Vikulian

The Vikulian are an ethnolinguistic group traditionally inhabiting the highland valleys and river basins of the fictional region of Veridia, along the northern foothills of the Great Range. They form a compact, market-oriented community known for wood carving, textile weaving, and hillside agriculture. The term Vikulian is used to describe both the people and their language.

The name Vikulian derives from the ancient settlement of Viku in early chronicles dated to the 9th century, with the suffix -lian denoting belonging to or people of in many Vikulian dialects.

Archaeological surveys suggest Vikulian identity crystallized between the 6th and 11th centuries. They formed political coalitions with neighboring groups and later integrated into regional kingdoms. The modern Vikulian community emerged within a multiethnic federation, preserving customary laws and a council-based governance system.

Society is organized around kin networks and craft associations. Traditional religion blends ancestor veneration with seasonal rites; some communities practice forest stewardship and watershed protection. Family units are often led by elder councils and a clan-based structure supports local dispute resolution.

Vikulian language belongs to a small regional family. It is primarily oral, with a later adoption of a syllabary script in some communities. It features agglutinative morphology, extensive honorifics, and a flexible word order that reflects discourse context.

Economy centers on small-scale farming, woodcraft, and market trade. In recent decades, some Vikulians have migrated to cities for education, forming a diaspora that maintains cultural ties through festivals and cooperative associations. The homeland remains a site for ecotourism and craft enterprises.