Athumi

The athumi (pronounced ah-THEW-me), loosely into Common as monarchs, are the leaders of the elven tribes that form the Great Houses of Talmithe, analogous to the role that nobility play in certain other parts of the world. Each Great House appoints their athumi in different ways. To the Hathna, for example, the most erudite are the best deserving of the role, while the Velparun consider only the children of previous athumi to be their legitimate heirs.

Athumi are given great latitude in how their wish to run their estates, manage their subjects, and lead their own tribe. Some great houses consider all their athumi to be on equal footing with each other, making any broader decisions through collective deliberation, while others hold a singular athumi to be in command of the Great House as a whole.

Places ruled by athumi are called athumates.