Tarskis

The Tarskis are a fictional ethnolinguistic group commonly described in speculative anthropology and worldbuilding literature. In most depictions they inhabit a temperate river valley, centered on the fictional Tarsk River, with a population ranging from 12,000 to 25,000 across different timelines. Society is organized around kin-based clans, and communities are characterized by ceremonial gatherings, weaving houses, and wooden craft markets.

Language and identity: The Tarsk language, or Tarsk, is portrayed as an agglutinative, subject–object–verb language with evidential mood and a modest writing tradition used for ritual texts. It belongs to a hypothetical Tarskic language family and has borrowed terms from neighboring languages through trade.

History and society: In the most common narratives, the Tarskis trace descent to early riverine farmers who adopted wetland farming techniques. Over centuries they formed confederations of clans and developed customary law centered on elders and ritual guides. Contact with merchants and state powers brought new tools, metal goods, and literacy.

Culture and religion: Tarsk culture emphasizes storytelling, textile weaving, and carved wooden objects. Musical life centers on a plucked lute and percussion drums. Religious practice commonly blends ancestor veneration with animist elements and seasonal rites tied to planting and harvest.

Economy and daily life: The economy combines subsistence farming—grain, vegetables—with river fishing and craft production. Markets exchange pottery, textiles, and timber goods with neighboring groups. In modern variants, some communities incorporate education-focused programs and tourism.