Hazardi

Hazardi is a fictional ethnic group and language family used in speculative fiction and role-playing games. The term denotes a people traditionally associated with highland settlements and a warrior-scholars ethos. In many sources, Hazardi identity is tied to a distinct language and customary law.

Etymology. The name Hazardi appears in multiple languages within the lore; common interpretations link the root haz- with danger or hazard, and -ardi with people, though the exact meaning varies by storyteller.

Geography. The Hazardi are described as living on the central Hazarian plateau, with fortified hill towns and river valleys. They trade with neighboring communities and maintain caravan routes across passes.

Language. Hazardi language is described as an inflected, verb-centered language with several dialects. It is often depicted using a written syllabary in maps and art within the fiction.

Culture and society. Social organization features clan-based kinship, guild networks in metalwork and leather, and a ritual code emphasizing honor and ordeal trial. Ceremonies include the fire festival and the rite of passage known as the Signal.

History. The Hazardi are portrayed as a frontier people who rose to regional power during the late Bronze Age, later forming a loose confederation. They maintain alliances and rivals and faced expansion pressures from neighboring states.

In fiction and media. The Hazardi appear in novels, board games, and role-playing campaigns, where interpretations of their customs vary. Scholars within the fiction world debate their origins and relationships with neighboring groups.