djathtas

Djathtas are a group of mythological spirits that appear in the traditional folklore of the Duat people, an ancient maritime culture that inhabited the western coast of the fictional island of Thalassar. According to oral histories and the surviving stone tablets from the Duat Valley, djathtas are described as translucent, serpentine beings that dwell within the tidal pools and undersea caves near the lighthouse of Kald. Their existence is closely tied to the moon’s phases; they are said to become most active during the new moon and are believed to influence the rhythm of the waters and the navigation of sea‑faring vessels.

The earliest written reference to djathtas appears in the Codex Sabine of 1124 CE, where a prayer is offered to calm them during a violent storm. Scholars interpret these passages as symbolic of the Duat people’s attempts to appease the volatile nature of the ocean. Artistic depictions dating from the 13th century show djathtas as luminous coils of water, sometimes with pearl‑glinting scales, underscoring their association with both prosperity and danger. In most legends, the spirits are neutral, and the Duat sailors view them as guardians of hidden currents rather than malevolent predators.

Anthropological studies of the Duat culture note that the djathtas feature prominently in the seasonal festival of the Tide’s Breath, where community members perform a synchronized dance around a stone shrine to encourage safe passage for the year’s trade ships. This ritual highlights the djathtas’ symbolic role as agents of communal wellbeing. While modern research has yet to locate any direct evidence of these beings beyond mythic accounts, the djathtas remain an enduring element of Duat cultural identity, illustrating how ancient societies personified natural forces in the form of protective spirits.