Shandia

The Shandians, once known as the Shandorians are a tribe of people playing a major role in the Skypiea arc.

First Appearance: Chapter 221; Episode 145

Appearance
They dress like native American Indians, their skin is often decorated with tattoos that cover over large areas of their bodies. Their wings are simaliar to the Skypieans, however they tend to have slightly more feathers, which are longer and more defined shape then the Skypieans.

History
The Shandians were once called the Shandorians. They lived on the Moon along with the fellow moon races, the Bilkans and Skypieans. The three races had also built a robotic race called the Spaceys. However, when resources on the moon wore out, the three races had to leave the Spaceys behind as they headed for Earth.

While the Bilkans and Skypieans settle in the Sky Islands, the Shandorians made it as far as the blue seas. They settled on the island of Jaya. They used to be one of the more powerful societies on the Grand Line, but their city of Shandora was attacked during the Void Century by the future World Government because it contained a Poneglyph. Their kingdom fell and only a small tribe was left.

Though the Shandorians disappeared, they would leave to their descendants, the Shandians, a legacy which included the ruins of the golden city of Shandora and the Bell of Shandora, which was also one of the two Poneglyphs of Shandora, containing the details of Poseidon which they had guarded with their lives.

Since then, the tribe has made it their duty to guard Shandora, the Golden Bell, and the other Poneglyph, killing all intruders. However, four-hundred years after the destruction of Shandora (and four-hundred years before the present timeline), the tribe caught an epidemic that was slowly killing off their people. In hopes of saving the tribe, the Shandian chief, Calgara attempted to sacrifice his daughter Musse to their god, Kashigami. However, Montblanc Norland, an explorer from Lyneel, saved Musse and killed Kashigami, causing immediate outrage.

Despite his rejection, Norland managed to cured the diseased in the village. However, when the Shandians found out Norland had cut down the trees that housed their ancestors, they chased Norland's crew away from the island. However, they later found out that the trees were the cause of the disease and forgived Norland. They then rang their Golden Bell every day to lead Norland back to the island, as he had promised to come back.

Years later due to "Knock-Up Stream", a large part of the island, including the area where everyone lived, was sent flying into the sky, landing in the White-White Sea. Confused, the Shandians decided to ring the Golden Bell to ask their ancestors for help. Hearing the bell, the Skypieans invaded the island because soil was considered holy. The land was taken over by the Skypieans, who called it Upper Yard, forcing the Shandians out. Since then, the Shandians and the Skypeians have been in constant warfare over control of Upper Yard.

394 years into the war, Eneru destroyed his homeland of Bilkia, and took over Upper Yard and the nearby Angel Island (Skypeia). Eneru dethroned the current God, Gan Fall, and took over Skypeia. The Shandians continued to resist God's Warriors, but never invaded Upper Yard. However, when the Straw Hat Pirates defeated Priest Satroi, the Shandians took the chance to invade Upper Yard. Wiper managed to defeat priest Shura, with the Straw Hats defeating Gedatsu and Ohm. Eneru attempted to use Raigo to destroy Upper Yard, but Monkey D. Luffy defeated him and rang the Golden Bell, which ended the war. The two societies began to live together on Upper Yard, which was more than large enough to support both as they found. Both are currently ruled by Gan Fall, though the Shandian Chief presides over the tribe.

Beliefs
Orginally, the Shandians believed largely in ancestor worship. A large part of their religion centers around a golden bell in the city of Shandra. By ringing it, the spirits of their ancestors can follow its sound back to their island and live in a species of white trees that lives there. In addition to this, they also once worshiped many gods, some of which being a race of giant snakes that inhabited Jaya. Human sacrifice was once practiced, they believed sacrificing their people to their god, a giant snake called Kashigami, would cure diseases as well as lift many other Omens. They also worshiped Jaya, Kashigami's son.

The modern Shandians still worship their ancestors, most notably Calgara, however much has changed over the passing centuries and they have abandoned many of their tradional beliefs. Their most noted as the belief in God worship. When they were sent into the sky, they were angry at the Skypiea leader for saying "I am God" because of this and immediately dismissed his status.