Gentle Bluff
When
Orloch began traveling the world in search of a home for his future creations and to fulfill his divine purpose, he discovered a set of large islands to the east. He believed that the Risen he created here could live a life separated from the influence of others to practice their beliefs and train their minds and bodies. The
Ohrlen quickly spread out throughout the islands, establishing their communities and praising their god. While the warlike nature inherent in Orloch would give them the desire to seek out and fight other Risen, he believed that their separation would require them to adapt and develop sailing skills to reach distant lands. The first generation of Ohrlen named the land Tamaha after the gentle nature of the land in comparison to the first peoples who inhabited it.
Tamaha dominates the entirety of the small continent where the Ohrlen are home east of
The Freelands. Risen refer to this land as the 'Gentle Bluff' after the coastal cliffs and pleasant weather found throughout the year. Unlike most others, the nation almost completely resembles the way it was when Orloch gave it to them. The land is mostly undeveloped, the forests remain up kept, and the beasts have healthy populations. Despite the warlike nature of the Ohrlen at their creation, their spirituality and lifestyle have left a lasting peace in the surrounding environment. Tamaha is highly praised for the almost effortless conservation efforts of the natives.
The Ohrlen homeland is known for the hilly plains in the center of the landmass and the great forests surrounding them. The soil between the two is exceptionally fertile and grows large crop harvests of beans, maize, and peppers. Tamahan cuisine is often referred to by outsiders as overtly simple yet flavorful, much like the people within. The land itself lends itself naturally to the wildlife which has evolved around the Ohrlen within. The wide range of prey available through cattle-beasts and other foragers would lead to ample food for predators, but there are little to none in the variety of dangerous Magickal Beasts. Most that would be considered a threat to the Ohrlen were hunted to extinction in the early days of the nation. A small population of Rocs, Dire Wolves, and Couatls can still be found in the eastern forests and islands.
Despite the presence of a wide variety of beasts, Tamaha is most well known for the horse breeds exclusively found here, most commonly the Bluff Chargers. These horses are the largest found throughout all of Nora. Males can exceed seven feet in height at the shoulder and often weigh well over two thousand pounds. The Ohrlen breed them for size and strength as it takes a large steed to carry the burden of such a large Risen. While seldom exported, the horses of Tamaha are highly sought after for their strength as both draft and war horses. Merchants and warriors alike will pay a hefty sum of gold to obtain one of these.
A Tribal Society
In the early days of Tamaha, the Ohrlen separated into various tribes to practice different forms of combat and lifestyles, most coalescing into the five large tribes that dominate the nation today.
Issoba lies in the center and holds the modern ideals of Ohrlen with a focus on spirituality and cultivation. The northern island of
Luksi holds the
Luksin, a combination of Ohrlen and Shellfolk fishermen. The hostile
Sinti are found on the eastern island and are mostly comprised of ritualists and alchemists that remain adverse to outsiders. The slender and mischievous Sinti live in the southern forests and remain welcoming yet secretive.
Tushka to the southwest holds the only modernly developed city and embraces smithing and metalwork contrary to their sibling tribes. Although these five are the only ones referred to by outsiders, there lies a large number of smaller tribes found in the spaces between.
While each tribe differs in its actual mannerisms and practices, many of the core beliefs remain unanimous. Each tribe is run by a chieftain and a shaman who support each other while also deferring to a council of elders within. The Chieftain is in charge of seeing to the physical needs of the tribe, directing protection, harvests, and necessary works. The Shaman sees to the spiritual and emotional needs of the tribe, leading them in rituals, prayer, and general therapy for the unwell. While they are meant to serve as advisors in times of uncertainty, the council of elders mainly acts as a mouthpiece to spread the information out to the rest of the tribe.
Every member of the tribe is expected to contribute regardless of age or status. New mothers will be found working the fields with fresh babes in slings, the elderly will craft textiles and teach the youth from their homes, and even the chieftains will be found fishing or out on patrol to protect their village. The sense of family and unity exceeds blood relations within Tamahan society. To be exiled or outcast is extremely rare amongst these tribes and is often held only for the most egregious of transgressions. Tribal life is everything to Tamaha, and the Ohrlen who leave the comfort of their homeland will often be found 'adopting' other adventurers to become their new tribe away from home.
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