The people of Ocha'ta

On the moon-shaped island, surrounded by the Shimmer Reef, just by the coast of the main Island in the Blooming Isles, is where the group of people that calls themselves Ocha'ta found.
The island itself is named Ocha, which the first tribe to arrive called it because of the strangely white and black landscape the island seemed to have in some places - Ocha can roughly be translated to 'night touched' or 'touched by the night', which refers to the black landscapes.

It is as if the night is reaching its hand out towards the ground, trying to grasp her lover.

Culture and history

Having been on a secluded island for centuries, most of the culture and traditions seen there today on Ocha originates from the first tribe that inhabited the island. Though they haven't been completely closed off from other countries and cultures, contact and trade have been limited compared to other countries, and most contact has been with the other isles in the Blooming Isles.
Beliefs and stories have been carried down from generation to generation throughout many years, which is why the Ocha'ta is seen as almost a living piece of Aewyns history.

Legends say...

...that since the people first arrived on the island, histories and stories have been told of two beings larger than life and humans themselves; Mahu, the ground and earth beneath their feet and Eli, the night sky above their head. The two beings have been in love with each other for centuries, but even though they at times are really close to each other, they keep being torn apart by the sunrise every morning.
And as such, Mahu waits for her lover all day, until she can see her again.
But the relationship hasn't only been golden and lovely, as jealousy overwhelms the two at times - they can never be as close to each other as some of the others... The ocean and her gentle touch, caressing Mahu every day and night, and the moon and stars keeping Eli company wherever she goes.
The jealousy can be felt throughout the island, as the wrath of Mahu often shows as earthquakes or volcanic activity, though it rarely lasts more than a couple of days before the two of them have talked it through. Eli however might throw rocks at her lover, when she get's really jealous, which in turn makes Mahu angry.
Display of love is also shown as small gestures like a gentle lava flow or rain of shooting stars.

Trade

Travel between countries and trade has become more frequent and normal in the last 200-300 years, and the Ocha'ta has taken part in that as well without destroying any of their old history and culture. Many countries have developed new and more efficient ways of producing and selling their goods, but the Ocha'ta still makes their wares the traditional way, which has become a sought after thing in many countries.

One thing they are extremely known for is their finely made and very durable pottery, made in their traditional pottery houses near the foot of Mahu's wrath, the islands active volcano.

The pottery is made with the volcanic stone and roks nearby, together with a special white clay they have around the island - these are also the two materials that the first tribe saw when they arrived, and their contrast was what made them call the Island Ocha.
Ocha pottery is sold far and wide but is in very limited supply because of the few active pottery makers, and the slow traditional way they make it.

Details

Name of ethnicity

Ocha'ta

Location

On the Island Ocha

Country

In the Blooming Isles

Population

~100.000 people

Mahu and Eli

by CatRobi

Most common names

(They don't distinguish between female and male names)

Welli

Muhno

Miha

Aunn

Kipp

Religion

The old gods of the elements like what they believe in Irai as well, where for example Occa, the goddess of the sea is a part of.
They worship the earth Mahu and the night sky Eli the most and has done so as long as records go back.