Sonatla

"Our hubris and greed caused our destruction. Therefore, we must return to our roots to prevent another disaster from happening again."

— A Sonatla pod leader

  In the Old World and New World, one type of Marogo people are finding more of are the Sonatla. They don't come to the surface often, and like other Marogo, they do not explain where they come from for fear of discrimination. But in recent years, more Sonatla have come to the surface thanks to the Ice Age making oceans colder.   The Sonatla are the surviving people of Sonatiru, an ancient underwater kingdom that was most likely destroyed by a Dragon. After losing their homeland, the survivors pledged an oath of neutrality and took on a nomadic lifestyle to avoid the same fate elsewhere. In the sea, they travel in groups, but on land, they are usually solitary.  

Deep Sea Nomads

For most of the Age of Triumph, the Sonatla were sea nomads who mainly lived in Kinjora Sea. The Sonatla consisted of the Irukai, who were connected to dolphins, and the Kujikai, who were connected to whales. Irukai are in the majority, while Kujikai are the minority.   In the sea, they are organised in small groups called pods. For many, the pod is the most important thing. In a hostile world, the Sonatla believe there is safety in their group, and with other Sonatla pods. Even in the sea, they are seen and treated with suspicion by other nations because of Sonatiru's history and some pods' views.   The way each pod travels varies greatly, because each pod has its own subculture. Many pods will travel to different countries and stay for a while, before choosing a new destination. More hardline pods will befriend nearby dolphins or whales and travel with them. Pods can travel far and wide, so many Sonatla will not see another pod for years or even decades. But if the pods are close by, then they often join together and travel as one big group.  

Lone Travellers

Most Sonatla prefer to travel in the seas with their pods. Younger members have been told that the world outside their pods is dangerous and that they could easily be killed if they stray too far. But that hasn't stopped some people from dreaming of a life away from the pod. Adult Sonatla can leave the pod at any time and travel alone in the sea. But this is becoming more difficult now that water temperatures have dropped. Since their home is no longer fully habitable, some Sonatla have looked to the surface for a new home.     For this reason, there is no such thing as a "pod" on land, and why Sonatla who go onto land associate themselves with the Marogo. Technically, a dual ethnicity is also allowed but it usually leads to Sonatla returning to their pod when they go underwater.   Many Sonatla will go to more inclusive pods when they return to the water. After all, the pod is still the most important thing, and there is safety in numbers. However, some Sonatla decide not to return once excluded and travel the world on their own terms.