water creatures.
Culture
- The Salinians are adept at fighting with their staves, which they also use to pole their Oryctodiles around, and have developed their own martial art. Each staff is carved with a single rune, which is bestowed upon the user when his or her master determines they have been fully trained. This is either an Elemental (usually water, ice, or air, but never fire), or a Spell rune.
- Oryctodile mating takes place over a span of three days, so the two houses on the concerned Oryctodiles become temporary neighbors. This is called genesis sharing, and the houses spend the three days in concelebration and harmony, as this is believed to be a good omen for both of them. When the baby Oryctodile is born, there is a ceremony wherein they give it to whichever child from either house is eldest, and therefore closest to being eligible for marriage.
Politics
The Salinians have a ruling couple, as opposed to just a male or a female ruler. This came about due to the nature of their livelihood, as fishing and weaving are skills shared equally by both sexes.
Salinia considers itself independent from the rest of the Ehrui nation, but that is not to say they are averse to having friendly relations with them. However, since they are on the water most of the time, the only occasion they have to travel on land and interact with others is when they go to the nearby convergence point for trading.
Nomenclature
Children are named after their parents at birth, the sons after the fathers and the daughters after the mothers, with the respective suffixes -son and -sear. For example, a girl named Fey whose mother's first name is Chall, would be styled Fey Challsear; a boy named Yvir whose father's first name is Gryn would be called Yvir Grynson. When the child's apprenticeship period is finished, their master renames them according to their talent or magical skill--so if Fey were skilled at using the element of air, she could be renamed something like Fey Seawing.