Sinnohs

Sinnohs are a fictional ethnolinguistic group described in many contemporary world-building works. They inhabit a chain of islands known as the Iskari Archipelago and are noted for seafaring, carpentry, and a rich oral tradition. The name Sinnoh is believed to originate from their own language, where it is associated with sea winds.

The term Sinnoh derives from the Sinnohian word sinnoh, meaning "sea-wind" or "storm messenger", reflecting their historical role as navigators and traders.

Geography and society: The Sinnohs live in hillside villages and floating platforms connected by canals and causeways. Society is organized into maritime clans; leadership rests with an annual council of elders and a captain-general who oversees fleets and defense. Education emphasizes navigation, seamanship, and craft, while customary law is transmitted through choruses and storytelling.

Language and culture: Sinnohian, a member of the Iskari language group, has several dialects and a syllabic script used in carved tablets and ceremonial banners. Cultural life centers on the sea, seasonal festivals, and shipyard rituals; music features wind-instruments and call-and-response chants known as wind songs.

History: Archaeological and textual sources suggest the Sinnohs formed distinct communities by the 9th century, trading with coastal polities to the west and north. Over centuries they developed specialized crafts, especially hull planking and ropework. In the modern period they joined a loose federation of island states while preserving autonomy in most inland affairs.

Economy and technology: Fishing and shipbuilding are core industries; they export timber, rope, and resin. Wind-powered ships predominate, with early adoption of steam in the larger fleets. Resource management emphasizes sustainable harvesting and tidal energy in some harbors.

Notable features: tattoos depicting waves and birds mark adulthood; the wind songs and myths recount ancestral voyages. They maintain a tradition of oral historians who preserve genealogies and navigational lore.