Tókuru

Also known as Daichū (大中) in some texts   Tókuru (from Mawari tókuru), also Dainan, meaning "Great South" in many local traditions, is one of the major continents of Erthas, located primarily between 23°S and 45°S latitude, and 0°E to 45°E longitude. In early High Elven exploration, the continent was called Daichū (大中), meaning "Great Center," due to the mistaken belief that it sat directly across the equator.  

Geography

  Dainan encompasses a wide range of climates and biomes:  
  • Northern Coast: A series of monsoon-fed peninsulas with rich biodiversity and seasonal rainfall.
  • Savanna Interior: A vast stretch of grassland gradually transitioning into steppe as it approaches the desert belt.
  • Central Desert Belt: A mountainous, arid expanse between 30°S and 35°S, home to salt basins, ridges, and ancient caravan routes.
  • Southern Desert Fringe: Dominated by large salt lakes and dry basins.
  • Mediterranean South: Fertile coastal lands marked by peninsulas, gulfs, and complex maritime cultures.
  • Antarctic Archipelago: A cold, isolated island chain linked historically to the southern Kamukali peoples.
 

Ethnolinguistic Groups

  Dainan is home to three primary linguistic macro-families:  

Ilani (Proto-Nilotic)

The Ilani peoples are native to the river valleys, monsoon peninsulas, and southeastern coastal plains. Their name derives from the reconstructed Proto-Nilotic root ila- (people) and [-ni] (riverlands).   Northern Ilani (Ilani’kur):
  • Tulamar: Tulek, Mawari, Nyobo
  • Genkaru: Gendwi, Okaru
  • Hazbeni: Hazura, Abeni, Imboko
  Southern Ilani (Ilani’zen):
  • Zhamor: Zhamo
  • Tafuro: Tafwen, Duroka (Insular)
  • Seribam: Seriwan, Oruni, Bamutu
 

Kamukali (Proto-Bantu)

Derived from the root kamu- (earth/home) and [-kali] (tongue/speech), the Kamukali peoples are known for seafaring, sculpture, and rich oral traditions. They dominate the southern coasts and islands.   Kamukali Subgroups:
  • Lombera: Lomba, Efundi, Chabira, Ndali, Mapoko, Ruwari, Zimbo, Yekuta
  • Kalombu: Masira, Obondo, Kalifa
  • Janduko: Janduké (Antarctic Island Chain)
 

Proto-Yeniseian

Sparse desert-dwelling cultures that trace their roots to ancient transcontinental migrations. These peoples have unique water-conservation knowledge and ritual traditions centered around sky and stone.   Yeniseian Desert Groups:
  • Khurak: Western Desert
  • Tsuvri: Central Desert
  • Veytag: Salt Lake Fringe
 

Historical and Cultural Notes

  Dainan has historically remained politically fragmented but culturally rich. Trade routes connected northern river kingdoms to southern port cities long before foreign explorers arrived. The mountain deserts are viewed in Ilani tradition as a sacred veil between the "upper" and "lower" lands, and pilgrimage routes still traverse their windswept passes.   While contact with Daitō and the High Elves of the north introduced some technology and mythic narratives, the continent retained a largely independent cultural evolution throughout the First Age.  

Cartography

  In High Elven atlases, Dainan is often labeled Daichū (大中), meaning “Great Center.” This misnomer originated from early celestial navigation errors, which placed the continent straddling the equator. The name remains in formal diplomatic texts, despite its geographic inaccuracy.
Type
Continent
Location under