The Tlagapatung Chiefdom is one of the many kingdoms of the Lupulan Rainforest, famous for their extreme isolation and worship of the malevolent Great Spirit Semat Tidakhui. Its inhabitants, the Tlaga, also known as the "whistling people," are known for having unnatural beauty and skilled mages called geomancers who can manipulate earth and use the land as a medium for divination.
History[]
Early History[]
As far as all other Yanglam know, the Tlaga have always been in their little patch of jungle forever. Their land is far more infested by spirits and other supernatural beings than any other part of the Lupulan, which is in itself a center of spirit activity. Little is known about their history before Hebataan occupation and Caksak Sajan's rebellion, but the Tlaga have never, ever left their homelands in known history up until the Hebataan came, and compiling various pieces of history and folklore together have revealed that the earliest known mention of the Tlaga in Yanglam history was somewhere around the 4th century.
Hebataan Invasion and Caksak Sajan's Rebellion[]
In 1417 Tlagapatung's peaceful isolation was ended violently when Hebataan warriors, accompanied by the soldiers of Baihon Xinh, moved to occupy Tlagapatung, successfully breaching through the dense jungle and the spirits . The Tlaga, never having to seriously fight in the defense of their home, were quickly subjugated and their famous geomancers forced to serve Hebat Hari. For many years the Tlaga, and all the other Yanglam toiled to feed Hebat Hari's new dominion, until in 1433 came Caksak Sajan. The very young chief, born just 5 years before the invasion desperately searched for a way to free his people. He found none and began to despair, before remembering the tale that gave Tlagapatung its name: A statue, on the bottom of the lake, that holds the power to give a person who offers it unimaginable prices dominion over all he sees. Out of options, Caksak Sajan swam to the bottom of the lake with the aid of magic, and there at the very bottom he found the statue. The chief promised the loyalty of all of the whistling people, if it would grant them the power to defeat their oppressors. The statue accepted, giving Caksak Sajan command of a host of dark spirits, known as Hantu and making him a mage of immense power. With these, the Tlaga quickly drove off the Hebataan occupiers, inciting all of their other subjects to revolt. However, the occupation and rebellion, and the pact with the statue made sure that Tlagapatung will never be as isolated as it once was.
Post-Rebellion History[]
In the year 1619, Tlagapatung suffered a decade of constant disasters. Floods hit record highs, earthquakes shook the jungle, and hostile spirits swarmed the countryside. In 1627, to round off all these misfortunes, the Pinghoi pirates invaded Tlagapatung, seeking to subjugate their inhabitants. Though the Tlaga fought bravely, their state was so shaken by disaster that it simply could not afford to bring Tlagapatung's full military potential to bear. Thus, the king at this time led a band of soldiers to Semat Tidakhui, begging it once more to deliver its followers from destruction. What transpired appears to be forever unknown but after 7 days the king returned with a band of Hantu. These Hantu routed the Pinghoi pirates easily, emanating negative energy in waves so strong that those they faced often routed outright. How Semat Tidakhui could summon a host of this magnitude is unknown.
Culture and Society[]
The Whistling People[]
Known as such due to the use of whistles to communicate orders between troops and send messages over long distances, the Tlaga are perhaps some of the most mysterious peoples in all of Haless. They rarely interact with outsiders, so much so that the only opportunity to truly see one is during a diplomatic outing. Their appearances are often breathtaking, for a skin as white as porcelain combined with intricate, beautiful clothing combines to create some of the most attractive people in Haless. Few can resist the charms of a Tlaga diplomat, for their unearthly charm is hard to look away from.
Dyes for Divination[]
Something that has only been recently discovered about the Tlaga is their affinity for geomancy. Capable of manipulating the earth and shaping it into various forms, their geomancers are also capable of reading the subtle signs of a land that knows all - a sort of divination. The pastel tones of their dyes are used to divine the future, with various colors representing different circumstances. For example, an individual's love might be determined by burying pink dye and uttering the individual's name. The earth shall provide an answer - sometimes clear, sometimes not.
A Domain for Every Clan[]
Every family is provided their own land, guaranteed to be theirs forever. This land, though the government expects a small sum of their output, is theirs and theirs alone, free to be governed and utilized as the owning family sees necessary. These rights draw from the Tlaga belief that all deceased individuals are tied to the land upon which they perished, and so guaranteeing families land to reside upon allows for their ancestors to stay united and strong. What this means for the state is that it owns far less land than what official records indicate, but there is another reason for this: Many malignant beings lurk within the Lupulan rainforest, and every family parcel is one plot less that the state must guard.
Council of Pawangs[]
There is a council of pawangs (Yanglam mages who appease and/or contain spirits) within Tlagapatung, a circle who selects only the oldest and most skilled of the mages available, though they do take apprentices. This group is charged with a very special duty: The investigation and expulsion of any runaway supernatural beings around Tlagapatung. The section of the Lupulan that they reside in is particularly infested with spirits (both malicious and benevolent) and is rife with their influence. For this, the efficient operation of the council is a necessity. In exchange for their duties, this council has managed to carve itself out a very needed niche in the government, and the pawangs hold great influence in the government, unlike lesser spirit hunters common in the rest of Haless.