Thants

The Thants are an indigenous community living in the Thantic Highlands, a highland plateau in the central region of the fictional continent. They are known for terraced farming, forest stewardship, and a distinct language and cultural tradition. Their settlements cluster in valley towns and hillside hamlets.

The name Thant derives from the Thant language, with the root tha- meaning "earth" or "people." The population is estimated at roughly 85,000 to 110,000, with most residents in rural districts and smaller communities in regional towns and the capital.

The Thant language is an agglutinative member of the Central Highlands language group, featuring vowel harmony and a subject–object–verb word order. In education, a standardized Latin-based orthography is used, while a traditional syllabary remains in ceremonial contexts. There are two primary dialects: North Thant and South Thant.

Thants trace centuries of residence in the highlands, organized around clan villages and rotating councils. They developed mountain trade networks and practiced careful resource management, while facing external pressures from neighboring states and colonial authorities. In the modern era, legal reforms have reinforced cultural rights and local autonomy.

Society centers on clans and village councils. Arts include weaving, woodcarving, and ritual singing. The annual harvest festival Lenha marks the agricultural cycle. The diet emphasizes millet, maize, legumes, and smoked fish; music commonly uses bamboo flutes and percussion.

Today the Thants are recognized as an indigenous community with language and land-right protections. Governance includes cultural councils and regional authorities; education in Thant and the national language is provided. The economy blends smallholder farming, forestry, and ecotourism, with programs to preserve language and heritage.