Some History and Tidbits About Oterland
Oterland is a small town nearest the Oterland ranges, itself a part of the Unbrusid Mountains. The population of Oterland as a town is not very big, with about 2,500 people on average living in condensed neighborhoods spaced apart from each other. However, most of Oterland’s population is not included in the census and lives in the large brooding cavern that the town is most known for, with a population reaching around 63,000 and growing. Most of Oterland’s residents are Jadebloods, and the Oterland Caverns are a Jade-exclusive brooding cavern– meaning that no other caste can obtain a job there, in theory.
Oterland was established in pre-Imperial times sometime during the Mage War– an era with an uncertain timeline but does not pre-date written history. Many mages had spread throughout the globe to create settlements as either a base of operations or an attempt to find a new home away from devastation. It is thought that many a magically-inclined Troll (mages) were at odds with an enemy that is unknown to historians. This enemy or enemies have repeatedly been struck from written record or have little to no evidence of existing. Additionally, the people of Oterland Caverns are incredibly protective of their archives and history, and seem to be wary of outsiders. This has made it difficult for some to extensively explore the region’s history, and to uncover the truth about the Mage War– as some believe this era to be a work of fiction as controversial as Earth’s tales of King Arthor.
What is agreed upon based on what records have been studied is that a large diaspora of mages sought shelter and refuge away from a conflict. Again, there are few to no records on who these enemies were or what the conflict was about, but these same texts imply that they were being hunted. As a result, they made homes in Unbrusid’s natural tunnel and cave systems, overtime expanding it into an even more intricate network.
Though the first permanent settlement was made in the upper-middle levels of what today is considered the cavern, over the course of a great many sweeps did the mages carve out and establish what would be the largest temple-city to date. While at first importance was shared among the whole pantheon, worship eventually fell to mainly the Goddess Spirit while the other deities faded into the background.
It was clear that this underground temple had been made to become a new haven for the mages. The central hollow has a large waterfall supporting a large lake of which the city was built on top of. Hives and other establishments neatly line the clean pathways, all made of a strange glistening white stone with odd arcane symbols etched in. The temple itself is a beautiful and intricate building, made of the same stone and some crystal glass, giving classical-like architecture an otherworldly feeling. The temple is divided into many different sections, some that were clearly made as living quarters for monks and priests while others were meant for worship or politics. It was not until the reign of Overseer Emacin Tarris, the Defiance, and the changes she made to Oterland’s laws that forced this hidden city to become a relic of the far past, leaving the temple to rely on cavern-appointed priestesses to maintain it.
The erasing of hundreds of sweeps of people and culture fell upon the shoulders of Emacin Tarris, who outlawed mages in an attempt to save Oterland from its unknown enemies. The legend goes that the fabled Mage King, a major figure who is said to have started this mysterious war and had rallied the world’s mages to fight in his cause, sought shelter in these caverns. In an attempt to keep her people safe from the same enemies the her ancestors had run from so many sweeps ago, Emacin refused the Mage King and sent him away. Soon after she began banning magic in its entirety. Mages soon became villainized and outlawed, and anyone who was caught practicing magic would be exiled or executed. By wiping out magic and those who practice it, Emacin was able to evade the attention of these omitted enemies, but in doing so erased much of Oterland’s history, people, and culture. There are records affirming some details of this tale, giving credit to the possibility of the Mage Wars being real. Ironically, magic is still alive in Oterland, and much of the population are descendants of these mages– but the Defiance’s laws made sure that you will rarely find anyone in Oterland who approves of magic, both in and outside of the caverns.
While Oterland has always been spiritually involved, it is thought that the erasure of mages encouraged more to turn to the Goddess Spirit for guidance, protection, and as a political tool. The Defiance used the cult following of the Goddess Spirit to turn people away from magic and towards relying on a new political and spiritual hierarchy that shapes the Oterland Caverns to this day.
First in line is the Overseer, then the Overseer’s second-in-command who helps play middle-man between the Overseer and the priestesses. Priestesses are expected to take care of the temple, where they live and interpret signs and messages from the Goddess herself. The head of the priestesses, who works directly with the Overseer and the second-in-command, is given the title Prioress. While anyone under the Overseer is expected to answer to them, a lot of stock is put into the Prioress’ words and often the Prioress is included in legislation and administrative decisions. It is usually priestesses and/or the Prioress who look after the direct care of the grub mother itself.
Religion has also drastically shaped the leniency the Oterland caverns may have towards specific mutations. While Oterland did not formatically cull mutants until officially being enlisted into the Imperial Empire’s territory –back then still only centralized to Alternia– they did show favoritism to physical mutations that allowed wings to be grown. Wings are thought to be a blessing from the Goddess Spirit, since the grub mother who is winged is believed to be the deity’s physical vessel.
Such mutants, the ‘blessed’, are given high spiritual status and may be considered gods themselves, often the object of worship. The relationship between Prioress and ‘blessed’ is, vocally, considered ‘familial’ or akin to ‘a guardian and their charge,’ but it is much more practiced as if the mutant in question is an object the Prioress owns. The ‘blessed’ is considered a reflection of the Prioress; if the ‘blessed’ shows good behavior befitting of the aesthetic of the Goddess, then the Prioress has a better reputation and is considered to have a close relationship to the Goddess Spirit– giving her more power and credit.
It is also important to note that the administration in the caverns often point to feminine favoritism; those who identify as female are seen as stronger, more devoted, and more capable of their duties. Those who identify as male or outside the binary are seen as lesser and weaker, putting pressure on them to become 'better' or 'more loved' by the Goddess. While it is possible for males and nonbinary Jades to hold positions of power, it often is given to females. This isn't specific to the Oterland Caverns either, but it does play a part of Oterland Caverns' spiritual and administrative decisions, particularly one's own relationship to the Goddess and whether or not they are socially deemed 'worthy.'
Besides the Overseer, second-in-command, and Prioress, there is a council made up of Elders– those Jades who have been alive the longest– who help make decisions on behalf of the people. Though, these council meetings usually are held to decide a disobedient Jade’s punishment, or to discuss briefly minute complaints the residents of the caverns have that must be brought to the Overseer's or Prioress' attention.
The town of Oterland itself has a different governmental system than the caverns. The town has a mayor and its own council made of those of whom the mayor has appointed. While religion is important to the town of Oterland, it is not as strictly ruled by it as is in the caverns. In fact, despite being right next to each other and being founded by the same population, the town and the caverns are largely divorced from one another– this is more in part of the caverns’ cult-like isolation driving a wedge between themselves and ‘outsiders.’
Unlike most of Alternia’s cities and districts, if you were to look at a map you’d find that Oterland’s borders have largely remained untouched over the sweeps, as there are few ruling Carnivals or Circuses vying for territory in this region.
