Thalassians

"Our blood is that of the Thalassian; it runs deep with gold."
— Dynasty King Kalaepo

Meaning 'exile' in their language, the Thalassians are a culture of people hailing from the sea. Arriving in Arad having been guided by the legendary Halemica the Conqueror, they settled the mouth of the vast Meleatte River and founded the city of Thripia. They clashed with the native Aradin many times throughout their history and developed a strong penchant for war. They eventually transitioned, through the mixing of blood, to become the people now known as Thripians.

Appearance

Thalassian blood is thought to be easily recognizable in individuals thanks to the deep black hair which accompanies the children of their line. Their eyes were often shades of brown or green, with skin olive or tanned brown. These traits were transmuted in large part to their Thripian descendants. Thalassians were also remarkably tall, close in height even to the Aradin.

History

What lead the Thalassians to leave their homeland for Arad is entirely unknown. Although they were meticulous poets and historians, detailing vividly their travels across the Western Sea and their conquest of the Meleatte River, they paid little attention to their history prior to that. They first constructed the city of Thripia as a trading outpost, establishing rudimentary farms using techniques not adapted to the new land. Eventually, after consecutive raids from rogue Aradin war parties, they began to construct walls, towers and fortresses. Many became warriors and guardsmen. Eventually, their tense relationship with the native peoples of the land erupted into full scale war, with Halemica the Great leading them to an eventual victory, or as some argue, a mutual defeat, wherein they claimed the fertile river-lands as well as the wider Meleatte Desert but conceded the Ranad Mountains where the Aradin could remain. As the city grew in prosperity, large waves of migration occurred as traders, wanderers and travelers arrived seeking wealth. This was thanks in large part to the efforts of the Dynasty King Atrucius, first to bear the title, who promoted the harvest and sale of ichor. As the population of the city grew, so too did the mixing of cultures and blood and within time the identity of the Thalassian people became archaic.

Culture

Thalassians held a firm worldview focused on strength, progress and the overcoming of obstacles. Their lives upon the sea, prior to arriving in Arad, were fraught with difficulty and only those with the adaptability and resilience to survive persevered. They saw themselves as a single culture, less interested in ideas of individuality. To the Thalassians, the interests of their people at large were what mattered the most. They would rally behind great leaders, the most prominent example being Halemica the Great and her first husband and attempted usurper, Oraeteo. Such heroes, as they were known, were often revered in grand epics of poetry and myth. The Thalassians' capacity for great literature passed to the Thripians who greatly value such arts. Thalassians were expected almost universally to be capable warriors as prowess with arms was required to survival in Arad especially in wartime against the violent and dangerous Aradin. The wary and untrusting nature of the Thalassians largely dissipated over time, but was a great driving force in their rivalry with the natives of Arad. Thalassian architecture was often hardy and pragmatic in its design, utilizing square shapes, strong walls and ramparts. Pillars were often made use of to support roofs. The more ornate Thalassian structures made great use of such columns, often decorating them with grand designs. Thalassian clothing, also, was largely practical, typically consisting of shirts and skirts for both men and women. In battle, they favored swords and shields as well as spears. Their boats were long and curved with three levels of oarsmen and pointed rams. Most of their art took the form of sculptural reliefs and poetry.

Diverged ethnicities