There are approximately 360,000 humans in Tarsh. About a third of the population embraces the Lunar religion, and the remaining two-thirds follow the traditional Lightbringer and Earth pantheons. Some 60,000 in Lunar Tarsh are Lunar settlers and their descendants. The rest of the Lunar Tarshites are native Tarshites who have embraced the Lunar religion but otherwise retained their Orlanthi culture.
The Lunar Empire established a colony at Furthest in 1492. Founded by Hon-eel the Artess, Furthest was settled by colonists from the Lunar Heartlands. In areas of Lunar settlement, New Pelorian is the state language, as well as the language of the Lunar religion. The basic social unit is the extended family, headed by a patriarch. The Lunar religion provides women with an escape from patriarchal repression, and all Lunar initiates enjoy the privileges of citizenship. Cities are allowed an amount of self-rule, limited by the authority of the king of Tarsh.
The rural population consists largely of Orlanthi peasants, for whom the clan is the basic social unit. Even here, the Lunar religion is an important source of social organization. There are several loose tribes, that provide protection and justice for their members. Since 1582, the Illaro dynasty has assumed the right to officially designate tribal leaders.
