Otan

Otan

Will to Power Universe

Otan (🔊 OH-tann) is a huge continent surrounded by a massive ocean. Humanoid creatures are the chief inhabitants. While their technology is rudimentary, the inhabitants possess numinous powers.

Type of	Continent
Genre	Fantasy
Inhabitants	Humans, Aelfes, Dweorges, Grendel, Aydahar, Ungir, etc.

The continent of Otan is a massive, oblong landmass that serves as the singular cradle of civilization within a vast and impenetrable ocean. To the west, the mainland shatters into a sprawling archipelago that is home to the seafaring Araldikar, while the rest of the continent stretches toward four distinct corners. Each of these corners is inhabited by cultures that have adapted to their specific biomes. At the very heart of Otan lies its most formidable feature, which is a central range of towering mountains perpetually entombed in glacial ice. This frozen crown remains one of the few truly uninhabited regions of the world.

The environmental spectrum of Otan is extreme. It ranges from the biting, sub-arctic tundra of Soltustik in the north to the lush and humid tropics of the Karazalikar territories in the south. Despite these regional differences, the continent follows a unified seasonal cycle where winter is universally the coldest period and summer is the warmest. Otan is a literal island in a void, surrounded by a fundamentally impassable sea.

Neither the most advanced nautical technology nor the most potent arcane magic can preserve a vessel that ventures beyond the sight of land. Ships that stray too far into the horizon simply vanish or are torn apart by forces that defy explanation. This physical limit has forced the various strains of Humans, Aelfes, Dweorges, and Grendel to focus their expansionist energies inward.

The sky of Otan is dominated by three tidally locked moons that never turn their faces away from the world. The largest and most brilliant is the Eye of Woden, which is flanked by two smaller companion moons known as Huginn and Muninn. These celestial bodies orbit Otan in a synchronized dance once every six-day week. The Otanian year is structured into twelve months, each consisting of twenty days. This cycle is appended by a final Holy Week, which is a universal period of transition observed by every culture on the continent.

Otan is a land of deep spiritual diversity that houses six major religions and a pantheon of over one hundred gods. These faiths are the primary drivers of the Will to Power, shaping the laws and conflicts of the seven human nations and their non-human neighbors. While the Great Erasure 260 years ago wiped the historical slate clean, the people of Otan have spent the intervening centuries building a complex and vibrant world within the confines of their sea-locked home.

Otan Inhabitants

The inhabitants of Otan are composed entirely of various strains and substrains of humanity, each having been fundamentally changed by unknown forces into the diverse forms that now walk the continent. From the ethereal Aelfes to the resilient Dweorges and the formidable Grendel, every soul is an offshoot of a shared biological baseline, yet they exist in a state of profound historical amnesia.

Because the Great Erasure wiped away all traces of what came before, these people suffer from a common lack of history both together and apart, leaving them to navigate a world where they must solve the mystery of their own origins. This fractured heritage drives the various nations to struggle for dominance as they attempt to define their place in a reality where the past is a void and the future is dictated only by their collective Will to Power.

Aelf

The Aelfes (🔊 ALF ) are a northern strain occupying the mountains, forests, and seas. Legend tells that the first Aelfes were created by Woden the All-Father.

Brimaelf

The Brimaelfes (🔊BREEM-alf) are the coastal sea Aelfes, who live off the coast of Aelfgarad. Their habitats are primarily underwater, with occasional beach habitats.

Dunaelf

The Dunaelfes (🔊DOON-alf) grew distant from their Aelfen cousins due to a difference in aesthetic sensibilities. They reside primarily in Aelfgarad.

Friggaelf

The Friggaelfes (🔊 FRIGG-alf) grew distant from their Wodaelfen cousins due to a difference in their art-driven aesthetic sensibilities. They reside primarily in Aelfgarad.

Wodaelf

The Wodaelfes (🔊 WOAH-dalf) grew distant from their Friggaelfen cousins due to an aesthetic rift. They prefer natural beauty to anything artistic. They reside primarily in Aelfwode.

Wyrmaelf

The Wyrmaelfes (🔊 VERM-alf) are a variety of the Friggaelfes, but infected by Draconic Essence. They resist becoming full Aydahar through prayer and force of will.

Aydahar

The Aydahar (🔊 AY-duh-HAR or 🔊 EYE-duh-HARRR) are a race of draconic-infused humans originally of human origin, but whose ancestors are of a draconic lineage.

Altin Aydahar

The Altin Aydahar (🔊 ALL-tin AY-duh-HAR) inhabit and administer the Altin Aydahar Region and the capital region of the Aydahar Confederation.

Aq Aydahar

The Aq Aydahar (🔊 ACK AY-duh-HAR) of the Aq Aydahar Region have a white coloring to their skin and features that match those of their Ice Dragon ancestors.

Jasil Aydahar

The Jasil Aydahar (🔊 JAH-zill AY-duh-HAR) are native to the Jasil Aydahar Region of Altinqor. They inherit their genetic makeup from their Water Dragon ancestors or possibly even an adult (or older) Water Dragon parent.

Kara Aydahar

The Kara Aydahar (🔊 CAR-ruh AY-duh-HAR) are native to the Kara Aydahar Region of the Altinqor Confederation. They share their genetic makeup with their Rock Dragon progenitors.

Kizil Aydahar

The Kizil Aydahar (🔊 KIH-zhil AY-duh-HAR) are the keepers of the Kizil Aydahar Region of the Altinqor Confederation. They share their genetic makeup with their Fire Dragon progenitors.

Koke Aydahar

The Koke Aydahar (🔊 KOHK AY-duh-HAR) are the keepers of the Koke Aydahar Region of the Altinqor Confederation. They share their genetic makeup with their Lightning Dragon progenitors.

Dweorg

The Dweorges (🔊 DWORG ) inhabit south-central Otan. Legend tells that the first Dweorges were created by Woden the All-Father.

Beodweorg

The Beodweorges (🔊 BAY-oh-DWORG) are a stout folk who keep to the mountains in the League of Dweorgen Miners territory. Dweorges have a sense of humor, but not when their territory is threatened.

Fyldweorg

The Fyldweorges (🔊 FEEL-dworg) are the most common variety of Dweorges, inhabiting the Dweorgen plains, cities, and any open area where Dweorges can be found.

Haefdweorg

The Haefdweorges (🔊 AF-dworg) are born with sea legs. These stout folk make their livings on or below the deep ocean. The jewels of the sea are their quarry and they stop at little to acquire the riches there for the taking.

Oradweorg

The Oradweorges (🔊 OR-uh-dworg) live their entire lives underground. They have little to do with the topside world except to trade minerals and gems for goods, particularly food.

Garis

The Garis (🔊 GARE-is) are a collection of canine, lupine, and vulpine humanoid people who live on the southern shores of Otan.

Akimsilik

The Akimsilik (🔊 AHH-kim-SIL-ik) are a Garis variant with vulpine features such as a narrow snout and fluffy tail. They live mostly in the Akimsilik Region of the Garis Triumvirate.

Beybitsilik

The Beybitsilik (🔊 BAY-bit-SIL-ik) are a Garis variant with hyena-like features, including spotted fur and a short muzzle. They live on and guard the border regions of the Garis Triumvirate.

Ustemdik

The Ustemdik (🔊 OO-stem-dik) are the lupine variant of Garis with strong wolfen features and an intimidating gaze. They inhabit The Garis Triumvirate's southern regions.

Grendel

The Grendel (🔊 GREN-duhl) are often characterized as a savage strain, though would agree that this supposition is based on their arguably brutish looks.

Kalas Grendel

The Kalas Grendel (🔊 KAL-as GREN-duhl) are the backbone of Grendel society, making up the population of cities. They are the traders responsible for fueling the economy.

Maerc Grendel

The Maerc Grendel (🔊 MARK GREN-duhl) are the most numerous of the Grendel strain, though they are the least seen; making their homes in the inhospitable swamplands.

Sogis Grendel

The Sogis Grendel (🔊 SOH-jiss GREN-duhl) are the hill-folk of the Grendel strain. They make up the bulk of Maercland's military might by providing the most warriors.

Human

There are seven cultural variants of humans. These variants are not divided by even lines and individuals may vary greatly within each group.

Araldikar

The Araldikar (🔊 ah-RAWL-dih-KAR) are islanders who hail from the island nation of Araldar on the western coast of Otan.

Batistikar

The Batistiktar (🔊 bah-TIS-tih-KAR) are natives of northwestern Otan. Formerly a withdrawn people, they came to the world's attention that the Batistiktar were exceptional agriculturalists.

Karazalikar

The Karazalikar (🔊 KARE-uh-zal-lih-KAR) inhabit southern Otan. They have formed a matriarchal society that is deeply rooted in their ubiquitous animist religion of Backsism.

Ontustiker

The Ontustiker (🔊 on-TOO-stik-er) are the southern people of Otan. They are generally recognizable by their olive complexions, brown eyes, and thick black hair.

Ortalykshilar

The Ortalykshilar (🔊 or-TAHL-ik-shill-ar) are human central plains people and a melting pot of many other peoples of Otan. They occupy Ortalyk, the largest country in Otan.

Sigis Turgindar

The Sigis Turgundar (🔊 SIJ-iss tur-GUNN-dar) make their home in the easternmost nation of Otan. Their culture is steeped in tradition and they are incredibly respectful of their ancestors.

Soltustiker

The northern Soltustikters (🔊 sol-TOO-stik-er) have a human culture largely influenced by the terribly cold weather of their native country of Soltustik.

Kuulik

The Kuulik (🔊 koo-OO-lik) are a diminutive race of green-skinned fonts of ambition. Lacking the might to take territory, most Kuulik are itinerant in nature, frequenting other nations for trade.

Sawdager

The Sawdager (🔊 SAW-dah-gur) are perhaps among the most ambitious people in all of Otan. While even the simplest creatures understand basic trade, the Sawdager have perfected trade into an artform.

Tenizi

If ever a buckle was swashed, a Tenizi (🔊 ten-NEET-see) a swashbuckling Tenizi probably swashed it. Their brand of Kuulik-ness has made fishermen and seafarers of them all.

Uris

For anyone who's had an older sibling, they'll have some insight as to how the Uris (🔊 OO-riss) Kuulik blend into Kuulik society. They are the martial Kuulik members.

Misiq

The Misiq (🔊 MIH-sik) are a solitary race native to southeastern Batis. Because of their detached nature, they have little contact with other strains.

Aristan

The Aristan (🔊 ah-RISS-tan) are leonine humanoids with several distinct traits that separate them from the more common Baris variant.

Baris

The Baris (🔊 BARE-iss) are pantherine humanoids and the most common among the Misiq. They can be found in the widest range of colors and markings.

Jolbaris

The Jolbaris (🔊 jol-BARE-iss) are tigrine humanoids, and rare among the Misiq. Their powerful frames are wrapped in thick orange or white and black fur.

Sileysin

The Sileysin (🔊 sil-AYY-sin) are a cheetah-like strain of humans. They are rare among the Misiq, with sleek bodies adorned with light and dark brown spotted fur.

Qurilissi

The Qurilissi (🔊 KOO-rih-LEE-see), better known to some as the "builders" appear in the lore of most of the religions of Otan.

Aya Quralissi

The Aya Qurilissi (🔊 AYY-ya KOO-rih-LEE-see) are fabled to have created all life on Otan. They have an affinity with the three life elements, Flesh, Wood and Chitin.

Jer Quralissi

The Jer Qurilissi (🔊 JAIR KOO-rih-LEE-see) are fabled to have created very ground on which Otan rests. They have an affinity with the three Matter elements, Metal, Rock and Crystal.

Ort Qurilissi

The Ort Qurilissi (🔊 OART KOO-rih-LEE-see) are said to have brought energy to Otan. They have an affinity with the three Energy elements, Fire, Electricity and Light.

Suu Quralissi

The Suu Qurilissi (🔊 SOO-oo KOO-rih-LEE-see) are created the sky and the sea, so legend says. They have an affinity with the Flow elements, Air, Water and Ice.

Sweardaelf

The Sweardaelf (🔊 SWAIR-dalf) are a diminutive race who reside mainly in the southwestern Kingdom of Kiskentay.

Borgainaelf

The Borgainaelfes (🔊 BOR-gunn-alf) are the industrious city-dwellers of the Sweardaelf strain. They are best known for their "borrower" culture that sustains them.

Fyrthaelf

The Fyrthaelfes (🔊 FUR-thalf) are a diminutive substrain that live in the rainforest areas of Kiskentay. They tend to form tight-kinit communities and are masters of their rainforest domain.

Geardaelf

The Geardaelfes (🔊 GEER-dalf) are the legendary variety of the Sweardaelf strain with a penchant for horticulture. Their small settlements span Kiskentay.

Scraefaelf

The Scraefaelf (🔊 SKRAH-falf) are the most uncommon of the Sweardaelf clans. Rarely seen on Otan's surface, the Scraefaelfes prefer to live underground.

Tozakh

The Tozakh (🔊 toe-ZAK) differ most notably from other humans in their propensity to grow horns and antlers.

Faun Tozakh

The Faun Tozakh (🔊 toe-ZAK) are a satyr-like substrain of the Tozakh. The most notable difference between the Faun and humans is their antlers, found on both men and women.

Infernal Tozakh

The Infernal Tozakh (🔊 toe-ZAK) live in the northernmost areas of Otan. They resemble humans in almost every way except their distinctive ram-like horns.

Ungir

The Ungir (🔊 ung-GEER) are a highly gregarious and industrious people with a penchant for exploring the underground.

Juzuu

The Juzuu (🔊 joo-ZOO-oo) are an aquatic variety of Ungir. They possess the unexplained ability to live underwater indefinitely. and have established underwater settlements.

Karangi

The Karangi (🔊 kah-RAHN-gee) are a dark-featured variety of the Ungir who are content to live their entire lives far beneath the surface of Otan.

Usatin

The Usatin (🔊 oo-SAH-tin) can be of any other type of Ungir, save that they have wings. This feature often grants them the power of flight.

Ustinde

The Ustinde (🔊 oo-STIN-dey) are the gregarious surface-dwelling Ungir most commonly seen by other peoples. Their scaly skin color ranges from brown to orange.

Otan Geography

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Otan Cosmology

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Otan History

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