Urnu-Arrak

Cultural History
Urnu-Arrak was the first town to be founded on the server and is the spiritual successor to Shyr-Arrak in build style and playerbase. It is the Capital of the Empire of Yimmu-Audal.

When the old residents of Shyr-Arrak arrived on Rathnir escaping the end of Jagdas they found the Sea of Pearls, a very attractive location that reminded them of home. Wanting to settle with a view of the reef and having no large islands to settle they found the native people of the Geshem peninsula and settled by the location of their main temple to their blood god. Currently Urnu-Arrak is bi-cultural, made up of both native and old Shyr-Arrak citizens. Surprisingly the shore based and ocean based cultures mixed surprisingly well and the main differences came in religion and slight architectural differences.

The name "Urnu-Arrak" means "New Hill" in the language of the ancient inhabitants of the Shyr-Arrak or "Small Hill" island of Jagdas. There are many native cultures that have been assimilated into Yimmu-Audalad society, with the main ones being the Geshemi, that once ruled the land from modern-day Amos to Urnu-Arrak, the dwarves of Yadishel that migrated northward, and the Erekenthiin people of Amos, having migrated south from the savannah and settled there.

Please see Construction of Urnu-Arrak
The first phase of Urnu-Arrak construction consisted of basic settler encampments and the old village of the native population. this was only present for a part of the first day of the server and new settlers began building houses and started and completed the major works of the Urnu-Arrak Lighthouse, The Tunnels and the Temple of the Blood God. After the first day the town began adding many new homes and buildings and laying out roads and the temple plaza and plans for new construction efforts. on the third day the plaza was finished and the hill citadel began construction along with the first walls of Urnu-Arrak being raised.

During the second phase, following a period of approximately two months StoryStudio built the massive Urnu-Arrak walls outlining the borders of the city. Many new players joined and built architecture inside, including the Temple of Monath, built by Ghastly_Bespoke. The major and minor pillars were constructed, the Colosseum was constructed as well as many other buildings. The Library of Religious Freedom of Bishara-Shurud was finally completed in Urnu-Arrak, replicated nearly block for block from the Jagdasian Empire of Yimmu Audal island-town it was named after and originally built on. The Imperial Throneroom of Yimmu-Audal was also constructed during this time, alongside the National Conference Hall, built together by then Interim Emperor Harbardr and StoryStudio. The large docks were completed during this time as well, alongside the South and Eastern gates, which fed into road networks leading to other towns within the Empire.

LethalMuffin began his indentured servitude in Urnu-Arrak under StoryStudio during this time as well, and has since provided many crucial resources and constructions. He has built a house near the Temple of Monath.

The third phase began following the TheRealJay vs Cantheallmighty International Incident. After the city was unwarrantedly insulted by CanTheAlmighty of the Empire of Uldarash, StoryStudio who had a lot of building in the city was motivated by anger and decided to start the Urnu-Arrak Beautification Movement, in which the old and new parts of the city were decorated with silk-touched grass and foliage, as well as the addition of various details and improvements across the entire city.

A few days after the movement began, StoryStudio assembled a build team consisting of several Urnu-Arrak citizens including Gray_Is_Yes and Coqiard. StoryStudio also hired Carpicious to help with building who was later payed $30000. As the building progressed more and more players joined the build team and provided resources, with even rivals working together in the case of Carpicious and Sewer Mafioso GreenTomato. The build team within a few hours very rapidly assembled the entire modern eastern quarter of Urnu-Arrak, which is now regarded as one of the most beautiful parts of the city. The quarter was later improved even further with the addition of terraforming and foliage.

Although the city of Urnu-Arrak had received numerous complements before the beautification movement, it was after the completion of several key developments that the reception became overwhelmingly positive. Following the signing of the Pact of Urnu-Arrak between Yimmu-Audal and The Serene Republic of Carvay, which took place in the National Meeting Hall, the Carvay visitors expressed their wonder at the city, several times proclaiming, "it's beautiful".

In the Eastern quarter of Urnu-Arrak, in the form of waterfall, was also constructed the Second Sacred Pool of Hukar Dezum Autai Dar Shur, modeled after the Sacred Underground Pool located in the Ziggurat of Hukar Dezum Autai Dar Shur in the now destroyed Jagdasian city of Shyr-Arrak. During the 2020 Halloween event, the pool was used to sacrifice a diamond and the head of the Diety Enfys to the Holy Golden Seabird or  Hukar Dezum Autai Dar Shur. The spontaneous generation of villager life within Urnu-Arrak is attributed to this event as a gift from the Holy Golden Seabird.

In early November the large Eastern Urnu-Arrak docks were improved, and a great trireme was constructed there.

Notable Events
Being the oldest city on Rathnir, and even predating it, given that Urnu-Arrak is the direct descendant to the Jagdasian Island city of Shyr-Arrak, (The original name of Urnu-Arrak was indeed Shyr-Arrak even in Rathnir for the first weeks of its existence, however it was later changed at the suggestion of Emperor Blue Marble) the city had experienced some strange and notable events, associated with a variety of different deities and diplomatic events:

TheRealJay2 Raids Hinder and Benefit Urnu-Arrak:

In the early days of the world of Rathnir, the now Supreme Commander TheRealJay2 of the military forces of Yimmu-Audal, had raided the city of Urnu-Arrak (Then still called Shyr-Arrak) and killed several of its players in a 5 V. 1 including StoryStudio with superior gear and impressive fighting ability. The killing was witnessed by Lord Stoney himself who watched it unfold. Please see: TheRealJay2 Bandit Raids | After a failed Yimmu-Audal plot for revenge against Jay which involved getting his trust through a romance with Dalatra (Now the Calipha Ardat Mosul and Urnu-Arrak citizen), Jay saw benefit in joining the then restarting Empire, however, and eventually ceased his bandit activities.

The Great Heist of Alpinian

Please see: Alpinian's Imposter Heist Occurs at Urnu-Arrak

During this time upwards of 30 chest-fulls of valuable items were stolen from the city by an impostor and then recovered.

The Levitation of G0NF:

Please see: The Levitation of G0NF

The Transdimensionalization of the Cactus Forest:

Please see: Trans-Dimensionalization of The Cactus Forest

The Signing of the Urnu-Arrak Pact:

On Nov 6th, 2020, representatives of The Serene Republic of Carvay were invited to Urnu-Arrak 's National Meeting Hall where an agreement was signed which guaranteed a non-aggression pact as well as a defensive alliance, formalized friendly relations, and ensured no expansion into the other party's sphere of influence, and in where were present Chief Diplomat 06Odity (YA), Secretary of Cultural Affairs StoryStudio (YA), Serene Doge 8jaaroud (Carvay), and his assistant Essendor (Carvay). The meeting also included discussions of Laissez-faire capitalism, and trade relations regarding private corporate entities within Yimmu-Audal's Imperial Territories. A tour was given to the visitors which ended at the Eastern Gate where gifts where exchanged. (30 Baked Potatoes from Carvay and 3 Blue Orchids from Yimmu-Audal)

The Absorbtion of Yashidel:

Yadishel the abandoned town was absorbed into Urnu-Arrak as a distrcit on November 15th, 2020 due to ObS0lid's migration to Alshati.

Religion
Religion in Urnu-Arrak falls under the the belief system of The Great Existence. where almost all of its component cultures believed in some sort of animism or shamanism and personification of great powers in the world that it became generally accepted that every part of the world was deserving of appreciation and could be holy, in a similar style to old Hallowism.

Religions present in Urnu-Arrak:

The Red Cult (Predominant)

Holy Golden Seabird (Traditional)

Qasim (Minority)

Theiosism (Minority)

Monathism (Minority)