|
|
Post by Tylonius on Jun 11, 2017 2:30:06 GMT
 Excerpts from the Encyclopedia of the World, 273rd edition. History of the Kalmari Ecclisiocracy in Full:413 Before Liberation (BL) - The small Dwarven hold of Bidu, named after the mountain into which it was built, was taken over in a coup by a young warlord named Satone Vanala, recently returned from an expedition to strange islands across the western sea. With powerful magical artifacts that he brought back and the loyalty of a young army grown angry over the pondering patience of their elders, he overthrew the leadership of the hold and consolidated it into the seat of his power.
401 BL - After years of buildup and preparation, Satone sprung his master-plan on an unsuspecting world. With his army of dwarven warriors and foreign mercenaries bought with the considerable mineral wealth of the hold he began his invasion of the local lands. For the next hundred years he systematically conquered and enslaved all surrounding peoples. All who stood against him were crushed, and all resistance was punished with mass executions of the rebels and their families. He ruled unquestioned from the River Narama to the Southern Ocean.
276 BL - The Vita Rebellion is crushed by Satone after five years of insurgency, and crushed with extreme brutality. The western reaches of the kingdom are virtually depopulated, thousands put to the sword for living in what was the rebellions heartland. The area would remain scarce of people for the next two hundred years. To this day there mass graves are uncovered in Visata province.
34 BL - Antal Kalmar is born the only child of Kieros Kalmar.
26 BL - The Cataclysm destroys the Szekeres Empire. Kieros Kalmar gathers up what remains of his hold and begins the long march westwards. Four hundred and six Almur make the journey, twelve die along the way, and four are born.
10 BL - Kieros Kalmar and his horde come upon the banks of the River Narama and discover a camp of refugees trying to escape from Satone's rule. After two months of hard work, the Almur and refugees are able to communicate crudely. The refugees inform Kieros of what they are fleeing, and the Almur became enraged at the injustice and cruelty of the evil king. By years end the Almur Horde had declared war on Satone Vanala and begun the War of Liberation.
9 BL - Kieroes and his merge forces or Almur and Rebels lure one of Satone's armies into an ambush at the Battle of the Rasiaga Ford. Kieros trapped the enemy forces against the river while at it's highest level, fed by the spring snow melts from the mountains. The enemy forces were massacred with rebel casualties were shockingly light. This sort of military genius would be the hallmark of the war, with Kieros often outmaneuvering Satone and his forces to snatch victory against overwhelming odds.
0 BL - Kiero's Rebelion had swept the entire nation free of Satone's influence, all save his capital of Bidu. Over the four centuries, the seemingly immortal dwarven king had reinforced his hold to the point of near impenetrability. No weapon of the west had ever so much as dented the massive gates. But Kieros had brought with him a weapon the west had never seen. Carefully transported all the way from the Szekeres Empire, the Cannon of Kieros was a small example of it's kind, capable of firing only ten pound shot. But with it's range, and the enemy trapped within the holds defenses, the canon was given liberty to batter down the gates at their leisure. After five hours of near constant firing, and almost a thousand expended shots, the gates were breached and Kieroes led his forces into the hold.
0 AL - Day of Liberation - Kieroes and Antal Kalmar confront Satone Vanala in his throne room. Though they defeat and kill Satone in the fight, Kieros is mortally wounded. With Satone's death, his mystical panoply disintegrates. The only surviving artifacts are a ring, a dagger, and a belt. All three remained under the personal guard of Antal Kalmar. After the battle, a rebel who had stumbled deep into the mines of the hold returns and presents Antal with a large, glwoing gemstone. Antal personally refines the stone into the Star of God. The Nation of Kalmar is founded.
1 Al - Construction begins on Pagahara, built on the foundation of the Bidu hold. The five great levels are created in honor of the Five Castes, a new social structure implemented by Antal Kalmar in order to organize his new nation. The great city would take fifty years to be completed, and would be often renovated and updated over the next thousand years.
8 AL - The western province is finally repopulated. A surge of refugees entering the country are settled in the fertile lands. They were fleeing the rise of the Yana Empire and their persecution of the so called devilish races.
312 AL - Bertok Szekele is born.
317 AL - Etelka Kelemen is born.
335 AL - Etelka Kelemen finishes her studies and becomes a Seeker, to the shock of her tutors and fellows. Her brilliance and broad knowledge on religious and administrative matters meant that she would have rapidly risen up the ranks of the Advisors or Cseyur. Instead she packs up her belongings and leaves Pagahara, venturing forth into the world to learn all she could.
496 AL - The first cases of the Darphan Plague are discovered in the southern port city of Sathana, it is believed to have been brought to the city by traders from the west. In the next six years it spreads like wildfire and infects almost a hundred thousand people.
500 AL - The Darphan Plague has become a major crisis, and Bertok Szekele makes his plea before the assembled Council of Wizards to go south and fight the plague with their magic. Five hundred mages, almost the entire nation’s compliment, make the journey. Only fifty survived. Szekel’s remains are placed in the palace, alongside the remains of Kieros, in honor of the countless lives his actions saved.
512 AL - Etelka Kelemen finishes her travels and publishes the first edition of the Encyclopedia of the World. The ten volume masterwork covered every topic under the sun, from medicine to history to magic. It contains the sum total of all the knowledge gathered over her centuries of travel. It proves so popular and informative that Antal Kalmar orders that each town and settlement must have a copy of the latest edition, supplied by the capital. It is kept updated constantly with new information.
590 AL - Etelka Kelemen wakes from her legendary meditation and informs Antal Kalmar of her revelation. The Gardener Thesis electrifies Kalmari society, and for the next ten years debate fills the halls and fields of the nation as the matter is discussed. No voice is louder than that of Etelka herself, who argues forcefully for the acceptance of her theory.
600 AL - Etelka Kelemen dies peacefully in her sleep. After ten long years of debate she convinced Kalmar to accept her truth and it now forms the cornerstone of their faith. Her remains are placed in what was then called the Hall of Three.
~660 AL - War comes to Kalmar for the first time in over five hundred years as the world faces down against the invasion of the Sylphs. With their gunpowder weaponry and well trained warrior caste Kalmar manages to see off the invasion with minimal cost. However the invasion marked a political change in the nation. The Warrior Caste had been relegated to minor status by over half a millennium of peace. However, with the Sylph invasion they rose in prominence to attain the political power to match their position as the Second Caste. They began a campaign of modernization and fortification of the northern border. It was during this time that the Kadha Fortresses were created, named after the Grand Marshall who oversaw the construction. This line of fortresses and defenses lined the Rive Narama, to protect the nation from any possible norther invasion.
827 AL - The Kelemen Observatory is constructed in the Religious Ring of Pagahara. A grand work, it's sole duty is to watch and map the heavens, and in doing so hope to catch a glimpse of the workings of God among the stars he left earth for. The plan for it to be staffed by Almur is modified when it is realized that with the dwindling numbers of Almur left, there would not be enough to effectively run the observatory. Instead the Guild of Astronomers is founded with the task to man the observatory and study the sky in aid of what few Almur can be spared to run it.
858 AL - With the death of the Almur Cilleg Naz, there are only two Almur left in Kalmar. Antal himself, and the Grand Marshall.
864 AL - With two hundred years of peace since the Invasion, the Warrior Caste had begun to slip in political power. A faction of the caste found this situation unacceptable, believing that they should not only be respected, but with only two Almur left that they should rule the Nation in payment to them as it's defenders. This faction was led by an Korani Tola elf by the name of Korani Tola. Tola rallied his faction, and a large portion of the Mage Caste who felt that the nation treated them as virtual slaves, and launched Civil War which would last four long, bloody years.
866 AL - In a stunning move of military genius, Tola and his forces crushed the Kalmari army at the Battle of Kheta, forcing Grand Marshall Balsan Szalai to pull his forces back behind the natural defenses of the River Hiska. Tola launches his offensive into the rest of Kalmar.
867 AL - Unknown to Tola, during the war the Star of God had been behind enemy lines, it's hidden resting place in Dahkani province having been conquered in the opening days of the conflict. In a daring mission, Balsan Szalai himself led a strike force into occupied territory to rescue the stone. However, they were discovered on the way back from the shrine, and ambushed. The stone was captured and presented to Korani Tola, along with the ivory remains of Szalai. Antal kalmar had become the only Almur left in the west.
868 AL - Tola enacts what he hopes will be his masterstroke. He carefully draws the Kalmari armies away from the capital city, then launches a strike on Pagahara with his elite warriors. The city is sacked by them, and the population and Palace are saved only through the actions of the young Guard Commander Vator Dirana and his small band of watchmen. They slow the invaders long enough for the population to evacuate into the mountains behind the city. Vator himself holds the gate to the Palace alone, killing fifty elite warriors single handedly. His body was interred on Palace grounds and a statue of his likeness was placed in the now named Hall of Four. The war ended three months later, with Tola being ceded all the land west of the River Hiska. Dahkani province is transformed into a military zone, full of fortresses and patrolling soldiers on the lookout for Tolani infiltrators.
~940 AL - Age finally begins to catch up to the seemingly immortal Antal Kalmar. He weakens and is forced to spend more and more time in his palace, ruling his nation by proxy and messenger. Over the next seventy years, as he weakens the various castes and factions of the nation begin to jokey for position and power. Each knows that with no Almur to replace him as leader of the nation, it will fall to one of the other castes to lead. Whether that is the Artisans, the Warriors, or the Mages is unknown. And while other plot and plan, the Workers keep their heads down, and pray to He-Who-Forged-The-World to return the strength to their ailing leader, so that he may continue to lead them for another thousand years.
998 AL - Present Day |
|
|
|
Post by Tylonius on Jun 11, 2017 2:42:12 GMT
The Five Castes of Kalmar:
Society in the Kalmar Ecclesiocracy is separated into five Castes. Position in the castes is decided by birth, as you inherit the caste of you same-gender parent. Fraternization between the castes is allowed, but it impossible to change caste from what you are born into. The only exception is for mages. All who are discovered to have the gift of magic are placed into the Mage caste.
The Religious Caste (Urasa) - The ruling Caste, this caste is made up entirely of Almur, who are ordained to lead Kalmar by Divine Right as represented by the Star of God. They are supreme in all matters religious and temporal. Almur are the only group able to belong in two castes. An Almur can be both Religious and another caste, whether that be Warrior, Artisan, Mage, or the rare Worker.
Internal religious separations fall along a simple and mostly informal hierarchy. Antal Kalmar is at the top as the supreme leader of Kalmar. Then comes the organization of Cseyur, a group of Almur who are chosen to lead the various towns, cities, and settlements outside the Capital. They also fulfill the duties of their land's primary religious figures. Then come the Advisers, the Almur who chose to stay in one place and work beneath either Cseyur or Antal and operate as a Civil Service, overseeing the nation’s day to day operation. Finally come the Seekers, those who go out and travel among the land and it’s people to learn and help them wherever they can.
Those Almur who chose to belong to two Castes, or are forced to by the gift of magic, have no official position in the hierarchy. But they are traditionally given the respect of the equivalent position they hold in the non-Religious Caste.
Since the loss of the Almur, the Religious Caste has stood almost entirely empty. Various positions in the temporal government have been taken over by Artisans, Mages, or Warriors where deemed necessary, and with Antal bedridden the nation is in effect operating without the leadership of the Religious Caste for the first time in a thousand years. Instability and uncertainty are beginning to show through the cracks in society without the Almur there to lead them.
The Artisan Caste (Sataiga) - The Second Caste, the most high under the Almur. These are the people who adopted the Almur love of creation and designing new things. They cover many races and many disciplines, from alchemy to architecture to zoology. Theirs is the domain of science and art.
They are broken into many different Guilds, each of which has an internal hierarchy. A guild deals with one subject matter, on which they are the accepted experts. The Guilds are organized into a Congress of Guilds, a body created to deal with disputes between the guilds. It is lead by the Guild of Law, the undisputed most powerful of the guilds. Originally created to serve as Judges who would enforce the Almur’s laws and assistants to help the small Almur population govern the large country, since the Almur have all but died out they now control most of the nation in effect. They create the laws and enforce them.
The Artisans are the most powerful Caste de facto due to controlling the government. But they often but heads against the Warriors who feel they should get more power in the vacuum left by the Almur.
The Warriors (Vahara) - The Third Caste, those who defend and guard. From the lowliest village watchman to the mightiest champion and general, all are the Warrior Caste. They spend their entire lives training themselves to fight to protect Kalmar and it’s people. They are consummate soldiers, willing to sell their lives in defense of others.
They follow a strict military hierarchy. At the top is the Grand Marshall, who is the supreme leader of all the warriors. Traditionally this position would be held with an Almur, but the last Almur Grand Marshal was killed during the Civil War, and the position has been held by non-Almur ever since. Beneath him come the marshals, who each control the warriors in a region, and then the lesser marshal’s who rule beneath them. Then come the local commanders, and the Warriors beneath them.
Despite their loyalty to the Almur, the Warrior Caste has often argued that they should be given more power in society, as the Second Caste in place of the Artisans. This dissatisfaction came to a head when Korani Tola lead an uprising of Warriors and Mages in a Civil War against the Almur. However, Tola’s hopes of his entire caste rising up with him were thankfully shown to be false, as the majority stayed loyal.
This act of treason from one of their own quieted down the talks of power for a while, but with the passage of time and the weakening of Antal, the Warriors are once more beginning to question why they should serve beneath the Artisans. Especially as the Artisans now effectively run the country. It is likely that if something is not done soon, tensions could erupt again.
The Workers (Rama) - The largest and most often overlooked of the castes, the Workers do the important work of society that few ever think of. They are the farmers, the builders, the fishers. The common man. Where an Artisan Blacksmith might spend months perfectly shaping metal into a masterwork sword, a Worker Blacksmith will in that time make enough weapons to outfit an entire town.
They are organized loosely into various towns and cities spread throughout the land. However, there is still a hierarchy. Each group of one thousand Workers elects a representative who, every year, makes his way to Pagahara for the Worker Conclave. There the representatives of the Workers debate the issues facing them and create petitions to request that their betters, whether that be the Almur, Artisans, or Warriors, help them address their concerns, or give them aid.
While the rest of the Castes jockey for power and position in the power vacuum left by the death of the Almur, the Workers simply put their heads down and continue to work. They are the lifeblood Kalmar, and they know that Antal and the long gone Almur would not approve of them stopping just to grab power they do not need. Not when there is land to till, houses to build, and Questions to Answer.
The Mages (Revana) - The Last Caste, those who serve all. Any person in Kalmar who is discovered to have the gift of Magic is given only one choice. Renounce their former Caste and join the Mage Caste. Here they will be taught to use their gift in service of the people of their nation. They may hold no property, wield no power, and command no men. From the moment of discovery till the moment of death they exist only to serve.
Despite the grim sounding existence of the Mage in Kalmar, it is a rather comfortable existence. Their needs are tended to by the state, and they spend most of their life in the luxury of the various Mage Schools scattered around Kalmar. And while they may not hold any official power, the skills and knowledge they bring as an adviser means that they hold a great deal of unofficial power.
The Mages are broken up into a complex and serpentine internal Hierarchy that seems designed to be confusing to outsiders. At the top is the High Magus, the leader of all mages in Kalmar, much the way that the Grand Marshal is to the warriors. But unlike the Marshal, the Magus is not a position traditionally held by an Almur. In fact, Almur have never held any position in the hierarchy of the mages, as they stand apart as members of the Religious Caste.
The High Magus is selected in a secretive ceremony from within the ranks of the next position, the Wizards. The Wizards are those who hold the highest positions in society. The heads of the various Mage Schools, and the advisers to the most powerful people in Kalmar. Beneath them come a variety of lesser ranks and positions.
The Mages, despite their lives of relative luxury and unofficial power, have never been satisfied. Though most accept their lives of service, they still wish for more, and a good portion of the leadership over the years have desired to be able to hold real power, like the Artisans and the Warriors. It is for this reason that when Korani Tola stirred up the mages for rebellion, three-quarters of the Caste went with him. It was this strength that allowed him to push the Kalmari armies back and take the land south of the River Hiska.
Since then, the loyal mages have mostly kept their heads down to avoid the wrath of a society that despises Tola and his actions. But, much like the Warriors and Artisans, they have begun to move in the new power vacuum, aiming to gain power and perhaps change the rules that govern their Caste.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tylonius on Sept 25, 2017 23:33:10 GMT
The Journal of Farseer Adorn the Wayfarer
6.10.942I have finally set out. I write this as the great city of Mog Bhelnom disappears in the distance. One month ago, I was honored to receive a summons from the Naryur himself. Naryur Kharok set to me a task, one I have set upon to complete.Four years ago, we began to hear rumors of a nation in the far west, a nation of Almur. Three years ago the Harcur and his retinue set out to discover the truth of the rumors. And he found the rumors to be accurate, mostly. The Kalmar Ecclesiocracy, a nation founded by Almur and ruled by them. A nation so similar and yet to strange. But the rumors of a land filled with Almur were not true. There was but one left, the impossibly long lived Antal Kalmar, leader and founder of the nation that bore his name. For a time, the Harcur was the guest of Antal. However, it seems that whatever had granted him his extraordinarily long life had failed. At the turning of the year, we received word that Antal had died.This has left the Kalmari in something of a bind. The peculiar caste like set up of their nation requires an Almur to lead them, as only they may be a member of the Religious Caste. However, there were no Almur left. And so, with a short series of communications between the Naryur and his son, a solution was found.The Naryur has given me the task of traveling to the west, and becoming the religious leader of the Kalmari. It is a task I take up with honor, and one I hope I can fulfill.~~~~
6.26.942We have officially left the United Kingdoms territory and entered Ikegami lands. The changes are subtle, but I know what we can expect further west. The mountains will fade behind us, and the lands will flatten out. The climate will change too, becoming drier as we approach the Orc Wastes. But that is still a few weeks ahead of us.It has been several years since I have left Almuria and visited our closest allies. It is a shame I will not be spending more time here, as I have always enjoyed their reserved hospitality. Alas, my quest requires me to continue onward with my retinue.~~~~
7.5.942We have elected to spend the night in the border town of Nishi Kaku. Beyond the bounds of this town lie the beginnings of Orcland. I know my companions are glad of the chance to rest before we begin what will likely be the longest stretch of our trip. The Wastes stretch out before us to the horizon. It is so very flat.I caught Bartal Novak, one of my apprentices, complaining to a guard about the long trip. I scolded him and gave him several menial tasks to keep him distracted. But I confess that I fear that he is only a prelude for what is to come later. From what the Naryur has written about the trip, it will not be an easy one to make. Hopefully the rest here will fortify them for the trip.~~~~
7.8.942Three days into the Orc Wastes, and I can already see why they got their name. Flat ground as far as the eye can see, all dirt and dust. Already I miss the cool mountain breeze and the sight of a color that is not brown. But I will not voice my complaints. I must remain strong for my companions.~~~~
7.17.942I do not know how the military lives on these rations. If I see one more Beef Borts I may scream.~~~~
7.18.942Aed damn it!~~~~
7.28.942We have decided to camp by a stream nearby. It is the last such marked on our maps, and we will refill our waterskins. Beyond that lies land that has never been fully surveyed. We have rough outlines of the major geographical features, but it is not settled territory. We passed the last serious Orc settlement two days ago. From here it will be scattered farmsteads and freeholds until we hit the west. It will be a long way,~~~~
8.6.942I did not think it was possible for the sun to beat down hotter than it did in the Orc Wastes. But I think this section of land may be an actual desert. One of our escorts, Bakir Ekrem Yilmazi, did service in the military Cartography division. He has been marking our route for future posterity, and has been a great help. He has managed to lead us to a cave system that we took shelter in this morning to avoid a small sandstorm. The concerned look in his eyes tell me that we can expect worse as we travel deeper.~~~~
8.19.942I am starting to have doubts about this mission. A few weeks away from civilization, and the mood around camp has taken a decidedly downward turn. I myself am not immune to this. I find myself doubting why I was the one sent on the mission. There were Seers and Farseers far older and more experienced that could have been sent, ones who know the tenants of the old Search that these people follow far better than I. I am to be expected to deliver upon an entire nation of people I have never seen before, and to bring to them the word of Aed. I do not know if such a thing is possible.Is it possible that the Naryur made a mistake in choosing me?~~~~
8.23.942Mood in camp has gotten worse. Ferenc Orban and Solak Artan Degirmenci got into a fight today, and I was forced to physically separate them. They are both relegated to opposite ends of the caravan and I had a black eye.Something must be done.~~~~
8.15.942I do not know why I never thought of this before. It is quite genius, if I do say so myself.We were continuing our way through the desert this morning, when I found my mind wandering, searching for something, anything stimulating. And I found myself thinking back to a time when I would have been glad for this sort of boredom.School.And so, I have taken it upon myself to become schoolmaster to my companions. Every time we rest, I break out one of the volumes I brought with me and begin to educate my apprentices and guards on whatever I can. Theology, mathematics, history, architecture. Anything I can.We have already covered ten miles more than yesterday due to everyone wanting shorter breaks.Quite genius.~~~~
8.22.942Today is a momentous occasion. I write this in my tent at night, and not ten feet away the Harcur himself sleeps. We crossed paths with his own party on the walk today. After several years learning of Kalmar and its people, his time with them has come to an end. He must return to his father’s court and take up his duties as heir, much as the Naryur himself did after his own foreign adventures in his youth.He has had much to tell us about the land where we are going. The young man has an incredible way with words, painting a picture of the land and it’s people I could almost physically see. What he has told us will be of great use when we arive, telling us of customs and various cultural trivia.But even that pales in comparison to the gift he gave me personally. It seems that the Kalmari had a new year's tradition that involved giving gifts to friends. And before his death Antal Kalmar gave the Harcur a book he himself had written. It was a collection of religious essays and treatises written by Antal himself and various other religious notables that fully outlines the nation's beliefs and views on the Search.Apparently the Harcur has taken it upon himself to create copies of the book, presumably to be studied when he reaches home. He has already complete two, by HAND at that on the road, and has gifted me one.It is a fascinating read. It is clear that Antal Kalmar and his people have had a very long time to consider their views, and the treatise by the apparently legendary Etelka Kelemen is enough for me to consider that their views on astrology and Aed might be right. But I am most fascinated by the final sections, written entirely by Antal in the last few years. His views on Search-Aedak
, and the possibilities of finding the Name of God. I am glad to see at least some of my work is done, and the idea has already begun to spread. I will simply have to help these people see the Truth. Judging by the book, I will have my work cut out for me.~~~~
8.23.942The Harcur and his retinue left us in the morning, heading back east. I must confess, some part of me wishes I were going with them. I do not know when I will see home again.But I have my task, and Antal’s book has given me new hope. We have at last reached the end of the desert, and the Harcur said we would. Far in the distance to the southwest lay a truly massive chain of mountains, whose tips seem to scrape the sky. According to the Harcur, that is the Vadhadha Mountain Range, the eastern border of Kalmar. They are apparently all but impassible, though thankfully we will not need attempt them. We will bypass the mountains entirely and enter Kalmar as everyone else does, through their northern province of Utari.Between the visitation of the Harcur, and finally leaving that desert behind us, the mood has rapidly brightened around camp. I’m not stopping my lessons however. My companions have learned much despite their grumbling, and now I can begin to teach them of the land we approach.~~~~
8.30.942We have done it. We have finally reached Kalmari territory. I write this from inside the Almuric compound of Szekemaradek outside the chief town of Pareavesa. The crowds that turned out to greet us were a pleasant surprise, though according to the Almur who man the outpost, it is something we will need to get used to. Apparently the near religious reverence these people have for Almur makes it take time for them to get used to the presence of one.We will spend a few more days in the outpost while we await the honor guard from Pagahara, the capital. They will escort us to the capital, where I will present myself before the interim Council of Four before beginning my work.I look forward to it greatly.~~~~
9.4.942We have a problem. A rather serious problem that we all really should have seen coming.The Council of Four wants me to take over running the country. I am to rebuild the religious Caste, which makes me the leader of the Religious Caste. The Religious Caste runs the country.We must sort this out. I am not even remotely fit to pick up the reigns of a nation, especially not from the Ivory hands of a near mythical Almur who was a beloved ruler for a millennium.This must be solved.~~~~
9.25.942 My protestations of leadership have fallen on deaf ears, and so I have simply taken the choice out of their hands by leaving the palace and taking up residence in the Cathedral of Pagahara.It is a rather strange building I must say. The nation is, almost entirely dedicated to the Search. In fact, according to the founding documents I perused while trying to get out of my situation, it seems the nation was founded to be dedicated to the Search.To that end, it makes sense to build a Cathedral to He-Who-Forged-The-World. And at first glance, that is what it appears to be. But if you look closer, you see that it is more than that. Apparently Pagahara, and Kalmar at large, has a small population that doesn’t believe in the Search. Whether they are worshipers of Aed, or of the various local pagan religions. And it seems the Cathedral is open to all of those faiths. Oh, the place is still primarily dedicated to the Kalmari Search. The ceiling is studded with quartz so that it shines like the night sky under candlelight, and the walls are decorated with symbols and scenes that I am told represent various moments of religious importance to the Kalmari Search.But there are places set aside for the worship of other gods. Even some of the less extreme Dydorists are allowed to worship, provided they don’t start preaching about the evil of the fellow worshipers.It is an interesting dichotomy. A nation ruled for a thousand years by what is essentially a theocracy. And yet, it is religiously tolerant enough to open the doors of it’s main house of worship to others.Actually, that gives me an idea. I need to track down a copy of Antal’s final note to his people...~~~~
10.15.942It seems I had underestimated these people yet again. My problem is not with the leadership this time, though I am still dealing with them.Today, I have learnt that just because a nation has a religious caste, does not mean that the rest of the people are not well versed in said religion.I got into a rather heated debate with my new ‘flock’ over whether or not Aed was the true Name of God. The crowd seems to be divided on the subject. Five hours we went back and forth. I have never had my beliefs so thoroughly examined.But I do think there were a few more people who agreed with me at the end than there were at the beginning. So I shall count it as a win.~~~~
11.4.942It has been a very busy period. But I have done it. I have convinced the Council of Four not to name me the new leader of the nation.Instead, the nation shall be lead by the Council of Five. I will still be a member of his council, as I am the leader of the Religious Caste, but no more will one man decide the fate of this nation. It is no doubt going to be something of a shock to the people, but they will have to learn to live with it.The Council has ruled surprisingly well since Antal died, and I think they will continue to do so.They are currently informing the populace of the announcement as I write this, and I will go out to join them in a minute. But I want to get this down first.All through the trip here, I had doubts and concerns, and a desire to just give up and go home. I still have all those things, and more. But I have something else too. These people really are, as Antal put it, our cousins. Strange in some ways, but they do remind me of home. They are strong willed and stubborn on their points, but they can change in the face of evidence and strong arguments. Keleman did it in her day, and now I must do it in mine.And as I look up and see the Great Observatory atop it’s mountain peak, I can’t help but think that maybe I won’t be the only one convincing people of things.I may always want to go home, but perhaps I also already am.11.4.1000 |
|
