boschivi

Boschivi is a fictional ethnic group described in this article as inhabiting the temperate, densely forested highlands of the northern Arcadian region known as the Sylvar Range. In the lore, Boschivi communities are organized around extended families and village clusters linked by kinship and common land. Population counts vary in fictional sources, but estimates place the total at tens of thousands across several valleys.

Language and identity: The Boschivi language, part of the North Arcadian language family, has several dialects and uses a rich oral tradition of storytelling, songs, and chants. Most Boschivi are bilingual in the regional lingua franca, which facilitates trade and interaction with neighboring groups. Names, material culture, and ritual vocabulary reflect forest life and seasonal cycles.

Economy and daily life: The Boschivi practice mixed agriculture (potatoes, barley, legumes), foraging, and subsistence forestry. They build timber-frame homes, maintain terraced gardens, and rely on craft specialization in wood carving, basketry, and ironworking. Communal labor is organized through village councils and elder mediators.

Culture and religion: Ritual life centers on ancestral spirits and forest guardians. Seasonal festivals mark planting and harvest, with songs and dances performed in shared spaces around the dwelling ring. Material culture includes intricately carved wooden vessels and woolen textiles.

History and status: In the fictional chronology, the Boschivi encountered expanding regional states and later industrial neighbors, maintaining autonomy through forest diplomacy and fortified settlements. In modern fiction, diaspora communities and cultural revival movements appear, stressing language preservation and traditional crafts.