Toldthes

The Toldthes are an indigenous ethnic group inhabiting the Toldhe Highlands in northern Maeral. They traditionally live in stone-and-timber villages built along terraced slopes and are known for their polyphonic singing, distinctive pottery, and metalwork. Their society centers on extended kin networks and a council of elders that oversees communal affairs and cultural rites.

The name Toldthes derives from their endonym toldh, meaning “people of the high places” in the Toldthic language. The term is attested in external chronicles dating from the 12th century, and the people themselves continue to refer to their homeland as the Highlands nation.

Historically, archaeological remains indicate a settled agrarian culture by the late Bronze Age, with the emergence of organized clans in the early medieval period. The region developed as a crossroad on caravan routes, leading to periodic contact and exchange with neighboring polities. In modern times, national borders and regional governance redefined land use, while efforts to preserve language and craft traditions continued alongside integration into wider economic systems.

Language and culture: The Toldthic language is part of the Vyaric language family, and is characterized by agglutinative morphology and ejective consonants. Most Toldthes are bilingual, speaking a national language in education and administration. Cultural life emphasizes craft production—pottery, weaving, and metalwork—and seasonal rites, including the Lantern Festival, which honors ancestors and harvest abundance.

Economy and modern status: Traditional livelihoods included terraced farming and pastoralism, supplemented by caravan trade. Today, many communities earn income from crafts, tourism, and small-scale agriculture, with minority-rights protections supporting cultural preservation and regional representation.