Tarise

The Tarise language can refer to either of two distantly related languages:

• Gold Tarise, an independent branch of the Gold family with only one member. It was spoken in the Gold Empire, having split off from its parent language around the year 1700 AD. (Seven thousand years ago.) Although the majority of Taryteans were loyal to the Gold Empire, the state of Taryte produced several independence movements, and uprisings within Taryte repeatedly attempted to overthrow their Gold masters. When these failed, a group of Taryteans decided to invade the Gold stronghold of Subumpam. Here they were put into slavery, but were eventually freed and became a welcome minority within Subumpam.

• Sak Tarise, a dialect of Thaoa spoken by immigrants from the nation of Thaoa who moved in after their own empire was defeated in the Vegetable War. This was a gradual migration, as the immigrants were poorly equipped for long journeys and were forced to migrate across difficult mountainous terrain in order to avoid their many enemies. When they reached Taryte, they settled mostly in the highlands, where the population density was lowest. While the majority population of Tarye consisted of tall dark-skinned people, the invading Thaoans (who called themselves Saks) were short and light-skinned, often with blonde hair. They thus resembled the Pabap people whom they considered their primary enemies. At first, the Saks and the other Taryteans blended together, but the Saks who remained in the highlands retained their Thaoan language and soon came to think of themselves as the only true Tarises. Yet, they claimed a political alliance with the dark-skinned people of Taryte, and never wavered. After a long period in the highlands, the Tarises decided to invade the light-skinned people to their east, with the dark-skinned people of Taryte firmly on their side.