Oristi

One of the most influential cultures, especially for dwarven-kind, is Oristi. An old culture that all different dwarven cultures that exist nowadays can trace their heritage back to. Oristi itself can be traced back to the ancient mountain home of Zactarn, which lies deep in the mountains of south-eastern Svellbjargheim.
== History ==
It is said that the Oristi culture goes back thousands if not tens of thousands years, even far before the arrival of Al-Kanish into the world. Due to its geographic position the dwarves of Zactarn lived isolated and would not be aware of the agricultural revolution that happened well unto 4000 years after the appearance of Al-Kanish. However, when they knowledge did finally spread to the region a new age would dawn for the Oristi culture. The culture would spread throughout the deep ranges of the mountain, with eventually dwarves moving out of the mountain range into the rest of the world. Here they found new mountain ranges and hills to settle. This new geographic nature would lead in a minor split within the Oristi culture. One group called the High Oristi, which prefered to make their homes into the mountains and large hills. The other group being Low Oristi, which made their homes into generally lower lying areas such as plains, albeit with a hill somewhere. When people in Bataf think of dwarves they generally think of the dwarves descending from the High Oristi, such as Ralmulash and Othlest Inod. While culturally different, the physical characteristics of the dwarves are the same. 
== Cultural influences ==
The influences of Oristi are still felt to this day. For example, the main elements of the dwarven language finds its origin in Old Oristi. It should be noted however that the dwarven language has since then developed into multiple different languages that were influenced by other languages. The dwarvish of Othlest Inod has picked up many elements of the language of the Oroborian Empire. While the dwarvish of Ralmulash developed into a different direction. Aside from language, the deities that the dwarves worship can track back their origin to the Oristi pantheon. Of course over time gods have been replaced and some have fallen out of favour entirely. One such deity is X of the Heaven of Earth, who was associated with old ritual soulstice ritual sacrifices in which enemies would be captured and buried alive. 
Category:Alex
Category:Dwarves
Category:Culture
Category:History