Nodeans

Nodeans are a fictional ethnolinguistic community native to the Node Valley along the Node River in eastern Eloria. They are estimated to number between 350,000 and 420,000 people, with a largely rural population but several towns and a growing urban belt. Nodeans share a common language, customary law, and a regional identity that persists alongside national citizenship.

Language and writing: The Nodean language is spoken across inland and coastal districts, with Inland Nodean and Coastal Nodean dialects. Historically, the Node script was used for inscriptions and religious texts, but today Nodean communities primarily use a Latin-based alphabet for education and administration.

History: Early Nodean communities formed in the 9th and 10th centuries, organizing into a loose Node Confederation by the late medieval period. The region became integrated into the federal state of Eloria in the 19th century, and gained autonomous regional government in the 1990s, retaining cultural and linguistic rights within the larger polity.

Society and culture: Nodean society centers on local councils and village assemblies, with leadership positions often rotating among elders. The economy combines small-scale farming, river fishing, and artisanal crafts, with growing light manufacturing and services in towns. Cultural life emphasizes the River Festival, weaving, pottery, and traditional music. Religious practice ranges from ancestor veneration to syncretic forms that blend monotheism with local spirits.

Geography and environment: The Node Valley features fertile floodplains, terraces, and a network of canals. Climate change and urban migration pose challenges, while language preservation efforts and regional education programs aim to sustain Nodean linguistic and cultural heritage.