Uhek

Uhek is one of the island nations, being content amongst their own island for most of history, simply trading where needed. It is only recent have they began branching out their influence, allowing newcomers to enter. They are known for being Anti-Magic (other than religious).

## Leadership

The leadership of Uhek, is classed as an Oligarchy, with a council of very influential and wealthy nobles running the country. Within the council there is a leader, though is mainly just classed as the diplomat as they are the ones that go and visit the other nations in order to negotiate, or provide speeches to the people.

Other than the 'leader', the other members of the Uhek Council are relatively unknown.

## Military

Uhek relies on a strong, specially trained military force. With their anti-magic nature, they are a force to be reckoned with as they can remove the abilities of any mage.

### Organisation

#### Templars

The Uhekian Templars are the ground forces of the military, made up of a special order of troops that specialise in anti-magic. They are mainly made up of heavy infantry and special forces, though have regiments of cavalry and archery.

##### Training

The training of the Templars is rough, they are designed and chosen to be some of the best soldiers in the world. Unlike other militaries where a competitive nature can form, the Templars are all seen as brothers. Respecting them in that way.

To ensure they are the best, the Templars have a 3 year long camp, with the first year containing most of the conditioning that they are expected to keep up with through the rest of the camp being punished if they do not. Along the rest of the training camp they learn general education, a specific skill (such as smithing), multiple languages, weapons, tactics, advanced magics, and martial arts.

Special forces are unique, they have two different divisions within this, there are the monks and the infilitrators. Monks are trained in the use of martial arts and mobility, while the infilitrators use stealth and deception to get information or take the enemy by surprise on the battlefield.

#### Navy

The Navy are the sea-bearing force for Uhek. Being on an isolated island, the building of their navy was required to protect themselves from any invading forces with a goal of destroying the transports before they reach the island.

They have their own version of melee forces though are mainly for protecting the ships or attacking when it comes to ship-to-ship conflict, otherwise they use Templars.

Uhekian ships are tough, with ballista's on all sides if ranged and a strong metal ram if melee, they are built for a long hard fight, though with the skills and tactics drilled into them, the Uhekians are often the victor.

Every Navy sailor has training in all tasks, meaning they can replace a position if required, archery and sword fighting.

### Leadership

The Uhekian military forces are led by 3 men with their organised forces, the Grand General being the leader of them and having the final say while the others act more as advisors. They are lead by Grand General Adrian Solomon, who is one of the other known members of the Uhek council and heroes of the Second Uhekian Mage War, and divine among the Uhekians.

He leads over Navy Commander Harvey Engel and the Templar Commander Elsie George, each leaders of the respective branches.

#### Templars

The Uhekian Templars has a general that commands each division of their forces, all falling under the Templar Commander, who commands all Templars.

Ground Forces: General Reuben Mulford

Special Forces: General Horace Rosenburg

* Monks: Low General Philip Trevarthen
* Infiltrators: Low General Grace Trevarthen

Cavalry: General Lucy Hougham

Archers: Low General Oscar Richardson

#### Navy

The Navy is split up in two forces, ramming and ranged. With transport ships falling under the ramming category. Though unlike the Templar forces which have a single commander with all the power, the navy forces have a direct second-in-command, always in a different location from the commander to mean the chain of command cannot be effected heavily if one were to die. These commanders fall under Navy Commander Harvey Engel.

Ramming:

* Admiral Douglas Shaw
* Low Admiral Theresa Pascoe

Ranged:

* Admiral Iris Brading
* Low Admiral Duncan Arnold

## Society

The society of Uhek is a unique one, being self-isolated from the world so long had caused a prosperity amongst them. This means that the wealth is not that uncommon, especially in the cities where most people have made enough investments to make it to the middle class. It is the council's mico-management that has led to this success, meaning most social classes are only from their location or trade.

### Artists

Artists are a valued part of society, especially if successful. They add to the culture and it is their pure skill and creativity that brings them to the level of elite. Depending on their art, they are often quite wealthy, selling to collectors or internationally.

### City

City-folk are different to Regional folk, meaning the two are in different social classes. The city-folk are usually of middle class wealth, barely venturing out from the safety of their walls. While there are small disputes between the regional and city-folk, they are often just verbal. Because of their life in the city, city-folk are often more academically intelligent and custom to danger, and have the comfort to think more internationally.

### Merchants

Merchants are some of the lifeblood of Uhek and are treated with respect, unless they are known to be a scammer. They are the ones that bring the goods from other places all around, including internationally. Successful merchants are often at the top, and it is believed that some merchants make up the council. If a merchant is classed as a scammer by enough people, it is a career death as their reputation is destroyed and their goods become no longer valuable.

### Officers

Officers are the elite in Uhekian society. They have the wits and the money to go to a good school which gives them the choice to become an officer in the military. Once in the military they are able to get more education, having a 2 year longer training camp than the normal military.

Amongst the commoners they have large amounts of influence, and are respected by almost everyone.

### Regional

Regional are the backbone of Uhekian society but it's not like they act like it, or are respected like it. They have a much better understanding of the outdoors than the city-folk, often working for most of their lives from the moment they can. Regional-folk are tough, heavily against crime and very religious, making for great Templars.

### Soldiers/Ex-Soldiers

Soldiers are a respected social class in Uhek, acting as the protectors of the nation and getting the evil that is magic out of Uhek. Many soldiers continue to wear their medals, even in public, to represent the service they did. Since not everyone can be a soldier, especially a Templar, they are seen as advanced inviduals, even higher than the adventurers that come down.

## Geography

Uhek is completely on it's own island, with a major mountain range down the centre, 3 major rivers and a forest on the Southern side of the island. The island is sometimes called the 'island of birds' because of the the shape, looking like a bird about to eat something.

### Climate

The climate of Uhek is mainly cold, though not compared to a place such as Tamwull. Weirdly, the months coincide with the Nirvan Republic for their hottest and coolest, as does many of the islands in South-East Arlec, something scholars have been unable to figure out. Their hottest period occuring in July and Augona, with an average high of 25 degrees, and an average of 20. While their colder times are from Deamber to Febtuary, with an average low of 5 degrees and an average of 10.

### Cities

Off of their capital, there is only a single other city in Uhek, with a lot of their population flocking to the towns and villages that are all around the item. Yet, the cities are still quite populated, probably because of their port access. The cities are:

* Gartaca (Capital)
* Sheland

## Culture

### Clothing

Uhekian clothing is different between men and women. The men wear a tunic, trousers, leggings and a cloak, sometimes with a hat that covers most of their head, excluding the face. This is all brought together with a belt, sometimes the fanciest part of the outfit.

Women wear a a duo-dress, the inside made for comfort and the outside made for more fashion or utility use. An example is most regional womens dresses have a spot for tools on the side, while city-folk dresses are usually built to make the woman look as beautiful as possible.

The rich men have more choice when it comes to clothing, though keep the tunic and trousers combo, instead making their cloaks look wealthy and intriguing.

#### Formal

Formal fashion in Uhek is different depending on the wealth of the individual, if you're poor you usually just wear a clean set of clothes similar to your everyday clothing and a piece of jewellery (if available). If you have money, even if middle-class, suits are very common for men, and trench coat suits in the winter. This is a very modern piece of clothing. The noticeable difference between the suits is the quality, tie, colour and type (Dress, Tuxedo, Dinner or Trench).

Women wear a different type of dress, more thinner than the last time and not always built for comfort. The dresses entirely depend on the tailor, which is very important in the higher wealth classes. Making your own dress is a popular choice, allowing you to keep up with the fashion trends.

### Food

Uhekian general food is very boring, as they simply eat what works unless it is a formal occassion. For breakfast, they either have warm bread and some milk or milk and some cereals. Lunch consists of more bread with cold meat and vegetables. Dinner is a cooked meat and vegetables, sometimes mixed into a stew in the winter.

#### Formal

In formal occassions, Uhekians keep to their normal cooked meat and vegetables, with a stew in winter, but the difference is their desserts. Guests visiting or a party give the host the chance to make their own desserts to impress their friends, meaning cakes, pies and ice-cream are always popular. Fruits are often eaten. At a formal event, or even an informal one, the main meal is often small to allow for a buffet style of desert, which can include fruit and meat cooked in a sweeter way.

### Education

Education to the city-folk is important, especially religious studies. In regional areas it is only the religious study that comes of importance, with most of their normal education coming with an apprenticeship or their parents.

City-folk leave most of the learning in schools, positioned right next to churches. These church schools give the Uhekians a general education and then a heavily religious study, throwing in how bad non-religious magic is every now and then. This has kept the city-folk having moderate wealth, even in their 'poorer' regions, and a very high literacy rate.

### Arts

#### Literature

Literature in Uhek is considered a proper art, using someones intelligence and academic skill to write a book. Thus, they have a mix of genres including biographies, fantasy, history, and religion.

Successful authors are inducted into the Uhekian Literature Guild, giving them a lifetime access to their resources and library.

#### Visual

Visual art is important to Uhekians, as tales and history can be told for cenutries to come from just a single painting. Tapestry and simple canvas painting is usually what they use, with a sense of realism being the popular art style. Many of their signficant moments in history have a painting to show, trying to reveal as much as possible without overwhelming.

#### Music

Music has very little importance in Uhek, with most musicians being used to play with their instruments for background music. Sadder songs, however, are popular, with many formal dances accompanied by a singer trying to make the audience cry in a weird cultural tradition.

### Sports

Soccer is an explosively popular game in Uhek, ever since it was introduced to the nation. Not much is known about the sports they played before, but they now mainly focus on soccer, dedicating large stadiums to it in both the cities and outside. They play soccer as a competition at all levels, with a nation-level tournament happening every year before they go off and compete with international teams.

Outside of soccer, boxing and safe duels are known from Uhek. This allows some of the retired Templars to keep using their skills, or young men to gain bragging rights from one another.

### Entertainment

Other than the entertainment provided by sports, theatre and acting is hugely important for Uhekians. Every week it is common to see the folk from both city and regional heading to a venue where a production will take place. In the city the costumes are very important, even influencing fashion at some points depending how popular the specific show is.

Drama, history and fantasy are always popular. With mock battles commonly seen on the stage. To incorporate the large popularity, there are many theatres or stages around Uhek, with bigger stages to accompany the bigger performances with more actors present. Some of the rich even finance the construction of some theatres, simply so they have more influence over what production is being made.

## Religion

### Novus

Novus is the major religion in Uhek, holding temples and shrines in every type of settlement. It is through the Novus religion that the Templars place their worship and what is interpreted as the reason for the anti-magic unless religious.

Every family have a specific god that they worship within the religion, holding their beliefs directed to them along with whatever sacrifices (rarely animals, mostly items) to them. The religion is so ingrained into their culture that many of their laws are used to protect the religion, while other religions can be seen as fakes and shunned.

## History

**332PR**: Uhek is united under the first council, later known as the Mages Council.

**450PR** - **452PR**: The First Uhekian Mage War occurs, with Edward Solomon claiming victory for the Templars and ushering in a new age for the nation.

**567PR** - **570PR**: The Second Uhekian Mage War occurs, with Adrian Solomon claiming victory for the Templars and truly bringing down Allican Hosmer.

**581PR** - Mage crusade stopped by Templars in Tamwull.

**582PR** - Adrian Solomon becomes divine.

**583PR** - Uhek opens up to the world.