Ostan

People of the corner county.

Above the water we do not eat,
we do not eat as we go.
The Rising Lake it makes its seat,
There the beast, it waits below.

— Traditional Ostan Song

Exodus

During the Time of Darkness a dark cloud crawled up the edge of Breharan. This cloud was unlike the stormclouds that defined the era, it wasn't governed by winds, it didn't drift through the skies, and it didn't bring rain or lightning. What it did to was move with intent - always along the ground - and grow as more and more people were consumed by it. The cloud was almost like a cloak for a dangerous being that lurked at its center. At least, so the story goes.
While the specific regional origins of the Ostan people are unknown, they definitely originated in the regions that now make up either Zinato or Burim. Their legends tell that they began to leave the region as this dark cloud began consuming entire communities. The tales even tell that it followed them all the way to the base of Breharan's Spine where they left it behind as they climbed what is now Twinpeak's Passage.
This journey ended when the people reached the region now called Ostad. It would still be many generations before the Time of Darkness ended, the Floor receeded, and a new era would begin but the Ostans would not wait and relied on the adaptability that got them to their new home to make a niche for themselves in the land of the Rising Lake.

Berries, Boats, and the Beast Below

Within the land of Ostad there are many features that make life difficult but are not impossible to overcome. The Rising Lake floods large swaths of land and the Ostans managed to use that to their advantage. Seeing that some of the native plants had buoyant berries, they replanted them in neat rows so they could gather large amounts of them simply by pulling a basket through the water. These berries of the Norberry plant are easy to preserve and are quite nutritious, if not lacking in flavour.
The Ostans were not experts in boatbuilding but developed the skill over the generations as they built better and better fishing boats - small ones, most fitting four people or fewer - to bring them to the deepest parts of the Rising Lake where the largest fish made their home.
The lake itself has influenced how the Ostans eat, or more specifically when and where they eat. They say that if you don't follow the ir customs, you will cause food flooding.

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The Shadetouched

Among the Ostan there is a genetic abnormality that occurs every few generations, the origins of which date back to their exodus. Legends tell of people who were partially consumed by the Shade, people touched by it but not taken away. The parts of their bodies that came in contact with the dark cloud were forever changed, altered seemingly randomly, taking on the traits of animals, plants, minerals, and more.
These people are known as the shadetouched and they survived their encounters with the cloud, living to have offspring, most of whom showed no signs of the cursed inflicted upon their parents. Some believe that the curse stays quiet, so that it may spread through the people generation after generation, only showing itself often enough to keep the stories alive.
The stories also tell tragic tales of families who had no choice but to leave behind - or even slay - their loved ones whose heads or hearts were touched. They were not changed only in appearance but in mind and spirit making them meerly shells or - more commonly - dangerous to everyone around them.

The food culture of the Ostans is very interesting but the food itself leaves a lot to desire.

— Takalia, Travels in Grara

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