Damalawa

Damalawa is a confederacy of small islands off Kota's southern coast that reaches from the Bay of Ishnu up toward the North Sea. Sitting astride the sea routes linking Jambu's east and west, it has become an important power in the region. Its people are shortish, dark brown and black-haired, a primitive folk without metalworking who build excellent small and middle-sized sailing boats; even their wood-and-thatch stilt huts are shaped like boats, with doors that always face east.

Dongkala is the seat of the boat people's hereditary king, who has many wives, while on Loempang, the largest island, the islanders collect tolls from passing ships. Having no use for gold or gems, they accept only barter such as metal tools and weapons. Refusing to pay is a grave insult answered by pursuing boats, and since the Damalawans can be very aggressive even the mighty Khitans usually pay.

Their animistic religion worships the sea and respects every creature in it; though they live mostly on fish, they sacrifice often to appease their hundreds of gods, and their shamans are honored as speakers with the sea gods and makers of herbal potions. Warriors scorn armor and shields, relying on woven-grass charms worn at the neck, and fight with war clubs, bows shooting poisoned or burning arrows, throwing sticks and spears. Small but fierce, they often torture and mutilate captives. A man's standing grows with his number of wives, and nearly everyone chews betel nut, which blackens the teeth; they say black teeth are what separate men from beasts.