The Human Tribes: The Eyelians

The Eyelians ("Ey'ylians", also called "Tamers") represent a human tribe of southern Sarvonia, whose oldest ancestors lived in a land to the west of Sarvonia where they were persecuted because of their belief that the Gods used Great Spirits found in common nature to speak to the people. They fled the land with very little resources and finally settled at the fertile regions around the Wind Bay, the mouth of the Thaehelvil River and the current New-Santhala. Through the course of time the Eyelian Kingdom has formed here.

Appearance. Eyelians are a very natural-looking people. When one glances upon a human of Eyelian descent it seems as though Nature herself formed them out of her very essence. They are a sun-kissed people, having light mocha to dark brown skin. Their hair, curly and thick is usually always a hue of dark brown, but some even have completely black hair. Their deep, alluring eyes are of the darkest black, yet fear not for the Eyelian eye is ever vigilant and brings wisdom not fear.

Eyelian hair is worn the same among the sexes. Men and women usually allow their hair to grow out, both sexes are usually able to tie their dark locks into a single ponytail and let it hang down their backs. The Eyelians can usually be seen with various ornaments and trinkets on their bodies. They may not flaunt the most expensive of jewels and gems, but any piece of jewelry they wear usually has a great meaning behind it. Little girls and boys have their earrings pierced, women usually wear various bracelets and necklaces, and men may wear wrist braces and necklaces. A traveling Eyelian is often taken as a Rover because of their bright ornaments, although unlike the Butterfly Rovers, Eyelians do not wear more jewelry than needed. They do not purchase or wear items just because it would look nice. Each item they adorn is because it will or does mean something to them.

Being one of the smallest human tribes, the Eyelians are only about 1.5 peds, thought not quite as small as dwarves. They tend to enjoy their height; it doesn't bother them at all. In fact, it is their height that helps them to get along well with most animals, the small races, and dwarves. They do not feel that the Eyelians are as threatening as taller human tribes, so they are quicker to consider them friends. Eyelians are slim for their size, most of them never becoming plump and round in their entire lifetime. But despite their slender form, the Eyelians are very strong. These dark-skinned men have been known to knock their foes back further than most orcs can brag. But, once again, do not let their strength alarm you. The Eyelians are a very gentle people.

Another great aspect of the Eyelians is that they are quite intelligent. They are intelligent in a way that would cause them to survive for a very long time abandoned in the wilderness. Their intelligence seems instinctual in a way, they do not learn how to be smart - they just are.

Eyelian also have the uncanny ability to communicate with wild animals without magic and to tame them much easier than any other Santharian tribe. This is partly a talent they are born with, but it takes a great effort and an endless patience to achieve this as well. A reduced bodily odour helps with approaching the animals, something lacking in the other human and elven tribes.

The Eyelians learn, from childhood, the "language" of many animals, that means to understand their movements, their sounds and their behaviour in a way, which they can imitate to such a perfect degree that the wild animals respond to it, be it to sounds or movements. Most often, this is used to call a beast or to send it away (sounds seeking for defence etc. are emitted for example).

A few Eyelians have even managed to get accepted in a pack of wolves, or others have tamed wild deer with the use of hides to cover themselves. Frequently, the animals which are represented by one's spirit guide are the best understood.

Though the Eyelians have their own language due to their derivation and cannot be understood by people who know only Tharian, they can to a certain degree communicate in the "beast-language". This prevents any non-Eyelian from deciphering a message. This "beast-language" is based on sounds, partly movements, from the animal world. Yet, it is extended a bit, so that more precise information (f.e. about numbers and distances), can be transmitted. It is mostly used for communication about smaller distances.

Coat of Arms/Sign. The Eyelians always have been known as the beastmasters of Sarvonia, which is also the reason why they are often referred to as "Tamers". This special art of taming beasts has been practised by the tribe since thousands of years and also was interpreted as an indicator of power. As a consequence the Eyelian kings always were famous beastmasters too, especially the legendary "Gryphonrider" Taranthir II., whose extraordinary ability of taming the (now extinct and legendary) wild gryphons inhabitating the Rimmerins Ring within a few hours was appreciated and sometimes even feared throughout the lands. Therefore the king's most beloved gryphon Zarathim is shown at the Eyelian coat of arms, which - according to the reports of several sources - indeed was a dangerous monster and only obeyed to the strict commands of its master.

Territory. It is an ancient and possibly incorrect myth that the Eyelians arrived on Sarvonian lands hailing from the continent of Nybelmar. They found the Thaehelvil River and followed it north until they come to a fork. There, on a grassy hillside they began to build their new homes. This eventually became the Eyelian Kingdom, which once spread south to the foothills of the Rimmerins Ring and headed west until it reached the southern shores of Wind Bay. To the east, the border began at the northeast foothills of Argor, stretched south and encircled what we now know as the mountain ranges of the Rimmerins Ring which the Bears called them "Bear's Teeth". The border continued south until it reached the northeastern plain of what is now called Elverground, they once stretched west along the border of the Zeiphyrian Forests. The border continued a little south until it reached the mouth of the Thaehelvil River, then went west until it reached the shores or the Aetryam Sea, then continued north until it reached the southern shores of Wind Bay.

Now, the Eyelians have a much smaller range. Various other tribes who appear to be more sophisticated than the exotic Eyelians now mostly populate New-Santhala, where their former kingdom was situated. The Eyelians have managed to hold onto their capital city Vezash and a few smaller territories, such as Brinsley, and the southwestern region of Sanguia until Chylikis. However, Eyelians can be seen throughout most of southern Santharia, as they have no strict boundaries.

People. The Eyelians of today have lost a bit of their heritage. They are still seen as primitive by most tribes, but in an attempt to regain their nobility many of their current leaders are trying to reformat the traditional Eyelian beliefs. The tribe has begun to mingle more with other tribes, and their connection with nature has taken a bit of a backseat to political and economic concerns.

Regardless, Eyelians remain a very soulful, traditional people. Their lore is filled with mystic beliefs and their daily lives reflect the people's deep faith in the spirits of nature. These short humans are always prepared to share their history and beliefs with travelers. Their cities are always opened for visitors with good intentions. The Eyelians do not believe in turning anyone away, so long as that person is willing to abide by their laws and respect their customs.

At first glance, Eyelians may seem primitive, but after taking a closer look you will notice that they not only have a high intelligence but also keen perception of their surroundings - be it nature or their fellow contemporaries. Their greater breadth of understanding how things work on a general scale surpasses most other tribes.

Eyelians are quite intelligent as well. Their intelligence could easily be mistaken for a high level of common sense. This natural common sense would permit them to survive for a very long time abandoned in the wilderness. Their intelligence seems instinctual in a way, they do not learn how to be smart - they just are.

Eyelians respect their laws and their elders. There is no truly 'set' hierarchy in Eyelian society; all men are equal. Some are just placed to look after the welfare of others. But all Eyelians understand the concept of respect. If you treat them with respect they will hold you in reverence. If you treat them harshly, their warm hospitality may begin to fade, but they will respect your decision nonetheless.

They are usually a very forgiving people, forgiving the offenses of outsiders easier than they do the assaults of their brethren. They take the outsider's crime lightly because they know that the outsider might be naive toward the Eyelian culture. They may not be aware of the delicate balance of things in Eyelian society. But to Eyelians, committing a crime against your brethren is considered a high treason. All Eyelians were raised and disciplined to obey the laws and respect customs. Crimes within a clan could lead to the guilty being exiled and shunned.

The Eyelians are a people that revere nature and all of its facets. They respect all life and believe that everything deserves the right to live. It is not truly their decision to decide who lives and who dies. Everyone should live as long as they do not disturb the balance of nature. Because of their great respect, the Eyelians are very spiritually and mystically linked with nature.

As a result of this bond, Eyelians have the amazing ability to make themselves accepted by the animals by acting and to communicate with them in a way that to others seems magical. By studying the animal, Eyelians are able to learn their 'language', speaking to the animal in the tongue of the beast. Hence, they have a tremendously efficiency in taming such beasts. Eyelians are not limited to any certain type of animal, as long as it has some way of communicating with another of its species. An Eyelian cannot ‘command’ an animal to do something through speech, but they can probably achieve their goal by engaging with a beast, being accepted by it, and later making a "request" when needed.

Eyelian society is divided into three different clans. These clans are closely knit, and come together in times of crisis, although there does seem to be a small amount of political competition when it comes to choosing Eyelian leaders. There are various differences between each of the clans. There is no exact way to classify these people as a whole; each clan has a different view on life and on how to run their lives. The Eyelian clans are as follows:

Culture. The Eyelian culture is widely regarded as a culture that has retained much of its unique identity, even while bending and adapting to new lands. And even though it was thousands of years ago when the Eyelians made their pilgrimage from parts unknown, they are still regarded as "foreigners" and face many cultural barriers, even in this age of unification. But the ways the Eyelians have integrated and blended with the rest of the Kingdom of Santharia are numerous. No longer do the majority of Eyelian cities communicate with the Ha’hap drum. They now communicate the same as any Proudman or Averonnian, be that by courier or wynd racer. From humble hunter beginnings, the Eyelians have developed into a sophisticated, cosmopolitan people with a strong link to their roots and the natural world.

The Eyelians are noted for this amazing understanding of nature, exemplified by the "familiars" (tamed animals) they share a bond with, which they call "Bo’en". Families look upon their bo’ens not as pets, but as members of the family - albeit with wings, fur or claws. Bo'ens can generally look after themselves, and some (the larger predators) will leave the city limits to find food. Also the larger animals rarely stay with the Eyelians. In cities with high concentrations of Eyelians, any Tamer can rent out a stable space for relatively cheap. These specially designed stables will often be strongly reinforced, so the beasts will not mingle or escape.

These Bo'ens are extremely important to the Tamers - evidenced by the observation that some Eyelians even possess a remarkable resemblance to their natural brethren. Hence, the alertness and tufty hair common to those with birds and the unnatural strength to the Tamers who have tamed a larger animal, like a bear. This could, of course, only be a mix of coincidence and exaggeration, but to the Eyelians, it is a commonly accepted "Old Wives’ Tale".

Family Structures. Eyelian hierarchy seems based on nature, with the Patriarch and the Matriarch commanding equal respect, much as their counter-parts in a wolf pack would. - They share the Patriarch/Matriarch dynamic with wolves, and resemble herd animals like horses, in the way that their society shows little discrimination, and much equality. The mother and father, for instance, are held as equals, a twist rarely seen in modern Sarvonia. For instance, the Shendar are inclined to be matriarchal, while the Erpheronians are a male-dominated society.

Another difference between Sarvonian and Eyelian society is that Eyelian society has a great deal more equality - there are no serfs and vassals, all men and women are equal. This is most likely an extension of family life. As in Eyelian communities, everyone in an Eyelian "nest" watches out for one another. Everyone, from the smallest cub (Eyelian vernacular for child) to the oldest owl (a common epitaph for the wise elders) finds a safe place to lay their heads at home, surrounded by a multitude of loving guardians, from bo’ens to uncles.

Eyelian families tend to be composed of the aforementioned parents, approximately two to four children, as well as the man's family. In the woman's family, if there are no men in their prime left to support the family, the eldest remain in charge, and represent the center of the family.

One may wonder why the new couple suddenly "takes charge" of the family. One wonders this, because one is not an Eyelian. To the Eyelian, this all makes perfect sense. It is the responsibility of the young in their prime to get married, and carry on their family's line. It is then the role of the couple to also take charge of the family's finances and well-being. At that point, it is the elders' job to step aside as the Patriarch and Matriarch, and fill in a new family role. Of course, no Eyelian would seek marriage without parental consent, so dissent from these three rules is nigh unheard of.

It is the role of these parents to support the very large Eyelian families. In older, traditional settlements, the parents are the hunters and gatherers, while in modern Eyelian homes, the parents are the primary workers, with live-in uncles and grandparents providing only a supplemental income. However, everyone in an Eyelian family is expected to help in some way. And with a family as big as an Eyelian’s, tasks tend to get done!

The uncles and aunts often bring in supplementary income, and are expected to help guard the homestead in traditional communities. This additional income is often found in the form of sustenance farming, small-game hunting, or perhaps free-lance work in certain crafts. Amantry is also a popular choice. Not all of the work the relatives do is meant to bring in income - uncles often act as “Wa’ahdens”, or sentinels. The task of a sentinel is one of extreme importance to traditional Eyelian communities. These communities tend to be in isolated, rural, areas, without a battalion of soldiers within calling distance. Attacks can come from any direction. The coast brings pirates, the roads brigands, and the woods bring hungry wolves and giant rats.

Another important task done by the uncles and aunts which brings in no immediate income is teaching the children. As the parents are often away at work, or busy rearing the children in other ways, the task of teaching the young specific crafts often falls to the aunts and uncles. This teaching is often done as the aunts and uncles work. If there are no uncles or aunts in the family, then this job falls to the Elders.

Any Eyelian quickly becomes a “ju’ek’atra’ad”, an Eyelian epitaph for one who holds a basic smattering of many skills, yet has mastered none. These children will of course learn their parents’ crafts, as will a child in any culture. But in an Eyelian family, there are many crafts to be learned. For instance, many young girls pick up amantry from their aunts, and boys learn the tasks of a sentinel from their uncles. As far as actual chores go, however, the children tend to be given simpler jobs, like cleaning, and chasing birds from the fields.

While the elder’s also aid in the teaching of children, they do so on a much larger scale. The old act as “sharers of wisdom for the whole family”, imparting valuable advice, and solving conflicts between families, and within them. In an Eyelian community, the elders are highly valued, both as teachers and mediators.

Please note that this family dynamic is not set in stone. For instance, the elders live with the male child who has married first. This means that his brothers will not have an elder living in their family. Also, due to the fact that the daughter's family does not move with her, there are families where the financial responsibility sits on the the unmarried brothers, and very rarely, the unmarried sisters. However, there is tremendous pressure in Eyelian society to marry young, so the only discrepancy commonly seen is the lack of an in-house elder. However, this is not a tremendous disadvantage, as closely related families will often live in close proximity, forming an almost clan-like bond.

Keep in mind, traditional and cosmopolitan families are drastically different. Traditional families tend to be part of a much greater whole, with the "entire pack raising the cub" as it were, while modern families are more often separated from other Eyelians. However, in cities with large Eyelian populations, the families often band together in ethnic neighbourhoods. These "Tomo’odons", or "whole worlds", are very close-knit, and often feature beautiful landscaping. They also feature unique "stables", also called "Tomo'ay'els". These stables are homes for the neighbourhood's larger bo’ens. For instance, in an average Tomo'ay'el, one may find gryphs, wolves, or even tagers. In non-Eyelian cities, these areas are harshly guarded, mainly from the villagers' fears. The proximity to these dangerous creatures can indeed be a cause for fright. However, these Tomo'ay'els are becoming less common. The urbane Eyelian has adopted more socially acceptable bo’ens for the purpose of gaining trust, but mostly for convince. These bo’ens often include completely mundane animals, like dogs and cats.

Eyelian families tend to follow a similar schedule. Meals tend to be very important group affairs. Over a dinner of roasted taenish and kellian, the elders share stories, often in the language of the beasts. These stories are not "stories" as we know them - due to the primitive nature of the beast-tongue, they are more a series of concepts presented in a logical order. For instance, the tale of a great hunt would begin with the concept of hunger, moving to the concept of desire, the concept of excitement, and the concept of achievement. While a large Eyelian family growling, clucking, snarling, and laughing may seem strange, it perhaps grows stranger as a wolf pads near, a pair of stormcrows settles in the rafters, and four tiny lizards scamper to their child masters. But this is an average Eyelian meal, and it happens three times a day.

Possessions. Quantity of material possessions is not of great importance to Eyelians, but every item an Eyelian owns holds special importance to him or her. These items tend to be things like jewelry, weapons, and trinkets. Jewelry is perhaps the most common possession. Many Eyelians own many rings, necklaces, and bracelets, each celebrating different occasions. These items are commonly given as gifts on birthdays, and as tokens between young lovers. Weapons are also popular gifts, and are handed down from father to son. One spear haft may be as many as four generations old, the spearhead replaced whenever needed. Often, the arrow used for a hunter's first kill is saved, and placed in a spot of honour in the Eyelian home. All other tools and valuables, like plows and lumber axes are owned by the community. Generosity is a chief virtue for Eyelians, or as they say it "One wolf’s kill is the whole pack’s meal".

Freedom. Freedom is an integral part of Eyelian society, especially to the Bear clan. While some cultures prefer rigidity and daily schedules, Eyelians prefer to simply know when they must work, and spend the rest of the time in spontaneous leisure activities. The Bear clan, as the most creative of the three places great importance on this leisure time, and has used it to compose some of the greatest pieces of artwork seen in Southern Sarvonia. All Eyelians are free to pick their own trade, and the concept of a "family-owned business" is a completely foreign one.

Eyelians enjoy a great deal of leisure time, as chores are widely split up. This time is often spent learning songs and drum tattoos (pre-composed beats or rhythms), or seeking an animal to call friend and bo’en.

Consequences/Advantages. Eyelian culture is well preserved, through their strong oral tradition, and ancient family ties. This is what has saved Eyelians from losing their beliefs and traditions as they have become increasingly cosmopolitan, to the point of assimilation in some areas.

The strong family ethic is one that allows every Eyelian to sleep soundly, as uncles and aunts stand guard, and a veritable army of animals lies in wait for predators. The gratitude owed to these animals is so great that the beast has been placed on a pedestal in Eyelian culture, creating a healthy respect for Caelereth and all its inhabitants.

A combination of many factors, such as plentiful hunting, large families to help spread the work around, and no great desire for materialistic wealth, has allowed Eyelians to produce some of the greatest artists, philosophers, and musicians in all Sarvonia. It seems these factors are ones that could and should be emulated by other cultures, not only for the sake of saving tradition, but for the sake of the natural world. [1]

Housing. Depending on what clan you visit you will see different structures. The Wolf Clan likes stone structures therefore you will see homes and fortresses built of stone. The Bear Clan uses the earth more than other materials, so the Bears' homes and fortresses are made of hardened mud and earth. The Eagle Clan prefers the comfort of wood so their homes and fortresses are made of wood.

An important location is the so-called "Lodge of Purification": Depending on what clan, it is basically an enclosed area with a large fire pit filled with rocks in the center. Participants are required to remove all clothing and sit in a circle. The elder of the clan then passes a brown sticky substance to each participant while saying a chant. The participant then takes the substance and eats it. This substance, called "Etoyep", is supposed to help the participant see the Great Spirits or visions of the future. Water is poured upon these heated rocks and the steam is meant to sweat out all impurities from of the participants so that they are clean, both physically and spiritually. The Temple of Colthoi seems to have been the Lodge of Purification for the Bear Clan. Though that has not been proven the ruins and artifacts found in the area point in that direction.

Of course in today's United Kingdom of Santharia Eyelians have mingled with other tribes to a great degree, so that the original lodgings of the Eyelians cannot be found anymore to a predominating extent in the countryside of the Sanguian province. Many Eyelians live already in villages and towns like other Santharians do and have also accustomed to habits of other tribes, their typical Eyelian orientations and alignments being reduced to a minimum. Nevertheless there are still various places around the Rimmerins Ring, where you can find whole swathes of land tucked into the mountainside where Eyelians have preserved their traditions in the most original form. Here you will encounter all the Eyelian traditions of the different clans, which you can also discern easily by judging the way their homes are built.

Clothing. The Eyelians once wore very little clothing. In ancient times they could be seen walking around naked without worry of who was seeing them. Now, as times have changed, they tend to wear a great deal more clothing, however there are still traces of their natural inclination to walk around in nothing at all.

The common item of clothing is a sleeveless shirt for both sexes, as well as short skirts for both, or loose pants for the men. One thing all items of clothing have in common is that they are made out of very light, flowing material. Most Eyelians do not enjoy the feeling of tight, binding clothing. The material does not restrict their movement and gives them a sense of freedom. They tend to wear soft sandals made of deer hide and tree bark, and some even wrap scarves around their heads.

Also worth mentioning are the Tribal Markings: The descendents of each of the three clans usually have various markings that set them apart from one another: The Wolf clan often gets the mouth of a wolf exposing its fangs on their arms or chest, the Eagle clan has an eagle’s talons stretched out in the same area, and the Bear clan usually has the claws of a bear imprinted on their bodies with dark, nor'sidian ink.

Diet. Eyelians eat just about anything. Even though they worship the spirit of the wolf, eagle and bear they realize these animals eat meat and so do they, including those animals they worship. They understand that the animals were placed in the world for a reason, and that was to provide sustenance for the people. However, they do so for sustenance only and not for sport. Eyelians will oppose anyone they think is harming nature or the animals if they believe it is being done out of pure sport or maliciousness.

Besides meat, they are also an agricultural people. Eyelians tend to have vast farms in the flatlands of their territory. Here they grow wheat, a bit of carroots, peasecods, and even doch nuts. Eyelians have garnered quite the taste for doch nuts, and many young children can be seen carrying shirts full of the tasty little nuts.

Weapons. The Eyelians mainly use simple weapons such as staff, bow and spear. Their main weapons are the animals themselves though they can call to their aid, which can be most any kind of wild animal around. It is often feared, that if a major battle was to occur, the Eyelians could well have formidable weapons in their animals friends.

In addition to the above, Eyelians cannot simply call forth any animal out of the forest to fight for them. While they must be able to speak the language of the beast, they must also be able to understand the nature of the animal. A bit of magic intermingled with common sense, no inexperienced Eyelian would simply be able to call a pack of ravenous wolves to fight for them. Although with time, even the most inexperienced beast tamer could learn to develop the necessary bond and power to do so.

Occupations. The dominant and most prominent occupations in Eyelian society are those of religious leaders, and those with beast-training positions.

Education and Gender-Related Occupations. Eyelian children are taught differently depending on where they live. In traditional communities, the teaching is lorded over by a select group of elders, imparting the wisdom of the natural world, coupled with the task of learning a trade. Eyelian children often pick their craft early in life (around age 12 or so), and devote their lives to it. Eyelings (Eyelian children, sometimes affectionately known as "cubs" or "jsals") who have a fondness for the earth learn which crops grow best in which season, and what plants are too finicky for the native soil. These cubs are often taken to the fields, and participate in the harvest as much as possible. They will spread seed, till the earth, and scare away the crows. The latter job is a favourite among young cubs, who often favour a roar or howl to frighten birds away. Eyelians who live near the coast can have very different jobs as farmers. These land-keepers will often harvest not grain and vegetable, but salt from the ocean itself. This is a popular choice for cubs in certain communities, as it grants the young ones a chance to sneak away and play in the ocean’s surf and waves.

Cubs who show a talent for leadership are encouraged to lead the “gangs” young Eyelians form. The word gang does not carry the negative connotation it does in many other cultures. In the Eyelian tounge, “tomo’ajsal” is the word for gang, and actually means something approximate to “world of the young”. The members of individual tomo’ajsals frequently engage each other in play combat, shows of strength and enurance, and frequent footraces.

Some Eyelings even strive to be counted among the beast-masters, and those who show a prodigious talent for the beast-tongue are taken in by the Beast Master of the tribe. The beast-masters will teach the young Eyelians the nuances of the beast-tongue, for instance, how body language can change the meaning of individual grunts, and how certain chirps will have different meanings to different birds. Becoming a Beast Master is a long journey, often requiring frequent forays into the forest, but the rewards can be great.

By the age of sixteen, an Eyelian is prepared for his line of work, and may even be thinking about finding himself a wife, and starting his own pack. However, Eyelians rarely have children until at least age 18. The two years in between are used for the parents of the future parents to teach the art of child-raising to the new couple.

These traditions are similar in urban areas. However, there tend to be more opportunities for these children. Every year, it seems, less city-cubs want to leave town for the old ways, and more want to strike it rich as merchants.

Government. Unlike most, the leadership of a clan is determined not by lineage but by whom the Great Spirit of whatever clan they belong to determines. The White Wolf, Great Bear or Golden Eagle determines who the leader of the clan will be. The way that the members prove to be worthy of leadership is that after the previous leader dies then those who think they should be his/her followers go into the Lodge of Purification (see Housing) at the time of the full moon. They stay there until the next full moon. The one that has been chosen by the spirit to lead their clan is "touched physically".

From what the historians can determine from the fragments of records to be "touched physically" means that the member who was chosen is struck with a physical feature and an enhanced sense that they did not have when they entered the Lodge, e.g. elf-like ears and a heightened sense of hearing, and teeth resembling the fangs of a wolf. for those of the Wolf Clan. Clawed fingers or malformed feet, and enhanced strength for those of the Bear Clan. Golden, narrow eyes and extremely keen, almost supernatural eyesight for those of the Eagle Clan. These are just some examples. There may have been others but the historians have only been able to decipher these so far.

This is an extremely mysterious event, and not many outside of the Eyelian people have ever been close enough to provide an accurate account of an Eyelian being 'touched physically'.

Production/Trade. Eyelians are not very fond on trading with other kingdoms and tribes, but they are well aware of how vital it is to their economy. Most of their trading occurs within the capital, Vezash. The most modern city of the ancient Eyelia except New-Santhala, at times the city can be crowded with merchants both native and foreign attempting to make a profit.

The Eyelians have very stable trade relations with the Quaelhoirhim elves, trading various gems and jewels for Quaelhoirhim glass and gold. Plus the Quaelhoirhim make beautiful swords and magnificently made rugs that the Eyelians can't seem to resist. Due to their good relations with the Quaelhoirhim, the elves have helped the Eyelians to form a stable, long distance trade relation with the Aellenrhim elves in northern Santharia. The Eyelians trade salt from the ocean shores for various woven fabrics from the Aellenrhim. And in recent times even the Sanhorrhim have sailed from their ports in the Cyan Sola Bay to trade small ships, silver items and fish with the Eyelians. It is believed that these elven tribes enjoy trading with the Eyelians because of the hospitable and peaceful dispositions they share.

Due to the fact that Eyelian women are fond of the spermaceti produced by Avennorian fishermen, the two tribes have begun to strengthen their trading ties. The Eyelians are also quite fond and intrigued by the ivory tusks of whales that Avennorian traders often bring with them.

Also due to their fondness of gold, the smooth-talking Eyelian merchants have managed to form a wonderful trading relation with the Boltgrumm dwarves in order to gain access to the gold that is heavily laced throughout the Kairgrumerons in the Kairian Teeth.

The Eyelians also have great trade relations with the Varcopasians in Varcopas. The Eyelians travel to the port of Chylikis where they trade salts, fabrics, and various other goods. Varcopas is where the Eyelians get access to most of their goods from Milkengrad and Thalambath.

The Quallian however holds the Eyelians' most admired trade partner. The Ylfferhim are highly liked by the Eyelians due to their extreme care to co-exist with the forest. Here they often purchase clay, marble, and emerald for decorative and constructive purposes. They are also allowed to select several dozens of Eyelian farmers to pick fruits from the many trees that grow within the Quallian.

Natural Resources. The land that the Eyelians live on does not possess a plethora of resources for them to use. The land is fertile; their moderate climate perfect for growing grains.

Ancient Eyelians also had access to the Aetryam Sea, so their descendants are able to catch some rather large fish. They also have various gold mines that they have purchased from the Quaelhoirhim, which can be found in the western edges of the Zeiphyrian Forest. Eyelians are also able to purchase large amounts of gold for a lowered price from the Kairian Teeth due to their good relations with the Boltgrumm dwarves. They have a small variety of game, such as bears, rabbits, owls, deer, eagles, and wolves, plus other small mammals and reptiles.

Eyelians are also able to gather various minerals in the Rimmerins Ring. This large mountain range and trail of valleys has mineral resources the Eyelians are able to take advantage of. Minerals that they mine in the Rimmerins Ring include copper, herne, tin, and lead. They can also gather burning stones, stones with magical properties at the Argor volcano in the northeast.

Belief. The Eyelians came from the west with their belief of Father Sky and Mother Earth, who have created the "Great Spirits". While living in Santharia they learned about the twelve Santharian gods and in the course of time, both beliefs mixed; they adopted - or were forced to do so - the Santharian, without neglecting their old one. As time passed on they both changed to form the current Eyelian belief. Father Sky became Grothar; Mother Earth became Jeyriall. The two came to be known as “The Two Gods”, and are said to be joined in an unbreakable marriage, in contrary to the belief of southern tribes by the way, that Grothar is the lover of Baveras, Goddess of the Sea.

The Clans all believe in what they call the Wat'a'kan or the "Great Spirits." They believe that the Two Gods created several important spirits to watch over the Eyelians and to send the prayers of the Eyelians to her. The main spirits that they worship are known as the “Three Great Spirits”: The White Wolf, the Great Bear and the Golden Eagle. The Eyelians believed that when they founded their first settlement, these three spirits gave them knowledge from the Two Gods, which they needed to live such as the use of fire, tools, etc. The Great Spirits come in many forms; there are spirits that reside in plants, although most have chosen the animals. All of them are messengers of the Two Gods and it is through the spirits that the Eyelians receive their wisdom and spiritual renewal from the Two Gods.

A few Eyelians have turned away from this belief in Great Spirits, seeing it as primitive. Modern men often look down upon the Eyelians because they think the Eyelians believe that Grothar and Jeyriall are unable to present a message for themselves. The Eyelians are fully aware of the power of the god and goddess and respect and worship them far more than they worship the Spirits. However, they do believe that the Two Gods use the spirits in order to send messages to them. The Great Spirits are their lips, and the Eyelians are the listening ears. Eyelians do not believe that the Great Spirits reside on the same plane as the Two Gods. They believe that the Great Spirits and the entire spiritual realm is a level between the mortal men and the immortal Gods.

Holidays, Festivals and Observances. The Great Spirits are also the ones that lay out the basics of the plan the Two Gods have for an Eyelian’s life. In order to receive that plan the Eyelians must go through various spiritual times. - There are three spiritual times in their lives:

Nomenclature. Eyelian is a unique tongue in Santharia, derived from a mix of ancient Nymbelmarian languages and the language of beasts. While this language has been mainly "Tharianized", the alphabet itself remains different, containing no equivalent of D or X. As such, names in Eyelian are often difficult for others to pronounce, and tend to follow a completely different pattern of syllables than that of the Sarvonian tribes. Ns-, Mr-, and Slk- are all syllables completely unique to the Eyelian tongue, and are all commonly used in names. Other grammatical and phonetic differences contribute to the Eyelian Sarvonian linguistic divide. Firstly, double vowels are a common feature, though they are always separated by a break, written as an apostrophe. (a’a, i’i, e’e, a’em, and even a’e’i, pronounced Ah-EE-ih). Double consonants - like the aforementioned Ns and Mr, as well as the suffixes - are also common, though, conversely, they are never separated by an apostrophe. This makes Eyelian names difficult for outsiders to read or pronounce first try.

Eyelians are named in a three-part naming system:

Male Names. Below we provide you with a short list of basic masculine syllables used in Eyelian Nomenclature:

Female Names. Below we provide you with a short list of basic feminine syllables used in Eyelian Nomenclature:

History. The first settlements of the Eyelians are said to have been founded a long time ago, at approx. ten or eleven millenia before the ascension of Santhros to the Santharian throne:

The Eyelian Kingdom which formed over the course of time comprised of three clans as they called them:

We know from the fragments of records of the only surviving descendants of the Wolf Clan, that the Eyelians as a whole were extremely territorial yet friendly people. They usually did not bother anyone crossing their lands but if their lands were being encroached upon no matter what border the other two brothers would come to the other ones aid. It was probably such an encroachment that banded the clans to finally form the Eyelian Kingdom. What this threat was or from whom that encroachment came from has been debated; either the Kyranians on the northern border started a land war or another theory is that there was a bitter feud between the Clans descendants and the Sophronians. What that feud may have been is not known and nearly impossible to re-construct, but speculation of the Sophronian tribe splitting around ca. 10665 and some Sophronian women finding acceptance within the Clans may have been the reason for this feud.

TIME TABLE OF THE EYELIAN MEN ("TAMERS")

THE ERA OF CATACLYSM (YEARS 9.500 B.S. - 8.500 B.S.)
ca. 8850 b.S.	The Eyelian Attack on the Sheyaur Eyelians attack the Kyranian Fortress of Sheyaur, now in the possession of of one of Cyroan Thromgolin's kin. The Eyelians succeed and destroy most of it. Farmers use the ruins as a quarry and the stones of the Sheyaur for homes and walls.

ca. 8600 b.S. to 6000 b.S.	War between the Serphelorians and Eyelia Serphelorian settlers make it as far west as the Thaehelvil River and encounter Eyelians. Both groups are trying to spread; Eyelians lay claim to the Rimmerins Ring (due to the gryph aeries there); Serphelorians claim it as their roaming-lands as they travelled through it. Both groups try to work it out, but the difference in their culture lead to a clash. Eyelians think Serphelorians rude because they are loud and brash; Serphelorians think Eyelians rude because their quiet (seen as cold) and slow behaviour(seen as obstructive), so eventually this leads to war. The Rimmerins Ring and the western Elverground are constantly fought over. Many different solutions are tried by various different leaders of each tribe, with varying degrees of success. There are occasional cease-fires, occasionally more terrible battles, but generally constant skirmishing as both sides try to hold their lines. This continues until around 6000 b.S. when there is a peace treaty; broken by one of the first queens in 3000 b.S. Skirmishes would then continues until the Serphelorian kindom falls in 400ish b.S. Now a.S. there is still a rivalry between their armies, though much more friendly now, esecially. since they are charged with protecting Eyelians (the tribal principle of "katmoh").
THE ERA OF CONSOLIDATION (YEARS 8.500 B.S. - 3.400 B.S.)
6000 b.S. to 3000 b.S.	Peace between Eyelia and Serpheloria A peace treaty is negotiated with the united clans of Eyelia. The treaty allows the Serphelorians to stay united without having to wage wars, and develop more. Cha plantations started here. The Rimmerins Ring is to be officially Eyelian territory, but nomads can wander here but not for more than half the year. An uneasy truce begins but slowly works when neither side re-initiates hostilities. There exists no real trade between the two nations though. Skirmishes flares up again when a Serphelorian queen decides it should be officially Serphelorian territory and tries to take these lands back.
THE AGE OF AWAKENING (YEARS 1.655 B.S. - 822 B.S.)
1190 b.S.	Elsreth becomes part of Eyelia Elsreth, not wanting to be caught up in the fighting, defects the Serphelorians to become part of Eyelia. The Eyelians pledge forces to hold it in case there are reprisals. This leads to members of all clans relocating to live there, although the reprisals never come as the Serphelorians are too busy fighting amongst themselves.
THE AGE OF THE BLOOD (YEARS 822 B.S. - 50 B.S.)
550 b.S.	Declaration of War at Chylikis It is only a matter of days that the decision is made by the human representative, the Erpheronian Engolmar the Strongwilled, of declaring war upon the elves as a result to the incidents of the Night of the Hand. The elven dispatches, who sailed for Chylikis to express their regret after a serious incident with Eyelian ships, deny that they had intentionally attacked a human delegation, but are forced to react after being attacked. However, they were not heard.

477 b.S.	Serpheloria Perishes After the murder Serphelorian Jakat Kaira the succession is thrown into doubt, leading to internal wars between factions. Eyelia, with the help of Serphelorians from Elsreth persuades the northern states to join it, as well as some other western southern pieces like Brinsley; Avennoria takes over the rulership of the south by virtue of Avennorian-sympathetic male scions. Serpheloria survives only in a few nomadic bands now confined to a much smaller area, and Islia, Klandonia and Hog, three town states near each other. These remnants all undertake to train every person in arms as a means to stay independent and matriarchal. Only Hog has found a way to thrive until the current time - the other two cities are now little more than villages with memories of a grand past.
THE AGE OF CHANGE (YEARS 50 B.S. - 172 A.S.)
1 b.S.	Eyelia agrees to join a future Santharia Santhros finally gets the last remaining tribe to join a future united kingdom by promising to establish his new capital in Eyelian territory.

0	Quia'antá (the later Santhala) becomes the Capital of the new Kingdom The former Eyelian town of Quia'antá which was used already in the past for important gatherings by Santhros' father Aelric is chosen as the new Santharian capital. The town lies embedded in the center of Santharia, in the midst of the Rimmerins Ring and features multiple tribes living already in harmony together.
	Eyelia becomes part of the United Kingdom of Santharia

15	The Santhrization of the Eyelians King Santhros begins the "Santhrization" of the Eyelian people. As a unifier, he seeks to bring the Eyelian kingdom into the Santharian fold. Unfortunately for the Eyelians, this creates a dichotomy - enjoy the riches of Santharia, or betray their beliefs? The choice soon turns to compromising their original beliefs, though dissenters still exist.

30	Eyelian Dissent with Santharia And dissent they do. Boycotting all Santharian goods and services, a small group of Yourth clan Eyelians travels to the Quallian, perhaps lured subconsciously by elves, or perhaps by the mysterious force of alsetism.
THE GOLDEN AGE OF KINGS (YEARS 172 A.S. - 547 A.S.)
ca. 200 to 700	The Conflicts of Kytta'erng - Brownies vs. Eyelians After a Brownie comes across an Eyelian with an Injèrá eagle familiar, a minor conflict breaks out. Convinced that a Brownie, too, can tame the notoriously fierce eagle, he captures it, bringing it back to the Vale. The eagle escapes, and in the process, kills several Brownies. Now assured that the entire debacle was an Eyelian ruse, the Brownies attack Kytta’erng. The miffling continues for years, though hostilities soon drop off, and become scattered, individual, rare, events. This unfortunate brush with humans, the first for many in about 3000 years, confirms all the still-lurking fears the Brownies have about humans. Exploring outside the safe Vale all but stops, and the idea of trading with other settlements is squashed. The Brownies turn back to their spirits to try and discover why this eagle spirit allies itself with the humans, but they are not successful. The populations of both Brownies and their animals grow steadily.

ca. 500	The Beastmaster Ka'aldens Memorial The face of the heroic Eyelian beastmaster is integrated into the list of faces that appears on Santharian currency. To this day, some sans from the Rimmerins Ring area feature his face.
THE ERA OF THE SOUTHERN WARS (YEARS 825 A.S. - 1.062 A.S.)
850	The Eyelian Village of Kytta'erng trades with the Vale The Brownies rediscover Kytta’erng, where they are offered several ferrets as gifts. The Brownies give their hosts some beads, and trade begins. The Brownie/Eyelian conflict officially ends.
850 to 1.028	The Vale Brownies adapt to Trade with the Eyelians and the Tenthrum The Council Tree is determined to make the new trading links official, rather than leaving them to one individual as with the dwarven trading. The Eyelians' farmed food supplies and access to beautiful cloth are two things in particular which keep the Brownies coming back. Two new, small clans are formed, the Barterers, who learn Tharian in order to speak with the humans, and the Wheelers, an offshoot of the Hammr’ers who deal with transporting the goods. In 884 a.S. the Brownies enlist the help of the Tenthrum Clan to make a proper path through the treacherous gorge and into the Vale. This is partly to encourage the new trade with Kytta'erng, but also to make the entrance easier to defend. The path is just wide enough for one person or pack animal to pass fairly easily. Perches carved into the rock make excellent positions from which to fire down on an attacker and shelters mean that the Brownies can keep watch through any weather. The Brownies are still paying the Tenthrum for the work until 1065 a.S.
THE TIME OF REUNION (YEARS 1.540 A.S. - TODAY)
1.638	Kytta’erng Trade with the Ylfferhim Elves The Ylfferhim begin to send envoys from the Quallian. One of these envoys reaches Kytta’erng, where he receives a warm welcome. Upon his return to the forest, he gives a glowing recommendation of the Eyelians. Ever since, the two tribes have held a fast friendship. Symbolizing this friendship is the trading post built near the Quallian. This post is the closest non-elf made structure to the Quallian, and the only place where visitors are received officially.

1.650	Kytta’erng Trade with the Tenthrums The Tenthrum dwarves begin to send envoys to the Eyelian villages around the Rimmerins Ring.

__________

Footnotes.
[1] A note on the researchers of the culture of Eyelian people: The Eyelians are blessed and cursed by their exotic nature - it has brought much attention (and scrutiny!) to these people. Some of the most famous researchers of the Eyelian Tamers are:
- The noted author Capher, one of the most famous Santharian personalities. It is said that beyond being a strong and sturdy man who has journeyed far and wide across Sarvonia to learn more about not only the Eyelians, but several other tribes as well, he is the last of the shape-shifting dragons.
- Lady Tiaa, a scholar most widely known for her studies of her Native Aeruillin; and
- Lady Talia, a strong Shendar woman known as one of the prime contributors to the Santharian Compendium. [Back]

*Male Names*	*Details (ordered alphabetically)*
Beginning Syllables	A’an-, De’en-, Di’i-, Da’en-, Dwa-, E’in-, Gwa-, He’isk-, Jyn-, Je’i-, Jka’er-, Jy’i-, Ja’al-, Jse-, Jhe’y-, Ja’u-, Ke’i-, Ke’e-, Kyn-, Ka’er-, Ka’el-, Kst-, Kekk-, Ko’ot-, Msi-, My’y-, Mry’a-, Mrn-, Ma’el-, Msn-, Me’i-, Ma’ot-, Nsi-, Na’e-, Na’ak-, Na’ek-, Pty’e-, Pry-, Pty-, Pini-, Pa’ag-, Pe’el-, Pte’y-, Rsi-, Ryn-, Srv-, Sry’y-, Tha’ag-, Tha’y-, The’y-, Thy’y-, Tse’y-, Thi’is-
Endings	-a’oe, -ano’o, -adu’a, -a’aj, -a’ada, -a’ayan, -ag, a’anad, anu'a, a’ak, -bed, -ba’ad, -be’an, -ed, -en, -ep, -gan, -gor, -heso, -ija,-izu’ak, -is, -i’yan, -ibad, -idan, -i’yam, -kan, -mas, -mu’aban, -na’as, ne’ed, ne’en, -ne'a, -nad, -or, -o’osap, -o’onyad, -pol, -panu’ak, -tten, -tun, -tapan, -wa’an, -wa’adan, -we'a, -yan
Celebrity Examples	Nsikigan Yourth, Tha’agor Eye’el, Talgan Emo’onouf, Na’akgan Enohofqu

*Female Names*	*Details (ordered alphabetically)*
Beginning Syllables	A’agn-, A’an-, Ani’i-, Aniq-, Ba’an-, Banwa-, Bi’i-, Bwa’a-, Cy’yn-, Crs-, Ca’an-, Ca’am-, Ci’il-, Da’a-, De’eb-, Dwa’a-, Ge’in-, Gen-, Ga’ani-, Gwa’a-, Ga’an-, Ga’a-, Gin-, Ena’a-, Eni’i-, Emi’a-, Ema’i-, Ha’o-, Hesh-, Ja’an-, Jwa’a-, Ji’is-, Ji’n-, Jwin-, Ke’i-, Ksa-, Msa-, Menan-, Ma’aki-, Meni’i-, Ma’ag-, Nsa-, Ni’e-, Na’ah-, Ni’iy-, Nwa’a-, Rsa-, Rwa’an-, Re’en-, Ra’an-, Ra’am-, Vi’is-, Vse’a, Vsi’e-
Endings	-a’ani’i, -ani’in, -a’iji, -ani, -ani’i, -a’ani, -a’is, -ba’ani, -bi’id, -be’eki, -chi’in, -ena, -e’e, -e’en, -e’em, -e’eni, -gi’in, -hesi, -hi’i,-inis, -i’ini, -i’yin, -i’yoni, -i’yid, -is, -i’i, -jeni’i, -jen, -je’eni, -jen, -ni’i, -ni’in, -ni’is, -ne’en, -na’in, -pi’in -wi’i, -ya’i
Celebrity Examples	Nsa’e’e Kagouf, Vi’isakgen Crsel, Na’ahe’epen Ke’iel