Otteun

Otteun

Government
Militocracy
Capital
Midtal
Cities
Botunn, Martell, Rasstul
Major Worship
Ancev, Beory, Nerull, Pholtus, Ulaa, Zargos

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Climate
Cool
Exports
Copper, fruit, horses, mercenaries, potatoes, pottery, vegetables
Imports
Cheese, cotton, grain, leather, weapons, woodcraft

Centered around the Tal River, this country is widely considered to be the most powerful in the world right now. The inhabitants of the country are stoic and industrious people, said to be descendants of the Mount Grabb mountain folk.

Their large standing army (the Ott) has been keeping a wary eye on Kasar all these centuries and the military has taken full control of government. There is no national ruling body other than the Chief Council, not to be confused with the Council of Chiefs, which is a meeting of the same people but on military matters. Locally, government is left to civilians most of the time though the army vets anyone wanting to participate and they set the agenda with edicts from above.

The rulers are always quick to say that commoners pay no tax at all in Otteun. What they are less quick to say is that the wages in the country are low and people have to work long and hard to make enough to survive on. And those that do get taxed, business owners, landholders, etc, they pay quite a bit; and the majority of that goes to military spending.

Yes, they have kept the country safe from any foreign invaders, but it's also true that no one has tried to invade since the forming of the country. They also like to claim that they keep the cities safe and this is true enough, for the richer neighborhoods. Army patrols aren't all that common a sight for those struggling to make ends meet.

The Ott

The army has become a caste to itself in Otteun and they have placed themselves outside of society quite a bit. They have their own laws, their children go to military academies. Most live in permanent army camps; these can attached to cities, be a neighborhood inside a city or a complete military town.

The army divides most its forces into three main areas; border security, military police (there are no town guards, the Ott polices both the military and civilians), and training. Soldiers are usually rotated between these three disciplines every five years or so.

There are a few branches that function differently; administration and civil affairs (includes local and national judiciary), logistics (almost a merchant house to itself, Abraxis Combine is seen by some as their civilian extension), general staff, special forces (often unofficially referred to as Kill Company), engineering and magic (spellcasters can also be found in all other branches though not in large numbers), and intelligence services (split into the Ott Interior Bureau and the Foreign Surveillance Service).

Also of note is that the army owns most of the farms in the country. These extremely large farms (paffars) are worked by local civilians.

Geography

The western part of the country where it borders Da'Hashim is only sparsely settled and consists mostly of prairie. Going further east we come to Mount Grabb; an ancient volcano flanked by a number of smaller ones, they have not been active since before the Collapse. The volcanic soil has given rise to many orchards growing apples, pears, cherries and other fruit. Going south towards Kasar, one finds hilly terrain dotted with small forests, pig farming is the main agricultural activity here.

Further east the Tal river valley bisects the country vertically. The river clay fuels an extensive brick and pottery industry and is also well suited to potato and other vegetable farming. The ample grassland on either side is where many of the famous Otteun horses roam. Around Midtal a number of large copper deposits are close to the surface and have given rise to a number of colossal open pit mines.

The land rises again to its eastern border with Fir Lanear. Here one finds more forests and plains and also the Lenns stonelands; a large area of sharp rocks that are said to be of extraterrestrial origin.

Ecology

In the parts of the country that contain large farms, orchards and other industry the number of species has dwindled quite a bit but on the plains and in the forests dotted around, plenty of animals can still be found. Rabbits are abundant as in most countries on the continent. Squirrels, hedgehogs, and shrews are quite common as well. One of the few species unique to Otteun is the lemming, known for their mass migrations. Another thing the country is know for is the many bat swarms that appear from the many caves around, swarming the night sky.

Larger animals to be found are many species of deer and moose, boar surprisingly less so, they are hunted to protect the domesticated pigs. Jackals, lynx, and wolf are the main predators, there are also quite a few black bears, brown bears are common around Mound Grabb. Grass snakes, adders, and vipers are the most common snakes found, the green lizard the most common reptile, frogs and toads are plentiful as well.

Loons and storks are the most common of the larger birds, songbirds of many different species can be found; swallows, shrikes, flycatchers, finches, etc. Among birds of prey many kinds of eagles and kites, cat owls and other owl species are seen most.

In and around the rivers and waterways of the country you can find species such as the Tal desman, turtles, ducks, geese, beavers, small crabs and more. Mount Grabb has its own ecology with some animals not seen in the rest of the country; the ibex, marmots, rock ptarmigans, and wolverines.

Monsters

A few parts of the country are virtually devoid of monsters as the Ott uses those regions to train their troops, often training exercises consist of exterminating a monster population. In the less settled parts of the country many kinds of monsters can still be found, including the ubiquitous Restless (undead).

Axe beaks are often seen in the western part of the country. In many forests large spiders and ettercaps can be found, usually not at the outskirts if there is a village nearby. On rare occasions mammoths wander in from Fir Lanear. Golems and other constructs are more common than elsewhere as many were build by the Ott centuries ago in experiments to supplement the army but these were eventually abandoned. Different kinds of fey creature can be encountered in the eastern part of the country. One of the most dangerous common monsters is the bulette, any sighting of them will trigger an immediate armed response from the Ott.

Mountain trolls are seen at the border with Kasar, most people in the area claim the monsters are released into the country on purpose. A clan of beholders is said to be living on or in Mount Grabb but as these things go, actual evidence of this is more than elusive. The same can be said for the claim that a society of neogi live in or under the Lenns stonelands.

History

At the end of the Kasarian Conflict there was much uncertainty about the true motives of Kasar, especially among their direct neighbors. Would they really be content to receive their levy every year or was there another war in the offing?

Before the Collapse there had been anywhere between ten and twenty countries and fiefdoms in the area between what is now Kasar and Dolac. Right after the Kasarian Conflict there were fourteen, some of them hit harder than others but most had come through relatively unscathed and with comparatively low levies; as the conflict went on, newer conquered countries were levied more.

A fear of Kasar united them all and old differences were soon forgot. At first six nations decided to band together, also due to the influx of dwarves from the Godfall, who were viewed with much suspicion. Laws were changed so as to be able to support a large army, and usually to the detriment of civil liberties, as limited as they already were. Trade and production picked up a lot as the new army started to gear up and soon a number of the other nations joined, spurred on by this economic miracle. The original rulers were more and more sidelined over the decades and centuries, always with the same excuse; that an army this size could only be led centrally. The last three nations eventually joined but it is fair to say they were not given a choice at this point.

At the time, some jealous voices claimed that those original fourteen countries were hardly hit at all, paid little tribute, and had, in all but name, been an ally of Kasar. There is no actual proof for all of this, though the fact remains that after the Kasarian Conflict, Otteun emerged as one of the most powerful new nations. Though it was part of the Miforan Empire for a while (see that entry for details) it returned to being an independent country without as much as a hiccup.