Ohesa
The Ohesa live in the northeast of Tyldamin, in the grasslands north of the river that flows from the Tolach Naelath mountains and into Lake Edisul by the town of Kopaen. They are primarily ruled by the Council of Chieftains who represent their interests in the national politics of Tyldamin and rule the northeast semi-independently from the rest of the country. The Ohesa are a pastoral folk, whose primary occupations are concerned with herding livestock throughout the grazing lands in this less fertile and more isolated part of Tyldamin. In summer the folk by the river look out for their approach over the fields, heralded by clouds of dust and a distant gentle rumbling of many hooves.
Even 300 years ago, folk in the northeast already viewed themselves as distinct from other areas of Tyldamin but no more so than any province. Although the largest herds already roamed here, it was seen as simply a result of what the landscape was suited to and many people were entirely concerned with other matters.
As the rest of Tyldamin began experiencing a population boom, fruits of the first decades of research from the Institute of Magical Phenomena, the northeast remained much as it always had. Where in other areas clans grew and eventually ceased to mean anything, the chieftains simply continued in the northeast except to bicker amongst themselves about who should become a borough representative.
Now the continuation of clans and their chieftains is something that sets the Ohesa apart from the rest of the country and a source of great pride among them. Clan identity is an important aspect of their society and chieftain elections are always a major event, since the position is held for many years.
In the face of such opinions, almost all Ohesa hold that despite their disagreements amongst themselves, those folk are definitely wrong and part of the "agricultural machinery" of present-day Tyldamin. That said, they will happily debate about the subject both among themselves and with others if invited, until the sun rises.
Down to the rivers and back
Despite generally catching more rain than the area directly east of the Tolach Naelath, the northeast was hardly the first-picked land when the Taesaf came. Devoid of major rivers, too dry and warm for woodland and far away from any magic-rich areas; most Taesaf preferred the coasts, mountains and riverbanks. But one thing this area has is space and grass in plenty, especially during the wetter months.
Up north where in autumn the fields turn green, lie the main settlements of the Ohesa. Each settlement belongs to a single clan. Therefore the majority of these settlements are a few small home courts in the style of other Taesaf. Next to a small river, in the heart of their territory lies the town of Amoni. This also harbours the Toná, the winter gathering place of the Council of Chieftains. During winter, families within a clan take turns venturing out with the herds as they need not go far to find good grazing land while others stay comfortably sheltered.
As summer and the dry season creep downward from the north, the majority pack up their things and take their herds southward. Some clans trek to the west of the hills where there is more rain but most head to the rivers and the banks of Lake Edisul. Here they also ply much trade, both in livestock and crafted goods. Once the rains return to the north, so do the Ohesa and their herds.
Government Reforms
Slightly over three hundred years ago, in the early 900's, Tyldamin was knee-deep in the struggle of a search for a new form of government. The current system of several representatives from every borough had not only become increasingly unwieldy and inefficient but had finally collapsed under the scandal of irrefutable proof of widespread corruption. Although those representatives who were free of blame (or too crucial to be set aside immediately) continued to run affairs as best as they could, it was finally agreed that some type of reform was necessary. Slowly it became clear that the most popular idea within most of Tyldamin was to establish a Triumvirate who would be the crucial decision makers, supplied with information by others. The old borough leaders would be diminished in number but retain some power as they would elect the Triumvirate members. The clan leaders in the northeast were not best pleased about this. In the old system, they already only had two borough representatives on account of their low population and this would be reduced to a single vote for a delegate who almost definitely would not be from their area. Meanwhile they supplied many animals and goods to the markets of Tyldamin, manure to the crop fields just as the role of Tyldamin as an agricultural power was starting to get going, and were effectively a means of border defence through their contacts with other folk further north. Although many still lived simple and settled lives in their villages, the greatest herds of Tyldamin already roamed here under the watch of their herdfolk. Despite all this, it was being implied that they should increase their numbers to be "of greater use". Keenly aware of the ecology of their land and with deep personal bonds with many of their livestock, those who looked to the future saw bleak days ahead if they were to let things run their course.Look how many we are! Do our animals mean nothing to you? Is this to be destroyed in the process of cleansing our land?
The clan chieftains, led by those two that had been borough representatives, put aside their private grievances and brought their cause to attention of the whole country. They led their herds towards the cities, outside of the trading season. The sight of the hundreds of animals, skilfully managed by their tenders, and the chiefs upon their splendid horses stirred the hearts of many. The herdsfolk in turn shared their knowledge of the land generously, showing themselves as peaceful people who wished only to protect the wellbeing of their land and their animals and weren't such goals exactly why reforms were coming in the first place? Environmental consciousness has always been high amongst the Taesaf and was experiencing an even higher degree of awareness than usual at the time. Carried on a wave of public support, within political spheres the chieftains backed up their goals with threats of loosening the borders and explained at great length the delicate balance of their ecosystem, threatening collapse of the agricultural and trade cycles if they were not allowed to govern themselves. Eventually, the remaining borough representatives (of whom more than a few figured it soon wouldn't be their problem in any case) agreed to the formation of the Council of Chieftains, semi-independent rule for the northeast, and six votes for the new Tyldamin Triumvirate.
Upholding the Old Ways
Revival of pastoralism
The campaign that resulted in the creation of the Council of Chieftains not only cemented the image of northeast Tyldamin as herdfolk in the minds of the nation, it also brought them to greater prominence among their own folk. They were viewed with honour for having helped so much with bringing them semi-independent rule. Simultaneously everyone of the area now had a much greater awareness of the interactions between their land and the animal herds, as well as the care they provided. Youngsters were suddenly eager to head out with the herds or to learn to make clothing and accessories from wool, leather and bone. Likewise, their elders were eager to teach them and together they increased in skill, lending these vocations greater honour. The majority of the chieftains were already heavily involved with herding and this caused new chieftains to also be chosen from the herdsfolk. Not everyone agreed with the new course and some of the more settled and horticulturally minded folk left to live in a different part of Tyldamin. So, both rapidly and slowly, the identity of the Taesaf in the northeast between inextricably intertwined with their herds and through them, to the seasonal cycles of the land. Sheep especially featured in the popular image of the independence campaign and they flourished best; those images are what eventually led to the name Ohesa, which is derived from the words for "sheep" and "folk/culture".Our herd is our family
Sheep and cattle are their main herd animals, with small horse herds that are mainly for transport and riding to help with herding. Two families (in two separate clans) are known for specialising in goats instead.
Everyone has their own horses, but there is a clan who really specialises in them and one or two families in other clans who do much work in breeding efforts.
The Ohesa maintain a deeper connection with their animals and the land than is usual among the Taesaf. Their Magic use is highly focused on communion with other organisms and leans far more towards the fae side than the logical one. Despite the large sizes of the overall herds, each family knows exactly which animals belong to whom and they are viewed as extensions of clan and family.
This close connection to their animals and the land that supports them is viewed as the cornerstone of Ohesa society and they scorn the rest of the Taesaf for not doing the same.
Clan-based society
The rest of Tyldamin society also started out clan-based but that had largely been left behind, as clans grew and the borough representative system emerged.Magic ~ Fae & Logic
Although it is as of yet a poorly understood phenomenon, some types of spells are much more effective with either a highly technical approach or an intuitive one. Communion with other beings, luring and dreamweaving are examples of magics best approached intuitively. Although there is nothing physically stopping someone from learning both types of magic, the difference required in mindset makes it practically impossible for one person to specialise in both.Who do we remember?
Within the Ohesa there's also a large spectrum of ideas about whether they are respecting the ways of the original Lomyn from the Kynfesan or the Taesaf in general or the Tyldamin Taesaf specifically (and within that last there's a divide on whether it's about the first Taesaf folk or a "golden age").
Despite this the Ohesa claim that they are the keepers of the ways of old, the Taesaf that were, as they put it.
The herding folk of the Tolach Naelath think the Ohesa are full of shit and they, if anyone, are closest to the original ways since they live in mountains, like the Lomyn originally did, and not out on the damn plains. Other folk of the Tolach Naelath wonder what everyone's obsession is with herding and livestock anyway.
"They're delusional."
Parent ethnicities
Related Organizations
Origins
When exactly some of the Taesaf decided that the grasslands of the north-east were a much better place to keep livestock than these other areas is debated, although the majority of the Ohesa will tell one that they stayed here whilst others of the newly emerging Taesaf moved on to the coast. This claim is considered dubious in the extreme by historians; who think it more likely than a different herding folk preceded them and some Taesaf ended up adopting their customs (well after the founding of Tyldamin).Chieftain necklace
by Menatith
Seasonal Traders
The Ohesa are both welcomed and viewed with some suspicion as "those nomad folk from the other side of the river". Overall they enjoy a good reputation and more settled folk are happy to trade with them and enjoy their stories and company. But there is no denying that both sides consider each other as "not them" and like anywhere, the Ohesa have their shady folks among them. Through their contacts with other pastoral folk further north, the Ohesa had access to goods that could otherwise be hard to come by. They don't widely engage in smuggling, but for certain items or bits of information it can certainly be beneficial to strike up a conversation, if you know the right people."By clan and hoof"
"By hill and plain, by sky and stone, by my blood and that of our herd, my life is given to my people. To their good fortune, to green grass and friendly folk shall I endeavour to lead them. Until my end or the end of my binding, this I swear and may I be struck down if it proves false."
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