El-Ekki and Sevule

El-Ekki
Country Information
Capital:	Calabro
Language:	Ellurian
Ethnic Group:	Human
Religion:	Ellurian pantheon
Government:	Garos Council
Current Ruler:	Sir Dutlof Lio
Population:	28,000

El-Ekki is an island nation off of the coast of Elluria, widely known for its peaceful nature and great food. It has some of the most beautiful shrines in the world, as well as relics of ancient civilizations. For years the peoples of Tollor, Emil, Teldanar, Aslar, and Sevule have spent their Del-Ot holiday in El-Ekki seeking spiritual fulfillment.

History

• El-Ekki has long been revered as a place of spiritual importance to followers of the Ellurian religion, but remained sparsely settled until the year 273 (803 in Ellurian reckoning) when Sir Walter Arin of Tollor founded the Kingdom of El-Ekki. Arin's kingdom was a dependency of Tollor in all but name, and the Tollorian and Tyranorian governments used the island as a naval base for the next forty years.

• In 313 (ER: 843), El-Ekki was granted independence by the Tollorian crown due to the island's religious significance.

• In 413 (ER: 933), the Garos Council was set up in its capital Calabaro to make decisions regarding the spiritual enlightenment of the peoples of the neighboring countries.

• In 460 (ER: 990), Sir Dutlof Lio was granted Head Seat of the council and declared that he would make peace in the troubled lands surrounding the country, declaring "it is a crime that there is war so close to such a sacred place."

• On the 10th of Second Seed, 467 (ER: 997), Lio sent invitations to the countries of Emil, Griffon's Aerie, Leturia, Sevule, Teldanar, Tollor, and Tyranor to work out a trade agreement for peace over the south sea. This was not to be successful.

• When war broke out in 469 (ER: 999) between Aslar and Elluria, El-Ekki maintained a general neutrality. However, by the next year, Aslar had nearly conquered the entirety of Ellurian territory. Refugees flocked to El-Ekki and a temporary Ellurian Government-in-exile was even based on the island for a time. The refugees have mostly returned to either Tollor or Alesian Elluria since the war's end.

Notable Historical Figures

Sir Walter Arin: A Tollorian nobleman and naval officer who founded the Kingdom of El-Ekki at the behest of the King of Tollor.

Geographical Features

There are three ancient temples located on the island: Temple Gitaro, Temple Grelon, and Temple Ekki, named after three of the major gods of the Pre-Ellurian era.

Government and Politics

The Garos Council governs El-Ekki and is composed of representatives of the clergies of the various temples on the island, along with the mayor of the capital city of Calabro. They spend much of their time planning for the annual Del-Ot festival.

Notable Government Officials

Sir Dutluf Lio: Appointed head of the Garos Council in the year 460. Lio has been an often-ignored voice for peace in the war torn Southlands. He still advocates diplomatic resolutions to conflict and has attempted to broker trade agreements and treaties of friendship between nations.

Military

The city of Calabro maintains a small city watch to keep the peace, and the various temples have their own guards to protect the island's holy sites. During the Del-Ot, the Garos Council hires additional guards to help maintain order and ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

Religion

The island of El-Ekki is sacred to followers of the Ellurian religion. The island contains important temples to the Ellurian gods, and is an site of pilgrimages during the nine day Del-Ot festival, which begins on the 24th day of Second Seed and lasts for nine days, ending on the first day of Mid Year.

Society and Peoples

Ekkians are widely regarded as the most moral and honest people of the Southlands.