Sunghari

Sunghari people

(Nation)

Land

Jalmeray

Demonym

Sunghari

Adjective

Sunghari

Source: Impossible Lands, pg(s). 15–16, 184, 193

The Sunghari are the indigenous people of Jalmeray. Modern Sunghari are those recently returned to the island nation from Vudra and their descendants; all who remained in Jalmeray were genocidally exterminated by the Arclords of Nex in 2279 AR.

History

The indigenous Sunghari people inhabited the Isle of Jalmeray at the time of the island's annexation by Nex in 253 AR but were never consulted about Nex's claims, nor of Vudrani maharajah Khiben-Sald's claim when the archmage Nex granted him their land. While Khiben-Sald was intrigued by the Sunghari, he gave them an option: accept his gifts and serve him, or leave. Most accepted Khiben-Sald's gifts, but many chose exile and relocated to the nearby island of Kaina Katakha to retain their freedom.

The maharajah largely left them in peace there, but treated the island as his personal preserve of exotic natives. After staying for a decade, Khiben-Sald and his considerable entourage departed Jalmeray for Vudra and were joined by some of the Sunghari people.

The Sunghari remained in relative peace on Jalmeray for the following 1,700 years until the failed uprising of the Arclords of Nex led to the wizards' exile in 2279 AR. The Arclords were even less charitable to the remaining Sunghari than the Vudrani were; they considered the Sunghari to be trespassers and wiped them out with magic, reducing the small island of Kaina Katakha to rubble haunted by the Sunghari's agnonized souls. The genocidal act left only the Sunghari who traveled to Vudra to carry on their culture.

Return to Jalmeray

The Sunghari diaspora began to return to Jalmeray, resettling in Niswan and requesting the return of their lands from the Thakur, who suggests that fulfilling such requests is now impossible. However, the Thakur has also worked to help the Sunghari people maintain and strengthen their culture as the first steps toward attempting to right the historical wrongs inflicted upon them.

The revived Sunghari presence in Niswan includes frequent Sunghari events and festivals. Sunghari traders operate some of the city's successful fisheries, markets, and waterfront taverns, and leaders are vocal members in commercial and government organizations.

The Sunghari have also explored whether Kaina Katakha could be reclaimed, but the Nexian damage has so far been too great.