𝐈. 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲

𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐬 & 𝐄𝐱𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐬

• Sarnëvali (ᜐᜀᬭᬦᬏᮗᜀᬮᜁ) (plural) / Sarnëval (ᜐᜀᬭᬦᜁ᭝ᜀᬮ) (singular)
  meaning “people of Saranaë and Nevalo,” trace their name to the Tidemother goddess Saranaë, who saved their people, and to Nevalo, their lost homeland of origin.

• Ramuan
  The residents of Port Ramu sometimes call themselves Ramuan, though rarely.

• Haihua (海华) – “sea-born” or “drifting flower”
  A Tianren term, poetic yet often dismissive.
  

• Sorajin (空人) – “people of the sky and sea”
  A Seishin name, reflecting the Sarnevalians’ nomadic and maritime roots.
  

• Sarnies
  A playful shorthand moniker given to them by the Dustwalkers, whom they conversely refer to as "Dusties".
  

• Sarnevalians / Driftlanders
  A neutral descriptor in Middletongue used broadly by outsiders.
  

• Arvorien - The Moored
  

• Arvorles - The Unmoored

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬

Before unification, the Nevalian descended peoples were organized into broad cultural tribes defined by environment and livelihood rather than bloodline. Each tribe inhabited a set of islands on one of the four quadrants of the archipelago that consisted of multiple families and lineages or "clans".

Tribes overlapped, traded, and intermarried, but developed distinct customs and labor roles. As populations expanded, territorial disputes escalated into recurring civil wars as well as conflict with the native populations (particularly Floren, Therianids and Anden), weakening the archipelago and leading to its colonization by the Empire of Tianzhou, which ruled for roughly 500 years.

When Sarnevalia was liberated and unified, tribal identities were not erased; instead, their practices were absorbed into a shared culture, and previously forcibly taken land was returned to their respective owners, as the entire Archipelago was now considered the nation of Sarnevalia, though cultural assimilation was not mandated after the decree. Port Ramu today in particular is the best example of this cultural merging, with most folks being synonymous upon first glance, but in reality, are divided by tribes according to occupational heritage.

The Gunumaukani (Mountain Tribe)

• _{Gunung (Indonesian, “mountain”) + Mauka (Hawaiian, “toward the mountain”) + -ni}

Builders, metalworkers, pass guards, and weather watchers; focused on fortifications and highland travel.

The Gunumaukani inhabited the highlands, cliffs, and volcanic ridges of some of the southwestern isles near Veduah, favoring defensible sites and long sightlines. Through sustained contact with neighboring dwarves, they adopted advanced masonry and metallurgy earlier than other tribes. They specialized in stonework, metalcraft, mining, pass-keeping, and weather observation. They were the first tribe contacted by the Seishin to organize a formal rebellion against Tianren rule, helping provide the tribes with an arsenal against the occupation. After unification, their traditions shaped Sarnevalian fortifications, armaments, and the practice of delaying travel or warfare based on weather conditions.

The Narimbahele (Forest Tribe)

• _{Rimba (Indonesian, “jungle”) + Nahele (Hawaiian, “forest”) → -hele}

Farmers, grovekeepers, herbalists, and water tenders; responsible for land use and seasonal cycles.

The Narimbahele lived in a handful of the forested interiors and fertile lowlands of the southeastern isles, organizing society around seasonal cycles and land stewardship. They pioneered agriculture, irrigation, and shrine tending, with authority centered on caretakers rather than rulers. Their customs became the foundation of Sarnevalian farming practices, seasonal festivals, and grove-shrine traditions.

People who are descended from this tribe are often Farmers, environmental stewards, healers, and planners; focused on agriculture, conservation, water management, and community care.

The Dagakaiu (Ocean Tribe)

• _{Dagat (Filipino, “sea”) + Kai (Hawaiian, “sea”)}

Sailors, navigators, traders, and fishers; centered on seafaring, trade routes, and long travel.

The Dagakaiu were primarily sea-bound, living aboard ships, underwater settlements, or temporary anchorages, and valuing crew loyalty over territory. Though mobile, they made a few of the northwestern isles their home which consisted of islets that allowed for easy ship travel in between. They excelled in navigation, exploration, and long-distance trade. Sarnevalian maritime law, navigation schools, and sailor customs derive largely from Dagakaiu tradition.

The Bayinmakaino (Coastal Tribe)

• _{Baybayin (Filipino, “shore”) → Yin + Makai (Hawaiian, “toward the sea”) + -no}

Port workers, merchants, clerks, and negotiators; managing trade, records, and movement between regions.

The Bayinmakaino occupied the coasts, reefs, and ports of the northeastern isles, which also house the capital city of Nevalion, being the most predominantly Sarnevalian island group in its entirety. Acting as intermediaries between all other tribes, they specialized in trade, negotiation, and resources, and were widely relied upon by all tribes despite persistent distrust. Their influence persists in Sarnevalian trade law, port culture, and the ritual language of debt and return. The Ramu Clan originates from this tribe, recognized for its role in establishing the colonial city of Port Ramu in Nimoria.

𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞

Sarnevalians speak Sarnic, a creole language formed through long contact between traders, migrants, and seafarers. Its structure is largely derived from Old Nevalic (A Selkian daughter language), with additional vocabulary and phonetic influence from Tianrenese, Seishinese, Kalmerosian, Maelstravic, and other eastern tongues.

Everyday Sarnic favors clear, practical constructions suited to trade and communal use, while ceremonial or poetic forms preserve older elements from its mixed origins. Phonetically, the language tends toward open syllables and softened consonants.

Notable influences include:

• Selkian: shared root vocabulary

• Tianrenese / Seishinese: softer sibilants and tonal variation, often in formal or ritual speech

• Kalmerosian: repetitive rhythms and open vowel groupings

• Maelstravian: maritime terminology and denser consonant clusters in nautical contexts

• Others: regional loanwords and idioms

𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲

𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧