Dravian

Dravian is a fictional humanoid race appearing in fantasy literature and role-playing settings. They are commonly depicted as maritime people who inhabit coastal cities and island archipelagos, renowned for navigational skill, diplomatic tact, and scholarly pursuits. As with many fantasy races, specific traits vary by author and setting.

Etymology and nomenclature: The name Dravian is usually tied to their homeland or core settlements, often called Dravia or the Dravian Isles. The term functions as both a demonym and an adjective for culture, language, artifacts, and places associated with Dravia.

Geography and society: Dravian settlements cluster around the Dravian Isles, a temperate coastal archipelago with busy harbors and sheltered bays. Their social structure centers on guilds, maritime councils, and academies that train navigators, shipwrights, astronomers, and diplomats.

History and politics: In most depictions, Dravians trace their origins to ancient seafaring communities that established city-states and fleets. They maintain extensive trade networks and seek alliances with inland kingdoms and other maritime powers, shaping a history of diplomacy, commerce, and naval innovation.

Culture, language, and technology: Dravians prize knowledge of the stars, currents, and tides. Their language includes nautical terminology and ceremonial scripts used in navigational charts. Religion is diverse, often centered on sea deities or ancestral veneration. Shipbuilding, mapmaking, and scholarship are core professions; ironworking appears in later periods in some settings.