Osloru

Guardians of the Oyudanyi

The Osloru are a resilient people who have adapted to life in the dense and unforgiving Oyudanyi Jungle. Their way of life revolves around harmony with nature, where towering trees and great beasts dictate the balance of power. Known for their distrust of magic and wealth, they prioritize survival, tradition, and the wisdom of their elders.

The Osloru are a people of the jungle, deeply attuned to the rhythms of the wild. Living in the untamed Great Oyudanyi Jungle, they have forged a life in harmony with nature, where survival depends on knowledge of the land, the creatures within it, and the ever changing environment. Unlike the great cities of other human civilizations, Osloru settlements are small villages that blend into the dense canopy.
The Osloru believe in balance between life and death, and power and humility. They are highly skeptical of Magic users who tether into the bond, fearing that mortals meddling in forces beyond their understanding risk disrupting the natural world. This philosophy influences their governance, culture, and way of life, fostering an egalitarian society that values wisdom and survival skills over wealth or status.
Physically, the Osloru are tall, with ebony skin, black hair, and dark or hazel eyes. They have adapted to the jungle’s heat and humidity, developing endurance and agility suited for climbing, hunting, and navigating dense foliage. Their way of life is one of constant movement, observation, and respect for the creatures that share their homeland.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Bati, Fipya, Joli, Omoyala, U'lolo, Yuta

Masculine names

Atumwa, Dengo, Kwalu, Mezoar, Selu, Zavul

Family names

Atazi, Ekulu, Natombe, Oboko, Zuberi

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Osoli

The Osloru speak Osoli, a language shaped by their environment. Soft and rhythmic, it incorporates whistles, clicks, and gestures to communicate discreetly within the dense jungle. Many words mimic the calls of birds, the rustle of leaves, or the hissing of reptiles, allowing them to blend seamlessly with nature as they move through their homeland.
Because the Osloru prioritize oral tradition over written records, Osoli has no official script. Instead, symbols and carvings are used for navigation, storytelling, and ceremonial purposes, marking important locations and history in ways that can endure the jungle’s constant renewal.

Culture and cultural heritage

The Osloru live in small tribal villages scattered throughout the jungle, moving when necessary to maintain balance with the land. Each village is self-sufficient, relying on hunting, foraging, and carefully cultivated jungle plots to sustain itself. They see themselves as caretakers of the jungle rather than its masters, ensuring that no single location is overhunted or overused.
Osloru society places a heavy emphasis on oral tradition, with elders passing down knowledge through storytelling, music, and ritualistic dance. History is recorded through songs and symbolic carvings, ensuring that important events are not forgotten even when villages move. This reliance on memory and performance allows them to preserve their past without needing physical texts, which the humid climate would quickly destroy.

Tia'kal Empire

The Osloru are united under the Tia’kal Empire, a coalition of tribes bound by tradition rather than conquest. Each tribe elects an elder to sit on the Mishala Council, where all tribes, regardless of size, have an equal voice. This council ensures no one tribe gains too much power, reinforcing their distrust of centralized rule and wealth.
Despite their shared governance, the Osloru remain highly isolated from outside civilizations, rejecting most trade agreements and foreign influence. They believe outsiders lack respect for the jungle and its creatures, viewing them as threats rather than potential allies.

Shared customary codes and values

The Osloru hold three core beliefs above all else: respect for nature, the rejection of excess, and the importance of community. Wealth in material goods is seen as unnecessary; if an item cannot be carried, it is often buried or left behind. Personal possessions are minimal, with the most valued items being tools, weapons, and ceremonial artifacts tied to one’s totem animal.
They also respect the many large reptiles and dinosaurs roaming the Oyudanyi Jungle, seeing them as sacred beings rather than mere beasts. Each tribe often reveres a specific species, considering them spiritual guides or protectors. Osloru hunters thank their prey for its sacrifice, ensuring nothing goes to waste.

Common Dress code

The Osloru dress in light, breathable clothing suited for the hot and humid climate of the Oyudanyi Jungle. Garments are often woven from plant fibers, dyed in vibrant colors using natural pigments, and decorated with intricate patterns representing their tribe or personal totem animal. Jewelry is crafted from bone, wood, or rare jungle stones, with each piece holding cultural significance rather than monetary value.
Due to the dense jungle terrain, Osloru seldom wear heavy armor, opting instead for protective leather and reptilian hides that provide mobility while still offering defense. Warriors often paint their skin with natural dyes before a hunt or battle, believing that the markings grant them the strength and agility of their totem animals. Footwear is rare, as many Osloru prefer to feel the earth beneath them, moving swiftly and silently through the jungle canopy.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

The Ukang Trial

The Osloru have an intense hatred of stealing, believing it disrupts the trust that binds a village. A popular method of crime detection is the Ukang Trial, a test of innocence performed before the village. A suspected thief must retrieve a stone from a pot of boiling oil, overseen by the village elder. Those with pure hearts, it is said, will emerge unburned, while the guilty find the oil too hot to endure. Fear of this ritual alone is often enough to prevent wrongdoing.

Honor and Exile

Harming a relative is forbidden unless that relative has committed a severe immoral act. Instead of physical punishment, those who break Osloru laws are often banished, shunned by the tribe, and forced to survive alone, a fate considered worse than death. A shunned Osloru is stripped of their name and no longer acknowledged by their people.

The Totem Bond

Many Osloru adopt a totem animal upon reaching adulthood, selecting a creature that has shaped their life in some way. A warrior might choose the great serpent if they survived an attack, while a healer may bond with the luminous moths that guide them through the jungle at night. At death, an Osloru is buried beside the bones of their totem animal, ensuring their spirits journey together into the afterlife.

Encompassed species

• Human

Related Locations

• Great Oyudanyi Jungle

Relations with Others

The Krovashi and Osloru rarely cross paths outside of coastal trade, with Krovashi sailors respecting the jungle dwellers mysticism. The Osloru, in turn, view the Krovshi as loud and brash, yet undeniably resourceful.

Interaction with the Garuthian is limited, mainly occurring through trade expeditions. Mutual curiosity exists, but both peoples maintain cautious distance due to differences in culture and environment.

The Osloru view the Senkurai with a mix of admiration and wariness. While rare, some Osloru wanderers have adopted Senkurai combat forms, blending them with their own fighting techniques.

The Thalorian and Osloru exist in two different worlds, one of structured hierarchy and the other of free moving tribal life. The Osloru see the Thalorians as overly reliant on law and nobility, while the Thalorians view the Osloru as untamed and unwilling to embrace progress. Despite this, both share a deep respect for their homelands and a willingness to defend their people at any cost.

Spirituality

Osloru spirituality is deeply tied to the jungle, with no singular deity but a vast network of spirits that guide their actions. These spirits take many forms; animals, trees, rivers, and even the jungle itself. Shamans serve as intermediaries, communing with these spirits through ritual, song, and offerings.
Each village maintains a sacred grove where the most powerful spirits are honored, often marked with totems and carvings. These sites are treated as places of guidance, where decisions of great importance are made. The Osloru do not fear death, believing their spirits will merge with the jungle, forever watching over their descendants.

Totem Animals

Each Osloru selects a totem upon reaching adulthood, a creature that has had a profound impact on their journey. These animals are believed to guide them in both life and the afterlife, with many rituals and carvings dedicated to honoring them. Below are some of the most revered totem animals among the Osloru:

Fire-Crested Tyrannosaurus Rex

Known for its ability to instill fear, this totem is associated with guardians and protectors.

Gliding Pteranodon

Agile and free-spirited, this totem is chosen by travelers and messengers.

Great Serpent

A symbol of patience and cunning, chosen by warriors who have survived dangerous encounters.

Leafback Tortoise

A symbol of endurance and wisdom, representing those who seek knowledge and longevity.

Luminous Moth

A guide through darkness, often chosen by healers and spiritual leaders.

Shadow Panther

Represents stealth and independence, favored by hunters and scouts.

Thunderbeak Roc

A bird of great power and foresight, linked to those who aspire to lead.