Olman

Olman is generally used in reference to the Olman people, a human culture of Oerth, though the term may also refer to both the Olman language and culture of said people. They mainly inhabit Hepmonaland and the southern fringes of the Flanaess and primarily inhabit various city-states, though in the past they commanded a great empire

History

The Olman originated on Hepmonaland, raising a number of city-states from the jungles of that land. Through centuries of warfare, they built an empire that spanned northern Hepmonaland and reached across the Densac Gulf to include the Amedio Jungle.
Internal strife and wars caused their empire to collapse, and many citie-states were razed. A significant percentage of Olman migrated to the Amedio, where they have maintained their civilization for several centuries. Ultimately, many of the city-states in Hepmonaland were repopulated and exchange of peoples between the Amedio, Olman Isles, and Hepmonaland became common once more.
However, over the course of the centuries many were enslaved by various slavers and the Sea Princes. Others have escaped to otherwise uncontrolled regions such as the western end of the Sea Princes’ lands, which they now control and defend.

Culture

Most Olman live in vast city-states which are dotted with massive pyramid-like structures, used in their sacrificial rituals to their gods. These city-states are often a hybrid of monarchy and theocracy, with hereditary Tlatoani (ruler) ruling alongside clerics and astrologers.
They practice a form of ritualized warfare, mostly in order to obtain prisoners to sacrifice, and often collecting heads or animating corpses in battle.
Olman clothing tends to be simple and monocolor by Flannaes standards, but are actually quite practical and comfortable for the tropical climates. Such garments include split skirts, loincloth, elaborate dresses, and shawllike upper garments. They also have fantastic methods of decoration, using Jade beads, stones, feathers, bones, metal, and wood. These items decorate their clothes, weapons, and especially ceremonial items such as elaborate headdresses.