Appearance
The Ocadians (Orcaldaldar in their tongue) are a strong ethnic group that live in The Ocadian Ring, the areas of around the Ocadian Desert. They are a little shorter than average with fairly flat faces in comparison to some groups. Their skin is quite fair. There eyes are light brown to dark brown - nearly black. Their hair ranges about the same spectrum of browns. They have no definative body type.
Social
There are eighteen Sooks in the Ring. A Sook is an amalgum of tribe and clan with complex rules of blood, marriage, and star position at time of birth determining which Sook one belongs to. Normally one is raised by ones own Sook, but there are exceptions. The Sooks is led by a single star choosen leader, supported by an elder council.
All the Ocadians are semi-nomadic, following their Yak and Horse herds around The Ring and the Ocadian Desert. Five Sooks are fairly stationary (Ochaltha, Kokdaltha, Chendi, Podaltha, and Quan), counting on agriculture and trade to suppor themselves. Two are completely nomadic (Hycks and Woots), having nothing more stationary than their felt tents. The rest range in specific areas, staying in certain areas with valuable resources for most of the year (Dhendha, Bolhaltha, Chemdi, Koon, and Doonbal). While these people can be quite fierce with outsiders, they are reasonably peaceful with each other.
There lives, except for the presence of the Spirit and the Ocadian desert, their lives are what one would expect for a semi-nomadic people. They move with the seasons, returning to favored lands or stationary camps (where farming occurs) throughout the year. They craft. They sing. They ride horses (are are competent, but not exceptional). They herd Yaks. Their garb is warm and sturdy, as it is cold in The Ocadian Ring.
The Spirit
They live in the area around the Ochre Desert. They will venture into the Desert for valuable resources such as plants, minerals, game, and grazing lands (there isn't much water, but there is always some scrub plants for their yaks). No one would ever live there.
The Spirit of that Land is sick they will tell you. To live there would be to invite the sickness into you. They even call the Great Spirit of the place The Sick Spirit.
However, the Spirit and the place is quite magical. The tale goes, the Sick Spirit isn't using its magic, so it is willing to let others use it.
It is said that the land itself grants magic to those that would respect it.
That bonding and respect process is common to all the Ocadian peoples. The Peoples all have a tradition of magic through the Sick Spirit (as it is no longer using its magic, it does not mind others using its magic). Thus every adult member is deepely stained by the Ochre Soil. Some stain their entire bodies and hair (practice of the stationary Sooks), others just create patterns on their faces, while others embedd intricate patterns on their body (Hycks, Koon, and Woots).
While not all are highly skilled with magic, all adults and some children have some magics. While some can only work magic in the desert itself, most can work magic in the Ring. Most Ocadians 'spells' are cantrips: simple charms for luck in an endevor, increased perceptions, little changes. They frequently sew by magic, binding two skins together. This allows them to make their famous tents that are so perfect.
With some practice, greater spells are possible. They can see paths and life in the desert, to change the desert itself to fit their whim (summon water, summon plant, call animal). They can even warm their encampments with the magic by making it less cold or causing the wind to avoid it. Starting fire seem to be one trick the land will never provide. The same is the calling of rain or any moisture from the sky.
While spells can be attempted in The Ring and beyond, the power and ease of spell casting is based upon the distance to the Ocadian Lands.
Note: Horse Magic
The horses of the Ocadians are gifted with magical gifts as well. They are painted with various symbols with the Ochre dust of the desert. This provides them with enhancements to their performance and protection from harm. It is good that they are enhanced, as the Ocadians are only fair riders for a horse people. They also practice various charms and such, similar to Horse Brass.
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? Responses (8)
A bunch of views, beyond the number I did for editing, but nobody has commented.
That seems par for the course these days. A lot of subs are going barely voted upon.
With regards to this one, well detailed as per normal with your subs. My only complaint is that there needs to be some conflict to bring them to life.
They are just people in the world. It is just a notable space in a world (with some dramatic potential) and these people have just adapted to living next to it.
Sure somebody could invade their space (but why would someone?). Sure the local overlord could try to extort taxes... he might even get some.
Sure some new people could move into the area. They would have to be refugees because this is not exactly prime real estate. They would need to adapt to the harsh conditions.
Mostly these people are left alone because this area is so... less than hospitable.
To be honest, they have no real 'drama' in their existance unless someone acts upon them... or someone acts upon Sick Spirit.
Imagine, some wizard being guided into the desert in an attempt to tap all the power of the Sick Spirit or to bind it to his will. These people's way of life will radically change (as their magic will go away) AND someone with the power of a demi-god (or god) will stride The Lands. There is an epic plot.
Perhaps the Sick Spirit will become The Epic Evil of its world. Imagine....
Metaplot alert:
Imagine something happens and the power of the Sick Spirit expands into the rest of the world. Animals will begin to change, as will the lands. Ecologies would be mashed together. Now this should take decades, if not a century or two, for everything to mutate.
Durring this time:
All 'natural magic' would become difficult to perform.
Other dieties would be 'crowded out', making clerical powers hard to access as well.
New magical skills would have to be learned to use the Sick Spirit's powers.
There would be many immediate crisis points. The way things are would begin to collapse in many ares.
These people would become the Heralds of Trouble, as they would be moving in the expanding ring. People stupid enough not to 'run' from the expanding Ochre zone, who would then live in touch with the Sick Spirit.. would change.
a) Zombies/ mutants?
b) morph into a new species, a humanoid variant with goblinish elements?
c) let your imagination run wild.
Enough Drama for you?
Interesting, but also short. I imagine the Ocadians as being a rather colorful people, perhaps like a mix of Australian Aborigine and Bedouin nomad. Nice work.
Actually Scras, the Ocadian Desert is a high cold desert. You need to think Mongolia and low land Nepal. These people are bundled up in yak wook wraps and tunics with boots.
A single re-read and rewrite would do it already good, but with the addition of the plot hooks in the comment, it is already better.
Not a stellar submission, but I like their simple ways and the little bit of magic that is part of their life.
What would they think of a blonde haired green eyed girl? As beautiful or ugly?
Generally speaking, she would be exotic. Some would like her, others would not.
