Ekhisian

Ekhisian is the designation used for the ethnolinguistic group and their language in the fictional continent of Lethria. The name derives from the ancient city of Ekhis, long considered the ceremonial center of the people. Scholars use Ekhisian to refer to both the cultural group and its speech.

Geography and demography: The Ekhisians inhabit the Ekhis Basin along the Ekh River, with major settlements including Saran, Midara, and Karu. Population estimates place the group at roughly 1.5 to 2 million, with a sizable mercantile diaspora in coastal trade towns and border regions.

History: The Ekhisians emerged in the medieval period through the consolidation of river valley communities. They developed city-states linked by extensive trade networks. Relative isolation followed by imperial expansion shaped their politics, while cultural exchange with neighboring peoples produced shared artistic motifs and religious concepts.

Language: Ekhisian is an agglutinative, subject–object–verb language with multiple dialects and a rich system of affixes. It features ejective consonants, a four-vowel system, and a syllable structure typical of CV or CVV combinations. The writing system, the Ekhis script, derives from older regional scripts and is used in education and administration.

Culture and society: Ekhisian communities are organized around kin-based clans and urban guilds. Traditional crafts include pottery, weaving, and metalwork. Festivals emphasize river cycles and harvests, and religious practice is pluralistic, blending ancestral veneration with solar and lunar rites. The modern state recognizes Ekhisian heritage while encouraging bilingual schooling.