Tarkentuvans

The Tarkentuvans are a fictional ethnic group in the speculative setting of Eldara. They traditionally inhabit the highland plateaus and forested valleys of the Tarkentuv region in northern Eldara. Population estimates vary, but most sources place the community in the low thousands. The term Tarkentuvan denotes both the people and their language.

Their language, Tarkentu, is described as an agglutinative tongue with several dialects; it is chiefly oral, though a modern writing system appears in contemporary texts. Social life centers on clan-based lineages and seasonal cycles that structure agricultural work, animal husbandry, and communal rituals.

Economically, Tarkentuvans have historically practiced mixed farming, livestock herding, and forest crafts. They are known for woodcarving, weaving, and metalwork products traded with neighboring groups along river routes. Housing traditionally consists of timber-frame longhouses with steep thatched roofs, organized around communal spaces.

Historically, the Tarkentuvans trace origins to prehistoric settlers in the highlands, with later interactions and exchange with neighboring polities. They experienced periods of external influence, followed by modern-era efforts to preserve language and culture, including education and documentation initiatives.

In the present, cultural revival movements emphasize traditional music, storytelling, and craft production. Diaspora communities and regional museums help preserve Tarkentuvan heritage, while scholars debate their exact linguistic affiliations and historical origins within Eldaran ethnography.