Karalian

The Karalians are a split group of human and elf-kind people originating from the continent of Vark. They are now situated primarily in the Karalianborg and Rayaz districts of The Archonate. With the exception of a few cultural factors, they are considered - and very well are - gardians after centuries of integration.

Karalians arrived by the thousands to The Archonate sometime early in the GE-era as refugees of war. They came in ships, big and small, some organized as fleets, crossing the one-way waterway that is the Pool of Vark ocean. In exchange for their ships they were given farmland by Archon Isling to settle on, which today makes up the city districts they inhabit.

History

War on Vark

Very little is known about the Karalians before they crossed the ocean, besides the common knowledge that they escaped from war. The considerable fleet they brought along with them implies they were a faction to be reckoned with, and many believe they were once the entire naval force of the Karalian nation. The early arrivals' lack of willingness to speak of their old homes has spawned at least two major theories of what caused the mass emigration: Number one, the Karalian naval forces retreated, and evacuated coastal cities after the war was deemed lost. Number two, a sizable portion of the Karalian naval forces chose desertion in the face of imminent defeat. Whatever the reason, they most certainly must have left some of their own behind. What has become of the Karalian population on Vark is unknown.

The Karalian Knot Shield of arms of Karalianborg

Landing on a new shore

Over the course of several months, one year in the early days of the Gardemoor Empire, foreign ship after ship beached on the north-western shores of the island of Harmony's Landing. On board were weary men and women, human and elves, all of whom had escaped war and storms in search of friendly refuge. And Archon Isling, ruler of a relatively new and expanding empire, was more than happy to welcome the extra manpower. Manpower that would in time turn the fledgling cities of the island into the grand megalopolis he envisioned.

The Karalians were given their own land on the central north of the island in exchange for their ships, and soon established the township of Karalianborg (which in their old language literally meant city of the Karalians). Here they built their uniquely timber-framed houses, painted in all manner of colors, putting their culture and crafts proudly on display.

Their ships were put to good use in expanding the Empire, some of which were still steered by Karalian crew under imperial rule. They allowed for the settlements in today's Avena and Sadinfroe to thrive, circumventing the hard-to-traverse Nairam Mountains, as well as enabling the annexation of the Cravv Isles.

Segregation

While Gardians never saw elves as secondary citizens, the Karalians did. Even though they had been on the same journey, escaped the same war, and crossed the same ocean, a loud minority of the human Karalian population had a problem with the empire granting the same lands and rights to the elves. After continued harrasment, sabotage of farmland, and vandalism, the elven Karalians were practically all forced into their own little section of Karalianborg.

Racial tensions eased tremendously once the two races were separated, much to the surprise of everyone. The elves argued that there was no need to hold any grudges as they would simply outlive those that drove them off, while the loud minority of humans were happy they had accomplished their goals of segregation. Thus came the town of Rayaz to be, a wholly Karalian settlement on Harmony's Landing, with a majority elven population.

A few hundred years after the separation of the two Karalian peoples, the Archonate had grown considerably as a city, now encompassing both Karalianborg and Rayaz completely. A petition was made to reunite the two settlements into a single district of the great city, which had a mixed reception. The people of Rayaz felt a sense of belonging, and would not simply agree to be integrated back into Karalianborg, and the people of Karalianborg were mostly unwilling to change to accomodate them. Ultimately, the petition was turned down by the Archon, who was reluctant to risk any imbalance in his otherwise stable empire.

by DALL-E

Current day

There is very little separating the Karalians and the Gardians today, having been thoroughly integrated into Gardian society over the course of many centuries. Still, there are attempts to preserve some cultural elements, and people of Karalian descent proudly carry on their traditional crafts, attires, and holidays.

Culture

The crafts the Karalians brought with them from Vark has them painted as a colorful people. While generally not as skilled in creating what the Gardians considered art, they are exceptionally talented in making mediums for making art. Dyes, paints, cosmetics, they are masters of creating and adding color to just about anything. This has spawned the popular saying: "Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. But give a Karalian a fish, and he'll turn it into make-up for his wife."