Charra and his earrings

Nirrah Boli is remembered as an unstoppable force yet Chara stood against her. She united all the clans of the Kalo, created the Ostarian Empire, and dreamed of uniting all of Ostari under one single banner. She was not someone to cross lightly, yet Chara stood up to her. He told her that she was wrong. He challenged all of us to think differently For this he is dead and any trace of him are all but lost.

— Rafri, Charan

Told in private places where the elite can't hear is the legend of Chara and his earrings. He was allegedly a great revolutionary who questioned the established order of the Kalon people. He is considered the inspiration of the current revolutionary movement. Also prevalent in the stories are his distinctive earrings which are said to have been magical. Despite numerous searches for them, the earrings as well as Chara himself remain lost.

Summary

According to the most common version of the story, Chara was born to a struggling noble clan. In an effort to help them he tried to be the perfect noble. He was organized, polite, and was never overly familiar with anyone. He also hunted extensively, engaged in mercenary work, and worked hard to protect his clan's holdings. During this he became disillusioned with combat and grew to dislike it. He also grew to dislike all the pressure and expectations placed on him. He yearned for warmth, for informality, and for imperfection. His unhappiness grew and grew until one day he disappeared. He returned some time later with his distinctive earrings.

Here's the only part that everyone cares about: the earrings.

— Rafri

After his disappearance, Chara became much more outspoken about his unhappiness. He encouraged people to be more open with each other, to feel less pressure to be perfect, and to not internalize their emotions so much. These ideas resonated with many people and continue to do so, even as they made him many enemies. He is also well known for helping the poor both magically and speaking out for them. When Nirrah Boli united the clans to conquer Ostari, Chara stood against her and decried her use of force to unite the islands. He disappeared forever not long after this and his body has never been found. Nirrah died in her sleep many many years later.

Historical Basis

With the lack of a body or many possessions, confirming the existence of Chara is fairly difficult. However the existence of Nirrah Boli is confirmed, and a few texts from the time that mention a 'Chara Nolu'. Over time the heads of the Nolu clan have both claimed and denied that this member existed and was the person the legend refers to. The current head, Seva Nolu, has refused to make any statement regarding this.

Spread

Let me tell you a little story about the founding of the empire. It will shock and amaze you in all the wrong ways..

— Rafri

The tale is very common in the Ostarian Empire both as an inspirational and a cautionary tale. The tale has also spread to Duvi and Kohri typically used to show the villainy and intolerance of the Ostarian Empire. In the empire, it tends to be told in a more negative light except in private places among Charans.

Variations & Mutation

In negative versions Chara is painted as weak willed, sloppy, cowardly, overly emotional, and envious of Nirrah. In contrast, positive versions paint Chara as open, friendly, compassionate, and always trying to do what's right. If Chara really existed he was probably a mixture of both interpretations.

Some versions say that he was content before he disappeared and only felt unhappy after he found the earrings.

When the tale is told by Charans, Chara's death is usually ascribed to Nirrah. In other telling it's either left as a mystery or ascribed to a different political enemy that he made. His death in tales is also not guaranteed, quite a few versions have him simply leaving. Where he leaves for depends on the storyteller, common destinations are the Sovereignty of Duvi, the Ring , or the wilderness to hide.

People refer to the earrings either as Chara's earrings or less commonly the earrings of Chara.

Charra by Rinmaru and Aleksandr Slobodianyk

Cultural Reception

The story is especially ingrained in Kalo and Charan culture and has given rise to several popular phrases:

• They're with Chara--someone has disappeared and are presumed dead; amongst Charans it is used to refer to Charan martyrs
• They've found the earrings--someone has joined the Charans or has publicly revealed themself as a Charan, it can be used both positively and negatively
• Confronting Nirrah--when used by Charans it means to stand up to someone powerful, when used by Kalons it means to unduly and unjustifiably disagree with a powerful person, usually to try to sully their reputation
• Following Chara--can either mean someone who changes their public personality and worldview suddenly or someone disappearing without a trace for a time regardless of if they return or not
• Searching for Chara--trying to do something impossible
• Earrings--Charans, especially since many openly Charan people wear earrings in the same style as Chara

In Literature

While the myth does appear in a few history texts it is mostly passed down by word of mouth.

In Art

Chara's likeness is fairly often displayed among Charans, his earrings are the semi-official symbol of them.

The Kalo

by Rinmaru and Azalea

The Kalo have settled the middle islands of Ostari. They place a great emphasis on organization and composure both physically and emotionally. Being messy in either of these areas is considered a sign of a lazy and undedicated person. Kalons typically keep most of their emotions to themself and they tend to keep personal struggles private.

The Symbolism of Earrings

Earrings of all types are popular around the world, especially in Ostari. In the empire, most earrings reveal social status and in the case of nobles, rank. They also act as a tool for showing off the wealth of an individual or clan. Chara's earrings with their simple and unusual style, were therefore quite a statement and befitting of his actions.

Charans

by Rinmaru and Aleksandr Slobodianyk

Chara inspired quite a few people to examine their lives and Kalo society. Those that embraced his ideas are called Charans. They try to live their lives open emotionally, not caring too much for being perfectly composed, having compassion for those that are less fortunate, and decrying war. Some people are more open about being Charan than others, with some being completely candid about their beliefs and others confiding only in other Charans.

The Ostarian Empire

Founded by Nirrah Doli under the promise that they would unify the entirety of Ostari, the empire is made up of the various clans of the Kalo. Despite its lofty goals, the islands remain far from unification as many of the leaders after Nirrah lacked her drive and intense focus. Currently the empire is in the midst of a revolution. Charan opinions of the revolution vary, while they understand the desire for change, most frown on the use of violence to achieve this.

Nirrah Boli's Ring 

by Jacek Dylag

Like the earrings of Chara, the ring is believed to give its wearer magical abilities. Stories about how Nirrah acquired the ring are diverse, ranging from she found it on her travels, to she was gifted it by a quasi-deity, to it being a Boli family heirloom. The ring currently rests with Nirrah's body. Many people say that whoever next wears the ring will be the next Nirrah Boli or will be possessed by her spirit.

Date of Setting

circa 440 UE--circa 463 UE

Related Locations

• Ostari

Related Organizations

• Ostarin Empire