Urkuma

Terrain & Geography

Urkuma is bordered to the west by mountains, to the east by the ocean, and to the north and south by fast-flowing rivers. Large, well-maintained roads lead north to Sardhoff and south to Morrdovach, but most trade enters Urkuma via the sea.

Cities & Landmarks

Like most city-states on the northern continent, the entire region is called after the name of its capital city. Buildings in Urkuma are constructed of a glittering, orange sandstone mined from salt flats in the region, and are generally built with domed or bulbous rooftops that are intended to be reminiscent of sea urchins and coral structures.
While there are a handful of small fishing villages along Urkuma's coast, most people live in or near the capital city. Raiders from the southern continent are a frequent occurrance in the summer months, and the walls of the city provide an extra measure of safety, despite the difficulty of navigating through the port gates each morning and evening.

Weather & Climate

Urkuma's weather is hot and dry the majority of the year, though winter storms do blow in from the south occassionally.

Resources

Agriculture

Urkuma is home to a variety of foodstuffs, but unique to the area are <fruit name> – large, fleshy stone fruits that grow on towering trees with tufts of pink fronds at their tips. Many heat-loving plants that cannot survive elsewhere on the continent thrive in Urkuma with little extra care, which has influenced their cuisine, and allowed them to be the primary exporter of spices in the region.

Hunting & Wild Game

What wild game exists in Urkuma is found in the mountains to the west, or in the Smuggler's Forest, though most will not venture there for fear of the bandits that hide among the trees. Most meat on an Urkumian table is either fish or shellfish pulled from the sea, heavily spiced and served with unleavened bread.

Culture

Societal Structure

Urkuma is ruled by a Dyir – a eunich king – who is chosen by the Priests of Uas from among the noble houses, called Zemiya. It is believed that the castration of the Dyir ensures he is loyal to the people, rather than his own heirs, though this is largely symbolic. Many Kings have children before they are elected, though any wives they have are set aside before they are officially crowned.
Nobility in Urkuma is purchased by generation. Families of sufficient wealth may purchase the title of Zemiya from the Dyir, which lasts for his lifetime. Upon the Dyir's death, one (male) representative from each Zemiya family is put forward as the next prospective Dyir. Once the Priests have chosen the new Dyir, each Zemiya family must re-purchase their title, or they will lose it.
All land in Urkuma is owned by the Priests, but the Dyir may rent lands to Zemiya at his discretion. These contracts may be for a period of years, or for the lifetime of the Dyir. Once contracted, the Zemiya have rights and access to all goods harvested from their estate, both agricultural and mineral, as well as a portion of the tax collected from any businesses that exist there. Contracts for land must be re-negotiated when a new Dyir is elected.

Gender Roles

Urkuma is a polygynous society, and a man may take as many wives as he can support. Each wife must be provided with her own home, at least two children, and funds to feed and clothe herself and her children. Women have little say in the goings-on of men. Their husbands are chosen by their fathers (or nearest male relative). However, if a husband's obligations to his wife are not met, the wife may petition a Priest to be released from her marriage, whether their husband agrees to it or not. Women who have been released from marriage retain their children, but must leave their homes behind. They are permitted to remarry.
Unhappy wives are sometimes "traded" to another man who wishes to marry her by her own husband negotiating her marriage provisions. There are neighbourhoods within Urkuma that exist as large, extended family units due to the extensive and prolific swapping of wives.

Criminals & Slavery

Criminals in Urkuma are often set to work in mines or on farms by the Zemiya who manage the estate upon which the crime was committed. Courts and sentencing are overseen by the Zemiya. Families of accused persons who believe the Zemiya is being unfair in their court proceedings or sentencing have the right to petition the Dyir. Zemiya found to be unfair in their dealings with criminals are often stripped of their land contracts.

Prostitution

Prostitution houses are common in Urkuma, and the use of prostitutes is not frowned on. Like all businesses, these houses are owned by men. Women in this line of work are generally sold to these houses by their fathers or male relatives. Prostitutes are allowed to marry, and it is not uncommon for the male owner of a prostitution house to negotiate marriages for the women who work in his house in exchange for exorbitant "matchmaking" fees. Many men's first wives were first met in prostitution houses, as it allows them to spend time with the woman and test for compatability before committing to marriage.

Faith

Urkumians follow Uas, god of the sea, who they believe is actively fighting against Rheyir the Destroyer. Priests of Uas spend much of their time on the beach, worshiping Uas at high and low tides. They also oversee festivals, cultural, and political events.
Festival of Yar The Festival of Yar is held each winter, on the day when the tides are the highest of the year. Offerings of thanks are sent into the ocean on unmanned rafts. The faithful watch the water over the next day for storms, which they see as an indication that their offerings were accepted.
Solm Solm is the day of lowest tide, generally occurring in mid- to late-summer. Volunteers are sent out on rafts as sacrifices, to convince Uas to continue fighting against Rheyir, lest Rheyir destroy the world. Rafters are expected to throw themselves into the ocean, and those who do not return are celebrated as heroes.
On rare occassions, a Sacrifice will be overcome by fear and return to the shore. In these situations, the person is marked as Dead (usually by tattooing the face). From that point on, the marked person is not acknowledged as existing. Any property they had is distributed as though they were actually dead. All relationships, marital or otherwise, are nullified. From an Urkumian perspective, the person no longer exists. This generally results in the person finding their courage and completing their sacrifice, though on rare occassions they flee to other regions and find ways to make a life for themselves.

Military & Defense

Urkuma has no standing army, though the Dyir has a small personal guard.
Priests of Uas are trained in a form of martial art known for its fluid motion and skill at disarming an opponent. The exercises necessary for practicing these skills are used as part of their daily worship with the coming and going of the tides.

Trade

National Trade

Urkuma has a healthy internal trading economy. Estates trade goods and labor amongst themselves, with meat, fruit, and vegetables being readily traded for fish and spices, or gemstones and precious metals. Magnificent and impressive sculptures crafted by master artisans are also bought and sold, primarily around Yar and Solm, though sometimes families will offer these items as prayers for healthy crops, children, or when asking Uas to ease the passing of a loved one.

International Trade

Urkuma conducts the majority of their international trade by ship, and are primarily known for exporting salt, though other goods are also traded.

Alliances & Rivalries

Urkuma's most vigorous ally is Morrdovach, who have larger, sturdier ships than the Urkumians, and are often used as a pass-through to distribute Urkuma's goods to the rest of the world. In exchange for these trade deals, which are profitable for both parties, Morrdovach often aids in defending Urkuma against raiders from the southern continent.
While Urkuma trades vast amounts of salt to Sarnja, Sarnjinians view Urkumians and their devotion to their sea god as backwards and strange.