Oyari

in: Races, Centarii

## The Basics

* **Other Names:** Amazons, Jungle walkers, animal women
* **Appearance:** All of the citizens of Centarii have darker skin, ranging from soft brown and tans to deep onyx in color. Muulari dress in tribal wear, the colors matching the tribe they are from. Oyari wear leathers and furs more suited to running around in a jungle. Obsidian spire tends to wear more dark colored armor, often made of obsidian.
* **Lifespan:** 75 Years
* **Height:** 170 cm (5'7") - 190 cm (6'3")
* **Regions Found:** The three cultures that make up the Centarii Kingdom are found on the bottom of the Eastern continent.
* **Culture:** Amazons who roam through the jungle that is their home, their fighting force is made of women while the men stay home.
* **Common Character Roles:** Amazons, merchants, craftsmen, shamans
* **Common Allies:** Caledonii, Beast Kin, Shifters, Elementals, Muulari
* **Common Enemies:** Carnival of Trades, Nocturnum, Nihon, Khemet, Aviehn
* **Architecture:** Wooden structures in the jungle tend to also repurpose leftover ruins found deep in the jungle.
* **Religion:** The three follow the religions of the Beast King and Naruli, though Muulari is the more religious of the three.
* **Views on Magic:** Magic can be weld to strengthen one's resolve, but should not be the basis of their power in life. The elemental spheres bring one closer to the earth, and the non-elemental spheres can be powerful tools.

## Appearance

The Oyari are tall, and athletic warrior-women. Their skin tone ranges from very dark skin to dusky while having typically brown or medium dark hair. When going into battle, like most of the other Kingdoms of Centari, they braid their hair to keep it out of their way during fights. The men of their culture are often more lithe than muscular. They prioritize agility and using one's environment to their advantage over sheer strength. Though you can still find those who have dedicated more time to strengthening their muscles as well. Their clothing is made out of furs, cloth, and leathers while lightly adorned in jewelry. It’s common for the Oyari to paint their skin as well with ink in patterns and designs. When in battle, the paints and tattoos became mesmerizing as they danced around the battlefield. As they live in the jungle they tend to dress in more natural colors. Dark greens and browns to help them blend in with the jungle trees and foliage. They do not tend to mind showing off parts of their skin as they use whatever they can for battle. Still they are not so foolish as to leave their bodies exposed to weapons. As they deal with the poisons of the jungle they also always carry various antidotes upon their person.

## History

The Oerwoud to many was seen as a dark jungle where the shadows seemed to suck in the light. The beasts and animals of the jungle were fierce, using all the elements of the jungle to wipe out any humans who attempted to make their home inside the village. Where strength and muscles helped many settle in the rest of the world, it became a hindrance in the dense jungle. Still the male leader of the first tribe to attempt to settle in Oerwoud from Mularii continued to push, resulting in half of the tribe becoming wiped out. Realizing that the leader was leading them to their death, and tired of being ignored, Oyari led a rebellion against the men. Picking up the blades she and those who followed her easily were able to overtake the men. Realizing how weak the men of their tribe had been they vowed to believe in their own strengths instead. Oyari glanced back to the man lead tribes of Muulari and the unknown jungle of Oerwoud a choice had to be made. Refusing to allow a man to lead them to their doom again, Oyari made the choice. Claiming it to be “an easier choice than if I should take breath into my lungs.

Learning to live amongst the once harsh seen jungle proved to be an invaluable lesson amongst the women who decided to follow her. As the woman learned from the lesson of men and began to adapt to the jungle. Learning how to move through the jungle unhindered by the thick brush and even amongst the tree limbs. The men they had enslaved became their workers and servants. The strongest of the once warriors were used for sex slaves to breed “stronger offspring than their fallen fathers". Thus they expanded, with women from Muulari hearing about them coming to join the ranks of the amazons as well as foolish men who thought to tame the wild women. They became a force to be reckoned with on their own as they established their encampments in the jungle. As the jungle forest they called the Oerwoud flowed into elven territory it was not long till the two cultures met. Since the Wood Elves did not desire to overthrow the newly formed matriarchal group an alliance was formed between the two and a territory set. Oerwoud was declared to end at the River beside the southern ancient stone obelisk. Oyari’s Amazons became known as their own established group with the backing of the Wood Elves. Going to their old leader of Muulari they stood before him to declare themselves separate. Though they did so with their full army in a show of force inciting the Beast Chief to accept them or allow a war. Peace was brokered underneath the Great Tree, or it would have been if not for the sudden appearance of Obsidian Spire in their misguided attempt to claim the Great Tree for their own.The war cost them many lives, but ultimately proved their strength and prowess in battle. Impressing the men with their battle prowess both in the jungle and the savannah planes. Earning their own right and a place at the table when the Centari Kingdom was created. Becoming known as the Blades of Centari in opposition to the Shield of Centari, Obsidian spire. While the two cultures are always at odds just as a sword and shield are different, together they are a force to be reckoned with.

## Culture

Oyari’s Amazons became known over the centuries as simply just Oyari, their first leader always represented in their name. Becoming a well established kingdom in the Oerwoud building their own homelands and tribal grounds in the tree’s as well as using the ruins from a leftover ancient civilization. A surprise find by the Amazons that settled in the lands as it contained detailed texts on how to live and survive in the forest. Though they could not find what had happened to those who had come before them. Using the knowledge as well as their alliance with the wood elves to build their cities safely in the once strange Oerwoud .In the past, Salvador, Khemet, and Nocturnim expeditions explored and settled along the believed inhospitable coastline. Oyari was at first content to allow foreign adventurers and to trade with the outside world. This lasted for several centuries, until the concessions were utterly destroyed under the rule of Emperor Brutar IV around three hundred years ago. Emperor Brutar is said to have had so many Nocturnum priests and missionaries strangled to death that he was called the "Bane of Solarium". Bad feelings from this episode still remain on both sides -- the common Centari view on Salvador, Khemet, and Nocturnim is as sly, ruthless exploiters and cheats. They have an acceptance of the Carnival-of-Trades whose main hub is in the nearby canyons. While some, including the Amazon warriors, watch the Carnival caravans with extra suspicion, the common view is that the Carnival has never lied about what it is and those who are drawn to its tents know what they’re getting into.They are also distrustful of the Nihon islands with its closeness. Having a few scrapes between the two cultures over the centuries. Though Nihon stays to itself so there has not been quite the all out war that they have had with others. They still are distrustful due to a clash of cultures between the two of them.The current Queen of the Amazons is Zulina. A woman who is said to be one of the fiercest warriors to have even been brought up. Completing the trials at an unbelievably early age and winning her Queens tournament with only scratches to mar her skin, none of which have even scared. It is rumored her two twin children Zalara and Bintou are born from a secret affair with the King of Obsidian Spire.

## Government

They are a matriarchal society ruled by the Jungle Queen, currently reigned by Queen Zulina. She is counseled by the leaders of the various tribal groups that have sprawled throughout the Oerwoud . Similar to how the Muulari choose their King Chief, the Queen’s daughter must prove her worth to all of their kingdom. A fierce tournament is held in their honor in which the Oyarian Princess must win against all who challenge her, or die trying. Rarely has the royal bloodline shifted to a new matrilineal bloodline.Still a Queen can not be a ruler if she becomes like the males who pushed their tribe to the point of rebellion. Whereas her coronation tournament is a series of one on one fights, there is another tribunal a Queen who has lost the trust of her people must endure. The Kadiri Proving, in which all who have grievances with the queen must fight it out until a conclusion comes to be. Though the Kadiri Proving is used quite often for disputes, as they believe one's fighting prowess shows their prowess in life. Almost all the leaders of the various tribes and groups of Oyari are women, though there have been a few men who have been an exception in their own bouts. While it has been quite some time since a Queen has had to face a Kadiri proving, many tribal leaders have, and often they are found wanting during the battle.

## Social Behaviors

Knowing that to fight is to survive, they train all of the women from the moment they are capable, leading to even the children of Oyari being seen as forces to reckon with and not to be underestimated. The women of the tribe learn to fight and take on even the fiercest of foes as they grow up in Oerwoud . Their coming of age ritual to earn a place amongst the tribe requires them to hunt dangerous beasts on their own and prove their worth. Though some of the amazons end up coming back with their first slave, having found a man who sought to tame an amazon and quickly learning it is not an easy task. For the men born to the Oyari they find life a bit easier than the false minded men who find themselves in the chains they meant for the woman. While the women leave home to do battle or hunt wild animals that threaten them, the men stay at home to take care of the more mundane tasks of life. As they stay back at the home many do not see the men of the Oyari, thus leading to two conflicting rumors. One rumor being that there are no free living men in villages of Oyari and that if there were men their wedding rings would be the collars fastened around their necks. Still the truth of the matter is the free men who live in Oyari are fierce warriors all on their own. Having grown up with the same lessons as the women of their tribe. They trust in the strength of their women and their lot in life is to defend those who can not, namely the children, elders, and those incapable of defending their homeland. While others may claim them to be weaker men, if you do so in the presence of an Oyari man you will quickly find yourself corrected.

## Settlements

### Oyari’s Rest

The main city for Oyari, named as the final resting place for Queen Oyari first of their kind. As they had traveled amongst the Oerwoud discovering ruins it eventually led them to a sprawling ruined town. Over the centuries they have made it a sprawling revitalized city matching the jungles around. It is the largest settlement in the land, and in the center of the town is the main proving ground arena. A large sprawling arena made of dark stones that were long overgrown and taken before they arrived. Sprawled between the trees and ruined towers over the arena is the meeting hall for Oyari with the Queen’s home above that. Oyari’s Rest is a mixture of reclaimed ruins and tree houses. Often offering views from above the treetops in Oyari to view a sea of green jungle forest. It is also located next to a heart shaped lake in Oerwoud which was aptly named Hart Lake.

### Kọja Oju

Where most of Oyari settlements can be found in the trees, Kọja Oju stretches along the coastline. The kingdom's first defense against sea bound invaders and pirates, the women and men who live here are versed in sailing. Though they are not sailors the caliber of Salvador or Salvador. Instead their vessels are more primitive in nature, better for fishing amongst the ocean than anything.

### Elv’dari

A tribe of Oyari who live in the southern part of Oyari by the southern ancient Obelisk. They are the closest that deal with the wood elves and Orcs, as such they tend to deal with the Wood Elves and the Orcs that attack their lands.

## Religion

Much like the rest of the Centari, the people of Oyari follow the religions of the Beast King and Naruli, the nature goddess. Though they are similar to Obsidian Spire in that there are many who do not practice more than a passing acceptance to the religion. They put their faith more in the Shamans and the physical manifestation of magic that they see.

## Perception of Magic

Magic is seen as being quite useful in life and in battle. Though they believe that one must hone their own natural skills rather than rely on magic. Due to this magic is not allowed in the tournaments, especially in the Kadiri Proving. Unlike Obsidian Sire they are accepting of all magics, oftentimes taking on those born to Obsidian Spire who wield undesired and banned spheres of magic. They tend to value the natural spheres of magic with Nature’s Gift and Pyromancy being seen as more useful than Wind Magic and Cryomancy. Though they also are known to dabble in the other spheres of magic as well and they are not barred in their land. Just barred in use against battles of honor. However, they do have shamans that live amongst their tribes. If one is unable to fight on the battlefield then they are expected to contribute to the kingdom in some other way. So shamans are prevalent amongst the tribes and are seen on the council as well.