Udn’aka

## Overview

The large desert land of Udn’aka is a scorching hot, yet primarily misunderstood, southern nation of Verramar. The land is home to a number of cities, but is mostly populated with roaming tribes and familiar caravans. Despite outward appearances, Udn’aka does actually have smaller states within itself, known as akas, though these are very loose and mostly consist of a mutual understanding between certain cities or tribes of powerful renown.

The Udn’aka people are remarkably humble and familial with both themselves and outsiders in general, with conflict often being the very last option when a dispute is brought forth. The Udn’aka preach respect of even ones rivals, and it is an immense breach of protocol and a great shame upon one who ignores these values.

However, this does not mean that the Udn’aka are pacifistic. In fact, their warriors are some of the most skilled individuals found across the continents, and their familial training means that their warbands can react seamlessly with each other, fully trusting in their companions. It is only because of these warriors that the Udn’aka have kept their lands from being overrun by the widespread bandits and slavers of Merilla.

I’thaka

The northern most aka of Udn’aka, I’thaka, is one of the largest the nation holds, and certainly the most important. I’thaka is a land bathed in sunlight, though several oasis’ can be found huddled within rocky crags and behind tall plateaus that break apart the rolling sand dunes. I’thaka, the aka, is named after its capital city, which utterly dominates the landscape when one comes across it.

The city of I’thaka is a shockingly tall ringed city filled with sandstone buildings bathed in white, navy, crimson and bronze. There are many folktales that I’thaka was built by ancient titans, with the plateaus it is set upon (or built into in some cases) being hand placed by these massive constructs. Whatever the case, I’thaka rises above the rolling dunes like a tiered mountain, sprawling ever upward.

At I’thaka’s peak is the Tira Mak,a palace of orange stone, bronze and gold that is ancient in design. Though tiered, it is also stocky and well built, held up by massive columns carved directly out of the mountain itself. The Tira Mak is the home of Udn’aka’s current ruler, the Vizir, but also the Bandil Zi; a council of tribal leaders of the seven major tribes of Udn’aka.

Apart from the city itself, I’thaka is home to countless roaming nomads and tribes that wander from oasis to oasis, as well as the vast network of warbands that coordinate strikes against the Merillan settlers.

Zi’raka

Another of Udn’aka’s vast akas is the segmented land of Zi’raka. This vast aka runs from coast to coast, nearly surrounding I’thaka, and pushing against Ruahaka. Zi’raka is the home of the Zi, the collective name for the seven major tribal families of the nation. These tribes have settlements and farms all across the aka, predominately based around the larger oasis’ found in the shelter of mountains and valleys.

Each of these cities supplies the nation with resources and labour, and each tends to specialise in specific industries. Members of the Wa’zi are the finer warriors, whilst the Munl’zi are the superior smiths, as an example. Due to the famed Udn’aka sense of respect and trust, the infighting between these groups is very low. So long as a tribe keeps to their own allocated lands, and barters fairly with the others, there is little issue.

Zi’raka itself, for the most part, is slightly cooler than I’thaka, and made up of more rock than sand. Plateaus are prevalent, alongside mountains and a handful of hardy forests.

Ruahaka

The aka of Ruahaka is the coolest of the nation’s lands, though it is still far hotter than average. However, due to this plant life is more common here, though it is mostly scrub and hardy bushes. Because of this, much of Ruahaka is devoted to farming and hunting, though there are few permanent settlements and the bulk of population are tribal members of the Zi. In fact, the border between Zi’raka and Ruahaka is somewhat malleable.

The Average Udn’akan

The typical Udn’akan is between 5-6 feet tall, with a caramel-orange skin colour, somewhat like cracked earth. This skin is often marked with darker skinned lines that intersect all across the body, spare the face, palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

Their hair is typically black or dark brown, though blond is not unheard of. They are lithe and lean for the most part, and very capable runners.

Their style of dress is highly cultural. Most wear a broad brimmed hat that shades the entire body. Their clothing is mostly white, brown, crimson, orange and yellow, with bronze or golden accents. Their armour is bronze with golden inlays, though many warbands believe that armour interferes with the art of fighting.

Most Udn’aka are very adamant barterers, but prefer the sport and sparring more than the haggling itself. They are respectful, trusting and typically peaceful, often referring to others as brothers or sisters. They also place a lot of value in one’s given word, and if another betrays their oath it is seen as a deep shame.

In fact, it is due to this that the Udn’aka continue their fight with the Merillians to the north. Though the nation is typically welcoming of outsiders, the Merillans ignored the social hierarchy and instead forced themselves further into Udn’aka then her people thought right. The Merillans betrayed their oaths of peace and violated their right to treaty.

Warfare

The Udn’aka wage war like an art. Before the great unification millennia ago, the seven main tribes fought tirelessly between themselves. However, each respected their enemies greatly, and thus treated their soldiers with honour. Each Udn’akan warrior is trained with the spear, the sword (scimitar), the dagger, the shield and the bow, and is not considered a full-fledged master until this training is complete.

The warriors are put through rigorous tests of endurance to test both their strength and their will, and are praised for how the operate with their fellow soldiers. The trials are difficult, but those that fail are not so much overlooked. In fact, many are praised for making it as far as they had, and most end up becoming guards or travelling soldiers for hire, protecting the various caravans across the dunes.

The soldiers of the Udn’aka fight primarily in units of five, and are best at skirmishing and melee combat. Their teamwork is legendary, and each warrior is highly trained to react and adapt to any battle scenario. However, though they are formidable troops, they do lack the syncretistic nature of larger battle lines. In addition, though each man carries a shield, few wear armour beyond the occasional armoured hat or breastplate. Many do wear bronze bracers on their forearms, but little else.