Nalas

Nalas is a term used in world-building to refer to an ancient seafaring civilization described in fantasy literature and map-based lore of the Nalasa Archipelago. Within these works, Nalas flourished roughly between the 7th and 12th centuries in a coastal region characterized by island clusters, coral harbors, and narrow straits.

Geographically, the Nalasa Archipelago comprises about two dozen islands with major urban centers on Nalara and Vayra. Coastal settlements grew around natural harbors, and the society was organized around maritime guilds, especially those for fishing, shipbuilding, and trade. Governance combined a merchant-led council with a high priesthood, and social roles were closely tied to skills in navigation, seamanship, and construction.

The Nalese language and script appear in inscriptions and trade records. Nalese art favors bronze work, lattice screens, and patterns drawn from ocean motifs. Navigational knowledge was advanced for the period, with celestial charts and monsoon-season itineraries guiding long-distance voyages.

Economically, Nalas depended on fishing, the exchange of spices and timber, and metalwork. They built and maintained fleets for regional trade, importing and exporting goods through a network of port cities. A standardized currency system, sometimes described as talas, facilitated commercial activity across islands and with inland kingdoms.

Historically, Nalasa civilization rose to regional prominence through sea-borne commerce and cultural exchange. Natural disasters, including earthquakes and tsunamis, contributed to political fragmentation, and by the end of the period depicted in most sources, Nalasa polities had largely assimilated into neighboring realms within the fictional setting.

In fiction, the Nalas leave a legacy in archaeology, place names, and navigational lore, influencing later maritime cultures in the Nalasa world and appearing in maps, chronicles, and fantasy anthologies.