Post by Kaez on May 15, 2009 15:22:50 GMT -5
'If the gates of the underworld swung open under the streets of Qise and the dark things of every sort crept out, I suspect the monks to smile and nod as they go about their days.' -- My Adventures in the East, by Jamse Abbon
Uhl, Uhlian
Major or Capital City: Qise
Other Cities: Akyo
All Towns: Tian, Osio, Yiun, Dalrise, Kin
Government Type: Theocracy/Oligarchy. Uhl is run almost completely by a small group of Archmonks. They are chosen from their towns or cities due to outstanding spiritual ability and often follow bloodlines.
Crime and Law: Crime rate is low, nearly nonexistent in towns and cities -- as monks often predict which crime will happen, where it will take place, and who will act it out. A few regiments of traveling guard to move throughout Uhl, but no real 'law' enforcement is in tact, as there are few laws to enforce and few law breakers who would require enforcement upon.
Professions: For males, there are essentially three options of profession: Labor, farming, monkhood. For women, it is monkhood or housekeeping. Monkhood is strictly such, as is farming, and labor includes the simplest of skill-based professions: architecture, gardening, crafting, and general maintenance.
Trade, Currency and Economy: The Ash is the currency of Uhl, though an average visitor might now know it. Trade is uncommon, if used at all. Nearly all families farm the land necessary for themselves, and live strictly off of it. Vegetarian diets make up the vast majority and the temples on the Plateaus have large pieces of farmland for the monks and workers.
Market: Trade-based exchanges between owners of different crops make up the only real market in Uhl.
Organizations: Uhl has three prominent organizations: The Holy Order of the Monks of the Plateaus, The Guard, and The Order of the Wolf. See Religion, Militia, and Social Structures for more - respectively.
Celebrations and Events: Celebrations and events in Uhl are frequent. The birthdays of each of the Archmonks and four harvest holidays are in place nationally. They are celebrated with great bonfires and much dancing and chanting, generally in the center of each town and city.
Education: Education in the nation is strong. Temple-schools are throughout, with at least two in each town and three in each city. Literacy is a must for all students and a strong religious understanding is also a requirement. Many other subjects -- mathematics, history, geography -- are minimal. Monkhood is generally considered the next step in schooling.
Communication and Language: Literacy being such a high priority, communication in nonvocal form is common. Many native birds are used to transport messages from the widely spread out towns and cities. The people of Uhl, like the others of the Known World, speak a variant of Common.
Social Class Structure: There are four social classes in Uhl. The first is the peasant class. These are the general laborers. They do the dirtiest work for the lowest pay. Second are the farmers. Their work, too, is difficult, though the result (via food) is greater. The next two are drastically above the rest. The third is monkhood. Monks are highly revered and respected, and while they own no material possessions, their social status is certainly above the other two.
The fourth is the Order of the Wolf. The Order is the group of the six current Archmonks who control the government of Uhl. These monks are elders -- generally those who have spent the entirety of their lives training and practicing their faith. They are most highly respected and honored, with their birthdays all celebrated holidays nation-wide.
Population: With 100,000 in each city and roughly 20,000 per town, Uhl's population rounds to a rather low 360,000, making it the second least populated nation and the least densely populated nation. This lack of population density has developed their culture around long-range communication forms.
Nature, Food and Resources: Naturally, they are rather lacking. A small forest, open farmland, and hills to the south. Otherwise, they are enclosed completely. The rivers that flow from the mountains make up their main source of life, irrigating their farms. Resources, if they exist, are kept where they are -- and though trees are cut down, very few resources are taken from the soil itself. Food is almost completely vegetarian, with a few in the hills to the south importing some meats. The animals native to the region - birds, dogs, and goats - are left to be.
Wildlife: There are only four known animal types in Uhl. Many species of native bird (often raptors), a few species of native dog, goat and ram species, and elk. None of them are eaten, and many of them are used as pets or mounts. Great care and respect is shown towards the animals of Uhl.
Climate: The climate of Uhl is varied, due to a steep difference in elevation. By the coasts, cool winds blow and rain is frequent. Near the center, the winds die, and heat emerges, and atop the slopes, on the great Plateaus, the weather is chilly and snow is frequent.
Geography: Geography is varied for such a small area. High, windy coasts, a sunken, warm center, and bitter cold Plateaus. The mountains and sea make up all borders but a small section of the south, which is laid out by guards of Ichuk. Rivers and a small forest top the hills and make the only real central geological features.
Mounts and Pets: Pets are exceptionally common. Birds for delivering messages, as general pets, and dogs as well. Monasteries are known, specifically, for having many dog companions. Mounts are rare, but for covering the steep mountain passes, many large rams can be ridden.
Technology and Medicine: In regards to technology, Uhl is very conservative. They tend to stay away from any sort of further advancements, content where they are in life. It's not so much that they are xenophobic, but that they simply see the likes of technology to be unnecessary. Medicine is done in simple herbal alchemical processes passed down through generations, and is not often effective.
Subcultures: Uhl has three prominent organizations: The Holy Order of the Monks of the Plateaus, The Guard, and The Order of the Wolf. For more, see Religion, Militia, and Social Structures for more - respectively. The only lesser group of note is a limited presence of XOXO activity, notably in the south.
Militia: The Guard are the nation's only military. They are a few very highly trained soldiers from generations of families who stand guard at the temples, town gates, and the southern border. There are less than 400 active members of The Guard, so they are hardly worth classifying amongst the social structure, as they are generally from everyday families and work only for the small amount of food citizens dedicate to them for their protection.
Weapons and Armor: The Guard use long, curved swords (katana-esque) and wear thick reed and cloth armor. This is fairly regulatory, and besides monk staves, no other real weapons or armor exist in Uhl. If it weren't for their extreme peace and unwillingness to fight, they would be an easy target of invasion.
Brief Timeline: No recorded history has been kept of Uhl. What can be gathered, however, are a few basic facts. Uhl descended from the same ancestors as Gilaan and Ichuk. Around 250 BR, civilizations were already developing upon the Plateaus. Early adventurers never went beyond the steep mountainous border, nor sailed the sea. In fact, their only true unnatural border came to the south, where they met a very hostile people. Though tensions with Ichuk would eventually be loosened, at first they were rough and brought great suffering to the early nation.
By 100 BR, tensions had healed and adventurers came to their lands, though very few Uhlian adventurers ventured outward. This led them to develop very distinctively on their own, without much influence besides that which the warmly-welcomed foreign adventurers brought. From the period of 100 BR to 250 AR, the nation was said to have 'lived happily in peace'. Around 250 AR is when a government had to be organized for a rebellious public who refused to feed the monks. Six of the greatest monks took up the thrones and served as the official decision makers. While at first The Guard was established to emphasize their power, eventually the two broke into separate organizations.
Until 378 AR, they again lived in peace and prospered further. It was then that a murder, the first in many decades, took place to the south. Marked with the letters 'XOXO', Uhl would come to see nine further deaths at the hands of the organization. Other than these deaths, Uhl continues to be very much and individual nation, rarely dealing with world politics and preferring to keep to themselves.
Relations w/ Other Cultures: Tough relations with Ichuk healed and left them open to exploration. Explorers from all of the nations but the Kharnathian Empire have ventured into their borders, and peace has been made with all of them. They even adapted the BR-AR year system after Rosia.
Homes:
Homes are made simply out of clay or wood. They are often small and circular to prevent many maintenance tasks that large homes could require.
Religion and Spirituality: Religion makes up a great part of the region. Education is based around it and the third social class is a devotion of it. Monkhood is a highly respected thing. Their unbending belief in their faith (their religion is completely unnamed, as they've never found any name fitting) and absolute mental and physical dedication are astounding. Through physical feats and mental practice, the monks gain an exceptional understanding of their environment. So much so that they have the ability to know what came before, what will come after, what thoughts are being had, and what events are taking place in other locations. These amazing mental abilities on top of their extreme physical discipline make them both dangerous and calm. Both potent and wise.
Architecture: Architecture is almost strictly wooden, as trees may be replanted. Clay and brick have gained popularity in the recent years, but both combined are still much less common than wood. Overall, it is kept simple, as the people of Uhl are not those for overindulgence or the unnecessary.
Clothing: Clothing is generally quite simple. Shirts and pants fitting to the weather, with heavier wool coats for the colder atmospheres. Monks, by regulation, wear only their white robes, with Archmonks wearing nothing but red ones.
Arts and Literature: Non-religious literature outside of schools is exceptionally uncommon, but art is not. Art and sculpture are both common, specifically in the cities. Generally of abstract things, like flowers, dogs, or meditating monks, sculptures and artwork are generally looked upon very highly.
Entertainment and Culture: Entertainment is minimal, and generally only comes at holidays. As noted throughout, their culture is a simple one, not caring for extravagance, indulgence, or the unnecessary. A people of so few and who appear so simple revolve around one of the deepest and most complex spiritual systems of the Known World.
1 - Qise
The first of the two Plateaus, housing the capital city of Uhl.
2 - Akyo
The second of the two Plateaus, housing the largest temple of Uhl.
3 - Uhl Mountains
The hefty section of mountains that make up the nation's western border.
4 - Tian
A town nestled in the Shining Hills.
5 - Shinning Hills
Large, dry hills that are home to most of the wildlife of Uhl.
6 - Cardinal River
A flooding river that is a source of life for animals in the Shining Hills.
7 - Osio
The southernmost civilization in Uhl and the headquarters of the Guard.
8 - Boulder Coast
A large, cliff-laced coastline.
9 - The Farmland
Massive, sprawling farmland that the people of Uhl survive off of.
10 - Yiun
A town just below the River of the Wolf.
11 - Kin and the Kinian Forest
Uhl's only woodland and the town within it.
12 - River of the Wolf
A grand river that breathes life into Uhl.
13 - Dalrise
A northern town and the largest non-city.
14 - The Outer Fields
A smaller farmland that feeds the north of Uhl.
15 - Hopesong River
A small, winding river that irrigates the Outer Fields.
16 - Ilon
The northernmost town in Uhl.
17 - Bay of the Stars
A large bay, known for still, deep waters.
18 - The Reaches
Open, inharvestable plains.
Uhl, Uhlian
Major or Capital City: Qise
Other Cities: Akyo
All Towns: Tian, Osio, Yiun, Dalrise, Kin
Government Type: Theocracy/Oligarchy. Uhl is run almost completely by a small group of Archmonks. They are chosen from their towns or cities due to outstanding spiritual ability and often follow bloodlines.
Crime and Law: Crime rate is low, nearly nonexistent in towns and cities -- as monks often predict which crime will happen, where it will take place, and who will act it out. A few regiments of traveling guard to move throughout Uhl, but no real 'law' enforcement is in tact, as there are few laws to enforce and few law breakers who would require enforcement upon.
Professions: For males, there are essentially three options of profession: Labor, farming, monkhood. For women, it is monkhood or housekeeping. Monkhood is strictly such, as is farming, and labor includes the simplest of skill-based professions: architecture, gardening, crafting, and general maintenance.
Trade, Currency and Economy: The Ash is the currency of Uhl, though an average visitor might now know it. Trade is uncommon, if used at all. Nearly all families farm the land necessary for themselves, and live strictly off of it. Vegetarian diets make up the vast majority and the temples on the Plateaus have large pieces of farmland for the monks and workers.
Market: Trade-based exchanges between owners of different crops make up the only real market in Uhl.
Organizations: Uhl has three prominent organizations: The Holy Order of the Monks of the Plateaus, The Guard, and The Order of the Wolf. See Religion, Militia, and Social Structures for more - respectively.
Celebrations and Events: Celebrations and events in Uhl are frequent. The birthdays of each of the Archmonks and four harvest holidays are in place nationally. They are celebrated with great bonfires and much dancing and chanting, generally in the center of each town and city.
Education: Education in the nation is strong. Temple-schools are throughout, with at least two in each town and three in each city. Literacy is a must for all students and a strong religious understanding is also a requirement. Many other subjects -- mathematics, history, geography -- are minimal. Monkhood is generally considered the next step in schooling.
Communication and Language: Literacy being such a high priority, communication in nonvocal form is common. Many native birds are used to transport messages from the widely spread out towns and cities. The people of Uhl, like the others of the Known World, speak a variant of Common.
Social Class Structure: There are four social classes in Uhl. The first is the peasant class. These are the general laborers. They do the dirtiest work for the lowest pay. Second are the farmers. Their work, too, is difficult, though the result (via food) is greater. The next two are drastically above the rest. The third is monkhood. Monks are highly revered and respected, and while they own no material possessions, their social status is certainly above the other two.
The fourth is the Order of the Wolf. The Order is the group of the six current Archmonks who control the government of Uhl. These monks are elders -- generally those who have spent the entirety of their lives training and practicing their faith. They are most highly respected and honored, with their birthdays all celebrated holidays nation-wide.
Population: With 100,000 in each city and roughly 20,000 per town, Uhl's population rounds to a rather low 360,000, making it the second least populated nation and the least densely populated nation. This lack of population density has developed their culture around long-range communication forms.
Nature, Food and Resources: Naturally, they are rather lacking. A small forest, open farmland, and hills to the south. Otherwise, they are enclosed completely. The rivers that flow from the mountains make up their main source of life, irrigating their farms. Resources, if they exist, are kept where they are -- and though trees are cut down, very few resources are taken from the soil itself. Food is almost completely vegetarian, with a few in the hills to the south importing some meats. The animals native to the region - birds, dogs, and goats - are left to be.
Wildlife: There are only four known animal types in Uhl. Many species of native bird (often raptors), a few species of native dog, goat and ram species, and elk. None of them are eaten, and many of them are used as pets or mounts. Great care and respect is shown towards the animals of Uhl.
Climate: The climate of Uhl is varied, due to a steep difference in elevation. By the coasts, cool winds blow and rain is frequent. Near the center, the winds die, and heat emerges, and atop the slopes, on the great Plateaus, the weather is chilly and snow is frequent.
Geography: Geography is varied for such a small area. High, windy coasts, a sunken, warm center, and bitter cold Plateaus. The mountains and sea make up all borders but a small section of the south, which is laid out by guards of Ichuk. Rivers and a small forest top the hills and make the only real central geological features.
Mounts and Pets: Pets are exceptionally common. Birds for delivering messages, as general pets, and dogs as well. Monasteries are known, specifically, for having many dog companions. Mounts are rare, but for covering the steep mountain passes, many large rams can be ridden.
Technology and Medicine: In regards to technology, Uhl is very conservative. They tend to stay away from any sort of further advancements, content where they are in life. It's not so much that they are xenophobic, but that they simply see the likes of technology to be unnecessary. Medicine is done in simple herbal alchemical processes passed down through generations, and is not often effective.
Subcultures: Uhl has three prominent organizations: The Holy Order of the Monks of the Plateaus, The Guard, and The Order of the Wolf. For more, see Religion, Militia, and Social Structures for more - respectively. The only lesser group of note is a limited presence of XOXO activity, notably in the south.
Militia: The Guard are the nation's only military. They are a few very highly trained soldiers from generations of families who stand guard at the temples, town gates, and the southern border. There are less than 400 active members of The Guard, so they are hardly worth classifying amongst the social structure, as they are generally from everyday families and work only for the small amount of food citizens dedicate to them for their protection.
Weapons and Armor: The Guard use long, curved swords (katana-esque) and wear thick reed and cloth armor. This is fairly regulatory, and besides monk staves, no other real weapons or armor exist in Uhl. If it weren't for their extreme peace and unwillingness to fight, they would be an easy target of invasion.
Brief Timeline: No recorded history has been kept of Uhl. What can be gathered, however, are a few basic facts. Uhl descended from the same ancestors as Gilaan and Ichuk. Around 250 BR, civilizations were already developing upon the Plateaus. Early adventurers never went beyond the steep mountainous border, nor sailed the sea. In fact, their only true unnatural border came to the south, where they met a very hostile people. Though tensions with Ichuk would eventually be loosened, at first they were rough and brought great suffering to the early nation.
By 100 BR, tensions had healed and adventurers came to their lands, though very few Uhlian adventurers ventured outward. This led them to develop very distinctively on their own, without much influence besides that which the warmly-welcomed foreign adventurers brought. From the period of 100 BR to 250 AR, the nation was said to have 'lived happily in peace'. Around 250 AR is when a government had to be organized for a rebellious public who refused to feed the monks. Six of the greatest monks took up the thrones and served as the official decision makers. While at first The Guard was established to emphasize their power, eventually the two broke into separate organizations.
Until 378 AR, they again lived in peace and prospered further. It was then that a murder, the first in many decades, took place to the south. Marked with the letters 'XOXO', Uhl would come to see nine further deaths at the hands of the organization. Other than these deaths, Uhl continues to be very much and individual nation, rarely dealing with world politics and preferring to keep to themselves.
Relations w/ Other Cultures: Tough relations with Ichuk healed and left them open to exploration. Explorers from all of the nations but the Kharnathian Empire have ventured into their borders, and peace has been made with all of them. They even adapted the BR-AR year system after Rosia.
Homes:
Homes are made simply out of clay or wood. They are often small and circular to prevent many maintenance tasks that large homes could require.
Religion and Spirituality: Religion makes up a great part of the region. Education is based around it and the third social class is a devotion of it. Monkhood is a highly respected thing. Their unbending belief in their faith (their religion is completely unnamed, as they've never found any name fitting) and absolute mental and physical dedication are astounding. Through physical feats and mental practice, the monks gain an exceptional understanding of their environment. So much so that they have the ability to know what came before, what will come after, what thoughts are being had, and what events are taking place in other locations. These amazing mental abilities on top of their extreme physical discipline make them both dangerous and calm. Both potent and wise.
Architecture: Architecture is almost strictly wooden, as trees may be replanted. Clay and brick have gained popularity in the recent years, but both combined are still much less common than wood. Overall, it is kept simple, as the people of Uhl are not those for overindulgence or the unnecessary.
Clothing: Clothing is generally quite simple. Shirts and pants fitting to the weather, with heavier wool coats for the colder atmospheres. Monks, by regulation, wear only their white robes, with Archmonks wearing nothing but red ones.
Arts and Literature: Non-religious literature outside of schools is exceptionally uncommon, but art is not. Art and sculpture are both common, specifically in the cities. Generally of abstract things, like flowers, dogs, or meditating monks, sculptures and artwork are generally looked upon very highly.
Entertainment and Culture: Entertainment is minimal, and generally only comes at holidays. As noted throughout, their culture is a simple one, not caring for extravagance, indulgence, or the unnecessary. A people of so few and who appear so simple revolve around one of the deepest and most complex spiritual systems of the Known World.
1 - Qise
The first of the two Plateaus, housing the capital city of Uhl.
2 - Akyo
The second of the two Plateaus, housing the largest temple of Uhl.
3 - Uhl Mountains
The hefty section of mountains that make up the nation's western border.
4 - Tian
A town nestled in the Shining Hills.
5 - Shinning Hills
Large, dry hills that are home to most of the wildlife of Uhl.
6 - Cardinal River
A flooding river that is a source of life for animals in the Shining Hills.
7 - Osio
The southernmost civilization in Uhl and the headquarters of the Guard.
8 - Boulder Coast
A large, cliff-laced coastline.
9 - The Farmland
Massive, sprawling farmland that the people of Uhl survive off of.
10 - Yiun
A town just below the River of the Wolf.
11 - Kin and the Kinian Forest
Uhl's only woodland and the town within it.
12 - River of the Wolf
A grand river that breathes life into Uhl.
13 - Dalrise
A northern town and the largest non-city.
14 - The Outer Fields
A smaller farmland that feeds the north of Uhl.
15 - Hopesong River
A small, winding river that irrigates the Outer Fields.
16 - Ilon
The northernmost town in Uhl.
17 - Bay of the Stars
A large bay, known for still, deep waters.
18 - The Reaches
Open, inharvestable plains.