Ulomians

Ulomians are a fictional ethnolinguistic group from the Ulomia region in speculative fiction and role-playing games. They are commonly depicted as maritime traders and skilled artisans who established a network of urban centers along river deltas and coastal routes. The term Ulomian is used for both the people and their language, which has several dialects.

Geography and social structure: The traditional Ulomian homeland covers lowland coasts and river deltas with access to navigable waterways. Politically, Ulomian society evolved from clans into city-states that later formed a loose confederation led by councils of elders and influential merchant guilds; in some canons a ceremonial monarch acts as a symbolic figurehead.

Language and culture: The Ulomian language belongs to the Ulomian language family, with distinct coastal and highland dialects. Cultural production emphasizes woodcarving, textile weaving, bronze-work, and shipbuilding. Religious life centers on a pantheon of sea deities and ancestor spirits; annual sea and harvest festivals mark the cycle of trade and travel.

History and modern representation: In the fictional chronology, Ulomians appear from the Bronze Age through early Iron Age, engaging in trade networks and cultural exchange with neighboring civilizations. In contemporary fiction, Ulomians appear as diasporic communities and are the subject of archaeological and ethnographic interest within the setting, with ongoing efforts to preserve traditional crafts and languages.