Nation of Ora
The people of Ora, the Orani, see life as an exercise in service and gratitude. When the Gograzhi set their malevolent gazes upon Ora, the Eternal Nation, they sought to undermine that which they perceived as closest to the divine spark. They did not understand that every part of the whole is equally valuable, so rather than shattering the resolve of the world, they only shattered the Font of Ora, and befouled the land itself. This shattering did not diminish the Font for the people charged with its care, who appointed five priests, one for each of the shards. The people split into five tribes, and they left their uninhabitable land to dwell amongst the other nations.
The Orani dress according to the tribes with whom they dwell, but with their own twist, recalling specific seasons, but typically with natural motifs and symbols:
Raz-Ora -- Summer/autumn (reds, oranges, etc) foliage style; also desert/savannah foliage.
Kyr-Ora -- Spring/Winter -- light green, sky blue pine, mountain styles
Ishu-Ora -- Spring/Summer -- island and sea plants, etc. (Note: Hawaiian style leis are not acceptable).
Von-Ora -- winter/autumn foliage styles
The Mendicants (Mendicant-Ora) - celestial (sun/moon/star) motifs.
The Orani have no land, and internally they forebear to own property in the form of land. Their dwelling places are grants from their host nation. Outside of the Keeping, they do no work for themselves, but will contribute to the collective labor of their host community. In return, they are fed and given sufferance among their hosts. The Mendicants-- those of the Ora who travel between the nations regularly-- serve also, delivering news and trade goods, ensuring the stability and quality of coinage, and carrying the mail.
The most important things to the Orani are neighborliness, justice, and the Keeping. They feel a special obligation to be good guests and neighbors in the places they dwell and the lands through which they travel, modeling this virtue through their own example. They cultivate evenhandedness and objectivity in disputes as virtues, which had led to the development of an order of judges in their ranks, professional arbiters of disputes among their own and other tribes.
The Ora have a loose hierarchy of priests (Anani) and sages (Vati). Each tribe has an Anan-dai, the most senior or reverend priest among them; these answer to the Anan-ji; or high priest, who has the right of convening council of all the Anani and attendant Vati as needed. The Anan-ji is usually one of the Mendicant-Ora, but not always.
Finally, the Keeping is the sacred promise they keep to protect the shards of the shattered font, anticipate the time of repair and return to their lost land, and to honor the memory of the Lost Goddess, whom they keep alive in their songs and stories. As such, they preserve the sayings of their sages and priests in collections of books (called "Words of the Sages" generally), constantly kept and updated within a given tribe, and then collated and copied by the Kyr-Ora and disseminated by the Mendicant Ora.
The Circuit
The one stretch of land which could be said to be the primary responsibility of the Ora is the Circle Road; a long, only somewhat marked route that loops around the continent, through all of the nations. This route is also known as the Circuit, and it is the way that the Mendicants travel throughout the land. There are two main caravans of Mendicants at any one time, one moving clockwise (Caravan of the Morning), one moving counter clockwise (Caravan of the Evening). The full circuit takes about a year, and the two caravans meet twice a year: once at approximately the New Year (Chabar) and again at approximately Midyear (Tebar) These are times of great celebration; observed by Orani wherever they dwell.
In the meantime, smaller groups travel between the main caravans and to outlying settlements off the main circuit road, carrying news, gossip, resources, and other necessities.
Orani Names
Given Names
Orani given names are inspired by by Hebrew, Biblical names and Tolkien's elvish languages. The name you choose does not have to match the sounds or meanings from any of these languages, and could include inspiration from additional languages, such as Aramaic or Syriac.
Orani names are largely gender neutral. Children are often named after historical figures or given a variation on a known name. They are generally structured thus: [Name] b'[ParentOne]'[ParentTwo]. For example: Surach b'Menah'Takohav or Meliar b'Yeva'Avanah.
Family Names
As noted above, Orani don't have standard surnames, but create their surnames from a combination of their parent's first names. The exception is if they are a Vatu or Anan-dai/Anan-ji, in which case they drop the surname in favor of the title, or if they have no known parentage.
Name Examples
Arboel (sage's name)
Davuel (sage's name)
Jeshurun (an ancient hero)
Surach
Ysme
Costuming References
Orani dress varies widely depending on the tribe and living situation of the individual. Many members of the stationary tribes dress in keeping with the customs of their host country, with or without specifically Orani accents such as seasonal colors in keeping with their natural foliage, tribe, other natural motifs, etc. The Mendicants wear clothing that is easy to travel in, suitable for whatever climate in which they find themselves. They use celestial imagery in their decor and clothing-- stars, moons, suns, constellations, and the like.
OOP References:
The Orani draw inspiration from ancient Israelites, as well as ancient Hylians (Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom), and the elves of Lothlorien.
Check out our Citadel Ora Pinterest page for pictures of costume references.
Faith & Religion
Orani culture is religious from first principles, and tribal leadership is inextricable from the priesthood, or at least, a religious sense of wisdom. There is some irony to this, because it’s hard to describe the Ora as having actual specific doctrine, due to a plurality of lifestyles, experiences, and needs of their diasporic people. It is frequently said that there you have two Orani, you have three opinions. The Orani themselves would say, “two Orani, eleven opinions,” a reference to the eleven sages in “Words of the Vati”. This apparent disconnect belies deeper consistency in underlying principles, which allows for personal variation in the details. That said, there are some specific elements which all Orani believe, or at least respect.
All Orani honor the Lost Goddess, she who created all that exists, and whose dreams encompass all that might exist. It was She who gifted the five Fonts to all of the peoples, and through Her the gifts of Channeling and Heritage are made manifest. Sages and scholars discuss and debate endlessly on the nature of the Goddess, her meaning and intent, and how that informs the lives of humans and the nature of the world-- but these are regarded as truth, and as seen in the moral of one of Vatu Talrayna’s parables: The truth is the truth, the difference is in the perception.
Orani tell and record numerous stories about the Goddess, the creation of the world and cosmos, and infinite variations on those same stories. The briefest, and so most common version. is as follows:
Before the beginning, All That May Ever Be passed through the place of infinite darkness, on their way to All That Is Not And May Not Be. In the darkness, they left behind their Daughter, All That Is, and she was complete in herself, formed of all essences together. She looked out over the infinite darkness, but could not see, within or without, all of the things that she might make and become. So she said:
“Let us circumscribe the darkness, that I may see what I must do: And therefore, Light.”
Because of this, there was then light, and the light circumscribed the darkness.
And There was heat with the light, and this was Fire, the sun and all of the stars.
And there was substance upon which the heat and the light fell, and this was Earth, the world and all worlds.
And there was substance above the Earth through which passed the Heat and the Light, and this was Air, the sky and clouds, and the Moon was fixed within it and the stars and sun beyond it.
And there was substance within the veins of the earth that filled it with life, and this was Water, the rivers and seas, and the rain which fell from the sky.
And all these things Were, and the darkness was no longer infinite, but All That Is was yet infinite, and complete in Herself. For at this time, She was neither Lost not Shattered; but she was alone. And she said:
‘It is not good to be alone, where All That Is is only myself. And therefore, Tokavah.’
And there was Tokavah, and in making Tokavah, there were made the people and all of the peoples, and all of the creatures, and all that is unseen and knowable, and all that is seen and unknowable. She made all of these things, all that may be known and all that will never be known, and She was no longer complete in herself, but Her Children looked out from Her, and some of them looked for Her, and some of them scattered Her further among themselves, and She became Lost, the Lost Goddess.
And to each of the people, in their incompleteness, were given a piece of What Is, and these are the Fonts of Essence; a gift to all of the people, those who settle and those who wander.
Further, there is no consistent belief as regards the afterlife-- it is a matter of endless speculation, study, and debate. There are Orani stories that involve a misty realm of ghosts and souls beyond life and dreams, there are likewise stories of reincarnation, and of ghosts that wander the earth and torment or aid the living, and stories where the soul, in death, is able to find the Lost Goddess, and reunite with Her. The only consistent point is that the Orani believe that the soul is itself eternal, and that while the body may die and end, the soul does not, save by unnatural, evil means.
Sages and Priests
The Ora have a loose hierarchy of priests (Anani) and sages (Vati). Each tribe has an Anan-dai, the most senior or reverend priest among them; these answer to the Anan-ji; or high priest, who has the right of convening council of all the Anani and attendant Vati as needed. The Anan-dai of each tribe also holds a shard of the shattered Orani font, the source of their bond with Light. The title "Vatu" means Sage, teacher, or elder, and refers both to the core of wise teachers, judges, and priests in each tribe, and their leaders.
The Words of the Sages are a conversation between 11 great sages of old-- the 5 Anan-dai, the Anan-Ji (Mendicant-Ora at the time the record began), and 5 Vati from each camp. The original sages are long dead, but their conversations are carried on in their names by current scholars and sages of the Ora.
Economy & International Relations
The Orani serve an important role for the global economy on the whole, with the Mendicant caravans facilitating trade and commerce to all regions. Most importantly, they maintain the coinage standards between the two major mints, located in Kyr and Vonor respectively. They verify to each that the weight and quantity of precious metals are uniform, and share news about what goods are in demand or in surplus in each of the places they visit.
One thing that sets the Orani apart economically is their rejection of land ownership. This stands out less in Kyr, where all real estate is owned collectively by the state, and in nomadic Razir, where the land is never seen as owned by anyone. In Ishui, the Orani live on islands set aside for the purpose in the Kuakili cluster, managed primarily by that tribe. In Vonor, where property ownership is more important, many Von-Orani families make arrangements with property owners where they pay almost all of the purchase price, take on all responsibility for a property, and then pay a nominal fee by contract for the duration of their occupancy.
Relations with other nations
The Orani do their utmost best not just to get along with people in every nation, but to foster good relations between different groups. Some of this is based on their reliance on the other nations for support and hosting for the diasporic tribes, but also because of their highly valued reputations as mediators, and because it helps facilitate trade and travel through the various lands. To that end, Orani may be found everywhere, though near always a minority, save in the Mendicant caravans. The embedded tribes' relations with their host nation are described above, and they often share their host nation’s general assumptions and stereotypes about the others, mitigated by those of the Mendicant Ora, described below.
Ishui
The Mendicants find the Ishui to be fascinating trading partners; no two interactions are alike, and the most profitable ones are always heavily contracted. Orani members of the Braided Band tend to fare well here, leaning into dedicated contracts, while the response to the general wares of the main circuit caravan can be mixed. Nonetheless, an open, friendly people, gifted scribes and healers, and a good source of ocean goods for the other nations. Additionally, the Mendicants in particular appreciate the Ishui fondness for Astrology, which many of them share.
Kyr
The Mendicants find Kyr particularly challenging to travel through, being a land of very little flatness. Here, you can barely call it a “road”, exactly, but they find ways to get where they need to go. Nonetheless, the Orani as a whole appreciate the Kyrie inventiveness, their forward thinking attitudes, and their propensity to scholarship. Many Orani find their egalitarian, democratic society amenable, even if the terrain itself is not for the faint of heart—and especially not those who have issues with heights. As far as the Kyrie people go, they can be a little hyper-focused on their own interests, and sometimes are too busy wondering if they can do something rather than asking if they should, but there's worse faults, all told.
Razir
Razir is comparatively easy to traverse, being wide and flat. The people of Razir are friendly and passionate, and enjoy dancing just as much as the Orani do. The Mendicants find great sympathy with the Raziri in that they too are wanderers, though far less predictable in their travels, which makes it sometimes difficult to track down the tribesfolk for whom you’ve got a delivery.
The Raziri have basically no patience for matters of debate, study, or philosophy, which means that there’s usually a point where it’s easy to run out of topics, or else the Raziri conversant falls asleep. Although they can be a little quick to anger, they’re also just as quick to forgive, if an apology for whatever insult is made. But as long as the music keeps playing, they’re usually fine.
Vonor
Vonor has the distinction of being the easiest land to travel through; the main of the county is green and pleasant, and the mountains are old, long since tunneled through with reliable passes for the Orani caravans. The Vonori people are serious and conscientious, very interested both in trade and in philosophy, which fits well with Orani interests. In many ways, they are the opposite and complement to the Orani focus on eternity, with their focus on mortality and the grave. The worst that can be said of them is that they can be a bit remote and untrusting; some of their population viewing the Mendicants with suspicion, particularly the more open and friendly they are. It can be very difficult to understand when the Vonori are joking, or when they’re serious, and getting it wrong can cause many headaches.
Trade & Magic Skills
Orani can be found practicing all trades and magic, usually based on their nation of residence. Among Mendicants, Alchemy and Channeling are the most common magic schools, though Wizardry, Inscription, and Sigilcraft are all encouraged. Arcanatech is the least common skill set, save among the Kyr-Ora and Von-Ora.
Although you can find masters of all the magic and trade skills among the Ora, some are more common than others, and the way the Orani practice the skills might be different than those of other nations.
Term Explanation:
Rare: Relatively unseen, only a few experts in the entire nation
Uncommon: Not seen often and would be considered unusual among the population for someone to obtain an intermediate level or mastery of the skill.
Common: Frequently found among the population, and it would be expected for most people to at least have a basic understanding of the skill.
Wide Spread: It is normal for adults to have an intermediate level of skill, and there are masters of the skill in almost every family.
Artificing
Rarity: Rare for Raz-Ora, Uncommon for Mendicants and Ishu-Ora, Common for Kyr-Ora and Von-Ora
While there are certainly tinkerers among the Mendicants, the constant travel makes such a non-portable craft challenging to practice on the regular. Mendicants drawn to the craft will usually spend a year or two studying in Kyr or Vonor before rejoining the circuit, or else will settle down with the local Orani community. Raz-Orani and Ishu-Orani engage in such rarely for the same reasons as their host nations, but are somewhat more inclined to travel to seek knowledge out and bring it back, where needed.
Arcanatech
Rarity: Rare for Mendicants, Ishu-Ora, and Raz-Ora; Common for Kyr-Ora and Von-Ora
Of those who practice Artificing, fewer fully commit to the study of arcanatech, largely due to the commitment of time involved. It is far more common among the Kyr-Ora than other Orani, as Kyr is always in need of Arcanatechnicians for the maintenance of the mechanisms that support the lofted cities.
Inscription & Sigilcraft
Rarity: Common for Raz-Ora, Widespread for other tribes.
Writing is a fundamental need for all Ora, and the Orani are great producers and carriers of books, scrolls, and other text. Mendicants travel too much to carry many books with them, but lean into scrolls, sigils, glyphs, and contracts. Inscription is least common among the Raz-Ora due to a lack of paper, but many Raz-Orani lean into production of vellum parchment and other hide preparation crafts on behalf of their host tribe, and for their own practice. Orani who practice Inscription are equally likely to continue into Sigilcraft as well.
Physicker Studies
Rarity: Widespread
Wherever people travel, and especially on the road healers are in high demand, useful to every community. As such, many Ora take up Physicker Studies as a practice, in all areas, and offer their skills wherever they live or travel.
Alchemy
Rarity: Widespread among the Ishu-Ora, Common for all other tribes.
Alchemy is a bit harder for the Orani due again to travel, but as the components are quite a bit easier to transport than for Artificing/Arcanatech, there are more Orani alchemists, especially among the Ishu-Ora. There is a brisk business in component production there particularly.
Ritualism
Rarity: Common
Orani do not shy away from magic of any kind, and the study-intensive discipline of ritualism attracts many to Wizardry, often as a complement to a martial skill or to Channeling. It is common to view magical study as all of a piece, and consider wizardry as a natural extension of practice that follows a foundation in Channeling. Orani Alchemists and Scribes also find Wizardry a worthwhile supplement to their existing studies.
Channeling
Rarity: Widespread for Mendicants, Common for all other tribes.
Not all Orani priests are Channelers, nor are all Channelers priests, but the two go together so often that they are frequently conflated in casual conversation. Mendicants in particular lean heavily into Light Channeling, while Orani from the settled tribes are reasonably likely to expand their study of Channeling into the element of their homeland, either along with or instead of Light. Many Oracle Channeler spells include prayers, songs, and chants from Orani religious writing, or other folklore.
Gardening
Rarity: widespread for Ishu-Ora and Von-Ora, variable for all other tribes.
Orani on the whole are very fond of gardening, and have many songs and stories that involve working in gardens, or gardening as metaphor, or similar, harkening back to memories of the lost land of Ora, a place of many gardens and cultivation. Other than the Ishu-Ora and Von-Ora, however, the main of the Ora are unable to cultivate gardens as they’d like, due to either nomadic lifestyle or inhospitality of the land to gardening. By inclination, nearly every Orani family would cultivate a garden, and some Kyr-Orani Artificers have been working on ways to develop portable garden devices, or ways to grow more plants outside of the narrow band that grow in the north.
In the meantime, the Mendicants frequently plant seeds and saplings wherever they pass, believing that it is good to sow seeds, even if the sower may never gather the fruit of such labor.
Order Presence
Academy of the Rising Wind
The Orani have a special relationship with the Academy of the Rising Wind, as the primary college in Azlet houses the complete texts of Words of the Sages. Many Kyr-Orani, Von-Orani, and Ishu-Orani belong to college campuses located in those nations, or do a term at another campus; occasionally even Raz-Orani and Mendicants engage in a term of study for a limited time. In particular, Raz-Orani with an interest in Arcanatech often study Practicuum in Kyr to take knowledge back to the Volcano.
In Kyr, there has long been an effort to merge the Kyr-Orani court offices with the Academy proper, adding a legal discipline, or Nomarium. This would allow a formal curriculum to be made available to members of the bureaucracy, as well as standardize training for legal specialists from the Kyr-Ora. To date, there has not been agreement on how to manage this while still maintaining the neutrality of the courts, as well as whether this approach would allow for non-Orani to serve as mediators and judges-- a subject of much contention.
Braided Band
Among Mendicants, the Braided Band enjoys significant membership, being very well suited to traders and merchants. Orani members are more often in the Copper and Silver strands of the braid, but are not unknown to belong to the Gold as well, and even Orani who do not belong to the Band find it useful to have a good working relationship with them.
Caretakers of the Heartsgrove
Many Orani are drawn to the Caretakers of the Heartsgrove, as the service-focused nature of the Order is suited to Orani of every tribe. Due to how many Orani are Physickers, alchemists, or engage in healing magic, it is a natural alignment. There is also some suggestion that the concept of the Heartsgrove may be related to an ancient, sacred grove said to have once stood in the lost land of Ora.
Kinship of Pallas Adine
Of the Orders, the Kinship of Pallas Adine probably has the lowest Orani membership. The realities of their sufferance in every land leave little time or inclination for a focused martial lifestyle, and those inclined thusly are very likely to join the Wardens of the Endless Road. That said, it does happen that individual Orani of the appropriate temperament do find a home there.
Wardens of the Endless Road
The Wardens enjoy substantial Orani membership, due to the unending need of the Mendicants for protection in their travels along the circuit. Martially inclined Orani frequently wind up in the Wardens for this reason, to guard travelers within their host nations, or more recently, to make inroads against the Gograzi.
The Good and the Bad
The good part of playing an Orani is that they generally like everyone, and most everyone is inclined to get along with them as well. They put great store in being fair, honest, flexible and trustworthy, and their faith and philosophy has a lot of room for many different viewpoints. They’re also great if you like study, discussion, and good natured philosophical/religious argument.
These things have a downside as well, in that the Orani are so focused on being peacemakers, that they can sometimes miss when it’s actually time to resort to violence. Also, when people are being extreme, no one likes the folks trying to get everyone to meet in the middle. Further, lacking a dedicated homeland, their reliance on the other nations might feel like a disadvantage to some. Additionally, if you prefer to see things in black and white, or dislike philosophical discussion and debate, playing an Orani may not be for you.