Saurai

The Saurai are Telrai who have left the island of Numoanu and travelled south to mainland Telgren. As with all Telrai besides the Þarai, the Saurai are predominantly descended from early explorers and adventurers who departed shortly after the arrival, supplanted over time with more recent migrants. Most Saurai settlements were established before the 13th century, and because of this they were able to form a number of enclaves along the then-tribal western coast of Telgren. However, later explorations took the Saurai along the coast of Telgren as far east as Cloriadme, as well as to the southern continent of Ifyrial. Although the first Telrai settlements began on the continent in the 1500s, it would not be until the 1700s that Telrai populations on the continent really took off, with the rush in colonization by humans prompting them to claim more lands.

Saurai are less traditionalist and more open to outsiders than their forefathers, and have become a major trading powerhouse throughout the seas. They have particularly close ties to the Blazennian Empire, which counts many Saurai among its citizens. From their various enclaves along the Telgrener and Ifyrialn coasts, the Saurai have been able to develop a robust trading network rivalling that of the gnomes. Telrai nations have traditionally clashed with the gnomes over slavery, with the Telrai trying to encourage trade through their channels to prevent slaving vessels from being used, as well as intervening on the side of slave rebellion or other uprisings. Besides a gnomish rivalry, Telrai have long stood in complete opposition to the elven Enclave of Illumendell, a major slave trading island, and refuse to work with or under any Illumendelli. However, the Telrai anti-slavery movement would crumble after the beginning of Telgrener colonization of Ifyrial, when orcs were enslaved en masse, which has forced the Telrai to compromise their beliefs (though there remain 'radicals' who seek to prevent slavery by any mean necessary).

As befitting a culture which primarily is settled in small enclaves connected only by the sea, Saurai are a very diverse culture, with numerous unique subgroups. Typically, these groups are distributed into the Valarai, Hekahai, Vietai, Risai, and Medhiai peoples. Of these subgroups, the Valarai are the closest to the original Þarai due to their population living along the western coast of Telgren. Concentrated on the Fjallrock and Alcediner coasts, the Valarai represent the first link in the Telrai trading network, but are themselves mostly fishermen, taking advantage of the wealth of the region's seas.

Moving east along the coast, the Hekahai can be found on the island nation of Hekahon, which is at the heart of Saurai civilization. As a strong, independent kingdom, they are also fairly traditionalist, but have slowly adopted Blazennian-style governance over the years. Hekahon is a center of trade as well as the main rival of Illumendell, but have generally refrained from wars of conquest, focusing on their massive navy as deterrence, which is composed both of a vast trading fleet as well as purpose-built warships designed to counteract those of the Illumendelli. Hekahon is also bound by treaty with the Blazennian Empire to act as their navy in times of war, in exchange for lowered tariffs and preferential trade, and gains the protection of the Empire as well. Although sovereign, this means Hekahon and Blazennia are tightly tied to one another and as the smaller of the two, Hekahon is often seen as part of the Blazennian sphere.

Telrai which actually live inside the Blazennian Empire are known as the Vietai. Although the majority of their population resides in Liradsromn, which is a region of the Empire with special rights settled primarily by Telrai, the Vietai do have other locations where they make up a majority within the empire, and Telrai rulers have come to inherit lands populated by humans many times. The Vietai are primarily located in coastal villages or cities, but some Vietai do live along the rivers upstream, though even these have easy access to the coast. Vietai are often seen as defenders of the downtrodden, and are some of the few Blazennians who will hire or even interact with the scattered populations of free goblins and orcs which live in the empire, as well as being leaders in the Blazennian abolitionism movement. Vietai also populate the Liradsromni colonies on Ifyrial, and remain loyal to the nation and the Blazennia unlike many colonies.

Moving further east, the Medhiai are the Telrai who live in the few Telrai settlements within Fremedhia (excluding Blazennian lands) and Cloraidme. They have a very minor presence and are generally highly integrated into local communities due to a lack of independent Telrai states within these regions. Medhiai are generally seen as a bridge between the Saurai and those who ventured further north, the Saerai. It is believed that the lack of Telrai settlement in this region allowed for a break in the trade network between the Telrai who pushed north and those who stayed in the south, thus leading to the independent development of the Saerai and Saurai cultures.

The final group of Saurai are the Risai, named after the Risau Islands, which were the first part of Ifyrial to see colonization by the Telrai. The Risai islands gained independence from Hekahon during their civil war, and since then have grown into their own distinct culture, alongside the other independent Telrai states of Ifyrial. The Risai are a very interesting culture to study, because they behave in an imperialist manner but retain their anti-slavery attitude, with many Risai attempting to 'civilize and educate' the natives of Ifyrial while also acting against slavery. This strange attitude has been seen as a model by many 'moral imperialists', who see it as the duty of 'the civilized realms of Telgren' to spread their culture and beliefs to 'undeveloped and uncivilized' peoples.