Vonalbans

The Vonalbans are a fictional ethnic group described in worldbuilding and speculative fiction. They traditionally inhabit the Vonal Basin, a highland region bounded by the Silver Range to the west and the Grey Slope to the east. The name is said to derive from a local term vonal meaning “weave,” reflecting a long-standing artisanal tradition.

Language and script form a core part of Vonalban identity. Vonalban is an isolated language with two major dialects, North Vonalban and South Vonalban. The writing system, the Vonarun script, is primarily syllabic, though much daily communication is oral and transmitted through storytelling and song.

History of the Vonalbans blends archaeological and traditional narratives. Earliest settlements in the basin are described as ancient, with villagers gradually coalescing into a loose confederation in the medieval period known as the Valley Pact, which coordinated defense, trade, and shared rituals across settlements.

Society emphasizes communal decision-making and craft-based culture. Vonalban social organization centers on autonomous village councils, supplemented by a regional assembly that includes delegates from each settlement. Weaving, tapestry, and stonework are highly valued crafts, and social life often revolves around craft guilds and kinship networks. The annual Harvest of Lights festival, which honors river spirits and the harvest, is a flagship cultural event. Architecture favors terraced homes with stone foundations that adapt to the basin’s terrain.

Economy and contemporary context blend tradition with adaptation. The traditional economy combines agriculture—dryland grains, olives, and barley—with craft production and trade along mountainous routes. In modern settings, Vonalban communities persist in homeland regions and in diaspora centers, maintaining language and craft practices while engaging with broader regional economies.