Aeglises

Aeglises are an ethnolinguistic community native to the highland region around the Aegli Plateau in the central Veridian highlands. The term Aegles denotes both the people and their language, which are closely linked to the local geography and economy.

A geographically compact population lives in river valleys and foothill villages; estimates range from 40,000 to 70,000. They are recognized as a minority in Veridia and maintain an autonomous cultural district that supports education, media, and cultural events.

Historically, the Aeglises formed agrarian communities that gradually organized into regional councils. They experienced periodic conflicts and later integrated into larger polities. In the modern era, reforms in Veridia granted cultural rights and administrative space for language use in schools and local governance.

The Aegris language belongs to the Aegric branch of the Veridian language family and is written with a Latin-based script. Bilingual education is common. Cultural life centers on crafts such as woodcarving, pottery, and weaving, as well as traditional music featuring woodwind ensembles and polyphonic singing. Cuisine emphasizes barley, root vegetables, dairy products, and simple stews.

Social structure includes family clans and village-based councils; elders advise on customary law and ritual matters. The economy mixes hillside farming, forestry, and small-scale crafts, with remittances from urban workers. Major annual events include the Harvest Convergence and the Winter Storytelling Festival.

Efforts to preserve language and heritage are supported by schools, museums, and cultural organizations. Contemporary challenges include rural depopulation, language maintenance, and balancing traditional practices with modernization.