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Opar-Han
The Opar-Han are a race of Humanoids from the continent of Itubiya. They are farmers who were historically subordinates of the High Ones and the Jithrans during the Collective Era.

Alternate Names: Elf Otacaians (By Humans)
Main Nation: The Opar-Han Confederacy
Native To: Itubiya, possibly elsewhere
Species: Otacaian
Classification: Humanoid Elfin Mammals
Diet: Omnivorous
Skin Colors[/b]: Pale Orange to Medium Brown
Eye Color: Light Red to Deep Purple
Blood Color: Gold
Lifespan: 100-120 years
Size: 5'5-5'9
Living Style: Urban, Rural
Language: Otacaian Basic (Opar-Han Dialect)
Gender Status: Matriarchal
Famous Cuisine: Kalat Dumplings
Earth Accent Comparison: Australian English

Personality
The Opar-Han are known for being sociable, compassionate, emotional, passionate, expressive, loving, and down-to-earth. If they like you, or find you interesting, they will attempt to become friends. If they don’t like you, they will avoid you. Opar-Han are known for using numerous gestures and are firmly superstitious. Despite their kind nature, they are not without deceit and treachery, some individuals can be very deceptive, cold, vain, ambitious and easily jealous.

Appearance
The Opar-Han are the most Human looking race in Otacaia, aside from the Golars and Dinaks, however, there are characteristics that make them appear alien. Their orange skin and silvery green body hair is one such feature and they are slightly shorter than Humans. Males grow facial hair after they reach the age of 50. Another feature is their elfin ears, similar to the Dinaks, but shorter and more curved. Their eyes have white irises and dark pupils. Their iris colors can vary from light red to dark purple. Like Humans, they can have different body types, ranging from thin, muscular, or chubby. They have five fingered hands with an opposable thumb like a Human, their feet are like that of a Human’s as well. They are one of the few Otacaians, save for the Golars who are tolerant of high altitudes due to having higher oxygen saturation, this feature is present in all Opar-Han, even those who do not live in mountainous areas.

Government
The Opar-Han are members of the Opar-Han Confederacy. The Opar-Han Confederacy is composed of the traditional six Otacaian tribes: the Mountain Tribe from the Pangma Mountains, the Forest Tribe from the Manaku Mountains, the Coastal Tribe from Apsa Bay, the Fertile Tribe from the Drisa Valley, the Hills Tribe from the Shakpa Mountains, and the Steppe Tribe from the Mi-Gatsa Plains. In addition to these six tribes, the Opar-Han Confederacy has a capitol, Vataar which is located near Apsa Bay close to the Coastal Tribe. The Opar-Han of Vataar are historically composed of all the different tribes but have now begun to identify as a new tribe of their own. All the tribes are run by female Opar-Han and all political positions are ran by females.

Politics
The Opar-Han Confederacy claims part of the unexplored continent of Valina. There are currently some minor disagreements with the Bannarai Republic and the Opar-Han Confederacy over this.

Culture and Society
Like the other Otacaians, their history and culture revolve around their environment as well as the role in The Torai which the Pharae placed them during the Collective Era. Being relegated to the role of farmers and ranchers under The Torai, Opar-Han culture revolves around farming, food, beverages, gardening, floriculture, raising livestock, and domesticating wild animals.

They are also skilled warriors, and their weapons are mainly scythes and sickles. They are also excellent riders and tamers, usually hunting with birds. They are known to be seasoned storytellers engaging in extensive oral tales. The Opar-Han have a passion for life and the lands they inhabit and are very grateful for being alive. Moreso than the other Otacaians. Being ungrateful for something is considered an insult.

Their society is matriarchal. Throughout their history, the Opar-Han have been ruled by females. Females have been seen as the givers of life because they give birth to children, so females in the Opar-Han Confederacy have a privileged, almost venerated position, because with the Opar-Han life is a precious thing and females are essential to bringing life. This is so important, that males must respect females at all times, for a male to cross in front of a female is considered disrespectful and a great insult.

When an Opar-Han female gives birth, it is a female’s only affair, all of the mother’s family and friends gather around to assist in the birthing process. Upon delivery, the baby is greeted with the following:

“Awaken my child, from out of the darkness you have come into the light, you have been given the wonderous gift of a life, a heart, and a soul, may the spirits grant you eternal happiness until your last day on this beautiful world.”

Females have authority over males and females outnumber males 4 to 1. It is usually the older females within family groups who make decisions for the family. Family is very important to the Opar-Han, they even consider close friends and allies true members of their family.

The Opar-Han are also exogamic, like the Golars, they would never marry a person with the same last name as them. They can either be monogamous or polyamorous, depending on which tribe they come from, some tribes prefer monogamous relations, but polyamorous relations are becoming acceptable. Same-sex relations are accepted, like the Bannarai, they are also accepting towards trans and non-binary people. There is a third gender in Opar-Han culture called “Drona” which is a non-binary person, a transman, or a transwoman.

Opar-Han enjoy dancing, especially at weddings, birthdays, and other special occasions. Opar-Han are very superstitious, especially in subjects of death, possession, ghosts, and evil spirits. Many Opar-Han graveyards are near lakes, streams, and rivers. Lakes and rivers represented portals to the realm of the dead. Mountains are also viewed as being sacred due to the fact they have three great mountain ranges on their home continent: the Pangma, Manaku and Shakpa Mountains. The Opar-Han also have shamans which communicate with the spirits of the dead or yet-to-be-born children of pregnant females.

The Opar-Han also carry a cloth pendant on their clothing known as a “Dalag”. Each Dalag is embroidered with unique patterns and decorated with jewels, tassels, and come in varying shapes. Each Dalag bears the symbol of the family they come from. When a male marries a female, they discard their Dalag, and take on their wife’s Dalag. In the case of a non-heterosexual couple, the couple decides among themselves which Dalag they will discard and accept, though the more powerful or prosperous family’s Dalag will be chosen.

Long hair is considered a mark of beauty for the Opar-Han, for both males and females, short hair has traditionally been seen as odd, but is starting to become acceptable to certain tribes, but it is preferable to have long hair. The Opar-Han mainly grow their hair out and braid them into elaborate fashions. A long ponytail or a single braided ponytail at the back of the head are considered “masculine” hairstyles.

They will hug and kiss each other as a form of greeting or forehead touch.

The Opar-Han have a strong affinity for love and romance, in Opar-Han society, there is a term for a soulmate called “Yarhaan” which means “Precious One” or “Truest One”. When Opar-Han become attracted to each other and form a deep romantic bond with one another they go through a kind of romantic imprinting similar to how a child imprints on its mother. This is known as the “Love Call”. When Love Call happens, it causes the individual to form a close, passionate bond with the other one, whether or not Love Call will activate within the other Opar-Han, it usually does if the affected individual is in regular contact with the unaffected individual. The loss of a Yarhaan is perhaps the most horrible thing that could happen to an Opar-Han. When one of the couple dies, the survivor will go through an intense period of depression and melancholy and if it becomes worse, it could also lead to death. 80% of Opar-Han who lost their Yarhaan die not long after, though it is possible for the survivor to recover and undergo Love Call again. It has also been noted that Opar-Han, in extremely rare circumstances, can undergo Love Call with members of other Otacaian races.

Clothing
Out of all the Otacaians, the Opar-Han’s clothing is very diverse.

Members of the Mountain Tribe wear long-sleeved shirts under a sleeveless vest with long gowns held with wide belts and tough boots for the mountain terrain. They will wear furred hats and jackets when it is cold.

Males within the Forest Tribe and the Steppe Tribe will wear a long-sleeved, long shirt with heavy pants held together with a wide belt, females will wear a long gown, under a waist apron and a miniskirt which will also be held up together with a wide cloth belt. Thick shoes will be worn.

Members of the Coastal Tribe wear loose clothing, for females it is usually an A-Shirt and skirt combo, for males it is a loose sleeveless vest with sirwal-like pants.

Females in the Fertile Tribe will wear a one-piece gown with baggy sleeves under a sleeveless vest. Males will wear a long shirt under a sleeveless vest with thick, baggy pants.

Members of the Hills Tribe will wear heavy, colorful clothing for the mountain environment. Both sexes will wear ponchos and capes. Males wear a long gown with pants underneath and a waist apron on top. Females will wear a long, heavy skirt, usually under a shorter one with a signature colorful waist apron. Both sexes will wear heavy boots for the harsh mountain terrain.

Opar-Han shamans will wear more elaborate clothing. An Opar-Han shaman can be either male or female. The shaman will wear a full length, brightly colored patterned robe decorated with shells, feathers, jewelry, gemstones, beads, bells, and many tassels of all different colors. They will wear a face covering, covering their noses and mouths and wear a horned cap with beads and colorful flags. They will carry a drum with them.

Opar-Han living in other parts of the planet will usually mimic the clothing styles of the race dominant to the area they are living in.

Food
The Opar-Han are omnivorous. Their diet consists mainly of vegetables, fruit, grains, nuts, seeds, and meat, usually from birds, fish, or livestock. They like flavoring their foods with spices, salt, and sugars and drink fruit juices and floral and plant-based teas, which they drink with or without milk. The Opar-Han are known for their various pastries, cakes, cookies, breads, biscuits, pies, doughnuts, dumplings (meat and vegetarian), cheeses, butter, yogurt, as well as waters, extracts, flavorings, jams and jellies made from different fruits and flowers which are made for special occasions. The Opar-Han also make wine by fermenting different fruits and berries or ales made from a wheat-like substance also for special occasions. Opar-Han cuisine have influenced other Otacaians’ cuisine well after the Fall. Their most popular dish is Kalat Dumplings, which is a ball-shaped dumpling filled with either ground meat and spices, vegetables and spices, or spiced fruit jam. Each Kalat Dumpling will taste different depending on which tribe that dumpling comes from.

The Opar-Han, Otacaia © Jafan Adis, 2022-2023. All Rights Reserved.