Karakayas

Karakayas are an ethnolinguistic community traditionally inhabiting the Karakaya Highlands along the border of Veridia and Hesperia. They are descended from mixed Turkic and indigenous populations that settled the highlands during the medieval era. The name derives from the local word for “black rock” and is used by neighboring groups to refer to the community. Their language, Karakayan, belongs to the Turkic language family and features a mix of agglutinative morphology and loanwords from surrounding languages; most speakers are bilingual in Veridian or Hesparian.

The Karakaya Highlands are rugged, with karst plateaus, pine forests, and winding river valleys. Settlement is concentrated in valleys with terraced agriculture. The climate is continental, with cold winters and warm summers.

Historical records and local chronicles indicate a loose confederation emerged in the 14th century, providing mutual defense and facilitating trade. The Karakayas engaged in intermittent conflict and alliances with neighboring polities, and modern state formation led to integration in the 19th and 20th centuries. Diaspora communities formed in urban centers outside the highlands as people migrated for work and education.

Society is organized around lineages and clans, with elder councils resolving disputes and customary law governing property and inheritance. Traditional dress features woolen fabrics and embroidered vests, and crafts include weaving and wood carving. Musical culture centers on the kopuz and other stringed instruments, with dances such as halay accompanying communal feasts and harvest celebrations.

Economically, pastoralism (sheep and goats) and subsistence farming (barley and legumes) are core activities, with recent diversification into tourism and remittances from abroad. Crafts and local markets remain important in smaller villages.