| Arrival Brought to Os'Karos when they were young cubs, it's said they were brought by a ghostly spectre of Lnei-La. Many times the spectre came to Os'Karos, bringing a single WoR or many with it. It tasked the Osarians with watching over the cubs, and raising them in the ways of the Astralis. It was a duty they were honoured to be given; the Astralis had long been quiet, and Os'Karos had become a holy graveyard, and they, the grave keepers. Deciding it best to treat the young WoRs like their own kin, they had each cub adopted into a different family unit to be raised by them. Though a difference in species did lead to some unease at first, for the Osarians, they eventually came to see that they weren't all that different. The WoRs fit easily into their way of life, and even got along well with young Osarians. |
| Family units were given the task of teaching each WoR basic things necessary for survival, while the further teachings of the world were left to those specialized in teaching. There were Osarians who would take the WoR cubs out to explore Os'Karos, showing them the world and teaching them the history of the Astralis and it's pantheon. They were taught about All Worlds - how Os'Karos was merely one world among many, and that the Astralis stretched on forever. Os'Karos itself was a world that belonged to it's own solar system, and once had a lively relationship with the two other inhabitable planets - Tas'ro and Ja'et. They were a self-sustaining system, but had a planetary traverseway on Tas'ro that enabled them to easily travel to other systems. With the closing of the traverseway, Os'Karos isolated itself and had to learn to survive on it's own strengths. It became important to keep the world healthy, so the Osarians focused on keeping a balance between themselves and the prey animals that sustained them. They only hunted when they needed to. Never ate more than needed. Those that were old, sick, or unable to hunt for themselves were cared for by healthy Osarians. No one was left to suffer, and their society worked for the benefit of all. When the WoRs were young they were treated just like Osarian young. Meals were provided for them until they were old enough to join the hunts. Then they were taught how to find prey, and which prey was alright to hunt, and which prey needed to be left alone. It was important to never hunt a species to extinction. Upon reaching their teen years the WoRs were given the choice to either continue being hunters for the group, or to branch out to other occupations or areas of study. While hunters were important they weren't the only field the Osarians specialized in. There were Priests who watched over the Tombs - sacred areas across Os'Karos - by purifying and maintaining them. Often focused on their tasks to the exclusion of all else, the Priests didn't have much contact with the young WoRs. Unless they had a reason to be near the Tombs, or sought to learn more about their profession, the Priests kept to themselves. There were healers; those who took care of the sick, injured, and aging. Working with both magic and herbs, they healed through practical means and mystical arts. Historians were keepers of the knowledge; those who spoke most about the Astralis and it's history, and were overjoyed when interest in learning was shown. They tended to be lesser skilled in hunting and physically weaker, but they made up for it by preserving the history of Os'Karos. It was historians that worked closely with the WoRs when they just learning about Os'Karos, but they drifted away from them when they became old enough to join the hunts. It wasn't required for the WoRs to actually choose a calling during their stay on Os'Karos, so most were given free reign to do as they liked. But for those that did, they excelled in their chosen Profession. "One day, you'll be taken away from the Astralis. Back to a world broken by it's own betrayals. It won't be safe there, and you'll be seen as enemies by many. If you want to enjoy the peace that Os'Karos offers you until then, we'll gladly allow it." Since teenhood, the WoRs had always been told they'd one day leave. While there was a way to keep them on Os'Karos, the offer wasn't extended unless the WoR asked first. Then, it was only given if the reason was true. "Os'Karos isn't a place to hide away. Face your fears, and my Knights, you will overcome all that stands against you." |
| Individual upbringings varied depending on the family unit the WoR was given, and what age range they ended up in. Those that arrived first had a very different experience than those who arrived last - as by then the Osarians were used to raising the WoRs from cubhood. Their notes will include further details, if necessary, on what life was like for them. |
| Since the WoRs arrived at different times, it meant most of them were of differing ages. Some were already full-grown by the time the youngest arrived. This led to familial connections with the Osarians being most important; as it was hard for the elder generations to relate to the younger cubs. While it was encouraged they be friends, sometimes, personalities clashed. The Osarians tried to help them work out any issues they had with one another, but ultimately, it was a personal issue. Whether they became true friends or were only able to barely stomach one another as allies, well, that was something they would have to live with. The WoRs were taught how to hunt prey animals, and how to work with each other as a group when they needed to. As a way to help them work through any differences, they were also given sparring lessons with other Osarians and WoRs of equal age. Since they would one day leave Os'Karos it was important they knew how to defend themselves - and each other - should they have to. The training was not kind. Unlike the other teachers, their battle instructors were harsh and unwilling to accept shortcomings. To be a Knight, or a protector, meant being able to handle the burden of that role. Anyone who couldn't handle the pain, or worry, or fear, was forced to train harder than the rest. "Each of you is only as strong as the weakest. A community, a group, cannot survive if they don't keep an eye on one another." Their instructors were called Voskk - a surly Osarian who yelled at them constantly, Norre - a quiet instructor who criticized them by exposing their weaknesses/blindspots in the heat of combat training, Jaktt - a kindly elder Osarian who mostly just observed their forms, and Lonn - an oldguard Osarian who told the WoRs tales of horrors they might be greeted with when they leave Os'Karos. Together, the four of them set out to make sure the WoRs left ready for whatever the worlds outside the Astralis had in store for them. "Be strong. Stand together. You are never alone." |
