Arloh

Arloh is an independent island-state that has been under either Eagrok Nation or Isutobek Nation rule. It's independence was only granted on 750 E.   Arloh inhabitants speak Sanii̊ko̊ian; there are some smaller sub-groups of migrants who speak Zähtyyian or Id̄ïtil̆eq̄aɕïian Language.  

History

  Humans first came to the island of Arloh during the time of the Silence. The local myths say that an explorer shipwrecked on the island. When rescuers found them several months later, the explorer had built a home. Those seeking safety from the dangers of predators in the Raliok Forests of Vera or the deadly creatures of the deep seas began to stop in Arloh, where no large predators existed.   Over time, a port town developed, which soon grew into a cluster of towns across the island. People then moved from the more arid Eagrok peninsula to the island as it had more edible mushrooms and plentiful sea-life.   Most of their livelihoods depended on harvesting a specific cave fungi that grew in the sea caves of Arloh. When peeled and boiled, its steam cleansed the air of toxins. This allowed for humans to take off their masks in their homes. Pipe systems were developed throughout the towns to distribute the cleaner air more effectively.   Researchers, over time, isolated the chemical the fungi released that bound to the air toxins to produce more oxygen for human breathing. Through experimentation, a way to sustainably harvest this chemical and package it as a bioseed was developed. It is one of Arloh's primary exports, and also one of its closely guarded secrets.   Early migrants learned to work with the Dolasoi, a sleek and playful mammalian-like reptile. The Dolasoi would help the migrants fish, often letting them ride them in the waters, or catching fish to bring back to the boats. Sometimes they'd dive down and nudge the ends of nets into the rocky ocean floor. As the Dolasoi mostly communicated with a sort-of whistle through their head-hole, the Arloh people adopted a whistling and hand-gesture language to give the Dolasoi commands. This mutual cooperation between species still continues to this day.   Life on Arloh has a pastoral character. People work on cooperative architectural projects to build with nature their towns and the rails and electic cables that connect them. Every town has a commons area in its center, where the various libraries are situated in a ring. Beyond that ring lays the trade sector, which developed into barter and repair centers over time. Outside that ring is the homes and gardens of the townsfolk. Fungi and grain fields were planted on the edges of town, near sheltering stone pillars or cliffs.   During the moon winds, where the two moons eclipse each other, the tidal effects cause massive storms. The buildings made from the hard stone of the island have extensive cellars, with tunnels that connect in an underground common space. The people cover their fields with protective stone and metal sheets, and take refuge in the cellars, where they gather in the common space for education or crafting projects.   To assist the Dolasoi who live in the region, Arloh port cities built massive doors that can be pulled into place with cranks to safeguard the caverns, where the Dolasoi would take refuge during the moon winds. Before humans settled the island, Dolasoi would hide in the caves during moon winds, but survival was not guaranteed. After humans added the cave doors, Dolasoi survived more readily and grew more plentiful. Squads of them eventually left Arloh to explore the wider ocean, and in present time, Dolasoi can be seen all the way in Isutobek or Halik.   In thanks, Dolasoi are known for leaving gifts for their human companions. Gifts may be a less toxic sea life for food or it may be one of the sea crystals that grow in the deeper trenches of the ocean. Sea crystals contain several chemicals that can cause a faint glow at night, and they served as lanterns in ports for generations.    

Dolasoi and Ports

  During the early years of Arloh, Dolasoi would guide ships through the often treacherous coral beds and ragged sea stones that ringed the northern and eastern sides of the island. Southern and western sides of Arloh had massive cliffs that were near impassible, and any maritime routes had to be far from the cliffs during stormy weather, as the sea stones there could rip apart boats.   Dolasoi guides and their human companions travel before approaching ships and use flag and light signals to direct the ships safely to the harbors. For their work, the Dolasoi were gifted part of the food gathering by their human companions and sometimes shiny trinkets after humans completed trade with the newly docked ships.   For much of Arloh's history, this method of reaching the ports kept them relatively safe. Until Eagrok took command of the island by ripping apart several sea stones on the northern most tip, where one of the larger ports were located. They commandeered the port for their maritime explorations. Isutobek soon took the port after a bitter war between the two, until Arloh won their independence from both.   To protect their ports again, the Dolasoi and their human companions worked together to dredge the damage from the loss of sea stones and sunk metal dhows to build artificial reefs. They erected also metal and stone pillars to signal the start and ends of these reefs. This sea lane restored their protective inlet, and the Dolasoi could once more guide ships through to the port.