It is said that many years ago, wealthy cities and towns covered the lands upon which we now live. It is said that the peoples then knew much, being advanced in science and art, as well as diplomacy. Whether this is true or not cannot be said, for there are conflicting facts. It is true that there are marvels in this land we call home, great structures and the remains of tools that can occasionally be found. But balancing those marvels is the fact that the culture that created them no longer exists. No Ancients remain to tell us of their cities, or to show us how to use their tools. In this, as in all things, the hand of Edalirin is seen.
In this writing, we will document the ways of those who currently dwell in the Holy Lands, whose name will not be captured with pen, but which each who follows Edalirin knows. We will tell the tale of those who dare to worship in the sands of the desert, who know the value of life and legend, and who honor the Holy with each moment that they live. In this tale, as in all things, the hand of Edalirin is seen.
The Early Times:
Surric was the name of a man among the most noble of those who grazed his flocks at the edge of the Holy Land. He and his sons tended many sheep, and their wives and daughters, honorable and true all, wove the wool into cloth, made cheeses, and gathered the bounty of the land. Surric heard, one day in conversation with his neighbors, of a people living in the deserts who lacked food and shelter, though they possessed great wealth of mineral and metal. So it was that Surric determined to take his family and those of his sons, and travel to see these people, to trade his goods for theirs. In this, as in all things, the hand of Edalirin is seen.
The family of Surric folded their tents, filled their skins with water, collected their cloth and goods, and the strongest of their flocks, and set off into the desert. At first, travel was difficult, but Surric exhorted his family, reminding them of the bounty they would receive upon trade with the desert peoples, and reminding them that each step they took was a new lesson in life. The family struggled on, over dune and across barren rock, until the sons of Surric began to murmur among themselves in anger. “Father has misled us,” they complained. “We will die here in this desert, and all our family and flock with us.” But none was brave enough to stand up to Surric, so they muttered to themselves, but did little else except struggle to survive. In this, as in all things, the hand of Edalirin is seen.
Soon Surric’s principle wife Nayyir heard of the mutterings. She had buried her own fears in trust, but the words of her sons began to make her doubt. She met with them, and with their wives, and all came to understand that they must either change the mind of Surric, and make him return home with them; or that they must leave him to die in his madness, while they returned to the gentler lands from which they had come. Nayyir counseled trust at first, but after many days of traveling through the desert, with water skins shriveling and animals from the flock falling dead by the wayside, she could no longer believe that Surric’s path was the right one. She came to her husband in the night, her hair wild and drifting in the winds, demanding that he turn back for their home; demanding that he not kill his family in his folly. In this, as in all things, the hand of Edalirin is seen.
Surric was angered by Nayyir’s words, though he himself had seen the loss and struggle of his family. “How dare you allow your hair to be unbound, as if you were some lesser woman? You are my wife! How dare you not believe in me and my goal!” He cast her out of his tent, as was his right. But this angered her sons, and they stormed back in, demanding that Surric change his mind. They threatened him with naked blades. There was a struggle, and Surric was injured, one of his sons killed. Surric stumbled from his tent, and into the sands. In this, as in all things, the hand of Edalirin is seen.
Surric’s blood dripped into the sands. He stumbled west, while his family buried one, and turned back to the east. But the flocks of the family refused to travel, leaping about, and splitting, until they were traveling in twos and threes. Despairing of collecting the flock, the sons and wives of Surric’s family left them, traveling back the way they had come. It is said that they died there in the desert. What is known is that none bearing their names were heard from again. In this, as in all things, the hand of Edalirin is seen.
Surric wandered in the desert for many days. Slowly, the flocks returned to him, encircling him at night to warm him. In his fever, ewes offered milk to him, and he lived. When he came back to his senses, he was changed, for he had been touched by the Holy Land, and the hand of Edalirin.
One morning, a glow appeared in the sky to the west. Curious, Surric moved forward quickly, the flock accompanying him. He strode over dune and through trough, until he crested a rise to look down at a small oasis. There, a splendor he had never even dreamed of gleamed in the light of the sun. A large seat, rays of crimson and azure, verdant green and gleam of gold, glittered in a bed of sand. Surric slid down the dune’s face and circled the gleaming object. It seemed almost to sing, as if the light from it were woven into a sweet lullaby. He drew near, then hesitantly sat upon the great seat.
Almost immediately, the hand of Edalirin touched Surric. He dreamed great dreams, of a city by the ocean, of tribes crossing the desert, of men and women worshipping in the Holy Land as it was meant to be. No man knows how long Surric dreamt, there in the oasis surrounded by his flocks, but when he woke, he was astounded to see tents circling the small haven in the desert. Nomads had been drawn to the oasis by a fiery glow that rivaled the sun in day and was a beacon at night, and had heard the voice of Edalirin whispering through Surric’s lips as he reclined in the seat of light. When finally Surric awakened, he looked upon followers who listened to his every word as if they came from Edalirin Himself. And so they had. In this, as in all things, the hand of Edalirin is seen.
Surric’s words to the nomads instructed them to lift the great seat of light, called from then on Tar’il, and carry it west, where they would find a place to build the city Edalirin had promised would show the greatness of the Holy Land. The nomads lifted Tar’il, and they and their flocks, tents and wives joined Surric on his quest to find the place of glory. And on the seventh day of travel, as he came over a dune to gaze down at the sea, Surric knew, as Edalirin spoke in his mind, that he had found the place where the city would grow.
The first followers of Surric labored to build a palace to harbor Tar’il, and to build homes for themselves. The city was called Sakril, in honor of Surric, and of the holy words of the gods of the desert. In time, the sons and grandsons of Sakril traded across the desert, spreading word of Tar’il, and of the wisdom of the words spoken by Surric as he sat upon the throne of stone. Many came to see the wonder for themselves, and were converted to belief, and carried that back to their homes and towns. Those within the desert pledged themselves to follow Surric, to heed the words of Edalirin, and to hold Sakril as their capitol. But Surric had grown old as well, and he had taken no other wife to himself, after the betrayal of his family. His advisors began to worry. They knew that Edalirin would take Surric from them, in time. Who would follow him as leader of the people of the Holy Land? Who would speak the words of Edalirin as he sat upon Tar’il?
The Second Surric:
Perhaps only Surric himself did not doubt that Edalirin would provide. There came, in those days, a storm upon the ocean. Waves battered the coast, rain the walls of the growing city. The storm raged for days, until the counselors and wise men of the city hovered before aged Surric, seated in Tar’il. “Honored Surric, what shall we do? The storms rage. The people fear.”
Surric looked up, and a lone shaft of light lanced down through the clouds and rain to light the gems of Tar’il, sending beams of color throughout the room. “It will be as Edalirin commands,” he answered. “His hand touches all. From this storm shall come the answer to your worry. Upon his line will glory shine. Do not fear. Send word to the people that the storm is a blessing.”
The counselors and wise men spread the word, and the city dwellers were reassured. In the early dawn of the next day, a great crowd rushed toward the palace. “My lord, my lord!” some cried. “A miracle!” Waves had crashed on the shore all night, and upon the breaking of day, a fisherman braving the wind and rain had found a small boy huddled there, a patchwork cloth of many colors wrapped around him. It was this child that the fisherman, along with many who joined him, carried to the palace.
Upon seeing the boy, Surric nodded, and sat upon Tar’il for what was to be the last time. He waved the fisherman forward, and reached for the boy. “Hear the words of Edalirin,” he spoke. “This boy, brought us by the storm, will take this seat next, and through him, Edalirin will speak.” As the boy was settled on the old man’s lap, the storm broke. The clouds parted, and sunlight struck Tar’il, more strongly than it ever had, or so it seemed to those there. As the boy placed a hand on the old man’s shoulders, those shoulders drooped, Surric’s eyes closed, and he passed from life.
Then the boy spoke the first words he had since he had been found. Those listening knew them for the command of Edalirin. “I take the name of Surric for my own, as each after me will do, as well. Take this loyal servant. He will join the sands, and sleeps now with the gods.” So the hand of Edalirin chose the next to sit upon Tar’il, and so it has been since.
Culture of the Sakoians:
The people of the desert know that they live within the Holy Land. It is not for all to live there, for life in the desert is harsh. The people are constantly tested, and those who fail perish. From the beginning, the gods and the desert have been interwoven. The Sakoians are a devout people, constantly aware of the hand of Edalirin, and constantly showing their faith in His will. In many Sakoian cities, the devout travel barefoot to show their respect for the Holy Land and Edalirin’s will.
Children are taught by use of example. Parents spend time in teaching their children the ways of the Holy Lands, and of the chores and duties required to live within it. When a child reaches their Kar'Tulor or puberty, they pass into adulthood. They are brought before the tribe or village, and presented as an adult, in a ceremony where the new adult shares water with the respected elders. From this point forward they no longer live under their parents’ roof, and are expected to add to the community, support themselves, and follow the word of Edalirin in all things.
Sakoians respect the use of water in their daily lives. They understand that without water, one cannot live within the desert. Many Sakoians have used their spittle in binding their daily dealings. In cities, the spitting upon the Holy Land and stomping on each other's spittle is considered binding. Water is also given in blessing to travelers, or to strangers. A stranger is honored as a friend and gifted with food and drink upon arrival, unless it is understood that he or she is an enemy.
As it has been since the time of the first Surric, trade is paramount in Sakoian life. A son of the desert would think nothing of spending hours haggling over the price of a valued animal or work from a craftsman. It is this knowledge of the cost and price of things that makes Sakoians wily traders, respected even in distant lands. Bazaars, held weekly, are one of the great joys of a Sakoian’s life.
Those of the desert strive to better themselves every day, and are rarely idle. They delight in decoration and fine foods. Many Sakoians devote themselves to taking the rich minerals and metals of the land and shaping them into jewelry to adorn both men and women alike. Others use the fleeces from flocks as well as dyes from plants to create colorful clothing or tapestries. Hunts are held to catch the exotic animals of the land, and communal feasts may be held to share this bounty. The food is often highly spiced, a reminder of the heat of Edalirin’s gaze on the Holy Land.
Since the time of the first Surric, he who sits upon Tar’il has been viewed as the Shiaq, or Sun God. He speaks with the words of Edalirin. The Surric’s words are taken as second only to the voice of Edalirin himself, though only in great travail does God speak to the common traveler. Every day when the sun is at its zenith, Sakoians rest for an hour, to commune with their thoughts, to remember the words of Edalirin and the Surric, and to find their path in the remainder of the day to come.
Arts and Crafts
Jewelry
Pottery
Sculptures
Woven Products
Communication
Arrows and Message Scrolls (Distance Dependent)
Drums
Horns
Messengers
Trained Animals
Currency
Semi-Precious stones/Gem
Coins
Money
Water
Food
Plants (Cactus, Dates, Potatoes, Roots, etc)
Meat - Wildlife indigenous to the desert (Snake, Lizard, Bird, etc)
Government (Imperial, Single Leader)
Sakoians believe the Surric is Edalirin. His word is law and decisions are final. The name given to the seat of power is Tar’il, or the Throne of Stone. This throne is made from the hardest rock in all Adellion. The stone has buried within it, thousands of gems. The glitter or brightness from the throne during the midday is so bright; the city is literally lit up in all areas. It is during these times that the “Sun God” speaks the holy words of Edalirin. The throne in itself has sparked thousands across Adellion from all walks of life to come and witness the power of Surric, the Shiaq, or Sun God of the Desert. As the 2nd Surric took his rightful place on the Tar'il, it was quite evident he was still a boy. Knowing he was still very inexperienced in life it was decided then that several of the eldest Sakoians would form a council to help guide the young boy as he grew into a man and great leader. Soon, these men became known as the "Council of 7".
The Council is an important part in the foundation of the Sakoian Government. Though Surric is the sole leader, the Council helps mold the current laws of the Sakoians lands which includes trade, taxes, land ownership and general social laws. As more and more laws are incorporated into the Sakoian Government, the Council records these writings in a sacred book known as the "Bak'rah" or the "Book of Law". The Sakoian people follow the printed word of the Bak'rah as if Edalirin himself wrote it. As with the first Surric, the second Surric will always take care of Sakril and the Sakoian people as long as they understandd his word is the word of Edalirin. As a devout follower of Edalirin, the gift of land and livestock is given to each person to do what they see fit. To show complete devotion to Surric, every season of Harvest each Sakoian donates a portion of their earnings from their previous yieldings to the government. As time went by and Surric became more powerful, people started migrating to the Sakoians lands to follow his word. As Sakril grew in size, it was evident that there was an urgent need for protection of the lands, people, and for Surric. In order to protect the lands from any foreign threat, a powerful Army and Navy was assembled. The Royal Sakoian Navy is the best prepared navy in all of Adellion. The Sakoian War Boats are crafted from the finest wood and assembled by the best master carpenters that all of Sakril has to offer.
Soon after the Royal Sakoian Navy was founded, an elite squad of bodyguards to protect Surric was assembled, which became known as the Elite Royal Guard. These guardsmen are highly trained infantry that are experts in many aspects of desert warfare. They are equipped with exquisitely crafted armor and weapons that is sure to bring any wannabe assassin a quick and painful death. Their sole purpose is to protect Surric's well being. A great Army was amassed during the same period to protect the borders of Sakril from hostile nations. As time went by in the Sakoian lands, clans begun to form along each of the borders.
Nejohl - Clan of the North
Selue - Clan of the South
Ehjwan - Clan of the East
Wel'lay - Clan of the West
The Clan of the North or "Nejohl" has been somewhat peaceful being that they border the Nation of
History
Refer to the posted timeline for Adellion
Current Issues
There are tense relations with the Salanians.
Languages
Adelonic (Common Tongue)
Taril (Native Tongue)
Music
Any percussion instrument
Drums
Horns
Mythology & Folklore
The Sakoians are a very private people rich in culture and beliefs. There are many mythologies that stem from these beliefs. Sakoians believe that all myths are some form of premonition or have some truth to their origins.
People (Daily Life Overview)
The life of a Sakoian is never a dull moment. From the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun, Sakoians are always busy doing something. Harvesting the fields, hunting parties, explorations, and gatherings of rare materials are only a few of the things a Sakoian does each day. When the sun is directly overhead, all Sakoians take an hour to honor Edalirin and his words.
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Edalirin (Creator / Sun God) (M)
Ybobaen (God of the Forests) (M)
Chelad (God of Water) (M)
Glaewen (Goddess of Harvests) (F)
Ethelle (Goddess of Birth) (F)
Qiathiel (Goddess of Evil) (F)
Yealath (God of Death) (M)
Cirath (God of Mountains) (M)
Asin (Goddess of Pain) (F)
Velind (God of Sand/Soil) (M)
Science
The sciences of the Sakoian people are considered to be medium to advance compared to the other cultures in Adellion.
Skills/Advantages
Sakoians believe that everything must have water to survive. Sakoians are born with the natural ability to locate water.
They are considered excellent survivalists in desert areas, having extensive knowledge of the desert. When your with a Sakoian, your chances of surviving deep desert storms is increased by 30 percent. There is only one other culture that can easily deal with the Sakoian merchants this is because all Sakoians have the ability to appraise a item within 5 percent of its actually value. Sakoians are taught from birth to respect the holy lands. All Sakoians believe in this belief. Due to this, many traverse the harsh desert sands in bare feet. Sakoians are unaffected by extreme heat or pain on the feet in any form.
Trade (Import/Export)
(Export)
Gems
Jewelry
Metals
Pottery
Sculptures/Stone
Woven Goods
(Import)
Cloths
Water
Woods
Silks
Technology
Weaknesses
Sakoians are used to the intense heat of the desert. Due to this, many Sakoians cannot survive in places where it is cold. Many Sakoians are easy to catch colds and flu. In most cases, Sakoians die from these colds and flu, as they are unfamiliar with this due to the desert protecting them from it.
Sakoians by nature are a strong and prideful people. When faced with forms of aristocrats, Sakoians are miserable. They lack the refinements of a gentle touch and grace required to survive in the "courts" of the various cultures. Sakoians are a harsh people.
A fat Sakoian is extremely rare. If you are fat in the holy lands it means you are extremely rich or incredibly wealthy. Sakoians believe that one only needs what one should use to survive from day to day. The holy lands will provide all that is needed. Because of these beliefs, Sakoians are always slim and trim. Signs of gaining weight inspire terror into them to literally starve themselves until the weight is lost. Sakoians have even starved to death because of their weight.