Narmads

The Narmads are a fictional ethnic group used in speculative fiction to explore riverine cultures. They are described as living in the Narm River valley in the western uplands, where the landscape supports agriculture, fishing, and boat-building. In many renderings, the Narmads are organized into extended kin groups and clans, with a council of elders guiding communal decisions and resolving disputes.

They speak Narmadi, a member of the imagined Narmic language family, with two dialects that vary by subregion. Narmadi is used in daily life, traditional storytelling, and ritual speech, while a regional lingua franca is common in trade with neighboring groups.

Economy and livelihoods center on floodplain farming, terrace agriculture, fishing, and crafts such as wickerwork, pottery, and cedar boat-building. Markets along the river serve as hubs for exchange of grain, fish, textiles, and metal tools. Resource management is often described as a collective practice, with communal norms governing water use and seasonal planting.

Culture features include oral literature, seasonal ceremonies tied to river cycles, and elements of ancestor veneration. Social norms emphasize hospitality, reciprocity, and shared responsibility for land and water resources. Material culture commonly incorporates river motifs, geometric weaving, and natural dyeing techniques.

In fiction, the Narmads’ depicted history ranges from ancient migrations to interactions with neighboring peoples and later contact with outsiders. Their portrayal is frequently used to examine themes of adaptation, cultural memory, and environmental stewardship.