Tovas

Tovas are a fictional ethnolinguistic group used in world-building and speculative fiction. They inhabit the river valley of Kalandia in the southern Varana region, a landscape of wetlands and seasonal floods. The Tovas maintain a rich oral tradition and customary law tied to the water cycle.

Language and demography: The Tovan language belongs to the Taric language family, with Northern and Southern dialects. Within the fiction, the population is estimated at about 40,000 in Kalandia and nearby basins, with smaller diasporic communities across the region.

Society and economy: Tovas live in extended, multi-family compounds organized into matrilineal clans. Clan membership influences inheritance, residence, and ceremonial roles. Local governance centers on a council of elders, often chaired by senior women. The economy combines wet-rice cultivation, river fisheries, and crafts such as pottery and reed weaving; trade with neighbors is common.

Culture and religion: River spirits and ancestor reverence shape rituals and festivals, including a Water Festival marking the annual flood. Music features end-blown flutes and percussion; dress uses dyed cotton and beadwork with distinctive riverine motifs.

History and status: Settlement in the valley dates back centuries in the fictional history. During external rule in the colonial era, administrative changes occurred, but contemporary arrangements in the fictional state recognize language rights and cultural autonomy, supporting the preservation of ritual practices and craft traditions.