Drali

Drali is the name given to an indigenous people and their homeland in the fictional region of the Dralian Basin on the eastern side of the fantasy continent of Eldara. The term Drali refers to both the people and the land they inhabit. The Drali language belongs to the Dralian language family and has two main dialects, Tarin and Luun; a traditional script is used mainly for ceremonial inscriptions.

Geography and climate describe the Dralian Basin as a terraced valley framed by limestone ridges. The climate is temperate with dry summers, and the rivers provide irrigation for crops and habitats for fish. The landscape supports agriculture, forestry, and craft production, forming the basis of the local economy.

Society is organized around kin groups, with a council of elders governing regional affairs and a rotating spokesperson who acts as a mediator during major decisions. The Drali economy blends terrace farming of staple crops with river fishing, timber harvesting, and crafts such as pottery and metalwork. Social life centers on oral tradition, with epics that recount migrations, river deity reverence, and communal rites.

Culture emphasizes storytelling, music, weaving, and woodcarving. The annual Harvest Moon festival marks agricultural cycles and includes rituals honoring river spirits and ancestral lineages. Religion is polytheistic, with a focus on natural and ancestral powers that guide daily life and seasonal events.

History traces early Drali settlements to roughly one thousand to one thousand two hundred years ago. They historically engaged in trade with coastal polities and inland communities and later joined a regional confederation coordinating defense and commerce. See also Dralian Highlands, Eldaran languages, Drali Confederacy.