Editing Arket (section)

== Tatakai ==
Tatakai has sworn a vow of vengeance on [[Ark]] for all of time. Their ears refuse to hear the call of the Blessed Path and they are lost in hate. At least, that is what [[Ark]] says... 

In reality, the people of Tatakai believe that Arket has been overtaken by religious zealotry that threatens to overwhelm them. [[Ark]]’s focus on stagnation, they believe, will lead to the rotting of society. Therefore, Tatakai believes it is their mission to resist the Flower Mother at every turn. Their primary fear is Ark expanding, gaining more followers, and destroying the progress of society Ramesh has made since the fall of the [[Clovian Republic]].

For decades Tatakai has been fighting a losing battle. Ark’s power dwarf’s the city’s [[Material gods|patron God]], Hachiman. Her Saints contain within them the power level armies with a flick of their hand. Yet, Tatakai persists. According to Tatakai, they will always persist. Zell might have abandoned the fight against this great enemy but Tatakai will never surrender in the face of such an existential threat.

==== The Promise of Bone ====
Horace Laberius was the regional governor of Arket when Ark came to power. Despite Horace’s best efforts, he was defeated in battle with Ark and turned into the butterflies that circle her person. Yet, Horace’s family still remained.

His wife, Amatia, and his son, Quintus, vowed to continue the battle. Amatia performed a powerful ritual using Primordial magic to safeguard the minds of her people from Ark’s influence. Amatia realized that [[Ark]] was using low magic to psionically influence the minds of the people she was near. This aura of low magic slowly breaks down the values and motivations of a person allowing Ark to influence them to follow the Blessed Path. Yet with Amatia’s ward, the people of Tatakai are immune to this aura.

This ritual, known as the Promise of Bone, is what allows Tatakai to keep resisting. It is also the best kept secret in Tatakai. Only the Laberius family knows of the Promise. This is to prevent Ark from trying to destroy the ward.

==== Wrath Iridium Mines ====
Quintus Laberius is not only a brilliant commander but also a skilled geologist. When he was young, Quintus studied geology to help find more natural resources in Arket and gain prestige in [[Nation of Zell|Zellian]] society.

Just before the death of Horace, Quintus found a new metal beneath the jungles of Arket. This metal is an alloy of Iridium. Quintus discovered this metal could make weapons and armor that were sharper, lighter, stronger, and more importantly, charm proof. An individual who carries a piece of this alloy is considerably more resistant, and depending on the amount immune, to charms.

After Horace died and war on Arket was declared, Quintus began leading the extraction of this new wrath iridium. This metal is the backbone of the Tatakai fighting force. However, as of yet, neither Arket nor Tatakai has discovered what makes wrath iridium different. The secret is that wrath iridium is alive. It is the flesh of a primordial titan buried deep beneath the lands of Arket. This [[Titans|titan]], unknown to the continent, wishes to one day be free and rule

Arket. Toward this end, the titan wishes for the destruction of Ark and her Saints. Quintus still mines the wrath iridium in earnest. As supreme commander of the Tatakai army, he seeks to further increase the power of the wrath iridium. His experiments, while still not having produced a strong alloy yet, are still promising. It is the dream of the entire Laberius family that perfecting the use of wrath iridium will win them the war.

==== Jungle Burns ====
Tatakai routinely engage in jungle burns. These burns provide the city additional space to expand the city while also removing cover in which Arketian spies can hide. The big jungle burns occur in the Ire. It is the hope of Tatakai that they can eventually destroy the wood and launch an unimpeded assault on Pedaru itself.

Sometimes Tatakai hires mercenaries to aid them with the jungle burns. There are many dangerous animals within the jungle who do not like their homes getting set ablaze.

==== Warrior’s Breath ====
There are times when Tatakai relents from battle. If an important person passes away or a tragedy occurs, Tatakai might declare a warrior’s breath. This announcement means a one month suspension from all wars or military activities.

==== Top Dollar Mercenaries ====
Tatakai’s soldiers are hired as mercenaries across the Rings. They are a cracked fighting force that decimates no matter the situation. Tatakai soldiers are trained from birth and are easily worth five of the average soldier on the battlefield.

Because of this, Tatakai is able to charge premium prices for their mercenaries. It is because of this that mercenary work is the foundation of the Tatakai economy. However, all Tatakai mercenaries realize their work is just a means to an end. Those around the Ring do not understand the refusal to die that many Tatakai soldiers hold. They do not understand that every soldier knows they must return home to Tatakai so they can free Arket from [[Ark]]’s rule. That is how Tatakai soldiers routinely win despite overwhelming odds. In their minds, there is no other choice. And therefore, the death of even one Tatakai soldier is considered a great tragedy.

==== Hachiman ====
In life, Hachiman was a hermit of the woods. Then, when Horace journeyed to Arket, he began to aid the governor. Overtime, the two became best friends. During the event which turned Horace into butterflies, the governor shielded his friend from Ark’s magic. It was at this moment that some of the stray aether of the world turned Hachiman into a demigod.

Hachiman escaped back to Tatakai and alerted Horace’s family of what happened. It was his warning that saved Tatakai. When Amatia learned that Hachiman was a god, she asked him to become the new patron god of Tatakai after [[Zell (god)|Zell]] retreated from Arket. Hachiman reluctantly agreed.

Although Hachiman is technically a [[Material gods|God]], they are considerably weaker than the regular material God. The aether within Hachiman is considerably less compared to Ark. Even against a Saint of Ark, Hachiman struggles to beat them. Yet, despite all this, Hachiman has saved the lives of thousands of Tatakai soldiers and is an inspiration for the people of Tatakai. On the other hand, Hachiman is viewed as a monstrous beast in Arket. Mothers tell children to eat their food or Hachiman will come to take them to Tatakai in the night. Hachiman is the face of Tatakai warmongering and oppression.

''“My favorite thing in the world? Sunshine, my cat, young one. When the day is done, she sleeps''

''on my lap. It is my favorite part of my day”''

-Hachiman to a child asking him a question