Varunyas

Varunyas is a fictional ethnolinguistic group commonly used in fantasy literature and world-building. They are described as river-adjacent communities organized around clans and artisan guilds, with a strong emphasis on water knowledge and ritual authority.

The name Varunya and the related term Varunyan are inspired by river and weather deities in myth-inspired settings. In most depictions, Varunyas trace descent from priestly lines and traders who settled along waterways and formed a loose confederation during a historical crisis.

Social structure is clan-based, with councils of elders and guildmasters guiding public life. Craft and trade—metalwork, pottery, textiles, and navigation—provide economic and social prestige. Key rites center on water—bathing, rainmaking, and river blessings—alongside seasonal festivals and genealogical storytelling.

The Varunyan language is fictional and described as agglutinative with a subject–object–verb order and rich honorific systems. Names, lineage, and guild affiliations are integral parts of everyday speech, and bilingual or diglossic settings appear in many stories.

Geographically, Varunyas are placed in river valleys and coastal estuaries in many authors' maps, with networks of markets that connect inland farms to harbor towns. Their economy blends agriculture, fishing, metalworking, and crafts, reinforced by customary law rather than centralized courts.

As a literary construct, Varunyas enable world-building around cultural exchange, conflict, and diplomacy. Since sources are fictional, there is no consensus on their exact origins, and portrayals vary by author and game designer.