Hundretuseners

Hundretuseners are a fictitious ethnic and linguistic group described in the world-building lore of the Thaleiran archipelago. The name derives from an ancient counting tradition that framed social life around blocks of one hundred thousand, a scheme that influenced governance, land use, and ritual practice.

Geography and society form the core of their identity. The hundretuseners inhabit several islands in Thaleira, with the coastal city of Maelport serving as a historical and cultural center. Population distribution favors clustered coastal communities and fortified inland towns. Traditionally, political authority rests in a council of elders and merchant guilds, complemented by a rotating office that oversees resource allocation and census administration.

Language and culture are tightly linked. Hundretusenian, the language of the group, is an agglutinative tongue with a rich numeral system that integrates counts into everyday speech. It shows connections to neighboring island languages through loanwords and shared ritual vocabulary. Cultural life emphasizes maritime trade, craftsmanship, and numeracy, reflecting the historical importance of counting blocks of people and goods.

Economy and ritual life. The economy centers on seafaring trade, coastal agriculture, and specialized crafts such as timber work and pottery. Festivals mark the counting cycle, most notably a biennial Day of the Hundred Thousand that commemorates communal unity and shared wealth. Architecture combines stone and timber, often arranged to facilitate markets and collective gatherings.

In fiction, the hundretuseners are studied for their numeracy-centric culture and their role in regional diplomacy within Thaleira.