Avldati

Avldati are an ethnolinguistic group native to the Avldat Plains, a highland region in the eastern part of the continent of Itheria. They share a distinct language, a common cultural code, and a lineage-based social structure that shapes community organization and ritual practice.

Geography and language: The Avldat Plains encompass river valleys and upland steppes with a semi-arid climate in winter and a wetter summer. The Avldati language, Avldatian, is an agglutinative tongue in the Itherian language family, characterized by vowel harmony and postpositional syntax, with evidential markers indicating source of knowledge. While Avldatian remains the primary language of daily life, many communities use a regional trade language for intergroup communication.

History: The Avldati emerged as a settled group around the 9th century CE from the merger of two tribal confederations. They developed fortified settlements along major river corridors and built a network of exchange with neighboring polities. From the medieval period onward, they participated in broader political and cultural exchanges, gradually integrating into a federative state structure during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Society and culture: Avldati society centers on clans and an annual council of elders that makes key decisions. Inheritance is patrilineal, and craft specialization spans pottery, metalwork, and weaving. Religious life blends ancestral veneration with local celestial observances. The Ember Solstice festival marks the turning of the year and is celebrated with music, communal meals, and shared pottery.

Economy and demographics: The economy rests on mixed farming (barley and millet), pastoralism, and crafts. Trade links Avldat towns with inland and coastal markets. The population is concentrated in rural settlements and growing urban centers, with estimates around 120,000 to 150,000.