Azkalis

Azkalis (Azkali: Azkalike [æs.ka.li.kʲe]) are an Ukilen nation and ethnic group native to Azkali, characterized by the Azkali language, a common culture, and shared genetic ancestory to Qarvaban people. They are the only remaining descenant of Pre-Brausians populations within Ukilen and Brausia proper, and the largest ecstant Pre-Ukilen population. While once mostly concentrated within Azkali proper, a large diaspora of Azkali people — approximately 44.1 million people — exist scattered mostly across Ukilen and Brausia exist today, with only a small minority — apprroximately 6.1 million — residing within Azkali proper. They traditionally adhere to Turruism, an ethnic religion, though a large amount in the present day follow other religions.

Azkalis diverged from Proto-Qarvabo-Azkali peoples in [Northern continent] approximately 14000 BCE, and gradually migrated into Ukilen, settling the present borders of Azkali by approximately 11000 BCE, mixing with pre-existing Pre-Azkali ethnic groups. Azkali civilization began and flourished in 10000 BCE, primarily organizing into stateless agricultural and urban based groups. The first modern nation states were founded around Chekearoa and modern day Otzeipao around 7000 BCE. By c. 6000 BCE, Azkalis had spread across Ukilen and Brausia, inhabiting nearly all of modern Azkali, Kalilonde, northern Ihoshar. Loremesia, and Hallei. Over the next several thousand years, Azkalis were slowly integrated and assimilated by Brausian and Ukilenic people outside of Azkali proper.

Azkalis and Azkali society at large remained isolated until roughly 1500 BCE, before relations with Brausians began. Azkalis began fragmenting into groups ("echiko"s) mostly based on geographic location. Following the spread of nationalist sentiment across Brausia in the 1800s, the idea of a unified Azkali state began spreading. Following decades of conflict, the first unified Azkali nation state was created in 1967. Prior to 1979, the global Azkali population reached a peak of 79.4 million people, representing 3.4% of the global population at the time, with approximately 68.2 residing in Azkali proper. During and after the First Bapho-Azkali War, aproximately 14 million Azkalis were murdered in the Azkali genocide. Furthermore, 19 million Azkalis died in the Azkali plague pandemic and 11 million Azkalis were enslaved and trafficed to the Ukilen Union, where a further 3 million would die. In total, between 35 and 36 million Azkalis died between 1979–1981, representing 1.5% of the global population and about 43.8% of the Azkali population. Out of a remaining population of 33.2 million in Azkali proper, over 27 million Azkalis fled as refugees across Ukilen and Brausia, establishing a broad diaspora which continues into the present dayt.

Today, the Ukilen Union contains the largest amount of Azkali people in the world, containing over 17 million Azkalis. Out of a modern population of 50.2 million people, only 6.1 million (approximately 12.2% of the Azkali population at large) reside within Azkali proper. They represent the largest minority group in the Ukilen Union, Sunteria, Loremesia, and Xrwlphyz.

Etymology

The term "Azkali" has several possible etymologies.

The explanation with the most amount of evidence claims that the term Azkali came from a combination the words aztei ("yellow") and kali ("person"). This is likely reference to the prevalence of golden scale colors throughout modern day Azkali; the term is likely an endonym, as evidence of terms of similar etymology can be found across Ukilen by Kali peoples. Another explanation has been proposed via the word azazkal ("claw"), claiming that early Azkalis were differentiated by their large claws, though this etymology is widely disputed.