Tuhannish
The Tuhannish people are a Gnomish ethnic group native to the Tuhannen Saarip Maazira. Though divided amongst hundreds of disparate polities, the Tuhannish share a common cultural framework that distinguishes them from both the mannish Erzihari with whom they coexist as well as the Gnomes of Sijmen Sur, whom the Tuhannish refer to as "mainlanders."
History
Origins
The earliest Tuhannish communities descend from Gnomish maritime groups that settled the Tuhannen several centuries prior to the birth of Friedrich Wythe. These early settlers established themselves along coasts, sheltered coves, and cavernous island interiors, developing localized societies oriented around navigation, resource management, and localized inter-island trade. The concurrent and subsequent migrations of Erzihari tribesmen into the archipelago prompted rapid cultural synthesis between the two groups, forming the basis of the modern Tuhannish cultural identity.
Characteristics & Culture
Appearance
The Tuhannish are slim and lanky by Sijmeni Gnomish standards, standing on average a head higher than their Wythian kin. Their features tend toward angularity with pronounced browlines and narrow jaws, though considerable regional variation exists. Communities inhabiting the cavern-islands of Kalliohauta, for instance, often display pallid complexions and enlarged eyes suited to low-light conditions, while those of the coast bear darker skin and weathered features shaped by constant exposure to sun and salt.
Language
The Tuhannish speak a range of closely related Sijmeni Gnomish-derived dialects collectively referred to as Tuhannish or Tuhannish Gnomish. The majority of these dialects inherited many words from the tongues of the Erzihari, particularly in domains related to governance, trade, and law, though their grammatical structure remains distinctly Gnomish. Variation between islands can be pronounced, but mutual intelligibility is generally maintained through constant inter-island contact and the movement of sailors, merchants, and envoys.
Maritime Tradition
The sea functions as the primary medium through which Tuhannish society remains connected and sustained, and as such a strong maritime tradition is universal among the Tuhannish. Skills such as navigation, sail-handling, and the reading of winds and currents are widely distributed across the population; even communities removed from the immediate coastline remain integrated into maritime networks, structuring their subsistence and communication around access to sea routes.