süvenes

The Süvenes are a small ethnolinguistic community traditionally inhabiting the highland valleys of the region of Valenor on the continent of Elyria. The name is of uncertain origin; scholars propose links to a regional term for water and to ancestral clan names.

Geography and demography: They inhabit terraced valleys at elevations between 900 and 1,800 meters; villages are clustered around spring-fed streams; population estimates vary between 8,000 and 12,000. They practice seasonal mobility with crop cycles.

Language: Süvenan, part of a small language family or possibly a language isolate, features tonality in some dialects and has a rich oral tradition in storytelling and proverbs.

Culture: Social organization centers on kinship clans; elder councils decide communal matters; major ceremonies include the Long Harvest and Water Day. Music uses wooden flutes and necklace bells; weaving and pottery are traditional crafts.

Economy: Mixed economy; farming (millet, potatoes), livestock, craft production, markets with neighboring groups; cash income from sale of textiles; craft cooperatives.

History and religion: Origin myths speak of migration from the southern uplands during a period of drought; many Süvenes hold Animist beliefs with ancestor veneration, with some syncretism with nearby faiths. Sacred sites include river springs and a hollow cedar grove.

Contemporary status: In recent decades, younger Süvenes increasingly attend mixed-language schools; there are preservation programs for language and textile arts; cultural tourism is a factor in regional economies.