Vysplých

Vysplých is a fictional ethnographic term used to describe a highland culture and language group in the northern reaches of the fantasy continent of Asterion. The Vysplých inhabit terraced villages carved into limestone cliffs and depend on stonecraft, forestry, and hillside agriculture. The name is derived from their own language, in which vysplých denotes "stone-splitters" or "stone carvers."

Language and writing: The Vysplých speak a language isolate known as Vysplých. It features a compact consonant inventory and a syllabary used by scribes and artisans; oral tradition preserves legends about quarrying, storms, and ancestors.

Society and culture: Political life centers on kin groups and an council of elders; leaders are chosen for experience and consensus-building. Architecture emphasizes masonry and dry-stone walls. Festivals celebrate the end of quarrying seasons, with communal feasts and stone-carving competitions.

Economy and technology: Quarrying, stone masonry, and carved sculpture form the core economy, supplemented by terrace farming, timber, and, in modern times, small-scale eco-tourism. Traditional tools include chisels, adzes, and bronze screens; metalworking supports craft production.

History and status: The Vysplých are first mentioned in coastal chronicles from the ninth century and later formed a loose confederation with neighboring groups. In the present era they enjoy cultural protection within a regional preserve and maintain autonomous local governance. Population estimates range in the low tens of thousands, and threats include habitat loss and resource depletion.