The Salt Lanari

The Salt Lanari are thought to be the descendants of the exiles of the proud noble House of Ferona and its one-time patriarch, Lan. In 3413ey, after the Desolation of Lanaria, some of those that survived the anguish became nomads across the Principalities. According to legend, others fled to the sea and became sailors and sea dogs who live without borders. 

Centuries passed and the Free Provinces came to think of all the Sea Jacks as itinerants -- the "Salt Lanari." Whether there is any direct connection between the Lanari and the multi-cultural Sea Jacks is not relevant. The appellation remains in wide use.

The Mark of the Lanari

Originally intended as a mark of shame, the facial tattoos of the Lanari people were crudely and hastily made. Their purpose was to let other provincials know which of their neighbors had sided with the aspirations of Lan, the would-be emperor. Over the years, the politics around that particular practice have faded from all memory, but the tattoos still serve to identify the Lanari as a people apart from the rest of Provincial society.

The tattoos themselves were never imposed after that first generation of the Lanari. They were given to men and women, alike. And given to children as young as newborns, but they were adopted voluntarily by every succeeding generation. First perhaps, as a sign of stubborn solidarity to a dying political cause; but eventually as a mark of in-group membership.

Ironically, Provincial law still forbids the ownership of land to anyone with the mark upon their face. So this stubborn custom does more to perpetuate the lifestyle of the Lanari as travelers living on the cusp of poverty than any other. 

Still "taking the mark" has risen to the level of an artform among these people. From a simple initial L, the mark has risen to loops and sworls and geometric shapes of incredible complexity. Some marks cover the entire face, others are merely patches around a single eye, or design upon the temple. It is considered a point of shame for the Lanari to hide their mark.

The Lanari

The Lanari can be seen traveling between the Free Provinces in brightly-colored wagons, or encamped at a cross-roads. Wherever they stop, they sell hand-made (and sometimes stolen) wares; put on nightly entertainments by oil lamp (not all of which are seemly); delight young children with their pageantry; and tempt young men and women with the romance of their itinerate lifestyle. But this strange people with their own language and customs have a history that is more tragic than their brightly-colored clothes and loud revelry would first indicate.

Centuries ago, the proud House of Ferona sat atop several of what was then called the Principalities of Vyruma Serpentis. About a a third of the region's population was under its control, and the sages of history believe that almost half of the wealth of the time was concentrated in Ald Casera -- the city from which the scions of Ferona ruled. Powerful Houses will draw rivals, and Ferona was no exception.

In 3409 Prince Lan of House Ferona grew strong enough that he declared himself the Emperor of a new land -- a wide swath of the principalities that he named Lanaria. Lan sent envoys to the other principalities demanding tribute from their princes. In so doing, his rivals became his enemies and rose as one against him. Under that coalition, the Emperor was eventually thrown down. His head was chained to the walls of his own Ald, and his bones were parceled out to each of his rivals as a trophy. His lands were given to the sons of lesser houses. His daughters were pledged to the Sacred Sisters. But, the dream of the Empire did not die easy. Many thousands of the people still remained loyal to the former Emperor. The princes soon found that the Lanari were difficult to control.

In 3413ey, three hundreds of the loyalists who still longed for the Emperor's rule were slaughtered in a single afternoon. Across the Principalities the scene was repeated, time and again. This series of events came to be called the Desolation of Lanaria. Those that survived the anguish were forced to take the mark of Lan -- a tattoo upon their face. They were forbidden from owning property and thus became pirates upon the sea (Salt Lanari) and nomads across the land.

The Principalities of Vyruma Serpentis eventually gave way to the Free Provinces. But centuries later, the descendants of the Lanari still wander, "taking the mark" voluntarily, even proudly, and making their way as itinerates and laborers across the world. Their reputation still suffers, for most Provincials see them as thieves and swindlers and treat them as an underclass to this day.