Ilkara
Location
The island of Ilkara is located near the center of the Northern Seas (which the Ilkarians call Vor Azula -"calm blue waters") north of the Aertepia coast. The island is a large fertile volcanic island with a large variety of natural resources. The city of Eributal is located off the main island of Ilkaria on a the smaller island of Udago just to the north of Ilkaria. The various Ilkarian city states also have trading outposts on the Artepian coast to the south and the Isinnian coast to the north. These outposts trade Ilkarian goods for furs, leather and other goods produced by barbarian tribes located on either coast.
City States
Hellianoptis: (Pop: 8,000) Located on the southwest coast of the Ikaria the city produces a brilliant Indigo dye and Jingu, fermented fish sauce.
Atolianoptis: (Pop: 9,000)
Indari: (Pop: 8,000)
Eributal: (Pop: 9,000)Is the only city not found on the main island. The cities major export is blue glass that it sells in 10 lbs. ingots. The glass is made from a special type of sand that so far is only known to exist on the island of Udago where Eributal is located.
Elabnon: (Pop: 8,000)
People and Culture
Local legends say that ancient Kromori ("savage men", also commonly used as an insult) settled the island when the Gods were young. The Gods gave these Kromori the gifts of agriculture, writing and bronze smelting. After recieving these gifts they abandoned the ways of their Kromori ancestors and became the Ilkara. Above all else the Ilkara revere intellect and a quick wit. As such all learned men and traders who drive a hard bargain are highly esteemed. This combined with their sailing capabilities explains why they have become prominent explorers and traders. Ilkarian men are often very tall and thin, even those of great strength, while women are slightly shorter. Skin color is a dark mahogany and hair is black and curly. Common eye colors are brown and green.
Architecture
The majority of building are made of stone and mortar construction and covered with plaster inside and out. House types differ by social status and wealth. Poor residents of the city have a one room dwelling with access to a covered roof and a cellar for storage. The roof is used as the main activity and sleeping area except when the weather is to cool or raining. Wealthier citizens such as craftsmen and artisans usually have a two story house with a work shop or store on the bottom level and living quarters on the second floor along with a covered rooftop. The wealthiest citizens and nobles of the city live in multi-story houses that have a courtyard with greenery and a pool that collects water that is stored in a cistern. Generally these houses are two stories but some of the larger homes can be 3 or even 4 stories high.
It is common practice for wealthier citizens to hire painters to create fresco paintings on the inside walls of a home. These painting are often scenes from mythology or landscape paintings.
Clothing
The Ilkarians love bright colors as a general rule and dress accordingly. It is common among tradsmen and merchants to attempt to look older and overweight than they really are. This is an attempt to appear wise and wealthy. The common dress for male citizens is the Hurkit, an ankle length robe dyed with inch wide, alternating vertical stripes. These stripes come in various colors and color combinations, with white (undyed) as one of the colors is the most common among the poorer citizens, as it is less expensive. During cooler weather men often wear a knee length sleevless tunic over their Hurkit. This garment is called a Jhon and is a single solid color.
Rural peasant men wear plain white or brown kilts or Khee and headbands while working in the fields or tending to their herds. On special occasions they wear a knee length tunic or Jhon, of bright colors tied at the waist with a belt or sash.
Women both urban and rural wear long light weight dresses tied at the waist with sashes and scarves to tie back their hair. They often mix and match as many bright colors as they can afford.
Footwear - for both men and women of all social ranks are simple leather sandals.
Jewelery - is a common addition to the dress of both men and women of all castes (with the exception of priests and soldiers). Ear-rings, worn in one of both ears are common among both sexes and nose rings are common among women. Gold braclets and aklets made of gold, silver and other precious materials are commonly worn by women as are 9 to 20 ft. beaded necklaces called an Amjin . These necklaces are made of wooden, baked clay, glass, amber, jade and a variety of other precious materials, depending on the wealth and status of the owner.
Hair Styles
Commonly men of Hellianoptis and surround rural areas wear their hair short and shave off facial hair. Women wear their hair long and tied back or covered with a scarf. Soldiers and priests can be easily identified by their unique hair styles. Soldiers shave not only their faces but their heads as well. This custom is common among all Ilkarian soldiers regardless of their city of origin. Ilkarian priests grow their hair long and keep them in dreadlocks and grow their beards long.
Sports and Leisure
The Ilkarians engage in a variety of leisurely pursuit partially based on age, gender, and social status. But music, theater, story telling and puzzles are popular with nearly all citizens regardless of age, caste or gender.
Magra - is a military training sport and style of martial arts practiced among the warriors of Hellianoptis and other Ilkarian cities. Fighters are pitted against each other in a circle six feet in diameter and if either fighter leaves the circle or is knocked out of the circle they lose the match. Punching, kicking, kneeing, elbowing, throws and grappling moves are all allowed. The only moves not allowed are head-butting, biting and the gouging of eyes. Though meant primarily a means of training soldiers matches are occasionaly held in the public market after the market is over. Often these matches draw large crowds and heavy betting.
'Dice games are common among the lower classes as a means of gambling and these games are often conducted in taverns and inns.
Board Games are common with the upper classes as a way to pass an evening. These games include Camtusu, a game that is much like chess and Yre (Chariots), a board game in which players roll dice and move their pegs around a race track made of small holes and obstacles.
Public Debate is a form of entertainment that all people enjoy. These debates are often held in the public square, Library or one of the cities shrines. The topics can vary widely and often do not particularly matter as long as the debate is spirited and someone goes home looking like a fool.
Language
Ilkarian
Domesticated Crops
Grapes, Lemons, Almonds, Olives, Eggplant, Beets
Common Herbs and Spices
Lavender, Cloves, Saffron
Domesticated animals
Horses, Oxen, Dogs, Sheep, Goats and Bees
Naming conventions
Among the Ilkarians a persons family name is more important than their own. When greeting another person the family name is given first, then one's own name.
Male names often end in: lav, dana, ago, cant, kal, ava, ael, hos, terk, iak.
Female names often end in: alia, ania, agia, ami, iel, eza, hyphia, ora.
Creator/s: Kirk Smith
