Introduction:
The Odion is a Human culture predominantly found in Utican. The Odion originally lived in the forest regions of northern Utican. When the Helena Empire arrived the Odion refused to be ruled by others. Unable to stop the military juggernaut of the Helena Empire, the Odion migrated to the desert known as the Abbas Wastes. Despite the harshness of their new homeland the Odion found a way to flourish. Now they rule over five great cities and act as a major cultural player in Utican. Beyond the Abbas Wastes the Odion are the second most abundant Human culture behind the Carth of eastern and southern Utican. Many Odion have integrated into the societies surrounding the Abbas Wastes.
The Odion have dark hair though many prefer to shave their heads due to the extreme heat of the Abbas Wastes. Odion skin tones range from light tan to dark. There is no value placed on skin color in their society.
Law:
Odion legal traditions are based on finding concensus and common ground. Rather than strict edicts as to what people can and cannot do, the Odion legal system is based on petitions or complaints made to the local council of lower priest known as the Kenbet. The Kenbet then works to resolve the issues between the agrieved parties based on the finding of common ground and compromise. Although this legal system works well for interpersonal disputes it has been criticized by the growing merchant class for providing insufficient protections and guarantees. For example, a theif that steals may only have to pay back half the value of the stolen merchandise as a penalty as part of the compromise reached by the Kenbet. The legal system is one of the agitating factors that has led to divisions between the merchant class and priest class.
Culture:
The Odion are a very religious and superstitious people. Odion will end conversations with a blessing related to the god or gods they woship. For example, an Odion that worships Mystra, goddess of magic, may end a conversation by saying "weave bless you."
Most Odion worship the god Ilmater. The worship of Ilmater is informed by history and ethos. The Odion were convinced to immigrate to the Abbas Wastes by an influential cleric of Ilmater known as Hesso Katan. When the Odion first walked into the desert in an event called "the walk among the dunes" it was clerics from Katan's order that created the food and water needed to sustain the Odion refugees. When permanent settlements were founded, the clerics that sustained the people were made into rulers. Since the orders dedicated to Ilmater have exercised significant influence over Odion culture. The social hierarchy amongst the Odion typically follows the below pattern;
- Priests: The top of the social hierarchy and the governing class amongst the Odion. The highest ranked priests belong to orders dedicated to Ilmater, but there are other mid and low level officials dedicated to other good and lawful gods.
- Merchants: A rising social class that has seen their status elevated over the past century. The rise of merchants has been primarily caused by cooling tensions between the Odion and their neighbors allowing for the export of Odion goods and import of desirable foreign goods. Additionally, more Odion are questioning the dominance of the priest class.
- Scholars: A well regarded class amongst the Odion. This includes spellcasters, engineers, architects, alchemists, and naturalists. Arcane spellcasters are generally considered to be less prestigious than divine or primal casters.
- Craftspeople: Any person that makes finished products including blacksmiths, jewelers, carpenters, and tailors. Odion crafts are prized outside of the Abbas Wastes due to their relative rarity prior to the last century.
- Warriors: Any person that "fights" for a living. This includes guards, soldiers, gladiators, and scouts. Although warriors are generally respected they are often forgotten outside of times of war. Additionally, it is seen as a profession that is pursued by those who have no other skills.
- Laborers: Those who perform low skill manual tasks. This includes the small number of farmers that are able to maintain agriculture with the aid of clerics or druids. Some of these farmers are quite wealthy, but the Odion still view them as unskilled.
Many Odion worship Ilmater because he represents the spirit of endurance that the Odion see in themselves. Despite losing their native land and being pushed into a barren desert, the Odion have flourished. Many attribute this to a communal desire to preserve their culture, sacrifice for one another, and endure any hardship to maintain the Odion way of life. In some ways the worship of Ilmater is self-fulfilling. The Odion must endure and sacrifice in order to maintain their way of life that venerates those who endure and sacrifice.
