Okunans have legends about how their continent came to be. Due to the divine event of Aeon's Demise, Okuna rained from the sky (literally) and Okunans settled there. They slowly diversified from An'mani over thousands of years, and developed their own culture, religion, and customs. Okuna is a harsh but beautiful place to live. It is rich with natural resources.
Skymother Aremba
Skymother Aremba is the one sole goddess of Okunan mythology. According to the legends, after she created Okuna, she laid down to rest and each of her dreams became other gods, goddesses, spirits, and sources of magic in the world. It is said that one day, Aremba will awaken and resurrect every faithful follower who ever worshipped her. She will reunite loved ones, bring peace, and give gifts.
Aremba is a benevolent, motherly figure. Her connection to clay makes clay earrings, jewelry, jars, bricks, and other items blessed. Many Okunans carve Aremba's mark on the doors of their houses to ward off evil. She represents life, goodness, kindness, and is the antithesis of greed. Okunans who are pious tend to be very generous and welcoming people to outsiders. They are tolerant of other beliefs and customs, and seek community and collaboration when possible.
The Creation Myth of Okuna
Long ago, the universe was a sea of nothingness. From this nothingness coalesced an egg. The egg eventually hatched. Its yolk became a beautiful goddess named Skymother Aremba. The sun shone from one of her eyes, and the moon from the other. Her broken eggshells formed the continents of Ilisara. The membrane became clouds, the veins became its rivers, and the fluid became Ilisara’s oceans. Everywhere Aremba touched, life grew and multiplied. She spent all of her energy crafting a perfect world.
When the world was complete, she combined the earth and the sea to make the First People out of white clay. Aremba baked the clay in her warm bosom until it was sun-kissed. She placed her creations on the shore of a giant sea. As a final act of benevolence, Aremba sprinkled gold dust into the water and made Okuna for the First People.
Aremba’s paradise would not last. The jealous ocean sent a tidal wave crashing down onto the land. The wave turned the gold dust of Okuna to sand and salt, cursing it to grow no crops. Today, ocean spirits from that act of greed haunt the desert while Aremba rests and recovers her strength.
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