Øghe ('øɣe)
Øghe is known for the wide stretch of grassland in its center. The Xihthilan people know it as Ihpečae, meaning "prairie" in their language. To the wider Kiman population, however, it is known by a word that Thaebaeans translate to mean "empty"––of valuable land, money, and people. Øghe has the smallest population of all the provinces in Kima, though they are hardy.
Table of Contents
Towns (1,000–6,000)
Villages (<1,000)
Landmarks
Architecture
Øgheans rarely settle in one place for very long. They travel in clans, hauling covered wagons and pitching tents for their temporary encampments. Most "settlements" are actually just long-term camps. Some of the oldest villages have been fortified with wood and reeds to provide extra shelter and security. There are two true, permanent settlements in Øghe. The first is the capital, Aelbhśih, and the second is a town called Niialze. The latter was formed as a place for the elderly and infirm, or any who no longer wish to participate in a nomadic lifestyle, to live peacefully. The town trades with nearby settlements and traveling clans to stay afloat. Many residents also take up animal husbandry. Øghe gets a decent amount of rain, but the high winds make it challenging for all but the sturdiest crops to survive out in the open, so farming largely takes place near Niialze and Aelbhśih. The architecture here is slightly more durable, making use of the abundant wood of the Ilśihlfihś Woodland and the clay that lines the riverbeds. Aelbhśih only exists because the central government of Kima demands that it must in order to have representation. In fact, very few ancestral Øgheans live there. The population is made up of primarily Fuñtan and Aelfsan military generals and diplomats, and poor folks who have good reason not to be found. The city feels dead, especially compared to the capitals of other provinces. It is also made of imported stone, rather than wood like other Øghean settlements. Its permanent nature leaves a bad taste in the mouths of many Øgheans.Economy
The residents of Øghe care little for money. In fact, most of Øghe's economy revolves around bartering. For this reason, Øghe is considered the poorest province in Kima based on pure capital. Make no mistake, Øgheans are not ignorant of money, they simply have no use for it most of the time. Most clans have a communal fund that can be used if necessary, and some have managed to build up a nice bit of cushion. The location and value of this fund is often kept secret to protect from ne'er-do-wells. The figureheads in Aelbhśih have tried a few times to require tributes from all the clans, but it has never gone far. Øghe is vast and not properly charted on any written maps, making enforcing any tax laws nearly impossible.Populace
Øghean clans practice different customs and traditions, have various origins, and carry contrasting views on outsiders. Some clans are massive family units, occasionally welcoming in dispersals from other Øghean clans as life partners. Others are made up several bloodlines, though often see themselves as a family nonetheless. Most clans are wary of strangers, though some will be more welcoming if one is Øghean or Xihthilan. Each clan is marked by their own crest, which they usually paint on their caravans, tents, and skin.Attire and Weaponry
Common attire is fashioned from leather, hide, wool, and linen, all acquired from within Øghe itself. Few Øgheans wear armor; some are equipped with a few minor pieces like braces. Children are trained with bows and bone or stone knives from a young age, and those are typically the weapons they use their whole lives. Disputes between clans are not uncommon, and Øgheans have surprised other Kimans with their prowess for combat. Most Øgheans have long hair tied back into buns, braids, or ponytails. Beards are a common sight as well, either kept short or braided to keep them from getting in the way. Jewelry made from bones, stones, plants, or feathers is often worn in the hair or on the body. Being much more open to the use of magic than their Thaebaean counterparts, Øgheans practice the Xihthilan art of bone-pressing. In this method, magic is used to permanently press stones, bones, metal, or beads into the skin, forming a textured pattern reminiscent of a tattoo. In extreme cases, this can create an armor-like quality on the effected area. Tattoos are also a regular sight, either done through magical means or more crudely without magic. Many clans adopt standard colors and symbols in addition to their clan crest that members immortalize on their bodies.Culture
The people of Øghe used to live in what is now known as Aelfsa. They were driven out when the Thaebaean people came to Kima, forced to spread to the plains of Øghe, farther north to Faelkaen, and east through the mountains to Bual. While most Øgheans are untrusting of outsiders, especially Thaebaeans, some more entrepreneurial folks (often those with aspirations of moving) serve as guides for non-Øgheans seeking to explore the uncharted region.Gazetteer
Cities (6,000–25,000)Aelbhśih*
Niiaelze
Gielihč
Ihniubh
Iz
Śiihyfśul
Yašuhael
Ihniubh
Iz
Śiihyfśul
Yašuhael
Barrenwood
Cehlp Massif
Ihpečae Conservatory of Magic
Ilśihlfihś Woodland
Cehlp Massif
Ihpečae Conservatory of Magic
Ilśihlfihś Woodland
