Ilaka

Ilaka was a dominant nation spanning from **191PR** to **665PR** where they were conquered by the Carto Empire, an offspring of their own. They were known for their strong military and culture, along with being one of the first major nations in South-East Arlec.

## Leadership

Leadership in Ilaka was a simple monarchy. If the current monarch died without leaving a direct heir, then the next candidate in line closest gained the crown (such as the Monarchs sibling, or cousin). Because of this, and the political strength of the royal family, it always remained within Kostides, with no major succession wars occuring.

The Kostides had their own form of education built for them to lead, letting them excel at politics and gaining the popularity of the people. They were known for giving great speeches, always rallying the crowd or army.

Alexis Kostides was placed in power at a difficult time, only holding the major city of Serdica as his stronghold and inbetween two major powerhouses. Also struggling with internal issues, he was unable to save Ilaka and the Kostides Monarchy, though went down as a good leader, fighting with his soldiers at the end with many others from the royal family.

## Military

The Ilakan military was strong. Heavily investing in the training and equipment of their soldiers in order to defend their lands and invade others.

### Organisation

The Ilakan military was organised into four different groups. When combined they made up into a single army.

#### Atkan

The Atkan were the elite and veteran soldiers of the Ilakan military. Including both awakened and experienced troops, they were a force to be reckoned with. Within the nation they were seen as reliable, stopping whatever momentum the enemy may have gained the moment they enter the field. Because of their value, the Atkan were only used in safe ways, rarely being used as the initial line unless on the wings to gain an advantage.

To strengthen their bond, the Atkan were trained in groups of 6, holding a sibling group as well to combine if losses were heavy. These groups acted similar to adventuring parties, working independently when the tactic called so that they could hit the enemy with a variety of moves.

#### Companions

The Companions were the Ilakan cavalry. Rather than be weighed down in heavy army like other cavalry units, they were light. Being able to use bows, spears and swords, with a deadly accuracy. The Companions were trained and treated like the Atkan, maybe even moreso due to their better training. In battle they were used to harass the enemy and distract their own cavalry, hitting them with arrows as they stayed at a safe range, though unlike horse archers, could move to fight if need be.

#### Drakos

The Drakos were the main soldiers in the Ilakan military. Mostly made up of spearman, they were the front lines and the biggest group, being the backbone of any army that the Ilakans made. When they had gained enough experience and showed great skill, they were removed from the Drakos and put into the Atkan.

#### Pratan

The Pratan were the ranged units of Ilaka. These were seen as the lower units though, trained in the way of the bow or spear but seen as somewhat cowardly for being so far away from the actual battle. Even with that stigma, they were dangerous on the field, training in speed and vigour to keep volleys going through the entire battle. It was an Ilakan tactic to keep them on the wings so that they could go outside the flanks and hit the enemy from the side, running away if they got too close to melee.

## Society

### Atkan

The Atkan social class were seen as people that have earnt their way into a higher class. They commanded an amount of respect, even moreso than the Commoners due to their extensive history with the military. Financially, they were often high middle-class. Having their own section within cities combined with the Companions.

### Commoners

The Commoner class was the backbone of Ilakan society. They were often treated quite bad, though were the working-class. Still they had a respect for the Atkan and Companions, hoping one day to reach their level.

### Companions

The Companions were both the Ilakan Cavalry and earnt high class within Ilakan society. These were usually mercenaries who could afford putting their sons through the extensive training that one had to do to reach it.

### Nobility

The nobility were the rich and influencial members of Ilakan society. They had ties to the history of the nation, either being distant relatives of the royal family, or simply having money early on. They were incredibly powerful, often commanding the armies due to their access to high-tier training and leadership skills. Depending on what family they were in depended on the respect, with famous officers being seen as similar to the royals.

### Royal

The Royal family were the most powerful family in Ilaka. They commanded the entire nation, with a series of quality and horrible leaders.

## Geography

The geography of Ilaka was ever changing due to their conquests and being invaded. While they once commanded an extensive empire, they eventually were stuck in the city fortress of Serdica. The peak of their land was in **485PR** before complications that eventually spread out into the Carto Empire.

### Cities

* Kras (Capital)
* Ayteran
* Helicules
* Serdica

## Commerce

This is difficult to assess due to the changing landscape that the Ilaka people went through. Though records survived from their prime, so it is easier to assess their economy and commerce through this.

### Imports

Books, Gemstones, Lumber, Medicine and Spices.

## Culture

The culture of Ilaka is what has heavily influenced the current Carto Empire and was also influenced by the Gonarunduns. Thus it is a mix of both.

### Clothing

Ilakan clothing consisted of a mix of loose and tight fitting clothes, depending on the season. They often wore colours that identified with their family, while remaining very clean, something they saw as fitting to include from Gonarundu. Something representing their military career was also included, giving them the respect of the populace depending how extensive their career was.

#### Formal

For formal occassions there was a difference. Former soldiers wore their formal uniforms, which consisted of tight-fitting suits similar to Uhek, though had no sleeves. Their breast held all the medals they had achieved, while on their back was the symbol of their family.

For others, depending on how rich they were depends on the type of single coloured clothing with their family symbol on the back, if they had a notable one. White and purple was reserved for the nobles, but every other colour was allowed. The lighter showed how rich they were, and was abnormally expensive in their cities, with a large Royal tax on it to stop any commoner from purchasing it.

### Food

Ilakans had a heavy breakfast to start their day, similar to what one would eat for dinner. They had cooked meat and vegetables, usually with some noodles to accompany it. This gave them the nutrients they needed to go on with their day. For lunch, they had something small, usually too full from their breakfast. Most lunches consisted of bread and something else, maybe some left-over meat from breakfast. Dinner was a smaller occassion, usually just having oats and then vegetables. For outsiders, their eating habits were very weird.

### Education

Education was very important to Ilakans if they could afford it. People that could get their child a good education could end up a Companion or Atkan, since their child could excel in different fields. Nobility often had it reserved to other nobility, teaching leadership and speaking values along with a general education and history, as making their child an officer was a great honour.

Commoners usually just had home-schooling. With a qualified teacher being rare but having a lot of influence amongst the folk.

### Arts

#### Literature

Since education was so important to a lot of Ilakans, history, leadership and tactics were the rage. Everyone wanted to become the next great hero and thus, read all about it. Fitness and training books were also very popular, perhaps the only people that actually wrote about it. Unfortunately most of it was lost.

#### Visual Art

Most of the visual art was lost from the Ilakans when their cities were sacked and destroyed. They used to create banners and portraits of important people and events, keeping the most important ones in the Library of Andreas or Kras Castle.

#### Music

Music was very popular in Ilaka. With many of the current songs actually being made by them. The reason for this is outside of war, many of the Companions and Atkan grew bored, meaning they took up other things. While they did not create their own instruments, they were incredibly skilled with others. Stories of a calming song before battle is mentioned lots during their history.

### Sports

Sports in Ilaka was also popular. With such a physically gifted people, they wanted to show it off. Some of their most popular sports were archery, horse-riding and swimming. Duels would also occur but was not really spectated. Pratans and Companions obviously excelled at archery, with a tournament being held every year, giving the top 10 Pratans the choice to join the Companions, their training usually paid for by the Companions they beat or the Royal family.

### Entertainment

Ilakan entertainment was all about theatre. They enjoyed using magic wherever they could to make the show even better. One of their most popular theatres actually being Vlassis Theatre, where they were able to have magical items that any performer could use, without the need for being an Awakened. Commoners were also allowed to watch the shows, their ticket prices not being as much. Their theatres were classed as world-renowned with many foreigners coming in to experience it.