Tlautojen

The Tlautojen are a culturally coherent group described as the inhabitants of the Bruma Uplands, a highland region in the northern continent of Elaria. They refer to themselves as Tlauto, while neighboring communities commonly use the plural form Tlautojen. The exonym was widely attested in early regional records, whereas the endonym remains integral to everyday speech among Tlauto elders and in local institutions.

Geography and society. The Tlautojen live in terraced valleys and stone-built villages perched along steep slopes. Their society is organized around kin-based clans that participate in a rotating council of elders and a ceremonial head often known as the Kapix. Agriculture, animal husbandry, and small-scale trade with neighboring communities support urban and rural livelihoods.

Language and culture. The Tlautojan language is agglutinative with vowel harmony and a predominantly SVO word order. Traditionally, they used a syllabary carved on hardwood tablets; later communities adopted a Latin-based script for public records. Cultural life emphasizes oral storytelling, weaving, pottery, and music performed with flutes and drums during seasonal ceremonies.

History and contact. The Tlautojen formed a loose confederation in the medieval period to manage shared resources and defense. They maintained extensive trade networks with southern neighbors while retaining significant autonomy. Encounters with distant imperial powers in later centuries brought new technologies, religious ideas, and administrative practices, prompting gradual changes in governance and land use.

Economy and modern development. Today the Tlautojen engage in diversified livelihoods, including terraced agriculture, artisanal crafts, and eco-tourism. Migration to towns and limits on arable land have transformed family structures and education levels. Efforts focus on language maintenance, cultural heritage, and sustainable resource management within a changing regional economy.