The Poths

The Poths (Poth /pɔt/)are an ethnic group of sea-faring nomads who travel and trade along coastlines. Their people now live mostly in northwestern Eldham and around southern Rathnir.

Potheth language

Physical traits
The Poths are the result of many different ethnic groups mixing together. However, there are some traits that seem most common in the Poths.

Hair of Black and varying shades of Brown are most common within the Poths. Other hair colours can rarely be found and often only occur as a result of interracial relationships, such as Mytz of Atris and Poldi Paloro. Poths usually have eyes of varying browns, Blues and greens are rare, but happen. These are seen as somewhat blessed in the Poths. Medium to Tanned skin is most common in the Poths, however paler and darker Poths can be seen.

Notable Differences
The Poths' oceanic lifestyle have led to a few changes that make them distinguishable from most other humans.

Poths have spleens that are roughly 60% larger than the average man's. This allows them to hold their breaths for on average over 10 minutes. They also produce less carbon dioxide in their blood, which also aids in their ability to hold their breath for prolonged amounts of time. Due to the fact that the Poths didn't ever have the ability to herd cattle, causing them to not gain the ability to digest milk after the age of ~2. This means that almost all Poths are lactose intolerant. Poths are also more susceptible to developing Dupuytren's contracture in their later years. The Poths call this disease Hathipfmæchu (/ɦɑ'tip͡fmaɪʃə/), meaning treefinger.

Ancient history
The tribe of seafaring nomads existed for thousands of years, they originated in the snowy area of northwestern Eldham, relying heavily on fishing to live due to the harsh land, they were unable to leave due to the people occupying the surrounding lands. Eventually these neighbours invaded Pothpun, driving them off of the land and out to sea. The surrounding area was occupied by unwelcoming groups, so the Poths travelled south in search for land they could call their own, or at least be accepted into, to no avail. They eventually decided to double down on their newfound way of life. Many cultural ties to the land, including religion, were dropped as they based their identity off of the water that had become their haven. During this time the belief in a tolerating ocean spirit emerged and grew great popularity, as 8 fish with morals carved into them were caught. This was the start of what would later become Aṅlethepi.

During their migration south they ran into the land of the Angh'Golits, Mapetra(modern day Mainukks). The Angh'Golits were a race of fish-like people, the last of their species. They used to be an incredibly advanced nation in terms of philosophy, technology and culture, but were declining in numbers and technological expertise. The Angh'Golits passed on copies of their scrolls that contained their forgotten knowledge. The Poths took these and never heard from their Angh'Golit role models again.

Years later, the Poths were able to translate the scrolls. The scrolls told of the Angh'Golit's end being nigh, and that upon their departure a new age of  oceanic overseers shall be born.

The Poths argued over what this meant, eventually only two main interpretations were widely believed. Many believed that this meant a new, evil and ominous ocean occupant taht could threaten the livelihood of the Poths, possibly meaning the end of their people. These will be called the Portenders, for storytellings' sake, as both sides considered themselves Poths. Many interpreted the scrolls as fortelling the Poth's future prosperity if the Angh'Golits were to perish. That the Poths would continue the Angh'Golits legacy of science and reach a golden age. These will be called the Promisers. Quite a few simply wanted to help out their newly made Angh'Golit friends back in Mapetra. These will be called the Friendlies.

The great Potheth parting
The growing tension between the believers of the two interpretations led to a rift in the Poths, eventually leading to the great Potheth Parting. This is where the Doomers and Promisers split up and went their seperate ways, both believing the other side to be traitors. The Promisers believed that the Doomers fought against the Poth's future and the Doomers thought that the Promisers had forsaken their own home and people, giving into corruption and that they, the Doomers were Potheth heroes. The friendlies were as a whole more moderate, but still disappointed in the Promisers. It is said that the name "Potheld" (meaning "good Poth") became rather popular during this time.

The Doomers and Friendlies went off to relocate Mapetra, but were unable to due to powerful storms that raged just at the worst of times. It is believed by Promisers that this was Aṅlithi's doing, as she had cursed them all with horrible misfortune. They eventually washed up in uninhabitable, arable land. They would eventually find out that the world would not be coming to an end and that the "traitors" were right all along. They believed that the Promisers were experiencing a golden age, but had refused to come back for them. With a new outlook on life and a new start, the Portenders would reform their beliefs, seeing themselves as the losers and the new land as a sign that Aṅlithi had rejected them. They became more radical in an attempt to please Aṅlithi and regain her trust.

Meanwhile, the Promisers continued to sail aimlessly, waiting for the moment when one of their scientists would have a stroke of genius. Or perhaps when all of the Angh'Golitic scrolls had been understood. They believed that once this inevitability occured, they would have no more struggles. That they would be able to conquer any lands they wished and that Aṅlithi may even show herself to the Poths and aid them in their endeavours. Eventually, long after all of the scrolls had been translated. Long after the linguists and scientists grew complacent, forgetting much of what they knew, did the Promisers realise that their golden age was not coming. They blamed the Portenders for this. They knew that the Portenders had not found Mapetra, as the remains of their boats had been found drifting out at sea. Instead, they believed that Aṅlithi had punished not only the Portenders, but the Promisers for the Portender's actions. They believed it to be a great disgrace to be from even the same blood as the Portenders and that the Portenders' actions had sunken Aṅlithi's opinion on the Poths as a whole.

The Promiserss would devote their lives to regaining Aṅlithi's acceptance and love. After all, they had nowo sunken beneath the very aquatic life they survived on in Aṅlithi's hierarchy. This led to many customs, such as only fishing during times of rain, this was seen as Aṅlithi benevolently offering up her nobles for her peasants. They would help Aṅlithi in any way they could to earn their pittance. They believed that the land didn't want them, and the water was an abusive home, but it was the only home they had.

They continued onwards, never looking for land to call home again, lest Aṅlithi's wrath grew stronger along with the Poths' misfortune

Recent history
The Promisers, by this time the only people calling themselves the Poths were declining in number due to many pressures, such as active discrimination, a lack of food, and a lack of goods to trade in order for essentials they did not know how to make themselves.

This led to the Poths resorting to a last-ditch effort to raise their popularity with Aṅlithi. They would send out their children all around southern Rathnir, hoping that they would spread the Aṅlethepi faith and bring fortune to the Poths. This led to many Potheth children dying far from civilisation. Currently the only ones known to have survive this process are Mytz, Eman and Poldi, and this is only thanks to Keechoo finding them in the Ottilatesi swamps before they died of exposure. It is safe to assume that the mission to save the Poths met little success. However, years later, a sizable group of Poths, previously assumed dead, settled in Paloro after discovering the success a few Potheth children (Mytz, Eman and Poldi) had achieved there.