Back to History PageIn modern times the Scalathi Empire is a small collection of city-states each ruled by a hereditary shikan. Once a much larger civilization they have been devastated by demon and orc attacks, and the increased presence of humans in Auraton. They now represent a civilization partly collapsed. The diaspora from this can be found scattered around Calamia, but the Ourda region represents the ancient homeland of the scalathi known as the Scalquetlathi Empire.
Many ancient cities of the Ourda have been abandoned and the jungles and forests have consumed their remains over time. Other cities are a pale comparison of their former greatness, although still impressive in their own right, each successive generation building upon older parts.
Once a great and vast civilization of artisans and farmers they are now loosely bonded together in common protection and trade network. The scalathi from the remnants of the old Ourda region are a very secluded people due to longstanding prejudices. Their primairy land holdings are now in part of what once was Ourda, called Mothendar. This region is smaller than their original holdings, but it is a haven for the scalathi none-the-less.
Only two of their cities, Huktul and Jultul, are open to the other races and then mainly for trade. Outsiders know little of the other cities not being allowed to enter them. Each city-state sends a division that comprises the army. The army defends borders, trade routes within the region, and other needs as necessary. All scalathi are required to serve for a period with some continuing as career soldiers. Basic proficiency with one of the four weapon types is normal. Career soldiers have developed several martial styles that include both weapon and unarmed tactics.
There are four military weaponries in common use.
- * Atlatl – spear thrower.
- * Macana – wooden sword with sharpened edge.
- * Macuahuitl – wooden sword with obsidian embedded along sides.
- * Tepoztopilli – pole arm with obsidian tip, used for front lines.
The Scalquetlathi have never become big metal workers so metal weapons and armour are rare. That which exists is from trade, but is not standard issue. Obsidian is used heavily for swords, knives, and pole arms. Armor is often eschewed as cumbersome; they rely on their natural tough skin for protection.
It is believed that other races learned the art of guerilla warfare from them. Some call such methods a form of cowardice, but the Scalathi scoff at such accusations, claiming that nature does not know cowardice, only survival. One shikan had even stated, "The eagle does not wait for its prey to see him, he attacks before it even realizes he is there. We do what we must to survive. Thus is the way of nature."
When in battle, the Scalathi don't care for direct confrontation and won't stand openly in combat lines and allow themselves to be conveniently cut down. Instead, they use the terrain to their advantage, utilizing their natural camouflage to lay surprise attacks, kidnap stragglers, ambush scouts, and whittle down the opposition. The scalathi army can and will amass to meet threats head on if they must, and can be quite a force to behold.
The scalathi are a class based society with a hereditary nobility and peasant class. By ancient tradition the scalathi are ruled by a female shikan, or queen. The position of shikan is hereditary passed to the eldest female child. From the noble and peasant classes a religious class is chosen, divined by the shikan, eggs are picked for initiation during the birthing season. The religious class is the scholars, historians, astronomers, healers, teachers, and guardians of knowledge and lore that give both spiritual and secular guidance to all.
The city-states still produce many fine goods, but at a much smaller, less grand scale. While in older times the classes had more distinction, it is now normal to see nobles and peasants working alongside one another in common professions. Certain respects and courtesies and traditions are still maintained, but much of the work is now shared between the classes.
While the artistry has diminished to some more practical purposes from its heyday, the different city-states still boast a rich collection that compete with each other for distinction. Pottery, stone and wood carving, jewelry, botanical shaping and woven tapestries have the most eminent masters. Polished gemstones and dyes from plant and mineral are used heavily as well as other parts of plants and animals.
Stone masonry in architecture is also a highly prized skill and the city structures are a testament to that, with towering stone stepped temples and buildings. A majority of these buildings, including the shikan's palace, were all built with underwater entrances only. All the buildings structures are complemented by botanical shaping for both aesthetic and practical purposes. Artisans may come from both nobility and peasantry, though in ancient times artisan was a particular distinction for the peasants alone.
The religious classes are the advisors, keepers of knowledge, healers, and teachers for the empire. The highest ranking of the religious cast are the shaman, followed by the mystics, bishops and clerics. Each city-state maintains its own temples but there is also collaboration between the different city-states. They safeguard knowledge and history passing it on from generation to generation, but they are not just archivists. They fill a vital role in scalathi society. They mediate between the people and the land, people and the gods, and the people to each other, including the spirit world, though the shikan has final say if she so chooses. However, the religious class is the conduit for the relationships between the scalathi, their gods, land, and spirit.
The gods given highest regard are Evithanon, Khoridea (Lady of the Sea), Eleha (Lady of the Forest), Pelorin (Lord of the Sun), and Udine (Lady of the Mountains). Temples and shrines to them are commonly found in all cities. Other gods may provide guidance, but their followings are much smaller in general. The scalathi are fairly religious people, honoring the gods as they do nature and each other. Festivals for each of the major gods is an annual event.
Due to their semi-aquatic nature water plays an extremely important role in scalathi society. All major cities are built around water, either next to a lake, river, spring, swamp or waterfall. The most prestigious locations are close to this honored source. Beautiful fountains and built water ways constructed in a myriad of shapes and themes often weave around the central meeting areas and architecture creating a marvel of sparkling flows and tinkling splashes.
The marvel, however, is how they achieve this without containing it in an unnatural way, giving these waterways, streams, rivers and pools natural sandy or rocky bottoms and grass or mossy skirting, with overlapping foliage and an ever favorite of water lilies. It gives their cities a feeling that they were floating on water, a verdant garden filled with plant life and the ever-present flow of water. The water also acts as a safeguard incase of invasion, leaving escape routes and hideaways for civilians. Ancient systems for pumping water have been handed down and are still in use. Public bathing areas and social spaces are commonly found nearby. Scalathi pride themselves on the ways in which they honor life-giving water.
The scalathi are a literate people, having their own language and writing system, but illiteracy is high. Literacy is highest amongst the religious class who also have the highest number of magic practitioners. The religious class are most often the teachers for such things. Such education was once a privilege the nobility had over the peasant class, this has now changed. Masters can accept any willing and promising student they choose.
Since the calamity of the War of the Daishevar the Scalquetlathi have been very closed off from many of the other races of Calamia. They tend to discourage travel through their territory or lead groups around their major cities. Many of the scalathi encountered by other races are either part of the ancient diaspora that scattered its people, rogue soldiers, or outcasts who do not necessarily represent the greater kingdom. They are often either ancient refugees with little connection to the old culture or outcasts who have rejected the great civilization for one reason or another.
Huktul - Huktul is considered to be the first, oldest city of the Scalquetlathi Empire, but it is split in two. The old part of the city nestled in the low mountains next to a large waterfall is closed off to outsiders, it overlooks much of the Mothendar region and on a clear day it is said the Jultul temple can be seen. The newer part of the city lies just downstream across the gorge and is the only part open to non-scalathi. A large market for trading is the center of the new city with inns, taverns, and other services available for travelers and merchants.
Huktul Hot Springs - The hot springs lie up the mountain about a half day's travel. The location is considered sacred to Udine the Lady of the Mountain and the grounds are served by its own small temple. The hot mineral springs pool in a large number of caves and lightly forested areas on the mountain side. They are a source of relaxation, spiritual enlightenment, and inspiration for generations of scalathi.
Huktul Obsidian Flows – The largest source of obsidian for the Empire is found outside Huktul. Sometimes called the Black Shard, the flows occupy a series of ridges that cut down the mountain. Due to heavy fracturing the area glints black light that can be beautiful during the sunset as the low angle of the sun reflects up off the shards. Ancient rumors hold that once an old shaman once watched seven consecutive sunsets in the Flow and then his vision went black and he became a seer of the future.
Jultul Mud Flats – Located just outside the city of Jultul the mud flats have an ancient tradition among the scalathi. The mud flats abut one of the oldest growth forests in the region. The exceptional growth of the forest attributed to the special black mud that is rich in organics. The black mud found in the flats has renowned medicinal properties and sometimes is a place of pilgrimage for a wide variety of physical and spiritual ills. The mud flats are also the only location for the fabled Ayahusca flower used by scalathi shaman as an ingredient for vision quests and spiritual cleansing.
The Festival – Held every four years after the autumn harvest, the Festival is the biggest regularly held celebration bringing together the different city-states for competition, trade, collaboration, and bonding. The cities rotate the honor of hosting this large celebration. There are a plethora of sporting events, craft exhibits, temple summits, and political discourse occurs during the weeklong festival. The shikan of the host city accepts gifts, often food from the harvest or other supplies, from each of the other city-states that are then distributed at the end of the festival as largesse of the host.
The Festival serves several purposes that have been adapted to circumstances since the devastation. One is a celebration to bring the scalathi together as a people. The competitions and exhibits motivate the pride and spirit of the different city-states to excel. Collaboration between different temples helps to distribute and scrutinize upon knowledge's gained. The shikans meet along with trusted advisors to consider the fortunes of their empire. And finally the gift distribution is a way of spreading the wealth and safeguarding the different cities against disaster. The host shikan in her wisdom helps to provide needed goods to each of the city-states and thereby help all their survival.
The Festival has changed from more pure competition in its ancient beginnings to the alliance spirit needed in this harsh age.
Winter cider – A traditional drink for the winter solstice holiday. This is a hard cider made from raspberries and pears fresh picked during the previous autumn harvest.
During a recent Festival the Shikans divined a desire to break with their policies of extreme isolation and distrust with regard to the other races of Calamia. Except for the limited contact with traders in Huktul and Jultul very little is known regarding the state of the world. So breaking with long tradition the Shikans have decided to send out the Camina Mundi.
More gatherers of information, they are like the predecessors to emissaries. Chosen from amongst all backgrounds and professions, they have been sent out by their respective shikans to report back on what they encounter, reactions, events, people, anything they, the Camina Mundi, consider of note so that the shikans can glean the affairs and attitudes outside of the Empire. With no specific assignment other than to make note of what they will, it is expected the variety of backgrounds will provide a broad perspective for the Shikans to reflect upon.
It is not expected that all will return so at least 1 from each city-state was selected and they are to return by the next festival to report their findings.