City of Urk

The City State of Urk is ruled over by Preist-King who rules with absolute authority within its borders. However, like its sister city of Legush, Urk follows the past precedent of paying tribute to the City of Eridu. Beneath the Preist-King includes various noble families, clergymen, freemen and a large, enslaved population. Erimerian Elves makeup the upper class of the city.

Like the Erimerian cities of Legush and Eridu, Urk is known for its cultural sophistication, which includes the promotion of education, the arts and arcane knowledge.

The Patron God of Urk is Nalpha the Goddess of Love and Beauty and which the festival of "Fiery Beauty" is celebrated for. The festival which is celebrated every 5 years is one of the largest religious traditions for all of the Elven city-states with public drinking and dancing being common. The practice of Elven sacrifice is still practiced for this festival as the "Servants of Nalpha" are chosen (a male and female elf based on looks and religious devotion) to burn alive and ascend to the kingdom in the sky.

Urk presently houses the largest human population between the Elven city states and due to this Urk has historically placed emphasis on its military capabilities. Urk continues the practice of a "blood price" where human families must up a second son as tax. These sons are usually turned into eunuch warriors that make up the bulk of Urk's professional standing army. Officers are exclusively Elfs from a noble background.

Urk was one of the first settlements founded after the proclamation of the "Guidance of Eridu". A group of settlers founded a farming village 40 miles north of Eridu on the same side of Huphrates River. Over time due to its valuable location in trade Urk grew prosperous and rich and became known as powerful city seen as second only to Eridu.

During the end of the Period of Eridu Urk became heavily involved during the Brothers War as Legush under Sarthor-Bel-Insul sought to rule over Musmer. Urk initially fought against Legush, however was conquered in 1935 AE and would not be liberated until 1991 AE by the forces of Eridu.

The peak of Urk's influence amongst its fellow Elven city states and Musmer itself is viewed during the reign of King Akas-Amar-Sin. With the campaigns of the 1st Akkardian Empire punishing the Erimerian Elves continually for 200 years, the remaining free Erimerian Elven cities sought to unify to survive. While the Council of Eridu refuted this proposal, King Akas-Amar-Sin became the ideas greatest champion. A battle harden veteran with a strong will, King Akas united several Elven city-states in a bid to resist this Human Akkadian threat. The Neo-Erimerian Empire was formed in 3207 AE with the King's own city of Urk proclaimed its capital. For 70 years the Neo-Erimerian Empire was the dominate power in Musmer with Urk being considered the most influential city before the destruction of the empire. Thanks to the forces of Eridu Urk was spared from Human sacking and remained with the hands of Elves.

For the next 1,000 years Urk remained as powerful Elven State though its subservience to Eridu and its Council was cemented.

The lands of Urk (the city proper and its outlying controlled villages) are some of the most densely populated lands in all of Ki and is said to harbor a population over 100,000. Urks population mostly consists of Erimerian Elves and Akkardian Humans.

The City of Urk mandates the worship of the Old Gods of Anki with their patron god being Nalpha. Many Nalpha specific temples and religious groups are centered within Urk.