Oami
Oami Territory
Capital: None, Oamre forest territory.
Language: Slavic, Czechoslovakian, Russian, Ukrainian.
Naming Conventions: Given Name, Byname or Deed name, Tribe Name.
Ex: Ziven Petr (the rock) Tesar.
Government: None, Independent Tribes.
Current Ruler: None, each tribe is run by the eldest members of the family.
Politics: Disputes, which are rare, are settled between families.
Exports: Powerful salves, ointments, and herbs, known as the best healers in the land. Sometimes hired to transport cargo overland between Minzokan and Dascean territories. Rarely one can acquire fermented ciders in trade, though friends are often invited to sample some during gatherings. Logging of the Great Redwoods is nonexistent and will bring trouble to anyone caught attempting it.
Imports: Worked metal goods.
Currency: Barter.
Geography: The giant redwood forest known as the Oamre Forest.
Climate: Temperate, with regular fog.
Physical Appearance: Medium skin tone, dark hair, varied eye color.
Clothing Styles: Comfortable and functional, usually leathers in natural colors.
Personal Hygiene: Hair is usually worn long, facial hair amongst men a matter of personal preference.
Diet: Wild game, berries, ciders.
Cultural Taboos: Mistreating travelers and strangers. Two prejudices commonly held against the Oami are that they seduce beautiful young women and kidnap children. Insinuating either to an Oami is a grave insult. While it is not unheard of for a dashing Oami man to spend some time with a pretty young woman, actively trying to seduce a married woman would get the young man in significant trouble with his own tribe. Likely, while the Oami will take in lost children or runaways, assuming their lifestyle to be better for the child than whatever they left, the idea of actually kidnapping a child is anathema to the family oriented people.
Proper Greeting: To hail the camp from some distance to alert any sentries to your presence before approaching closer. A call to join the camp is almost universally given shortly thereafter.
Recreational Activities: Music, commonly strings and woodwinds, some small drums, drugs, from common herbs to mild hallucinogens, believed to help one better see the dreams of the Dreamer.
Arts/Architecture: Performing, either storytelling, singing or musical instruments, are very common. wood carving is also common.
Family Structure: Close knit extended families travel together.
Social Structure: Elder male in charge of leading and protecting tribe, elder female in charge of organizing family.
Marriage: Between tribes during regular caravan meetings. Marriages may be suggested by the families to strengthen bonds between tribes, but the decision is ultimately up those to be married.
Sexuality: Homosexuality is rare but not taboo, with marriages conducted between same sex couples normally. Such couples will often adopt orphans as a way to continue to support the tribe. Prostitution is completely unheard of. For an Oami to pay for time with someone else would be met with derision.
Education: Every member of the family is trained in basic survival by different members of the tribe, depending on their particular specialty. If a child shows an aptitude for a role, they will apprentice under the elder of the tribe who fills that role.
Common Methods of Transport: Using large, horse drawn vardo wagons, the Oami are said to be the only people who were able to reliably travel overland during the Long Dark.
Legal System and Punishments: Decided by the elder of the tribe, mild physical punishments, threat of exile.
Military: None, though most members are trained in self defense and to hunt, with bows and long knives being regularly carried and armor nonexistent beyond tough hunting leathers.
Religion: Visatori, known as The Jeweled Traveler or The Dreamer. After a long journey through the heavens, Visatori spread out his cloak to rest. While he slept, his dreams were made manifest, forming the world. When he woke, he was so taken with what had happened that he chose to stay and light the way for what he had created. Depending on the tribe, the sun and moon are either the lamp the Dreamer uses to light his way or the clasp he uses to close his cloak. The stars are said to be jewels sewn into his cloak, giving him his other honorific. Visatori is also spoken of as male or female, depending on the speaker, and both are considered correct. Visatori may be referenced in stories but is rarely credited directly, as he does not play a direct part in the affairs of man. Tribes will not travel on the night of the new moon.
It is unknown what afflicted the Dreamer so as to cause the nightmares that have recently plagued mankind. While the Oami understand that nightmares are natural, even they have been shocked at the increase in violence and monstrous sightings since the Long Dark began.
Burial Rituals: The dead are buried alongside the road to protect their families.
Animals of Significance: Horses are highly valued by the Oami. Some tribes have been known to keep goats as well. Falconry is relatively common amongst the people, and so raptor motifs are common.
Practice of Divination: The Oami practice many different forms of divination. From reading tea leaves, to casting the bones, palmistry, fortune telling with cards to seeing visions in the flames. Dream interpretation is common, though many Oami believe it is easier to interpret the dreams of strangers than friends, as the interpreter is less likely to draw in their own connection to the Dreamer when attempting to peer into the dreams of strangers. Many tribes specialize in a particular type of divination as practiced by the matron of the family.
View of Magic: To be so close to the Dreamer, to be able to affect the Dream as he does. This is a rare gift.
View of other cultures:
Skenden: A hardy folk, with an appreciation for a good story, they are just far enough away that we don't have to worry about their more aggressive people.
Minzoku: A reasonable folk, with an appreciation for fine things, even if they are a bit stuffy sometimes.
Dascean: They're not all bad, though sometimes we get the feeling they do not trust us.
Ta Atoua: We feel sorry for those they oppress, but it is easy enough for us to stay out of their way.
Ash-Sh'b: A lively people, free spirits and good trade partners, though sometimes they take things too seriously.
Free Isles: They live their dreams, as all people should. Though it would be nice if some of them would keep their dreams to themselves.
Language: Slavic, Czechoslovakian, Russian, Ukrainian.
Naming Conventions: Given Name, Byname or Deed name, Tribe Name.
Ex: Ziven Petr (the rock) Tesar.
Government: None, Independent Tribes.
Current Ruler: None, each tribe is run by the eldest members of the family.
Politics: Disputes, which are rare, are settled between families.
Exports: Powerful salves, ointments, and herbs, known as the best healers in the land. Sometimes hired to transport cargo overland between Minzokan and Dascean territories. Rarely one can acquire fermented ciders in trade, though friends are often invited to sample some during gatherings. Logging of the Great Redwoods is nonexistent and will bring trouble to anyone caught attempting it.
Imports: Worked metal goods.
Currency: Barter.
Geography: The giant redwood forest known as the Oamre Forest.
Climate: Temperate, with regular fog.
Physical Appearance: Medium skin tone, dark hair, varied eye color.
Clothing Styles: Comfortable and functional, usually leathers in natural colors.
Personal Hygiene: Hair is usually worn long, facial hair amongst men a matter of personal preference.
Diet: Wild game, berries, ciders.
Cultural Taboos: Mistreating travelers and strangers. Two prejudices commonly held against the Oami are that they seduce beautiful young women and kidnap children. Insinuating either to an Oami is a grave insult. While it is not unheard of for a dashing Oami man to spend some time with a pretty young woman, actively trying to seduce a married woman would get the young man in significant trouble with his own tribe. Likely, while the Oami will take in lost children or runaways, assuming their lifestyle to be better for the child than whatever they left, the idea of actually kidnapping a child is anathema to the family oriented people.
Proper Greeting: To hail the camp from some distance to alert any sentries to your presence before approaching closer. A call to join the camp is almost universally given shortly thereafter.
Recreational Activities: Music, commonly strings and woodwinds, some small drums, drugs, from common herbs to mild hallucinogens, believed to help one better see the dreams of the Dreamer.
Arts/Architecture: Performing, either storytelling, singing or musical instruments, are very common. wood carving is also common.
Family Structure: Close knit extended families travel together.
Social Structure: Elder male in charge of leading and protecting tribe, elder female in charge of organizing family.
Marriage: Between tribes during regular caravan meetings. Marriages may be suggested by the families to strengthen bonds between tribes, but the decision is ultimately up those to be married.
Sexuality: Homosexuality is rare but not taboo, with marriages conducted between same sex couples normally. Such couples will often adopt orphans as a way to continue to support the tribe. Prostitution is completely unheard of. For an Oami to pay for time with someone else would be met with derision.
Education: Every member of the family is trained in basic survival by different members of the tribe, depending on their particular specialty. If a child shows an aptitude for a role, they will apprentice under the elder of the tribe who fills that role.
Common Methods of Transport: Using large, horse drawn vardo wagons, the Oami are said to be the only people who were able to reliably travel overland during the Long Dark.
Legal System and Punishments: Decided by the elder of the tribe, mild physical punishments, threat of exile.
Military: None, though most members are trained in self defense and to hunt, with bows and long knives being regularly carried and armor nonexistent beyond tough hunting leathers.
Religion: Visatori, known as The Jeweled Traveler or The Dreamer. After a long journey through the heavens, Visatori spread out his cloak to rest. While he slept, his dreams were made manifest, forming the world. When he woke, he was so taken with what had happened that he chose to stay and light the way for what he had created. Depending on the tribe, the sun and moon are either the lamp the Dreamer uses to light his way or the clasp he uses to close his cloak. The stars are said to be jewels sewn into his cloak, giving him his other honorific. Visatori is also spoken of as male or female, depending on the speaker, and both are considered correct. Visatori may be referenced in stories but is rarely credited directly, as he does not play a direct part in the affairs of man. Tribes will not travel on the night of the new moon.
It is unknown what afflicted the Dreamer so as to cause the nightmares that have recently plagued mankind. While the Oami understand that nightmares are natural, even they have been shocked at the increase in violence and monstrous sightings since the Long Dark began.
Burial Rituals: The dead are buried alongside the road to protect their families.
Animals of Significance: Horses are highly valued by the Oami. Some tribes have been known to keep goats as well. Falconry is relatively common amongst the people, and so raptor motifs are common.
Practice of Divination: The Oami practice many different forms of divination. From reading tea leaves, to casting the bones, palmistry, fortune telling with cards to seeing visions in the flames. Dream interpretation is common, though many Oami believe it is easier to interpret the dreams of strangers than friends, as the interpreter is less likely to draw in their own connection to the Dreamer when attempting to peer into the dreams of strangers. Many tribes specialize in a particular type of divination as practiced by the matron of the family.
View of Magic: To be so close to the Dreamer, to be able to affect the Dream as he does. This is a rare gift.
View of other cultures:
Skenden: A hardy folk, with an appreciation for a good story, they are just far enough away that we don't have to worry about their more aggressive people.
Minzoku: A reasonable folk, with an appreciation for fine things, even if they are a bit stuffy sometimes.
Dascean: They're not all bad, though sometimes we get the feeling they do not trust us.
Ta Atoua: We feel sorry for those they oppress, but it is easy enough for us to stay out of their way.
Ash-Sh'b: A lively people, free spirits and good trade partners, though sometimes they take things too seriously.
Free Isles: They live their dreams, as all people should. Though it would be nice if some of them would keep their dreams to themselves.