Keldara

Keldara is a fictional ethnic group commonly depicted in fantasy literature and role-playing games. They are portrayed as mountain-dwelling people whose homeland lies in the Keldaran Highlands, a rugged region of high plateaus, deep valleys, and conifer forests. The name Keldara is said to derive from their own language, signifying “highlanders” or “people of the passes.”

The Keldaran homeland is organized into semi-autonomous clans led by chieftains who form a council known as the Warders to manage external affairs and inter-clan disputes. Settlements range from cliff-side fortresses to scattered hill villages linked by trade routes. Their livelihoods emphasize seasonal herding, forest and mineral resources, and sturdy craftwork. Family ties and clan crests influence status and marriage alliances, while martial training and a code of defense and diplomacy underpin social norms.

Language and religion are central to Keldaran identity. They speak Keldaran, a tonal language with a rich oral tradition, while many merchants learn neighboring tongues for trade. Their belief system is animist, focusing on mountain spirits, ancestral protectors, and a sun deity; seasonal rites mark harvests, hunts, and the opening of mountain passes. The Keldara are celebrated for craftsmanship—metalwork, leather, weaving, and carved pipes—often featured in ceremonial dress and public feasts. Economic activity includes pastoralism, mining, timber, and metalwork, with trade in wool, salt, and finished goods with neighboring realms.

Historically, the Keldara are said to have emerged as a distinct people after a historic migration and consolidation in the highlands. They have alternated between periods of isolation and active trade, forming cautious alliances with nearby polities. In various fantasy settings, they are sometimes portrayed as scouts, mercenaries, or frontier traders, consistently depicted as resourceful, resilient highlanders adapted to harsh terrain.