Sanons

Sanons are a fictional ethnolinguistic group described in world-building settings and speculative fiction. They are depicted as inhabitants of the highland region of Veridia’s western cordillera, centered around the Laranan Plateau. The term Sanon is used in in-world texts as the endonym for “the hill people” and is applied by outsiders to refer to the communities that speak the Sanon language.

Social organization centers on kin-based clans governed by councils of elders; leadership tends to rotate among respected elders and skilled artisans. Social life emphasizes communal labor, seasonal rituals, and mutual aid. Both women and men participate in agricultural work, crafts, and local governance, with some lineages specializing in metalwork or weaving.

Language and culture: The Sanon language is described as part of the Veridian language family, with several dialects. It is often depicted as tonal and agglutinative. Oral tradition preserves epics and myths about mountains, rivers, and ancestral spirits. Religious practice blends animist beliefs with ancestor veneration; shrines are commonly found at mountain passes and terrace sites, where seasonal ceremonies are held to mark planting and harvest.

Economy and interaction: The Sanons rely on terraced farming, pastoralism, and trade with lowland communities. They cultivate tubers and grains suitable to highland climates and engage in crafts such as woodcarving, metalwork, and textile weaving. Trade routes via mountain passes facilitate exchange of salt, pottery, and dried goods with neighboring groups.

In fiction and game design, the Sanons are used as a model of highland adaptation and cultural resilience. Portrayals vary by author, ranging from pastoral hill-dwellers to regionally organized mountain societies.