Guide to Otan
| Plane | Physical Plane |
|---|---|
| Genre | Medieval Fantasy |
| Inhabitants | Humans, Ælfes, Dweorgs, Grendel, Ungirsi, etc. |
| Universe | Lands of Otan Fantasy Novel Series, Dungeons & Dragons 5e Campaign |
To its residents, Otan is a world bounded only by the sky. To them, Otan is the entire world. To an observer of the globe, however, Otan is a northern continent, a land mass of some three million square kilometers. This is a mixture of a variety of climates and landscapes ranging from ice covered mountains to desert, grassy plains to jungle, deciduous forest to barren tundra.
The geography of the globe, which residents also refer to as Otan is made up of a set of continents separated by ocean. The continent of Otan is predominantly confined to a single land mass with the exception of a few small islands, most of which make up the western nation of Araldar. As of the year 261 IM, no Otani soul has been witness to lands outside of their home continent.
Humans of Otan
Humans
Humans exist in every known corner of Otan. Save for places with conditions too extreme to sustain human life, humans can be found everywhere else.
Human Countries
There are six nation states made up predominantly of humans. These are:
Ortalyk, the centre-most state is a tsarist autocracy. The current leader is Tsar Batil Zhurek, the nation's largely benevolent monarch. The people of Ortalyk, though mostly of Ortalykshilar descent, are an amalgamation of all the (human) people of Otan. Further, Ortalyk boasts the largest populations of half-orcs, half-elves and half-any species with which humans can interbreed. It has become de facto melting pot of Otan.
Soltustik, the northernmost state is a feudal democracy. Led by King Patasi Muz, he rules with a cold and iron hand from his self titled capitol of Muz. The people of Soltustik seem to thrive in cold weather. This nation state is also home to many non-humans who also tend to prefer snow and ice to warmer terrain.
Sigis, the easternmost state of Otan is also a feudal monarchy led by Emperor Judiric of Temir, the current regent of the Iron Dynasty. The people of Sigis, the Sigis Turgindari have a reputation for trading and valuable and rare commodities from gems to fine crafts.
Batis, the westernmost nation of Otan is also its only true democracy. First Citizen Joseph Sawdageri is the current elected head of state. Batis and the Batistiktar people have lived in an economy of abundance, thanks to the excellent soil and ideal conditions for the production of food.
Ontustik is the southern nation of Otan and controlled by a matriarchal religious aristocracy. The acolytes of Aspan, the sky god, form the country's government, appointing a hierarchy to run each of the country's settlements. Ultimate power resides in The Ninth Lotus, High Priestess of Aspan, who rules the country from her temple in the capitol of Anar.
Karazalik is the southern neighbor to Ontustik. Capitol city of Ademi.
Araldar is an island nation, consisting of an archipelago off the coast of Otan. The government is controlled by a naval stratocracy, with the head of state being of the rank of admiral. Admiral Jonas Draktar is the current state leader. When he's not on the high seas, runs the state from the port city capitol of Jagalik.
Human factions
- Council of Nine - a group of three human and six as yet unknown spellcasters who formed a concord to bring peace to Otan.
- Temple of Woden - a religious sect dedicated to spreading the word of the Book of Woden.
Non-Humans of Otan
Ælfes
It is said that Ælfes were put on Otan by Woden himself when the world began. Since then the Elves have divided themselves into three distinct factions, the Wood Ælfes, Dark Ælfes and High Ælfes. Their differences surround that which is aesthetic.
Ælfen Countries
Ælfwode Home of the Wood Ælfes.
Ælfgarad Home of the High Ælfes and most of the Dark Ælfes.
Aydahari
The Aydahar are a race of humans who have been mixed with draconic blood. When it was learned that dragons and humans could produce offspring, the races of the Aydahari and the similarly draconic blooded Ungirsi soon came into being. The Aydahari eventually banished their Ungirsi cousins from their land, choosing to cohabit and comingle with their full-blooded dragon cousins... at least those dragons who are gregarious enough to put up with others.
Aydahari Countries
The Aydahari Confederation is a country populated by the draconic-blooded Aydahar and every manner of dragon on Otan.
Dweorges
The Dweorges are a race with a predilection toward mining. A short conversation with a Dweorg will reveal their life's philosophy, which to paraphrase, goes "There are treasures in the ground awaiting discovery." Therefore, the Dweorges dig.
Dweorgen Countries
The League of Dweorgen Miners is country with more residents underground as above ground. Well rewarded are those tasked to stay above ground to grow crops and raise livestock to supply the ones below.
Garis
Garis legend speaks of a time when the Garis did not inhabit Otan, but travelled through the heavens. Always looking to the stars, they have survived and even thrived on Otan, but never feel at home. It seems that endless internal conflict and factional disputes will keep them grounded indefinitely.
Garis Countries
The Garis Confederation is one of the more poorly named countries in Otan since the Garis are anything but confederated.
Grendel
The Grendel have little patience for human politics and have set out on several occasions to destroy all that is human. Led, ironically, by the human wizard Zoranthar, the Grendel have made war on Ortalyk and Soltustik with varying degrees of success. Only the Accord of Kala Astanals stayed their hands from seeking more human blood.
Grendel Countries
Grendeland sits on the northern coast, with the Ungirsi Federation on their southern border and the nation of Soltustik to the west.
Hellspawn
They Shuwalu were simply a variety of humans who had taken to sprout antlers. Speculation and rumours soon followed and they were labelled with the epithet Hellspawn. Having fewer numbers than their otherwise unaltered human tormentors, they embraced the Hellspawn epithet as their racial designation. The thrust behind this decision is that the Hellspawn name tends to inspire fear before it inspires derision, giving their people a survival advantage.
Hellspawn Countries
The Brotherhood of Shuwalu is surrounded by sea and borders the human nation of Soltustik to the southwest. Shuwalu and Soltustik have not had border clashes since the Concord of Kala Astanals and the two countries largely keep to themselves.
Kuuliki
The Kuulik love a bargain and their location is a great place for bargaining. Situated between human and grendel territory, they have a knack for serving both sides during times of war and peace alike.
Kuuliki Countries
The Kuuliki Trade Federation is a peninsula and set of islands situated between the human nation of Ortalyk to the south and the grendel occupied nation of Grendeland to the north.
Ungirsi
The Ungirsi are a humanoid race or human variant with a number of variations that alter its appearance from humans. These include a diminutive size, leathery skin, a long and pointed proboscis and jawline, taloned feet and a prehensile tail. Like the Aldahari they possess draconic blood and share a language and heritage with dragons.
Ungirsi Countries
Populated by more than 1.6 million of the diminutive Ungir race, the Ungirsi currently control a single nation on the Otan continent; dubbed the Ungirsi Federation.
Multiracial Countries
 An Tiny Bard |
Sweardælfes and other Small People
The Protectorate of Kiskentay is a coalition of humanoids both smaller in stature and in number than their taller human cousins.
Multiracial Diaspora
The Free States are a collection of independent city states and are often home to half-humans who do not feel a sense of belonging with either their human or non-human kind. Apart from half-humans, one can expect to find political and religious dissenters of every stripe in the Free States.
Multiracial Factions
The Religions of Otan
There are several Otani religions, generally divided along racial lines, however, humans seem to possess a knack for creating new religions and the various human clergies compete for the hearts and souls of humans and non-humans alike.
Aspanism
Aspanism is a form of sky worship. The major deities of the religion, however do not make up the bulk of the clergy. Rather the Aspanists worship the goddess Ishtar. Aspanism is not a bookish religion and all the tenets and beliefs are passed down via oral tradition.
Baksism
Baksism is an animistic religion in which any creature, or geographic feature such as a river or mountain might be considered to possess a divine soul. The central figure of this religion is the creator, Ana, who gave birth to Otan. She then gave birth to seven children or Baksi, each with a specific role, to watch over the people and other creatures of the land.
Wodenism
Wodenism is a pantheistic religion that involves the worship of Woden and a series of other and largely less powerful gods. The philosophy and tenets of Wodenism are thoroughly described in the Book of Woden.
The Great Old One
The Great Old One is the worship of The Great Old One(s). Ultimately bested by powerful cosmic deities, the defeated Great Old Ones were not destroyed but instead imprisoned by the power of the Elder Gods; now most of them lie in a state of dormancy, held captive in various inaccessible locations throughout the universes. A notable few, however, have escaped their bonds. If a bargain was made between a warlock and a being from the Far Realm, an elder evil, or some other ancient and mysterious being, the warlock's patron gives them access to certain out worldly powers.
A Brief History of Otan
The Otan Calendar
The Otan calendar is the measure and passage of time in Otan is calculated by days measuring one rotation of the planet (roughly 24 hours). A year is measured as one rotation of the sun, typically 367 days. The days are divided into 12 months of 30 days each followed by a six or seven day Holy Week.
Before Erasure
Before Erasure or BE refers to the historical period before written history or any form of recalled memory. It is not known whether this loss of memory was a series of events or one cataclysmic event, however, it is known throughout Otan as the Great Erasure.
In Memoriam
In Memoriam sometimes abbreviated to IM is the current year in Otan. The year 1 IM indicates the first moment of recorded history on Otan. Sorcerers and philosophers alike have been unable to divine any information about the period before 1 IM. People existed in this year, some of them of advanced age, but no recorded memories or histories exist before this time. Thousands of years of history can certainly be inferred from year 1 IM, but not a single written record or recalled memory of beasts who lived before that time have ever been made known.
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