Ulgartha

Ulgartha: The Theocratic Heart of the Hegemony

To speak of the commandery of Ulgartha is to speak of the soul of the Hegemony itself. It is more than just the nation's fertile breadbasket; it is the physical and spiritual heart of a civilization built upon a divine mandate. Here, the separation between church and state is not merely blurred—it is nonexistent. The tenets of the Celestial Founders are not just religious scripture; they are the bedrock of law, the blueprint for architecture, and the moral compass for every citizen.

Government

In the Commandery of Ulgartha, there is no separation between the temple and the state; they are one and the same, a sacred architecture of power where faith is the foundation of law and governance is an act of worship. The commandery is a true theocracy, its society meticulously structured as a clerical hierarchy dedicated to enacting the will of the Celestial Founders. Every aspect of civic life, from the administration of a small village to the grand strategy of the Hegemony, is managed by a clergy that serves as both spiritual guide and civil authority.

At the apex of this holy structure sits the Exemplar, a title once held by the Hegemon himself, now is seated by the regent mother and former Exemplar, Taiba Victrix . The Exemplar is the ultimate spiritual and temporal authority, a leader chosen by a conclave of the highest-ranking clergy not merely to rule, but to be the living embodiment of the divine tetrad. They must possess the administrative efficiency of Xalin, the martial justice of Tyrane, the innovative intellect of Setin, and the nurturing wisdom of Lutiya-Bahamut.

Beneath the Exemplar, the commandery is divided into prefectures and provinces, each governed by a hierarchy of ordained officials:

• Archons are the highest-ranking clergy, ruling over Ulgartha's vast regions. These are the princes of the church, powerful figures who advise the Exemplar and oversee all clerical and civil matters within their domain.
• Prefects govern the major cities, such as Ovyliax. They are the direct administrators of urban life, responsible for justice, commerce, and the spiritual well-being of their dense populations.
• Deacons serve the smaller towns and rural parishes. They are the most visible face of the theocracy, acting as community leaders, scribes, and local magistrates, registering births, sanctifying contracts, and collecting the holy tithes that fund the state.

This governance is enacted through four distinct holy churches, each dedicated to a specific Founder, forming a holy bureaucracy that manages the entirety of Ulgarthan society:

• The Chuch of the Gilded Scroll (Xalin): Made up of administrators, scribes, and judges. Clad in robes of red, they are the masters of law and economics, their halls filled with the quiet scratch of quills as they manage the intricate bureaucracy of the Hegemony.
• The Church of the Adamant Shield (Tyrane): This is the military arm of the theocracy. Its warrior-priests and paladins serve as temple guards, city watch captains, and the officer corps for Ulgartha's armies, enforcing the Exemplar's justice with righteous steel.
• The Church of the Luminous Mind (Setin): These are the scholars, scientists, engineers, and teachers. They are the keepers of knowledge who run the great libraries like the Athenaeum, tend to the sick in the houses of mending, and educate the next generation, ensuring that the light of intellect is never extinguished.
• The Church of the Platinum Scale (Bahamut-Lutiya): Venerating the ancient dragon and honored member of the Founders, the followers of Bahamut-Lutiya are typically healers, diplomats, caretakers, and farmers who nurture their surroundings and foster partnerships and aid with open hands.

For the common citizen of Ulgartha, life is a seamless tapestry of service and devotion. A dispute with a neighbor is settled in a Prefect's court, their taxes are paid as tithes to a Deacon, and their children are educated by the disciples of Setin. To obey the law is to honor the Founders, and to serve the Hegemony is the highest form of prayer. In this way, Ulgartha is more than a commandery; it is a perfectly functioning, holy machine, where every citizen is a cog working in unison to uphold the divine order of their world.

People and Culture

The people of Ulgartha embody a culture of pious pragmatism. They are the hardworking farmers and industrious artisans who form the nation's backbone, yet their labor is viewed as a form of service to the Hegemony and, by extension, the Founders. Their faith is not an abstract concept for one day of the week; it is an active, practical part of their daily lives. A student like will pray to Setin for aid in her studies, just as a warrior will ceremoniously bless his sword and shield before the shrine of Tyrane.

This devotion also explains their state of disciplined readiness. The common sight of armed citizens is not a sign of lawlessness, but a reflection of justice and vigilance. To be prepared to defend one's home and the holy capital is a sacred duty. This creates a populace that is at once deeply faithful and fiercely capable, a people who understand that to maintain the divine order the Founders established, they must be willing to work, to pray, and if necessary, to fight.

Capital City: Ovyliax

Ovyilax is the holy capital of Ulgartha and the current supreme capital of the entire Hegemony of Mistoria. Located in the Victoria Prefecture , It is the political, spiritual, and administrative heart of the nation, a grand and formidable metropolis that embodies the Ulgarthan ideals of faith, order, and martial vigilance. The city is named in honor of the legendary hero Ovylia Victrix, and her descendant, Aelius Victrix, rules from its central citadel. It is also the central location of the first novel of The Sentinels series, Night Mother.

Geography and Layout

Ovyliax is a strategically and beautifully situated city, built where the fertile Ulgarthan heartlands meet the shimmering expanse of the Copper Bay. The city is renowned for its striking, white-stoned gothic architecture and its unique, three-tiered structure.

Three Tiers: The city is built on three distinct elevations, each separated by massive, fortified walls. This tiered design serves both a defensive purpose and reflects a social and functional hierarchy, with the most important institutions and affluent residences located on the higher tiers.

Architecture: The city is characterized by grand, red-capped towers, soaring marble structures, and a profusion of arches, columns, and statues. Its aesthetic is one of sober, martial grandeur, designed to inspire both awe and a sense of unshakable stability.

Water-Powered Infrastructure: A key feature of its design is the ingenious use of water from the Copper Bay to power its massive engineering, which transport people and goods between the tiers and to and from the airship docking spires.

Government and Culture

As the seat of the Exemplar, Ovyliax is a true theocracy. Governance and daily life are inextricably linked with the worship of the Celestial Founders.. Churches and temples are prominent on nearly every block, and civic duty is viewed as a form of religious devotion.

The culture is one of pious pragmatism. The citizens are disciplined, hardworking, and deeply faithful. It is a common and accepted sight for nearly everyone to be armed with a blade or weapon, a reflection of a society that believes in its sacred duty to be ever-vigilant in the defense of their holy capital.

Transportation

Ovyliax boasts a sophisticated and unique transportation network including skytrams of elongated cable cars fitted with side propellers serve as the primary mode of public transit as well as stage coaches.

Notable Locations

Sunglory Keep: The magnificent citadel at the heart of the city and the seat of the Hegemon. Its three towering spires are a symbol of the Celestial Founders and are protected by three luminous, arcane halos that serve as the city's ultimate defense.

The Athenaeum of Records: The grand library of Ulgartha, which functions as both a repository of knowledge and a temple to the Celestial Founder Setin. It is a place of study and worship, housing vast collections of documents and employing a powerful and ancient sphinx as its chief archivist.

Sentinel Academy: The primary training institution for new recruits to the Sentinel Order. It is a prestigious and well-guarded facility where the future protectors of the Hegemony are forged.

Potoia Academy for the Gifted in Arcane Arts: A highly-regarded school specializing in the instruction of spellcraft, located in the city's Farsight District.

Barris Street: A quiet residential street located in the city's lower tier, known for being the site of the house at the center of the "Night Mother" urban legend.