Nestenes

Nestenes are a fictional ethnic group featured in fantasy literature and role-playing settings. They inhabit the island archipelago of Azoria in the northern seas and are described as skilled seafarers, traders, and craftspeople who maintain a resilient coastal culture. The Nestenic language forms a branch of the Coastal Sprach family; many Nestenes are bilingual, using neighboring mainland languages in trade.

Their social organization centers on kin-based clans that participate in a communal council. The council is led by a rotating chair called the Storm Elder, chosen for leadership during maritime seasons. Family ties, apprenticeship, and guilds shape daily life, with craft specialization ranging from shipbuilding and ropework to weaving and jewelry making.

Nestenes have a rich oral tradition and a festive calendar anchored by sea-based rites. Important customs include migrations between islands, elaborate ship launches, and the Harvest of Salt festival, which marks the end of the monsoon season. Religion blends ancestor veneration with nature spirits tied to wind and wave; many communities observe sea-cleanliness and protection of marine resources.

In modern depictions, Nestenes are portrayed as a resilient trading people who integrate traditional practices with contemporary livelihoods, such as sustainable fishing, aquaculture, and tourism. They have a growing diaspora in southern ports and urban centers of the fictional world, where cultural preservation and renewal efforts are documented in scholarly and in-universe sources.