Wu-haltai
The Wu-haltai are a heavyset people of medium height who are found in the eastern portions of the Ama Basin and along the seacoast. They live in small, permanent villages, supporting themselves by hunting, fishing, and raising some crops. (The climate in this region is more hospitable toward agriculture than that further inland, thanks to the moderating influence of the ocean.)
Villages are really extended family units. Although the leader is typically a patriarchal figure, the society is actually fairly egalitarian. Except as shamans, women rarely play leading roles, but are consulted in all matters. Shamans are an integral part of Wu-haltan culture and politics. In small villages, very reverent and very superstitious, these people are capable of wielding more power than their counterparts in other cultures. This is not to imply that shamans are corrupt, for that is rarely the case; but more than one xenophobic shaman has helped keep his or her village tightly insulated from the rest of the world.
Such insulation is a common characteristic of most Wu-haltan villages, from the swamps to the forest to the seacoast. The vast proliferation of dialects attests to this fact. Each village is essentially self-sufficient, and need only have rare dealings with its neighbors. Within the community, however, individuals are not so independent. It is recognized that the village requires the cooperation of every single member, and no member will allow another to do less than his or her share.
The Wu-haltai have a rich and diverse culture. Each village has its own legends and folklore, in addition to popular tales known among all the clans. The pursuits of music, dance, and storytelling pass on the lore and wisdom of the village, since there is no written language; and therefore these pursuits are considered extremely important and honorable.
