Osur

The first osur in the history of the kingdom occurred in its infancy, in the opening days of year 3 EK. The Second Invasion had left Doriande in ruins, and the massive effort of rebuilding drained the Royal Council’s coffers. In his annual address, the king announced that taxation would be increased for as long as necessary to restore the realm to its former strength.

As news spread through the settlements, unease turned to anger. People already felt the weight of heavy taxation; this new burden seemed unbearable. Yet none dared openly oppose the king, who stood as the symbol of unity in a newly formed nation.

It was the dwarves of the north who first refused to bow. This shocked many, for the descendants of Rolfgar were known as calm, pious folk and staunch advocates of order. But they were also proud and unyielding.

The dwarves halted all production, refusing to sell ore from their mines or the alloys and finished goods forged from it, so that no revenue would be generated for the Royal Council to impose a tax on. It was an impasse, with the dwarves seemingly standing to lose more.

However, the hardy dwarves had the advantage. With their own coin reserves, farmland, and herds, they could endure indefinitely. Dorians, however, could not endure without dwarven craft. Soon farmers lacked tools, blacksmiths could not forge armor, wheels went unbound, and barrels stood unfinished.

As trade collapsed, so too did the wider economy. At last, the Royal Treasurer himself traveled north to negotiate. The miners asked if he could exempt them from the new levy, but he admitted he lacked the authority. The miners’ representative delivered their final answer: osûrg gûdr, meaning good grief. Spoken with hardened defiance, the phrase became legendary. Dorians who overheard or retold the story misunderstood the words, shortening them simply to osur. Thus, a new word entered their tongue. Its story spread like wildfire. Soon it was chanted by large crowds in every town and city, riots threatening the young kingdom with a single demand: grant the dwarves their wish.

The Royal Council eventually succumbed to the pressure, unable to enforce their will with a hungry and ill-equipped army.

The dwarves' success became the foundation of the practice of osur.

Later, when the phrase’s true meaning was revealed, many found it fitting. For those who live by taxing the labor of others should indeed grieve when that labor ceases.

Practicing osur is simple: workers and tradespeople cease all labor until their demands are met or negotiations begin. They may also elect representatives to speak on their behalf during these talks.

When protests remain peaceful, signs and banners are carried to declare demands and identify the osuri. At times, pamphlets are produced with wooden or metal stencils and distributed to passersby.

Those who take part in an osur are called osuri. Within their ranks, some emerge as leaders (often called organizers), who coordinate the protest, deliver speeches, produce pamphlets, or serve as representatives in negotiations.

An osur is never undertaken lightly; it is a last resort when all other appeals have failed. In many communities, counter-osuri are branded as traitors and treated with hostility. As a result, when a strike is declared, participation becomes nearly universal, whether out of solidarity with the cause or simply fear of reprisal.