This page contains helpful articles on traveling to Saltha as well as city specific guides of interesting sites to see.
Background
Geography
Saltha is a costal arid desert and semi-desert nation, on the southeast of the continent. The weather throughb most of the year is very hot, and tends to have mild winters.
History
The nation of Saltha was founded as a unified nation from the Waring city-states under king Sapa in the 5920 KG ("Kalgyagisany", lit. before senate). The last king of Saltha was Kakel. He waged a war on the nations of Braydon and the Sylvane. He also used his power to imprison and torture those who criticized him. Because of this, revolts began, eventually overthrowing him in 2 NE. A new senate was soon established, and a few years later the calendar was centered around this event.
Choosing When to go
Like all popular destinations, the cities will be very busy during large festival days, so it is best to plan far in advance (at least a few months) if you plan to arrive, find lodgings or depart on or around a holiday. Shops will be closed on these holidays.
Ukaltya/New Years - 1/1 (March 20th)
The new year is celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox,and the first day of spring. This is celebrated with a big feast, ending the 15 day fast at the end of the year.
Festival of Tears - 1/10 (March 29th)
A day where the people burn effigies of sad things, to invoke the divine Shasashui to cry, bringing rain for the next year.
Independence/Senate Day - 8/9 (September 19th)
A commemorative day of the overthrowing of the tyrant king Kakel and the instating of the democratic senate.
Harvest Festival - 11/6 (November 30th)
A feast day, giving thanks to the Gods for the harvest. This includes a big feast.
PanaSanth's Birthday - 11/4 (November 28th)
The day the priest of Santh was born.
Lyke/Wind Festival - 14/3 (February 11th)
They have parades with "wind catchers" (windsock-like Kites) during the windiest time of the year.
Purification Fast - Last (15th) month (March 6th - March 19th)
15 days of prayer, fasting and purification
|akatas - 14/14 (March 4th)
A holiday where people exchange gifts with people they know, as a way of paying back any wrongs from that year committed against them.
General Advice
These are general advice about situations you may encounter in Slatha.
Conversation
It's best to avoid topics about politics, particularly the history of saltha in the last 50 years or the war. They are still sensitive to this subject. Even complimenting them on their democratic system should be avoided since this reminds them of the time when there wasn't a diplomatic system.
Nudity
The nudity taboo in Saltha may be less strict than your own country. It is considered acceptable for young children under the age of ten to wear little or no clothing at all, generally wearing as most a simple loin cloth when working or going to school and nothing when playing. There is a strong cultural taboo for children to speak to those clothed, because they may be distracting them from work they should be doing. To be allowed to be unclothed is to say "you are free to play".
The traditional clothing of the Salthan people for adults is a long sleeved robe called a Hoshi (Ho-shee), and then the Skata, a sleeveless robe that fits over it. Finally it is tied with a Toshe (a cloth or leather belt with a triangle shape cut out.). Pants, an item brought in from the human culture are also somewhat popular, modified with a hole for a tail.
Because biologically a female's chest is the same as a male's, they never had a reason to develop a norm for females covering their chest, as in some human cultures, and so both sexes are just as likely to go bare-chested.
Don't be offended by certain gestures
Salthans will often stick out their tongue as a sign meaning "I will do as you say.". In other cultures this might be a rude gesture, but to Salthans it is not.
Setting times
Salthans tend to not like to commit to do something, because they feel there is always the risk of something that will prevent them from falling through. However, this doesn't mean they are dishonest, and a salthan who says they will "try to do that" or "will try to do it" means they will do their very best to follow through on it.
Public pools
Some places may be marked as a pool in common language (in salthan, "shasneskesh" lit. swimming house), but it should be noted that this is not like the public pools you might find in your own country, and are basicly like bath houses, but with cold pools for swimming instead of hot baths. This means swim wear is not permitd to be worn in the pool, and like the hot bath houses, most are mixed-sex.
City Guides
!aska
!aksa (Pronounce the first letter a click by sliding your tounge from behind your teeth), is the capitol city of Saltha, the economic, political and geographical hub of the country. Situated just to the north of the great desert and 100 some miles south of Pakes, this walled city became the official capital when king Karanase built the new palace there and fortified it, instating it as the official "capitol" in 220 ES.
!aska is easily the most populated and most densely populated, with over 140,000 people within it's walls, which were once a military feature but now simply helps keep the dangerous sand storms from running through the narrow streets.The city has many sights to see, and it because there is so much to do, and because the city’s so large, it would take weeks to see it all!
Old Palace
The capital for the reign of kings from Karnasela, who moved the capital here from Ten Terak to the last king, Kakel who was overthrown on September 7,3 SG. It is now a museum.
Temple of Santh
Built by king Laila, this is the largest temple, and considered the most holy site of the Santhan faith, which is the largest practiced religion in Saltha. It is built in a very simular style to the temple in Ten Terak, though it is around one and half the size. The main courtyard contains a washing pool. On the left is the healing house for injuyred. On the right is a room for self-purification (i.e. punishment). Aheead is the central courtyard. Here there are icons for Santh and the divines with mats to pray on. In front of that is the temple house itself, which is off limits except to priests. Outsiders are permitted to visit the temple, including the inner courts during the day on any day except for the holy day (every 5th day) or holidays. Notable is the paraphet-like pyramid design that runs along the walls.
Temple of Lyke
A temple dedicated to the wind divine Lyke of the Santh Religion.
Rasu Statue
Though the war and Saltha’s involvement was very unpopular, General Rasu is held in high regard by the people as a brave warrior. He served during wars against the southern raiders. During the great war when he saw the war they were fighting was unjust and saw the unjust actions of the king against his people, he halted the advance against orders and made an oath saying "I swear, this land I will defend, but not beyond this.".
Ten Terak
Ten Terak is the city in the eastern most area of Saltha, and was the former capital of the old monarchy. Ten Terak is the second largest city in Saltha, second to |aska.
Founding
Ten Terak was founded during the Nydase era around 6,000 to 5,000 KG, built as a major stornghold and the capital of the Thanany tribe during the division wars.
Unified Kingdom
After the rise of King Sada who bacame king of both the Salany and Thanany, creaing the unified kingdom in 447 KG, Tan Terak became the capital of the new unified kingdom.
Landmarks
Temple of Santh
Built by king gisallail during the building reforms of 230s KG, the temple was completed in 235 KG. It measured 40' across and 65' long. The layout is the same as the temple of Kakel, which was based on this temples design, though this temple is a bit smaller.
Temple of Kakel
built sometime during the Nydese period, not long after the construction of the city, some time during the 5th century KG. The building has parapet-like decorations on the wall.
Holidays
Measures (Weights, Liquid and Distance)
Bath house etiquette
What to do if accused of a crime in Saltha
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Health Issues
Money
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