Amarata (Tradition of the Hearth)

Posted on December 30, 2021 in Steel-Realms

The Amarata is the Way of Hospitality. Umbakians pride themselves on their refined tastes, cleanliness, order, and strength. They express this by following the precepts of the Priestess Amarata of Aerna – from thousands of years ago. The way dictates that the hospitality of the hearth is the path to goodness, purity, and discipline. All must have a hearth wherever they go, to remind them of family and home. It is very orthodox and traditional – an art and way that is dying out. The Amarata was originally written down in CY 1190. The original stone tablets they were recorded on are cracked and worn, they are documented on silvered sheets, in the way of the Ducateon copper scrollwork. Each year a new set of three tablets is made, an exact duplicate in the original High Dundaran. In ceremonies, the matriarchs wear ‘The Hearth Tenders’ Dress’ made with a golden hem. Modern Umbakians all carry their Hearth Crystal with them al at all times now.

The Umbakian custom for Death, Burial, and Cultural Observances is to leave a polished crystal in the sunlight all day, and place it in the urn with ashes reciting a rite of the Amarata as a reflection of the __ used by the Angels of the Lightbringers; This is said to make it easier for the angels and gods to shepherd the soul to the House of the Dead (Duat Heka) for its continued passage.

Although the Amarata is not official outside of Umbak, many of its principles and teachings find their way into the shared litany of The Church of Light through The Houthas.

The “way” is comprised of sayings, call-and-response greetings, a way of organizing certain things (Feng Shui) , colors, date and time observances and prayers, etc. It is the heart of the concepts of “duty”, “honor”, “loyalty”, and “family” for Umbak. The origins of The Houthas are sourced in Amarata.

Amarata Hearth

The Amarata Hearths are special Family Hearths. This can operate as a type of altar, and a congregation of sorts to channel the good will, protection, and sustenance of the family to those on long missions or a family centered mission that has the blessing of the Church of Light (by default, all Amarata Hearths are consecrated by the Lightbringer church and their power is reinforced by the amount of family presence and those family bound to it in the afterlife that lived and died in its good grace. The Rite of the Hearthlight is performed on every Amarata Hearths. All Hearth Crystal are tied to Amarata Hearths.

• Drink of the Hearth

  The toast for the Drink of the Hearth was originally made from pears and apples in the Saison Fields of the Falcon Reach area of Umbak. It counts as a major Dietary boost for healing and provides better rest. Drink and Stew of the Hearth together count as Extraordinary dietary boost to healing.

• Food of the Hearth

  The hearth pot for hearth stew. “Made by her daughters with wood chopped by her sons”. On the battlefield, the maidens of Aerna make hearth stew to refill both ‘The well of faith’ and ‘The well of the body’. It’s a lot of plain vegetables and goat. Simply prepared in the histories, but as part of the ceremony, prepared with an exquisite degree of herbs and seasonings. There is one secret element that goes in it to make it sweeter, some of this is ginger and the other is the rare herb Amarant. This comes from the Falcon Reach region. The stew can significantly help maintain Health. It counts as a major Dietary boost for healing and dispels Exhaustion for 1 Short Rest cycle. Drink and Stew of the Hearth together count as Extraordinary dietary boost to healing.
  > Amaratan: Clay discs baked in ceremony to seal and preserve the sacred meal inside for transport.

  There is a specific clay they make discs out of that preserve the meal. Clay from the region of The southern Salish It’s specifically deposited by the river, so there’s a little bit on the southern side of it that is still being dug, but there’s vast deposits of it on the north side untouched. It can be heated up on the road.

• The Return to the Hearth
  Well known now as standard part of Death, Burial, and Cultural Observances, the Umbak has ancient and specific passages added to the cremation ceremony that are part of the Amarata that relate to the spirit of the departed rejoining their family. Originally this was for the upper class only, since CY 8200 it is applied to all.

The Hearth Celebrants: Three gardeners, more hearth tenders roles. Say the rituals, tend the seeds and soil.

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Being Umbakian

Adoption: There is an adoption tradition. Once it is performed, the target is considered Umbakian. It is only done in the case of those who have done great service and are seeking to live their life in accordance with the traditions wherever they go.

Construction, Urban Planning & Architecture in Umbak

Posted on December 28, 2021 in Steel-Realms

The Umbakians used formulaic and standard approaches for everything. Urban Planning and Architecture in Umbak is overseen by the sect of Balthazaar, Icon of Order. All of Urban Planning and Architecture in Umbak done by the Umbak are Obsessively Documented from searching, surveying, and all stages of construction and maintenance.

Reduce, Recycle, Reuse: The Umbakians are known for the organized planning, which includes a strong drive to reuse materials. Only holy places and family homes are sacred and not to be touched. Other than this, city planning is a constant process of improvement. This means that the old makes way for the new, and any materials that can be reused will. This is most efficient when done right.

Record Keeping: Meticulous Record Keeping is always practiced in Umbakian settlements (in Umbak itself). There is ALWAYS a Hall of Records – even in the smallest of settlements.

Holy Ground Facing: Regardless of location, Umbakian holy ground and structures of faith have entrances that either face the rising sun, or the High Temple of Aerna (the current one in the Grand Duchy of Rhyl.

Hallmarks of Umbakian Architecture/Construction

Umbakian Architecture/Construction At-A-Glance:

The construction has all the hallmarks of Umbakian formal policy. The Umbakians, regardless of specific era architecture (which is purposefully changed every few hundred years), have distinct construction approaches that mark their work. The heavy use of stone, built-up structures, cornerstone and keystone marks, and precision and uniformity all reveal the Umbakian origins of the structure.

Long-Lasting Stone: Umbakian engineering uses a great deal of stone. Base levels of buildings (not just foundations) are almost all stone before successive levels of wood are placed on it. Columns and supporting walls hold up stone slabs for first floor roofs/second story floors are quite common. This increases costs as well as durability to Umbakian structures. While not the absolute craftsmanship of the fluid style of Ducateons, the Umbakian style is one of rigid proportions and made of stone. Ceramic cups and plates, stone tables and bed frames, tongue and groove chair pedestals to make position at tables uniform. Shelves, benches, and stems of stone rather than wood. Wood is placed on top of stone and where weight is critical.

Fortress-Like Foundations: The buildings the Umbakians create are made of stone, and thick walls – exterior and interior. They are made to last a thousand years. While a mix of wood and stone is used for higher levels, ground levels are made to withstand sieges to provide a solid foundation for the higher levels. Umbakian preference is to build upon bedrock or solid stone of some kind rather than soil. Compacting soil and using a foundation level of multiple layers of overlapping cut stones for a floor is their way.

• Sealed Entry: Many remote monasteries and secure buildings have no openings at ground level except a single door. A series of mirrors and/or “Sun-Stones” brought light into them. They were intended to serve as a secure bastion of the faith and culture in dangerous places.
• High Ceilings: All ceilings (at least on ground levels) are a uniform 4m high.
• Double Arch: All modern doorways are made with double row arches with keystones in both rows. It is a uniquely Umbakian aspect from the last thousand years.
• Thick Walls: All the walls are .5m thick.

Precision and Uniformity: Full distances and layouts are done using strong natural ratios and geometry. All post and lintels, arches, and measurements are done with practiced prevision and an attention to exactness that implies a purpose and deliberateness to even the smallest of construction. Umbakian precision is well known, a virtue personified in all works built by them, especially their master crafters. It is clinical and impersonal to the dwarves and Ducateon – though impressive in its quality.