Tilbari

Some have gold mines, we have gold ports. Both bring us fortune, so who am I to complain? We fought hard to keep doing what we do.
So, watch your back in this city. We'll protect what's ours without a second thought.

— Fisherman's Warning

The Tilbari are an ethnic group residing primarily in the city of Gold Port, and along the shores of the Gilded Reefs.

The People

Simple and proud, the Tilbari have lived in the island nation of Stykker for generations. Named for the tilbak, the elusive golden fish which the Tilbari have mastered the art of catching, these hard-working people have built a humble empire for themselves.

A Gilded Legacy

The Tilbari are a people who are deeply proud of the legacy they have wrought for themselves. It was not easily won, however. Prior to Stykker's liberation from the Undmär Council, when the nation itself was Eastern Undmär, the council took notice of how lucrative the tilbak trade had become. When the council introduced oppressive new tax policies centered on the export of tilbak, Gold Port and other Tilbari cities suffered greatly.
Refusing to yield to the suffering Tilbari, a resistance was formed, leading to a civil war which culminated in the assassination of the leader of Undmär's council, and the splitting of Undmär into two nations: Undmär and Stykker. Named the Gold War, this conflict brought the struggling Tilbari back to an economic boom as the tilbak trade became truly lucrative once more, and the fruits of the labor were back in the hands of the fishermen.

Traditional Living

The Tilbari often lead traditional and simple lives, and generally come from generations of fishermen, all of which is well reflected in their homes. Houses in Gold Port, in particular, are typically simple and functional, the people in the city preferring spaces that allow for productivity with few distractions.
Much of the space within these city homes is occupied by designated storage space. Shelving units, containers, cubbies, and more ensure that important supplies, documents, and even knick-knacks have a place where they can belong without causing a great deal of clutter. The Tilbari are not ones to hoard items, but the small and mundane items which come and go over generations of business add up over time.

Building Upwards

Many Tilbari homes have but a single floor, though it became popular after The Gold War to expand homes up and out with the resurgence of tilbak export profits. There are many who build up their homes together with other families and live together in multiple-story homes, with ambitious architecture occasionally linking two once-separate homes into one.
In an effort to prevent the flooding of homes and other buildings, most homes near the water are built slightly elevated on support beams which hold them above the ground. Homes closest to the shore are often built higher to avoid higher tides, and may appear more ramshackle than homes further inland, as pieces of wood need to be patched up or replaced due to water damage.

Culture

Historical figures

Fariah, Tilbari Resistance Leader - Fariah was the leader of the Tilbari Resistance, which led the successful uprising against the Undmär Council in the Gold War. Though many casualties were sustained in the process, the Tilbari found the victory to be worth the cost, however devastating.

A testament to how strong a people can be, when their livelihoods are threatened.

Notable People
Fariah, Tilbari Resistance Leader

Related Myths

• Eating Fish Scales

Related Locations

• Stykker

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Life in Color

Because very few homes in the coastal cities have any outdoor lawn space, there is often little room for native greenery. The Tilbari enjoy living alongside plants, however. To bring life to both the interiors and exteriors of their homes, residents will hang and place pots of local plants in rooms and by their doorsteps, and many homes will have window boxes filled with brightly colored flowers that liven up the streets with delightful hues of reds, yellows, and pinks.
Some Tilbari open their homes as florist shops, where others may purchase their own lovely plants to display.

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Innovation and Exclusivity

The Tilbari have a complete monopoly on the fishing and trade of tilbak, with a fairly steep barrier to entry. That is, if an outsider seeks to take part in the tilbak trade, there are major hoops to jump through in order to be given the privilege.
In order to fish tilbak, one requires a tilbakarin, which is available for purchase only through the Gold Port Fisherman's Guild. Tilbari find it much easier to join this guild, especially if family connections are involved.

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Matters of Family

Family is essential to the Tilbari, as miniature empires are built on the family businesses of the local fishermen. It is far more difficult to break into the trade as a new face, but a strong family history will get feet in the door sometimes without question.
This does not grant immunity for business failures, however, and families have been known to cut off family members with terrible business sense from participating in family trading.