Sachara (Sah-KAR-ah, @Sacharan(language))

Structure

Sachara is divided among seventeen clans, each ruled by a respected patriarch. These patriarchs are responsible for maintaining order within their own territory and orchestrating peace with the other clans and their patriarchs. Patriarchs are chosen based on their conduct over the course of their lives. As a result, many chosen patriarchs are the sons or grandsons of prior patriarchs whose values have been passed down. The wives of patriarchs serve as treasurers of their respective clans and are responsible for allotting the clan's taxes to necessary projects that will support the defense and economy of the clan.

Culture

Sacharans place a high value on family, faith, and tending the land. Their first religion involved worship of spirits said to live in the land and sea, and their care for natural order came out of this. When Arba's teachings spread across Sachara, it was combined with many of the same values despite their spiritual trappings being largely stripped away or replaced. Throughout its lifetime, Sacharan culture has placed a high value on souls and the importance of keeping them untainted from evil. During Sachara's spirit-worshiping years, this meant taking only what was necessary from animals, the forest, etc. and refraining from damaging the land. Sacharans were the first on their continent to learn the pattern of letting the land rest every few years. The natural order of things extended to mankind, also, and maintaining the natural order of marriage and family was also important to the Sacharans even prior to Arba's influence. After the Sacharans were introduced to Arba (or Aomlan, as he is known there), they dropped those of their prior practices that expressly contradicted with his order, while maintaining and adapting those that were already aligned with his design and adopting what new concepts they had learned from his teachings. Since growing and tending things is of such importance in Sachara, the Sacharan new year is congruous with the planting season. New year’s day starts early, and the first half is devoted to planting. There’s a grand community effort, with most Sacharans helping in their neighbors' fields once they've finished with their own. The second half of the day, however, is devoted to celebration of bounty, springtime, and coming prosperity. Pubs fill up on new year’s evening and there’s an abundance of dancing, laughing, music, gossip, and drinking. It’s not unusual for the streets to fill with drunkards in the wee hours of the following morning. New year’s day begins early and runs late, often taking place from about 5am to 3am, in order to fit in all of its events.

Religion

Most Sacharans ascribe to faith in Aomlan, but there are those who still believe in the ancient land spirits, as well as those who have adopted the religion of the Piradi and are now Havanir. The only religion forbidden is that of The Ayan, which is considered at odds with any and all of Sachara's accepted faiths. Where Sachara's religions support the well-being of its people and the world they live in, the Ayan's pursuits lead to destruction and death and are entirely taboo to Sacharans.

Foreign Relations

Sachara has a strained relationship with Virilia, its neighbor across the sea, for Virilia's historic enslavement of Sacharans. Relations are slowly improving since what is commonly known as The Sacharan Edict, but there will likely be contentions there for several more generations. Sachara has few dealings with Teraco, despite their proximity. For now, Sachara has managed to stay out of Teraco's way and Teraco hasn't prioritized Sachara in its plan for unification. Sachara and Piradin are good friends, sharing the forest between them. Both respect one another's values, as they place many of their goals in common. The mysterious shapeshifters in between make many Sacharans uncomfortable, but they're so rarely seen as to be little more than myth within Sachara's borders.

Agriculture & Industry

Sachara is known for its agriculture, particularly its grains and shepherding.

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Alternative Names

Ruamar (Teraki), Katodo (Virilen)

Demonym

Sacharan

Government System

Tribalism

Power Structure

Confederation

Currency

Currency in Sachara includes a mix of coinage and produced goods. Sacharan coinage comes in three denominations: sliasc (shell coins), argeagh (silver coins), and oirahm (coins made from a white-gold metal of the same name). Produced goods can be anything from grain, to fruits and vegetables, to woodworked or smithed items, etc. according to weight.

Neighboring Nations