Oppa

The Oppa, a hardy human folk, dwell in the far north. Once part of the Mena empire, they ventured east long ago and were eventually cut off from the rest of the Mena. The Oppa developed their own culture, over centuries, but retained some elements of Mena culture. 

The Oppa once lived in Iza Mula and nearly as far south as Wurdonne. The orcs pushed them out of the mountains and the Gamaal later pushed them north. The Oppa long considered themselves “a people without a land”. Even their stronghold in the northeast was constantly threatened. 

Government

The Oppa system of government is complicated. They have a king — currently a female, King Harianna — and a council of thanes, who are the heads of individual families or villages. They also have a council of citizens, chosen by election, and a council of elders. Each of these play multiple roles, not easily explained to outsiders.

The Oppa have survived countless clashes with the orcs of Iza Mula, known to be fiercer and far more hostile than the orcs of the Burkhdyn Gazar. For the last generation there has been tentative peace between the orcs and the Oppa, and even some trade. But the Oppa have a saying: “make peace, if possible, but expect war”. The younger generation train and spar as though they were headed off to battle at any moment. They are fearless and fearsome; matches nearly always result in bloodshed and too frequently result in serious — even permanent — injuries.

Commerce

The Oppa are toughened by freezing climes and short growing seasons. They fish, hunt whales and mammoths, and somehow coax crops from their stark landscape. Their port city and capitol, Kelcarn, gives its name to Kelcarn carrots. The city, in turn, takes its name from the ancient cairns of boulder-sized stones on the high hill — or “kel” — above the city. The Oppa view this circle of stacked stone columns as sacred, connected both to their ancestors and the gods.

These folk are hard workers who rise with the sun. During the few months of long summer days they often work vigorously for 16 to 18 hours a day, ranging far from their homes. The dark winters bring a change to Oppa villages, as people are forced by darkness and weather to hunker down. During the dark months, Oppa train obsessively but also love to dance and tell tales of faeries and sprites. 

“What’s your talent” is, roughly translated, the Oppa equivalent of “What do you do?” It is one of the first questions any Oppa will ask, because they have a caste system. The level of skill and of usefulness to the tribe accord higher status to certain talents than others. Some “talents” include hunting, fishing, herding, weaving, leatherworking, forging, scrimshaw, healing, prophecy, and bearing and caring for children. Those who don’t meaningfully contribute to their tribe can be banished. When asked “what is your talent?” it is inadvisable to respond, “I don’t know” or “I don’t have one”. Being evasive or secretive is also inadvisable. Every Oppa can name exactly what their talent, or role, is. They tend to be suspicious of people who “don’t know themselves.”

Culture and Entertainment

Oppa huts in Kelcarn are small and squat, built of local stones. Their thatched roofs are covered in large slate tiles that can bear the heavy weight of snow. Many are public houses, that serve stout ales and Oppa liquor, called vodka, which is made from the poisonous root called the “potato”. Though the Oppa seem to be immune to its toxins, this deceptively mild-smelling, clear liquor should be avoided at all costs by visitors! Nonetheless, these charming pubs are cozy rooms, always with a roaring fire in the stone fireplace, and the Oppa ale is surprisingly tasty. 

A few public houses also rent beds for the night, at very good prices. The price generally includes a filling Oppa breakfast of oat and barley flatbread topped with a fried duck egg and accompanied by thick shamba — a porridge of fish, greens, peas, turnips, leeks, carrots, and grains — that is reheated from the previous night’s dinner. Between the early breakfast and the evening meal, at sunset, the Oppa rarely eat. The best option for a hungry traveller during midday is to find a pub that serves fried cheese curds and fish. Only a handful do, but the cheese curds alone are worth experiencing.

The Oppa hairstyles, dress, and hygiene are very different from our own. Many have facial tattoos, usually in patterns of parallel lines or circles. Often, their forearms are similarly decorated. Oppa tend to wear the front sections of their hair pulled tightly back from the face and bound at the back of the head. This strangely severe style makes sense, as the frigid northern temperatures make hats a necessity much of the year. The Oppa hats are lined in fur and fit closely to the head, coming to a slight point on top. Some have wide leather straps that cover the ears and tie under the chin. Some cover the face and chin, leaving only the eyes exposed, with an opening at the nostrils for breathing.

The Oppa dress in layers; woven woolen shirts, leggings, and knee-length stockings are topped with felted wool tunics and leather pants. Over this, the Oppa add sleeved tunics, and — finally — fleece or fur coats and fur-lined boots. They often appear to be much larger than they are, mainly due to the layers and furs. 

Religion and Customs

Most Oppa folk are friendly and welcoming, but disrespecting certain aspects of their culture can cause a pleasant encounter to take an ugly turn. Always take your boots off when you enter an Oppa home; to fail to do so indicates ill intentions. Never point your finger at an Oppa; they will think you are attempting to curse them. In fact, avoid pointing at anything, while in the company of Oppa. Never eat meat with your hands; use a knife or a piece of flatbread.

The Oppa way of cleansing is an adaptation to the cold northern clime. About once a moon they burn fragrant, clean woods that fill a special smoke hut with white smoke. They then strip naked and “bathe” in the smoke. Though several people may occupy the smoke hut, proper protocol is to keep silent and meditate or pray. More frequently, the Oppa use smokeless huts, heated by stoves to temperatures that rival the Doman deserts. These “saunas” are a more social activity and a good place to exchange news and gossip, while sweating away toxins and filth. As with the smoke huts, people enter the saunas bare. Both smoke huts and saunas are used by all citizens; the Oppa do not have taboos about mixed gender nudity. The Oppa regularly boil their underclothing and scrub their outer clothing with snow. Aside from the slightly tannic smell of woodsmoke, they are not an odoriferous people.