Yavannas

Yavannas is a term used in the fictional world of Eldoria to describe the people, language, and region associated with the eastern lowlands along the Serin River. In multiple sources, Yavannas can denote communities living in a shared geographic zone, their cultural practices, or the linguistic group they speak. The name is said to derive from the river goddess Yavanna, who is honored in local myths as a guardian of harvests and forests. The plural form Yavannas is used to refer to the people and to their language.

Geographically, the Yavannas occupy a chain of interconnected city-states and river towns along the Serin and its tributaries. The landscape combines terraced fields, deciduous forests inland, and busy market towns that link inland farmers with coastal traders. Core settlements commonly cited in sources include the towns of Neris, Veyron, and Halin, though the exact boundaries of Yavannas vary between chronicles.

Society among the Yavannas emphasizes kinship, guilds, and communal rites. Local governance typically centers on councils of elders with participation from elected representatives of craft and trading guilds. Social life features seasonal harvest ceremonies, rites of renewal, and extensive storytelling and oral history. Women and men alike take part in agricultural and ritual duties, with prominent roles in agrarian festivals.

Language and culture: the Yavanni language is described as part of the Serinic family, with several regional dialects and a tradition of oral literature. Material culture emphasizes woodcarving, weaving, and timber-frame architecture designed to harmonize with the riverine environment. The Yavannas are often depicted in Eldorian lore as skilled traders and stewards of their valley’s forests and fields.

Historically, early Yavanni communities formed during migrations in the late first era and gradually organized into city-states. They interacted with neighboring coastal and inland powers through trade, diplomacy, and periodic conflict, eventually contributing to regional trade networks and cultural exchange within Eldoria.