Deglari Hisory and Culture

by Justin Beghtol

Deglari, History

Deglari have existed in Mulira for as long as history has been recorded. Some relation between Delgari and Laan has been noted, though the blood lines have long since diverged. Taller than Laan and broader by far, they resemble large version of the common Syreth race with lighter skin and hair.

Deglari blood lines have been traced to locations throughout Mulira, thus implying that at one time the people were spread through the continent. By the middle of the Second Era of Ire, the Deglari could be found in concentration only in the realm of Rakia. The Deglari have never been a warlike people, though they have produced superb fighters, even heros of legend such as Riff Kirin, the Black*. It was during the Trials of Blood that the Deglari tribes were driven away from the rich southern lands to dwell in Rakia for the cool climate and poor farm land did not appeal to the southern Monarchs.

It is in Rakia that the Deglari have existed every since. Some have speculated that thousands of years in the harsher climate has strengthened the Delari race, and lended them the hardiness which the other races lack. Struggle, intrigue, and war swept through Mulira during the coming on Unlife during the Second Era. Rakia and the Deglari people were spared this conflict, and lived in relative peace until the onset of the Wars of Dominion.

Even as the wars set on, the elders of the Deglari people were not convinced to enter the cause of the southerners. Though resentment towards those lands had disappeared over thousands of years, the Deglari did not relish the idea of war. Their delay to make ready for war nearly caused their own destruction, for the forces of Unlife do not relent. The northern border of Deglari held lands was invaded by a dark army of Lugrok. The Deglari readied quickly, but the initial onslaught saw their towns burned, their livestock killed, their people dead or divided.

The Lugrok marched directly through the Delgari territory, killing as they went. The Deglari forces were no match, and were forced to flee into the mountains until the army had passed. Once the army had passed, what was left of the Deglari reformed. Elite cavalry squads, sixty-two in number were formed and sent on raids against the Lugrok who now assaulted northern Ta-Laakh. These strike teams screamed "Blood for Blood" as they rushed less defended flanks often attacking against four times their number. Military experts have since concluded that the Deglari strikes, though killing far less Lugrok than the Ta-Laakh kingdoms, were crucial to the demoralization of the Lugrok army, and thus its eventual defeat.

After the wars of Dominion ended, northern territories claimed by the Ta-laakh kingdoms (technically in the realm of Rakia) were given to the Deglari as a gift of friendship and thanks. The Deglari people split themselves into two tribes, one who remained in the cool climated to which they had grown accustomed, the other relocating to the warmer, richer landscape of the new lands.

Deglari Culture

The Deglari are divided into three separate Councils. Each council consists of a collection of tribes which are based on family relations. Each extended family has a clan name, or tribe name, and each person in that clan or tribe uses that as their 'last' name. There are nineteen different seat holding tribes in all of the Deglari lands.

Each tribe has the same general structure. The wisest of the oldest members of each seat holding tribes is designated to sit on the Council, the chief governing body of that land.

Clans stick together. Members can join other clans through marriage. Upon marriage, it is decided between the couple which clan they will reside in. There is no patriarch rule in this case. Other than marriage, no one joins another clan. It just doesn't happen. Clan members follow their chief elder. If the elder decides that the whole clan will move into the mountains and farm goats, they do it - all of them. No one stays behind and resides with another clan. If people don't like the idea, they can marry out of the clan, or leave Deglari lands. This isn't a law, but it is how things are done.

Laws are underrated in Deglari society. Culture directs their behavior far more than laws. There are, in fact, only technically 'illegal' acts: Murder, Theft, Rape. Assaults are allowed under the law, even ones which maim, cripple, etc. Your clan is your law in these cases. In times such as these, clans have often found themselves at battle with each other. This is not often the case, however. More often, the clan which houses the offended will realize that he has done something wrong and refuse to aid him. Basically, your clan is your family with this exception: if you are stupid, you deserve what you get.

Delgari are not a terribly religious people, though they tend to favor prayers to gods which aid their crops, livestock and lives.