Uradiel
Uradiel is located in the southeastern portion of the Interior.
Uradiel and Vanadiel used to be a single country -- the Kingdom of Unidiel. Years of civil unrest caused Olimandias to intervene and split the Kingdom into these two modern nations. Conveniently, this left Olimandias with unchecked central power in Verden.
Uradiel is the more traditional nation. It favors tradition over progress and often shuns new technology. The Holy Order of Diel has established a full-blown theocracy and controls almost every aspect of life. High priests control the government, crusaders and paladins make up the nation's military, and clerics administer public aid and teaching to citizens.
Where Vanadiel favors public education, Uradiel greatly restricts access to non-religious texts. Maintaining their traditional way of life is the true call to order, as social change only brings chaos to the people.
Structure
Uradiel is a theocracy devoted to Diel, the God of Order.
The leader of Uradiel is known as the Divine Guardian, who is chosen through several methods of divination. The Divine Guardian will hold that position for their entire life. The current leader of Uradiel is Divine Guardian Ishaak VI. The Divine Guardian is mostly a figurehead and ministers religious sermons to the public, acting as the voice of Diel himself. The Divine Guardian is always a paladin, and always expected to be on the front lines of battle in war.
A council of nine high priests handle day to day affairs of government and all judicial matters. Every city and town also has their own Superior, who oversee specific settlements and monasteries.
Clerics of Diel manage all public services: teaching children, providing meals to the poor, resolving disputes, and so on.
Assets
In Uradiel, you are most likely to find:
- Cathedrals and temples devoted primarily to Diel, but also lesser Lawful Good and Neutral Good deities.
- Cleric services, such as resurrection and curing of disease.
- Urban monasteries for monk training.
- Shops catering to divine warriors and casters.
- Flagellation and public shaming.
- Don't break the law here.
History
After the fall and sundering of the Kingdom of Unidiel, most of the nation's most devoted religious followers went to the east. The new nation of Uradiel was formed and quickly became a theocracy. The Divine Guardians think of themselves as the custodians of Verden, guarding all of civilization from the horrors of Lazu. Fearing the chaos that comes with change, a decision was made early on to preserve traditions and rarely stray from them.
Uradiel has not invested in trade or wealth, and is the poorest of the Interior nations. The people welcome pilgrims, but are largely unwelcoming to traders and other travelers, fearing that they may ruffle the balance of society.
The current leader, Divine Guardian Ishaak VI, has ruled for 36 years. His reign began when he was only ten years old.
Territories
Located in the southeastern section of the Interior. Ur'Almen is the coastal capital of the nation, and is dominated by cathedrals and other holy buildings. There has been very little new construction over time. Stepping into Ur'Almen or any other settlement in Uradiel is like stepping back in time. It is warm and the climate is pleasant, though ash and clouds from the volcanic Taj-Nar Mountains occasionally give the skyline a gloomy look.
The coastline is rugged in most places, making invasions from the sea difficult. The inland region is dominated by farmland.
Military
The Order of Diel has a large military branch full of devoted warriors. Paladins, clerics, monks, and celestial warlocks all make up the backbone of Uradiel's army. All healthy citizens receive basic military training upon becoming teenagers and are expected to report for duty the moment war breaks out.
Uradiel has the poorest technology of any nation, but what the military lacks in gear, it makes up for with divine magic and smites!
Monks also supplement the ranks, as Uradiel deems perfection of the body greater than perfection of technology.
Religion
The Order of Diel controls all aspects of society, though lesser temples are built for other non-evil and non-chaotic deities.
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