Sultais

Sultais is a fictional ethnolinguistic group and their homeland in a speculative world used in fantasy literature and role-playing games. The name derives from the title sultan, reflecting a historical pattern of dynastic leadership that recurs in their lore.

Geography and settlement: The Sultais homeland lies along the coast of the Sular Sea, with arid coastal plains, fertile river valleys, and an inland high plateau. Towns cluster around natural harbors and caravan routes, while oases sustain inland settlements. The region features a mix of port cities, desert caravanserais, and clustered agricultural communities.

Society and politics: Sultais society centers on extended kin groups and a council of elders. Ruling authority shifts between dynastic families and elected assemblies depending on the era in the narrative, with leaders sometimes described as ceremonial emirs or sheikhs. The economy blends pastoralism, agriculture, and long-distance trade, connecting inland producers to coastal markets and travelers.

Culture and language: They are known for intricate textile weaving, metalwork, and a tradition of oral storytelling and music performed in courtyard gatherings. Religious practice commonly blends local animist elements with a monotheistic tradition, and annual festivals celebrate harvests and ancestors. The Sultai language is described as agglutinative, using a syllabic script in coastal towns and exhibiting several dialects that reflect regional diversity. Its vocabulary includes loanwords from neighboring languages and a formal register used by clerics and scholars.

History and contemporary note: In the fictional timeline, the Sultais emerge as a distinct community during the medieval era, building trade networks across sea and land. They appear in regional histories as merchants, soldiers, and poets, and are sometimes depicted as part of a loose federation within a larger imperial framework in later periods.