skyas

Skyas are a fictional ethnolinguistic group described in speculative literature set on the continent of Aerion. They are traditionally depicted as inhabitants of high plateaus and cliff settlements, with a culture oriented toward the sky, weather patterns, and navigation by celestial cues. The term skyas derives from the Skyan language, where skya- functions as a root meaning "sky" and the plural suffix -as marks the ethnonym, yielding "the Skyas" or "people of the sky."

Historically, Skyas are portrayed as a loose federation of clans that maintained autonomy through mountain passes and seasonal migrations. They emphasize kinship, collective decision-making, and craft specialization in textiles, ropework, and metalwork. Their social life centers on communal work, seasonal harvest rituals, and itinerant markets that link distant communities.

Language and knowledge are central to Skyan identity. Skyan is described as an agglutinative language with vowel harmony, featuring several dialects and a symbolic script used in older manuscripts. Traditional knowledge spans astronomy, meteorology, and navigation. Cosmology often ties celestial events to agricultural cycles and travel permissions across regions.

In contemporary fictional settings, Skyas persist as minority communities in rugged terrain, balancing preservation of ritual traditions with contact and exchange with neighboring groups. Depictions vary by author, but common elements include a reverence for the sky, resilient social networks, and a repertoire of practical crafts tied to their mountain homeland.