Post by lavulpe on Jul 19, 2015 15:24:52 GMT
Time to crank out some god damn lore.
First, here is everything form WRP, we will either adopt it, or use it as a guide, most likely the latter. Personally, I cannot write 30 pages of lore and law this flawless. I think we should mostly just swap out city names and resources and use this as it is honestly beautiful.
LAWS AND GOVERNMENT
This is all your crap from taxing to court to land ownership.
The Capital Government of Opal
Cities, Towns & Buildings
The Pantheon
A religious building constructed to ensure cooperation between all the provinces on the issue of Idol-Worship. It also served as a religious base for multiculturalism and sometimes as a university, or popular spot for study.
The Watchtower
The Watchtower of Charm was build in the days before the Time of Crisis as the population developed to aid merchants in keeping schedules, and organizers on timing their workers in the mines.
Constitution of Ithlor
Citizenship
This person must own or rent land.
If this person is part of the specific province's retinue, then the land requirement is null.
This person must be of the age of 18.
Nobles may buy land, but accept vassalage of the Capital and their respective Regent's territory.
Nobles that successfully keep their houses in order, and regularly send in reports of their retinue, prisoner logs, and other employees are paid a base fee from the Capital for good behavior.
Taxes
Citizens must pay rent to their Provincial Representative if they are renting a home.
Citizens, and subjects must pay whatever tax the Provincial Representative requires.
Provincial Representatives must pay tax and homage to the People's Father of Opal.
Taxes are due to Opal by the final week of the month.
Candidacy
Candidate must be a citizen.
Citizen must live in the province for which he announces candidacy.
If the citizen owns land in more than one province, he may only run for an office in one.
If a citizen has not been residing in a province for two weeks prior to the election, he is not eligible.
Provincial Elections
Election of the Father takes place every three months on the first Saturday of the month.
Elections for Provincial Representatives must be held the month before the election of the Father on the first Saturday of the month.
Only citizens may vote.
Men with land in two or more provinces may vote in both.
In the case of which a candidate is not worthy of his position, citizens may call for a trial by arms.
In the case of a refusal of a trial, the candidate must leave the election, and his runner-up is chosen in his stead.
Local Elections
Local Elections decide the Wardens, or Elders of a village.
The prevailing Provincial Representative chooses the candidates for the villages under his domain.
The candidate must live in the village, or must move to it upon his success, no exceptions; failure to move into the village within the day of being elected constitutes as abdication to the opposition.
The candidates should be of a healthy income.
The candidates should be of the most respectful families.
The Provincial Representative may only leave his province when the Official has deemed the preparation for the election fair.
Elections of the Father
The bodies of the Provincial Representatives are sacrosanct during the moot.
Only the representatives themselves may lay hands upon one another, but not upon the Father; only during duels, and trials by combat.
Only Provincial Representatives may vote for the People's Father.
Only, and all Provincial Representatives are candidates by default.
Provincial Representatives cannot refuse candidacy, or the result of the vote.
Provincial Representatives cannot vote for themselves.
Provincial Representatives must vote only for another Provincial Representative.
The previous Father gets no vote, but may make his preference known before the vote, but is bound by law to not prefer himself.
First Citizenry
First Citizens are chosen by the new Father.
First Citizens act as Provincial Representatives in the Father's stead in his province of origin.
If a First Citizen is forced out by trial upon his arrival to the province, the Father must choose a new one or call for referendum (vote).
Trials by Arms
Trial by arms may be only declared within the walls of Opal's court of justice where a battle can be organized (time, location and numbers) between the -three parties- (participant one and two, aswell as the spectating government functionaries) under the watchful eye of a judge.
Only those able to field a party of 5 or more weaponmen are able to participate in a trial by arms. If one is not viable for a trial by arms then normal course of court justice will be held onto.
A judge may rule that a conflict is too petty for a trial by arm and prevent it from being organized.
All trials at arms must be overseen by a government official.
If a man is called forth for a trial by combat he has a right to refuse, but in doing so must submit to the conditions for refusal.
Trials at arms in an election has no conditions for refusal apart from removal from the election.
Cowardice is not allowed in an election, and will result in immediate expulsion.
Any men may help those involved in the trial, so long as they make their intention known beforehand and both sides are equal in number.
Government Officials
The Father's body is held sacrosanct.
Any touching of the Father's body during his term will be met with whatever punishment he deems fit.
The bodies of the Provincial Representatives are sacrosanct during the election of the Father.
Provincial Representatives can only be touched during the election of the Father if they are votes as candidate, and only through a trial by arms.
Provincial Representatives may make their own laws, and taxes within their realm of influence.
All who attack collectors of taxes during their duties will be considered bandits.
The People's Guard Commander must submit proper regular reports to the offices in Opal, or submit himself to disciplinary action.
Government Meetings
At least twice a month the Representatives must come to Opal to discuss matters of the realm.
Motions may be raised, and voted on within the council.
The Father's vote counts for two.
The Father may veto any motion he deems detrimental to the people.
No representative may abstain from the vote, and must make their opinions known.
Unwritten Law
Every man has the right to defend himself, and all normal laws regarding murder, banditry, rape, and slavery apply.
The current Father, being, in fact, the representative of Opal, is also a candidate for re-election:
In the few cases that the current Father was chosen, he was never allowed more than two successive terms.
If not re-elected, the Father must wait until the next term to run for any office
If the current Father is chosen, his sacrosanctity is dropped to the level of the representatives in case of challenge.
The new Father's sacrosanctity is restored if there are no challengers, or has won out against them.
The Father's preference for the next candidate if it is given is revered always, no matter the holder of the office.
Attempts on the lives of representatives are considered treason.
Candidates for local elections are to be nobles, or the wealthiest families living within the village.
Commoners must submit to the orders of nobility.
Representatives are considered Barons outside of Ithlor.
Representatives are given the same respect as Barons regardless of bloodline.
Knights may not have more than two Squires.
Pages start at the age of 8, and assist their knights as servants while learning theory of knighthood, these do not have to be nobles.
Knights may have as many Pages as they wish, but must make them into Squires at the age of 14, or release them from their retinue.
Squires assist their knight more intimately than Pages, and can serve them, help them with armor, or assist them in battle near the end of their training; these are almost entirely nobles, though exceptions may be made, with the permission of their lord.
Rhodoks only allow lords/representatives to knight other Knights.
Any Knight can knight a Knight.
Before a knighting, Squires must fast and pray for three days prior, bathe, then have their weapons blessed by a priest before the ceremony.
The Knighting Ceremony is typically overseen by a Lord, but battlefield-knightings for special heroism are not uncommon.
A Squire may not be made into a Knight until the age of 21, and may not be made one afterward except for heroism.
A Squire who was not made a Knight at the age of 21 will merely be considered an Esquire, and may assist as a cavalryman and wear their house heraldry if they are a noble, but will not bear the title of Knight.
Proper title must be spoken in the Father's presence:
Father: "Father -insert name-", followed by "Your Grace/My Lord".
Proper titles must be spoken to each representative, there are three ways to address them in-context; addressing them correctly will also state the intent and topic of conversation:
Representative (Civilian Duties): "Representative -insert name-", followed by "Sir".
Protector (Military Duties): "Protector", followed by "My Lord".
Baron (Foreigners): "Lord -insert name-", followed by "My Lord".
The nobility of Calradia are recognized in Ithlor, and must also be granted their proper titles:
King: "King"(Equals)/Your Highness/Your Majesty", followed by "Your Grace".
Duke: "Duke/Duchess"(Equals)/Your Grace", followed by "Sir", or "Madam/Ma'am".
Count: "Lord -insert name-", followed by "My Lord/Lady".
Barons: "Lord -insert name-", followed by "My Lord/Lady".
Knights: "Sir -insert name-" or "The Honourable, Lady -insert name-", followed by "Sir/Lady".
People's Guard
The People's Guard are solely a force for revolution.
The people's right to bear arms is inviolate.
Exceptions are granted in certain areas decided by the government.
The People's Guard may only be levied in Times of Crisis.
The People's Guard will take upon themselves the number of their revolution for posterity.
Any unlawful use of the term, or illegal levy of troops will be bet with summary punishment by death.
The name may only be taken by a revolutionary force consisting of at least two-thirds of Ithlor's population.
The revolutionary force must exhibit proof of crimes against humanity against the tyrant.
CULTURES
This is how the old nations ran their shit. It is extremely efficient and makes sense.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Foreign Relations
Ithlor was once an area where the Kingdom of the Nords, Kingdom of the Vaegirs, Khergit Khanate, Kingdom of the Rhodoks and Kingdom of the Swadians bordered to each other and fought each other over territorial expansion. A war for independence, 90 years, and a civil war later, it is a small city state that struggled for its right of existence against five super powers. New borders were drawn and what were formerly parts of their respective kingdoms, were now 5 provinces of the city state Ithlor, each represented by their own cultural and ethnic majority. Because of this rowdy history and the fact that Ithlor still borders with 5 kingdoms, foreign relations are of great significance to Ithlor. Below is a little bit of information about the general relations between Ithlor and other entities in Calradia.
Kingdom of the Nords
As with most other Kingdoms, the relations between the Kingdom of the Nords and the People's Throne of Ithlor is quite neutral, but with a tendency to the negative as according to general Nord opinion, the whole concept of Ithlor "sounds rather girly and weak". However, the Kingdom of the Nords recognizes that there is a significant and healthy Nordic population that plays an important role in the society of Ithlor and they are sometimes met with diplomatic or financial aid in the rare cases that it would be appropriate. The holy Champions Gate in Ithlor is also of great significance to Nords and their religion throughout the entire kingdom, and pilgrimage to it is not uncommon. There is a significant amount of merchants traveling between the Kingdom of the Nords and Ithlor, and other business taking place between the two.
Kingdom of the Vaegirs
As with most other Kingdoms, the relations between the Kingdom of the Vaegirs and the People's Throne of Ithlor is quite neutral, but with a tendency to the positive. Vaegirs are very strongly bound by their Orthodox Makerism anywhere, and though they can be fierce, and merciless, are often people of reason and a sober mind. This has caused a genuine interest in the prospering of Ithlor, as along with it the lives of the Vaegir and Orthodox population would improve. Ithlor also was home to two important key figures in the Orthodox church and a significant amount of historical figures that played key roles in civil wars, the creation and liberation of Ithlor, and so forth were in fact, pure-blood Vaegirs.
Khergit Khanate
As with most other Kingdoms, the relations between the Khergit Khanate and the People's Throne of Ithlor is quite neutral, but with a tendency to the negative as the general consensus between Khergit officials and spiritual leaders is that the Khergit population of Ithlor is in a dangerous and vulnerable position that can easily deteriorate. There is a significant amount of trade taking place between Ithlor and the Khergit Khanate however, and the competence of local Khergits is not underestimated (especially regarding their historical success in war, economy and staying on relatively good terms with all parties). Also several of the mystical stone piles that are seen as holy icons by Khergits are located inside Ithlor.
Kingdom of the Rhodoks
As with most other Kingdoms, the relations between the Kingdom of the Rhodoks and the People's Throne of Ithlor is quite neutral. Since Ithlor was the eventual home and final resting place of Joseph Borth, Ithlor does not go unnoticed even by the average Rhodok commoner. Stories of battle, religion, and relics, and an extravagant combination and celebration of the three are of great importance to the Rhodoks, so much so that the very sand that Joseph Borth may once have walked upon gets sold on markets further down south. the Rhodok King and his men however will never fully accept a situation where the Rhodoks are not in complete power, and this can be noticed in their relations with the People's Throne of Ithlor. The Rhodok King does not see any reasons to be hostile towards the throne of Ithlor but it does not give a lot of recognition either.
Kingdom of Swadia
As with most other Kingdoms, the relations between the Kingdom of the Rhodoks and the People's Throne of Ithlor is quite neutral. Amongst inland Swadians, Ithlor is not very well known. Though the poetry of Robert of Lyun, who was from Ithlor, is; even today, decades after his death his poems are spoken. There is a significant amount of trade taking place between Ithlor and the Kingdom of Swadia. The Swadian King does not see any reasons to be hostile towards the throne of Ithlor but it does not give a lot of recognition either.
Sarranid Sultanate
Ithlor is mostly (though still hardly) known amongst Sarranids for its role in the exciting tale of the brothers that once lent their expertise to a Khergit Oligarch and his noble fight for peace and justice. This story however is usually only told by and to the eldest of men of the Sarranid villages sitting in their tea houses at late nights, when they are in need of the spark of hope and motivation coming from the heroic telling of devotion and honor. Considering Ithlor is so incredibly far away from the Sarranid Sultanate there is pretty much no interaction between the two entities. Sarranid religious leaders have taken notice of the intolerance towards supporters of the Sarrian religion, as they have taken notice of wherever and whenever this has taken place in Calradia. Ithlor has very little if any significance at all to the Sarranid Sultanate.
Opal: AKA Independent City
Opal
Opal has always had five foci: trade, law, diplomacy, protection, and freedom. Much of Opal is dedicated to these things, whether it be through its legal teams, its guilds and trades, its diplomats and sizable advisory, its guard forces or its religious freedoms embodied in the Pantheon. Thus many people from Opal tend to be lawyers, craftsmen or merchants, advisors, clerks or heralds, members of the Father's Guard, or priests and historians maintaining the Pantheon.
Given the democratic systems of Opal, no hereditary titles are inherent to Opal itself, though it recognizes all nobility from the other provinces, and foreign dignitaries. Opal's military is completely loyal to the state, rather than a specific lord, and has often been the focus of many coups of the government, sometimes even the commander of the Father's own guard leading them in order to appoint a suffect in the place of the current Father. The military does not answer to any nobility and is considered a completely separate secular entity that only takes commands from its commander, not even the Father. The Father in turn, has sole command and control over the Father's Guard Commander.
The state body of Opal is of a hierarchy consisting of the following: The People's Father, Father's Guard Commander, Non-Commissioned Officers, Advisory Councilmen.
OPAL RELIGION
Other Religion related Information
Opal
Opal has always been a semi-secular government, preferring tolerance for each of the religions in order to facilitate trade and later, government. With the help of Khergit traders and bankers as well as Vaegir treasure-hunters, many religious idols were brought to Opal to trade. Nikolai Petrovich, the first Master of Opal, in charge of trade, decided not to sell the idols, and instead put them on display. He hired Vaegirs and Khergits and some others to help him find the idols in Ithlor and bring them to Opal to embellish it. When he became the Father of Opal, and the Founder, he ordered the building of a great Pantheon for all of the gods, and to stand as a treasury for religious "goods". By building the Pantheon, and guarding it with intensity against robbers, he managed to gain the support of each of the Five Provinces during the Time of Crisis and solidified his power under religious authority, and generosity. Since then, Opal has been a settler of religious disputes, which often take place in the form of canon trials in the Pantheon looked over by the Father as the sole secular authority, and therefore the unbiased one in theory.
Current state of affairs in Opal related to religion
Opal does not hate any of the other religions by default, but have come to favor the Khergit religion in the city due to its applicability with the others. The city allows worshipers and priests from each of the Provinces into the city, and allows them to take turns preaching in the Pantheon should they so desire.
NORDS
Nords
Nords brought with them three things. They brought their laws, their culture, and their trades. The Trial by Combat within their culture quickly spread into normal Ithlor law, and has become a centerpiece for deciding conflict in the courts. They brought tradesmen in the form of blacksmiths and farmers from their homeland, and have since become Ithlor's sole grain export through monopoly. More importantly, they have brought their military, and many peoples in Ithlor still cringe at the memory of Max's raiders. Some of the Nords also choose to take up the bow, mainly for hunting, but some have mastered the long bow and lend range and deadly hails to their axe-throwing brothers.
The Nordic culture is based on a Jarl and his council, those on the council typically focusing on representing different families and/or gods to ensure that all are represented, supported by the thanes that protect the villages from attack and pay taxes to the Jarl. When a war occurs, the Jarl raises his Fyrd to repel the attackers or to make raids upon his enemies. Women typically serve a medical role to collect and treat casualties taken in battle, and prayer to the Gods before combat is seen as a need rather than an option. This means that the hierarchy of the Nords consists of the following: Jarl (Representative), Chief (advisor-commander role in Ithlor), Huscarls (House-Carls, which protect their lord), Thanes, Carls (home-owners), Fyrdmen, and Auxiliaries.
Nords brought with them three things. They brought their laws, their culture, and their trades. The Trial by Combat within their culture quickly spread into normal Ithlor law, and has become a centerpiece for deciding conflict in the courts. They brought tradesmen in the form of blacksmiths and farmers from their homeland, and have since become Ithlor's sole grain export through monopoly. More importantly, they have brought their military, and many peoples in Ithlor still cringe at the memory of Max's raiders. Some of the Nords also choose to take up the bow, mainly for hunting, but some have mastered the long bow and lend range and deadly hails to their axe-throwing brothers.
The Nordic culture is based on a Jarl and his council, those on the council typically focusing on representing different families and/or gods to ensure that all are represented, supported by the thanes that protect the villages from attack and pay taxes to the Jarl. When a war occurs, the Jarl raises his Fyrd to repel the attackers or to make raids upon his enemies. Women typically serve a medical role to collect and treat casualties taken in battle, and prayer to the Gods before combat is seen as a need rather than an option. This means that the hierarchy of the Nords consists of the following: Jarl (Representative), Chief (advisor-commander role in Ithlor), Huscarls (House-Carls, which protect their lord), Thanes, Carls (home-owners), Fyrdmen, and Auxiliaries.
NORD RELIGION
Nordic Worship of the Old Gods
The Nords are a people of never-ending worship. It is in the way they act, the way they carry themselves, and the way they fight. Like the Khergits, they worship their ancestors, and wish to join them in the fields of glory upon their death, but the death must be worthy, and it must be a glorious end to be deigned as a warrior, and sent to eternal heaven. Every day has a purpose, a deliberation to it. On Monday they worship the moon, and its phases that help them keep time. On Tuesday they worship law, and justice. On Wednesday they worship magic, prophecy, victory and death. On Thursday they worship strength and fertility. On Friday they worship love, beauty and gold, or power. On Sunday the Sun is worshiped for its warmth, and the passing of time. The Nords bury their renowned dead only after mummification, and often with their retinues. Some of these retinues are willing to become human sacrifices and follow their charge after death, and so do women, and wives. It is believed that these people then protect their charge after death, and become "after-walkers," or "those who walk after death." Like the Khergits, they believe in divination, but most notably that they are capable of convening directly with the Gods, and the discovery of the Champion's Gate in Ithlor fueled the enthusiasm for such rituals further. They believe that the stones are imbued with energies that pass through to the Ether-Realm, and allow them to garner omens for the coming seasons. It is here that the omens dictate the success of the clan, and whether or not the omens for trade, fertility, harvest, or even war are favorable. Despite this large-scale worship, many of the Nords harbor personal deities represented by the smallest details in the landscape, and protector spirits for villages.
Current state of affairs in Ithlor of the Nordic Worship of the Old Gods
While enjoying a very warm relation with the Khergits on a religious front, the Second Civil War has them on a back-pedal on the political front. Their relations with the Vaegirs could be worse but not by far politically but the relations with the Orthodox Makerists is just short of war and genocide. Their relations with Swadia are fine on a religious front but abysmal politically thanks to Max's conquests, and their relation with Rhodok Makerists aren't much better. The Khergits and Opal are the only authorities preventing an outright religious war between the Nords and their neighbors, and it is a common point of discussion upon whether to count the Nordic religious raids as mere provocations to be defended against or outright declarations of warfare and hostility.
Holy Scripture of the Nordic Worship of the Old Gods
There was the void. It was empty, and cold. It was a climate many factors above the highest peak, and bereft of air for breathing. It was all and nothing, there and not, translucent; and in it, lived the Gods. In the void, the Gods knew all of one another. There were no secrets to be had, nor malice, nor jealousy, for all was silent, but one god had enough. Kira, who had taken to sleep, had found beauty and wonder within her soul. She could think of nothing else for a time, and so it came to pass that she gave up a piece of herself, her energies, and used them to craft a multitude of jewels; so polished and perfect that they shone with their own light, and required no reflection.
The Gods had gazed upon her creations, at first from afar, but soon had come to respect her creations, and gave deference to the beauty of the jewels. Rikken, however, was not as impressed. He took a mighty blade and cleaved one of the jewels in two, to test their strength, and found it wanting. Vraal, who took interest in the sudden violence, swept his great hammer across the void and smashed the pieces of Rikken's jewel and many near it to powder. Kira was forlorn by the loss, and fled from the scene, leaving a trail of liquid behind her. When Vraal's display of power was finished, Rikken followed Kira into the dark.
He had found her with Brija, and she was weeping. A concept of sadness had not before taken place, but Brija was happy, and allowed Kira to cry upon her shoulder. As Rikken watched, Brija blew over Kira's ear and swept her finger in a graceful motion, and turned the dust into a great halo around them and imbued it with the color of Kira's tears, and made it something beautiful. Rikken gaped and found himself guilty of his wretchedness, and quickly retreated into the clouds.
Upon the sight, Kira was gladdened, and sang with a poignant joy and sadness as tears continue to run from her eyes into the clouds. The rain and the song found Rikken who had been meditating in the clouds, and he was wettened by tears and smitten by song. He looked around and found himself quickly lost, for the first time, the navigator lost in mere clouds, but it was beautiful. In the place he had created, for the first time, a sweeping plane upon which he grew endless fields, watered by the tears of Kira, and he built a structure, a gate, and placed upon it two of her jewels of wonder. He captured her sound and imbued the stone with her music, whereupon he cast a spell upon it, so that all he would need is to open a portal to reach what he named Kiradale, the field of harmony.
Vraal had retreated into the clouds as well, but for a different purpose. He was jealous beyond jealousy at the powers of creation that the other gods had held, and found his energies and imaginations no match for the subtle beauties of Kira and Brija. So it came to pass, that he rubbed his hands together at magnificent speeds and blew upon them, and created hellfire, with which he melted one of the jewels in its conflagration. He then took his hammer and began to strike it, again and again, and turned the thing of beauty into a great axe of war, for if he could not match the Gods with creation, he could do naught but destroy their petty trinkets. The power was so great and so terrifying that Rikken had been woken from his sleep in paradise, and passed through the gate.
Rikken had exited the gate through a portal near Vraal and had found himself devastated. Vraal had began to curse his flames upon the second jewel and it had began to melt. It was here that Rikken drew his blade and cleaved the flames in two with the force of his blow, and began a great combat that lasted n immeasurable period. Strength met power, determination met cunning, courage met self-righteousness, and neither could prevail. Soon, Rikken could no longer fight as he had always fought, for he grew tired, and with a swing of his sword sent billowing of dust and ash into Vraal, stunning him and blinding him, and he had landed a blow that sent struck him against the molten jewel, setting it in motion, and he responded with a fell sweep of his great axe that it had set the cosmos in motion around their dispute. The dust, the rock, the molten rain from the jewel, and the cool rain from Kira's tears from afar swept around the battlefield in a great hurricane, and where their blows met, the world was created.
Frytig, the prophet, had began to gaze upon the combat with interest, and had called the Gods to a moot to discuss what to do with the angered ones, but it was Kira who had in the end, suggested banishment for the men who had broken her precious stars. So it came to pass that Adalragn took the destructive powers from both Rikken and Vraal and had banished them to the world they had created in their anger, and Frytig slept upon the night, and the coming morning imbued the world with greater and lesser spirits from his dreams, and filled every valley with deathly traps, unspeakable terrors, and Kira wept. Her tears had fallen upon the earth and had sown beauty within the land, and grew grass, meadows, and trees. They met with the molten ash of the jewel and had created steam and air for Rikken to breathe, and began to pray.
In this world, the Gods had placed Man. The most cunning and unspeakable evil from the depths of Frytig's dreams; doppelgangers of the Gods themselves, and set down upon the earth to test the Fallen, as he took away their invincibility, and left them with mere immortality, and he had given them weapons of the same make Vraal had created. He created the mountains, and made them billow the hellish flames from the moving hands of Vraal, and gave Man cunning, and thinking to lie, and to cheat, to trick. Adalragn then built many gates upon the earth, and hid them from Man and Gods. Each would lead to Kiradale, to paradise, and to leave the earth and their banishment they would need only to find one, and so the Gods left the Fallen to their fate.
Vraal had been the first to leave to paradise. For he had created a sharp axe with a narrow edge, and used it to burrow beneath the earth, and he had found a gate and returned with tales of his glory and redemption, but Rikken had not returned. As the years went by, timed by the motion of the molten jewel set in motion by Vraal's back, Rikken traveled, and learned, and studied. He began to teach Man his failings, and learn from his own; living in great poverty, he showed them the path of the righteous, and the true face of the Gods. He spent the rest of his life humming Kira's music, and passed when he was set upon by a great and terrible spider, helped by elves whose forest he had violated with his presence.
The Gods were shocked to have felt one of their number die, and Kira wept in such torment that her tears flooded through the gate and flooded the world, and created the oceans, lakes, and seas. Upon which Rikken's body floated, and the Gods, in their mercy, gave him the power of resurrection, and brought him back into paradise for his subtle glory and bravery. They recalled to Man his tale, and on Rikken's word, would allow them into Kiradale if their bravery, valor, and discipline were as great as the Fallen. So it came to pass, that the Gods left the world; only leaving the gates, and their word in the trees to listen behind.
KHERGITS
Khergits
The Khergits have long been traders. Their Nomadic origins and trade practices are well known, and it is known that where there's a Khergit, there's a horse. Banking has also been a large part of their trade in order to protect their funds on their travels as well. They are known for their abilities to fire their compound bows from horseback, their abilities as trackers and navigators, and their discipline in the order with which they live their lives. Their main trading is in the form of herbs and spices from the steppes. Over time, they also took to farming, and have since gained a monopoly on cabbages.
The Khergit military is not separated by nobility. While Khergits accept that nobles exist and give them their deference, the military is a meritocracy within which men are separated into their separate skills and no standardization apart from vital things such as range, and speed are accounted for. Strict discipline is kept, as with anything in a Khergit's life, and men follow the orders of their leaders without question and with alacrity. Rather than relying on ambushes, the Khergits use attrition in their warfare instead, to whittle down their opponents for lancers. This discipline has also suited them in the Father's Guard, often making them the centers in a line to dress the lines and ensure they are the proper intervals. The Khergit hierarchy consists of the following: Noyan (Representative), Chief (typically of a village), Riders or Scouts, then Bankers and Traders, and finally Tribesmen.
The Khergits have long been traders. Their Nomadic origins and trade practices are well known, and it is known that where there's a Khergit, there's a horse. Banking has also been a large part of their trade in order to protect their funds on their travels as well. They are known for their abilities to fire their compound bows from horseback, their abilities as trackers and navigators, and their discipline in the order with which they live their lives. Their main trading is in the form of herbs and spices from the steppes. Over time, they also took to farming, and have since gained a monopoly on cabbages.
The Khergit military is not separated by nobility. While Khergits accept that nobles exist and give them their deference, the military is a meritocracy within which men are separated into their separate skills and no standardization apart from vital things such as range, and speed are accounted for. Strict discipline is kept, as with anything in a Khergit's life, and men follow the orders of their leaders without question and with alacrity. Rather than relying on ambushes, the Khergits use attrition in their warfare instead, to whittle down their opponents for lancers. This discipline has also suited them in the Father's Guard, often making them the centers in a line to dress the lines and ensure they are the proper intervals. The Khergit hierarchy consists of the following: Noyan (Representative), Chief (typically of a village), Riders or Scouts, then Bankers and Traders, and finally Tribesmen.
KHERGIT RELIGION
Khergit Worship of the Steppe Icons
Khergits believe in a spiritual form of ancestor-worship, and animism. They believe that the land is imbued with spirits, and that these spirits guide their daily lives and watch over them. They believe that horses are free spirits with souls. They believe in a duality of nature, and of consciousness, and believe that through divination they may speak to their ancestors, communing with them for both wisdom and guidance. The act of divination is very common, and often practiced before a holy relic at night with a torch, setting the torch at the base of the idol. They then set a mortar in front of it, and fill it with herbs, resins, roots, or gastropods which are burned and wafted by a fan from the user into the torch. This incense, also typically used in front of doors in the form of wicker sticks as an offering to heaven, cleanses the body, and prepares it for communion. When the smells have entered through the nose, a period of intense meditation follows, which is typically done by the client, and assisted by the shaman. It is here that it is known that peoples have been known to have seen or heard the dead, and received their blessings, orders, or advice. They believe in the idea of a beautiful death, and as such, suffer no qualms with fighting as long as it ends for a worthy cause in a manner of bravery; rather, a peace of mind, a peace with death, an honorable one. This has led many Khergits to make relaxation an art form, to make even the making of tea an art, the polishing of their swords. Each day has a deliberation only matched by the Nordic culture.
Current state of affairs in Ithlor of the Khergit Worship of the Steppe Icons
Due to the acts of war with the Rhodoks and their church stance on the Khergit worship, almost every skirmish between the two peoples has an undercurrent of religious hatred and contention. The Khergits enjoy a more than friendly relation with the Nords on a religious front thanks to similar traditions and ancestor worship if not rituals, and if not political, but only barely lukewarm relations with Swadian Protestants, who choose to ignore Khergit religion altogether and pretend them Makerists for political expedience. The Khergits view toward the rest of the religions is hardly reciprocated however. Being a trade people, they believe that all the religions are compatible with their own if mixed with proper meditation, and were the people who lent the most money to the idea, and construction of the Pantheon in Opal.
Holy Scripture of the Khergit Worship of the Steppe Icons
All must find their path. The path is pale as Winter's shade, ethereal as the gloom of Spring. One cannot find it, only two. Two cannot find it, only one. One that is Two; they are many, they are legion. Caverns, depths are cold; ripped asunder, filled with liquid rage. Danger awaits; safe as a storm, soft as thunder, comforting as a vice.
Travel deep; delve into the abyss; be lost, be found. Light gleams the brightest in the presence of the darkness outside; fields, mountains, flowers, the spirits all have roots. The roots are wings. How is the bird to fly without the earth below? Should it fear the void? Is the goal so great so as to ignore its dangers?
One looks at the gull. Hours one waits, hours it flies above the water. In and out it dives, and flies; starved, hungry, frustrated, and confused, but devoted completely to its task. It flies from the water within the next hour, fish in its talons, it falls. Again, and again; reaching and falling, reaching and falling. It is night, one rises to leave; above him the gull soars triumphant, a form wriggling beneath it; one's heart soars away.
What if one examined oneself in such a way? If one were to illuminate, and see one's manners, one's ethics, what would one find? Is it enough to do such a thing? Is it only the surface? All things have roots, for that is known, and all roots have beginnings. Within oneself is the wisdom of the spirits that guide the world. One must turn to the ancestors, and divine from their word, their signs, their wisdom. To do this, One must become two, and two must become one. One is not enough to decipher the code of the secrets from the currents of life, its energies. One may miss much through one's lens, but not two; the success is doubled, and the soul lost in-between, to be found by their goal.
Free oneself from distraction; one finds the material, immaterial. Material is imbued with the spirits of our forebears, but only imbued, never speaking. A means to an end, the end enlightenment; illumination through past wisdom; wisdom from within, wings to fly; not away, toward. Freedom from the world, peace within it, strength to face it; one helps the other, it is enough.
Kindness, devotion, peace, honor, service; the irony of existence brought to order. The wolf lives amongst the sheep; the tiger shares its plunder; the bird sings to the cat, it's song; beauty. Evil retreats under receding shadow, but the wise only forgive; never forget, always learning. Light contained must shine, turn against despair. The calm wind, the whispering brook, a cherry blossom in flight; the world changes.
MAKERISM
The Holy Scriptures of Makerism
The Knowledge - The Beginning, Chapter I
Ere aught was made there were the gods, immortal and timeless, and all was darkness and void, for naught had been wrought by their hands. And there was time that had no counting, for there were none that counted the years and seasons, for there was no sun to mark the coming of day and no moon to mark the coming of night.
And the gods gathered in the darkness and in the void, and were sore displeased with the nothingness that they dwelt in, and they decreed that the world should be created; and it was so.
In the darkness and the void they laid the foundations of the world, and upon the world they laid the great waters that cover the face of the world, and in the great waters they made the fish and the great sea beasts and many other creatures, which go hither and thither where they will. But the gods gave the fish and the sea beasts no cunning and no gift of speech.
And out of the great waters they cast up stone and rock and thus formed the land, and they marked where the great waters may wash against the land; but it was barren and void. Therefore they put upon the foundations of the land dirt and mud, and upon there they strew seeds of many kinds; but naught would grow.
The gods were sorely vexed by the barrenness of the soil and drew over the world the great firmament, and they covered the firmament with clouds and caused them to weep upon the barren soil and upon the multitude of the seed. And thus the sky came to be; but naught would grow.
Then the gods put the golden sphere above the firmament, and thus the sun came to be. The sun gave its heat and light to the seed and the clouds that venture across the sky, and they blew upon the world so that the wind came to be, waxing and waning as it is wont to do. And the plants and the trees and the flowers would grow, and thus the soil would give its bounty of fruit and wheat and rye and root and all such things.
And to signify day and night the gods made the sun travel as the sky, rising in the east and setting in the west, and the gods put up another sphere to shine at night, and thus the moon and the day and the night came to be.
The gods then made the animals of all fashions and shapes, those that walk upon feet and hooves and paws, and those that fly in the sky and those that creep upon the soil, and also Man. But naught was gifted with cunning or the gift of speech, and all were as animals, mindless and driven by naught but to fill their bellies and feed upon one another.
And by the will of the gods Man was as the animals of the world, for the gods were crude and evil, and they knew naught of compassion and love. And the gods would gather upon the firmament above and sent plague and desolation upon the creatures of the world, for they took pleasure in the infliction of harm that they could wreak with their hands.
And no tongue could utter supplication for mercy and aid from the gods, for none had the gift of speech. So it went for time and times, and the gods were pleased.
The Knowledge - The Beginning, Chapter II
When all was created the gods celebrated their work and took great pleasure in causing suffering and great desolation to all life that they had wrought with their hands.
And so it came to pass that a god and a goddess lay with each other under the sun that is above the firmament of the sky, for they were as drunk by their pleasure of their great and horrible deeds; and the goddess conceived and begat a child, and she gave the child a secret name known only by the gods, but to Man he is known as the Maker.
The Maker grew as the children of Man grow and when he had become of age, the gods took him to behold their work, which they had wrought with their hands, and they shewed him the desolation and the suffering of the animals and Man thereon. But the Maker was sorely moved in his heart, and his spirit was greatly vexed by the suffering of all life.
And the begotten god grew most wroth and turned his heart against his own, being displeased with how they treated all that which had been wrought by their hands, for in him dwelt love and compassion for life that the gods did not possess, and he spoke harshly unto them, saying,
Ye have wrought with your hands many great beauties and wonders that were not ere the world and all was made, for all was darkness and void; but ye know not in the vanity of your hearts that which ye do is evil. This shall not stand and must be undone.
But upon hearing this the gods were sorely in confusion, for they knew not of evil of which he spake, and they made their hearts as stone and hearkened him not. And they turned their back to him and acknowledged him not nor the wisdom of his words.
And the Maker thus turned in his heart against his own kin, being greatly moved by the desperate cries of all the beings, who without the gift of speech could naught but howl in their pain and anguish; and in his heart he swore to undo the great error and injustice that the gods had bestown upon all beings of the world.
The Knowledge - The Beginning, Chapter III
The Maker did then make war upon the gods, being greatly displeased with their lack of love and compassion for all beings of their creation, and above the firmament of the world did a great battle ensue, and it tore holes in the nothingness and caused it to be filled with the small lights that is called the stars.
But the gods were too many and their strength unequalled, and the Maker could not prevail against them, and he fled before their might and hid in the great earth that was created; and the gods laughed in their vain pride and cursed him, for they knew not love or compassion.
And the Maker knew that he could not prevail against them and turned his mind to thinking, for he could not abide to the suffering of all life upon the world. Therefore he bided his time and turned his gaze upon the beings that walk upon the soil of the land that the gods did make.
And the Maker came to look upon Man, for he was not as the animals of the world, neither they that creep upon the dirt, nor they that fly in the air, nor they that swim in the great waters, nor they that walk upon hooves and paws.
Upon seeing Man the Maker perceived that Man could wreak things with his hands, and could walk upon the earth with grace and purpose, and bring change unto the world, which was filled with suffering and anguish when the gods would send plague and famine and many other great calamities,
For the Maker was sore displeased with the world and its fashion, and he was loathe to give sway to the might of the gods, and he desired more so to fashion the world after his thought.
When the Maker perceived this he spake in his heart, saying, Of all that walk upon the soil of the land, Man is different. I shall give Man what I have and re-make him in my likeness of thought. And from Man shall I draw the strength that may thwart and undo the strength of the gods, for against much good all that is evil cannot prevail.
And the Maker ventured forth to the sun, for he knew that its light was good, and from it he stole a portion of its glory in secrecy, for he knew he could not prevail against the gods. And from the sun he took a portion and speedily went his way, so that the gods would not know and in their wrath come against to do battle.
But they saw it not, and the design of the Maker would thus come to be.
The Maker descended upon the firmament of the sky and beheld Man that walked hither and thither in his anguish upon the soil of the land; and the Maker bequeathed unto Man and all his kin a portion of the light of the sun, which he had taken without the knowledge of the gods.
And with the blow of his mouth he sent a portion of the light of the sun into Man and his kin, and thus Man begat knowledge of good and evil; and in that light, which the Maker gifted unto Man came the soul that dwelleth in all Men.
The knowledge of good and evil gave also Man the gift of cunning and thought and choice, and with the birth of souls in all Men the Maker was greatly strengthened; thus he knew in his heart that his design had come to fruition and he would again make war upon the gods.
The Knowledge - The Beginning, Chapter IV
The gods gathered then in the firmament of the sky, for they desired to wreak desolation upon all beings that dwell upon the soil of the earth and in the sky and in the great waters. And they wondered after Man when they beheld him, for he and his kin had now the gift of speech and of knowledge and cunning; and Man knew good and evil.
And they were greatly vexed and asked twixt each other who had done this, for they knew not who had done this.
The Maker came then again before them and spake unto them, saying, Behold my work and my design, for I have taken the light of the sun and gifted it unto Men; they are not as the beasts of the soil that dwell upon the land and the sky and the sea, and they shall rise to dominion of the world and divide it amongst themselves; and they shall know good and evil, right and wrong, and love and compassion.
And they shall remake the world so that it shall be no longer a place that ye shall smite with plague and desolation and famine and calamity. Thus have I spoken and thus have I done.
The gods wondered after the Maker and cried out in great uproar, for they were sorely vexed with the designs of the Maker and his deed. And they rose in their might to wage war upon him, for they were many and he but one.
Yet with all their great numbers and all their might they could not stand before him, for from Man the Maker drew strength as they had understood what he had wrought and had turned their hearts unto him.
And with his new strength he smote the gods and overcame them, and he bound them with his might so that they would have no power of him and over their creation. The Maker took the gods and went forth to the Dark Abyss, which lieth where no Man can go, for it is beyond the darkness and the void and the world and the firmament of the sky.
And in the Dark Abyss he cast them down and he banished them to that place for all time, so that they might never return to wage war upon him and smite the world with their many and cruel calamities from which they took great pleasure. The gods may thus never return from the Dark Abyss for in it is nothing as it is nothing, a place immaterial and beyond the power of Man.
Thus were the old gods driven from the world and Man was given dominion over the world and all that walketh upon the soil of the land.
The Knowledge - The Beginning, Chapter V
The Maker then returned to the world and beheld what he had done, and he was greatly pleased, but gave not the gift of the light of the sun to any save Man, and he decreed that all offspring of Man and his kin should be receive what he had bequeathed unto Man. That was his covenant and eternal promise.
And he spake, saying, Let Man rise to dominion as I have desired, and let him rule over the soil of the land and over the animals that dwell there, but the great waters shall he not rule, for they shall for ever serve as remembrance when all was chaos and in turmoil,
And when the gods sought to undo my designs and my desire. But from its bounty they shall find meat of fish and all other beasts that dwell therein. And from the animals that walk upon the soil of the land, and from the fowl that flieth under the firmament of the sky, and from the fruit of the trees and the fields shall he and his kin draw sustenance and be satisfied.
Yet shall Man and his kin toil as I have toiled, and shall for a season gather the fruit of the trees and the field, and in his abode shall he store it for the season that naught shall grow, for there was a time where naught was made.
And the Maker made the seasons where Man should sow seeds upon the field, and reap the harvest ere the coming of the season where naught would grow. And the Maker caused the animals to find their meat of the soil and the meat of their quarry, but he gave them no cunning or gift of speech.
And the Maker spake, saying, I shall bequeath unto Man another gift that if he in the span of his life walketh my way and doeth my will, and he shall gain entrance to the Field, which I shall make as a place for Men that seek to do right and good. And in the Field they shall be as I am and think as I am, for they shall have my thoughts as I had Man in mine.
But woe unto him that walketh not upon my path, for the light that he shall be gifted shall fade away into nothingness, and he shall be as though he never was, nor shall he ever be again, and the world shall never see his likeness or hear his voice again.
VAEGIRS
The Vaegirs have long been hard men. Miners have rumored to be delving into the depths of the earth near Curaw for centuries, and have long been Calradia's iron export. Their archers are beyond reproach with their hands upon a recurve war bow, and are rumored to be able to hit a fly on a bull's tail at three hundred meters. Their other exports include moonshine from potatoes and other fermented goods, blunt weaponry such as maces, and furs. They had at a time been an exporter of firewood, but their extensive deforesting led to the end of the forest upon their mountain, and drove them to build their villages within their older mines for warmth. They also tend to be great at fishing, and as a consequence have the cleanest fresh water that comes from the top of the mountain, rich in minerals and nutrients by the time it reaches the lake.
The Vaegirs also have a system of knighthood that is more an earned title, and granted only by the lord so that knights cannot sire other knights. They are not as pretty as Swadian knights, but typically get the job done in a more brutal manner. This has the same hereditary nobility (if not the actual title of knight) as any other for standardization and heraldic purposes. The Vaegir military is based on a form of irregular warfare. While it is disciplined as any other, it is not pretty in anything except its maneuver and formations. They are killers, they are prideful, and can perform any kind of formation or column with surprising speed. This has made them the mainstay of the guard forces of Opal for decades along with their almost natural feel for tactics, often making them the officers of the force. They are typically seen leading and trailing the parade formations of the Guard to ensure a steady pace and true direction. The Vaegir hierarchy is a simple feudal manner: Boyar (Representative), Captain, Non-Commissioned Officers, Knights, Soldiers, then Commoners.
The Vaegirs also have a system of knighthood that is more an earned title, and granted only by the lord so that knights cannot sire other knights. They are not as pretty as Swadian knights, but typically get the job done in a more brutal manner. This has the same hereditary nobility (if not the actual title of knight) as any other for standardization and heraldic purposes. The Vaegir military is based on a form of irregular warfare. While it is disciplined as any other, it is not pretty in anything except its maneuver and formations. They are killers, they are prideful, and can perform any kind of formation or column with surprising speed. This has made them the mainstay of the guard forces of Opal for decades along with their almost natural feel for tactics, often making them the officers of the force. They are typically seen leading and trailing the parade formations of the Guard to ensure a steady pace and true direction. The Vaegir hierarchy is a simple feudal manner: Boyar (Representative), Captain, Non-Commissioned Officers, Knights, Soldiers, then Commoners.
VAEGIR RELIGION
Vaegir Orthodox Makerism
Orthodox Vaegirs are notable for their contempt and damnation of the ideas regarding fate, purgatory for punishment of sins, and judgement of someone's life immediately after death. They believe in a very disciplined approach to faith, and believe in a more materialistic form of it. That the Maker knowing what is in their heart is not enough, and sacrifices and offerings must be made in addition to extensive prayer to discipline their soul for theosis and deification, that to be closer to the Maker in action and being is the mark of faith. They believe themselves to be the one true church, the oldest, and the one entrusted to them to protect. Unlike the Rhodoks, they believe the mother, and father of the Maker to be venerable, and notable saints as well as gods, and give them much praise, but not particularly worship. They believe any other denominations of Maker worship outside of their own church to be heretics, but not with the same pejorative connotations with cause for arrest as the others may use the term, and seek to make them see the "true" light of the faith.
However, it should be noted that since its inception, a few caveats have been placed in order to facilitate daily life. Since the texts do not strictly forbid relations outside of marriage, the Orthodoxy has always seen adultery as a minor sin at most, and often have a "Sally on the side" when it comes to personal relations. Sobriety is not a factor in the church, and alcoholic drinks are seen as a normal beverage under any conditions. It should be noted here however that priests and other such members of the church do indeed have vows of celibacy, and sobriety. The tithes to the church, whilst encouraged, are not typically done in excess, and neither is the production of idols, preferring to simply worship the ones already present. Commoners are very close to the church, and are often given auxiliary roles in ceremonies to honor their faith. However, it is this closeness to the people and their needs that brings them to conflict with the other Makerists, as the Orthodoxy views them as aggrandizing the church instead of the Maker; this also stems from the view of the Orthodoxy that the Swadians and Rhodoks have a tendency to fall into a whirlpool of capitalism, corruption, and sin.
Current state of affairs in Ithlor of Vaegir Orthodox Makerism
While they have decent relations with Protestant Makerists, they more often than not come to severe blows with the Rhodoks and the Old Church, more recently during the Second Civil War. They do however, treat non-believers, and skeptics that have no religion without mercy, burning them at the stake almost on reflex. They enjoy peaceful, albeit strenuous relations with Khergits on this front, unsure of whether to call what they worship "gods" and due to their recent support in the war, unwilling to press the issue immediately. The Old Gods however, are viewed with the same Makerist fervor of burn before inquisition, and let the Maker sort them out; the surprise attack from the Nordic Raiders by Max during the war has not helped this view in the slightest.
RHODOKS
The Rhodoks of the Confederacy have long been sovereign rebels. Split off from the Swadians soon after the fall of the Calradian Empire, they took to the mountains and made do with what they were able to find. Forests would have made wood a large export, but the harvest of such would have made fighting of the Swadians a hard thing. They took to the pike, given their lack of horses to deal with the Swadians when they came in reprisal and managed to hold them off. Since then, the Rhodoks have mainly come to weapons export; hammers, pikes, cleavers, and sickles and scythes of military grade became the staple of a Rhodok military. Many Rhodoks as a consequence tend to join the army as soldiers or other like things, but also tend to be diplomats. Animal husbandry is seen as a Rhodok mainstay of economy, and produces leathers, and cheese at cheap prices. The Rhodoks main export however, is in medicine, refined from Khergit herbs; this trading probably being the only non-violent interaction between the two nations since the war.
Rhodoks also have a system of nobility in place in the form of knights, but these knights mainly serve on foot, unlike their Swadian brethren, and tend to use morningstars and other like weapons of brutality. The Rhodok military is mainly focused around a lord-levy system. In which all able-bodied men are drafted to fight by the local lord and his sheriffs and simply make a mob of a formation, typically a spear-wall while the knights support the center. The famous Rhodok sharpshooters stay in the rear with their crossbows and pick off anything that looks to be going around or getting through the wall until the battle is over. The Rhodok hierarchy consists of the following: Lord (Representative), Castellan (Captain-Governor), Knights, Officers and Nobles, and Levies (commoners).
RHODOK RELIGION
Rhodok Old Makerism
The Rhodoks believe in a literal interpretation of the scriptures of the Maker. They believe in extremes, and are often seen as "uptight" or "combative" because of their black and white view of the world through the writings. The worshipers of the Rhodok Church typically meet in large groups in the church itself. The priest will be the only person speaking during this time, and the crowd will only speak in response to phrases such as "His light upon you", "Amen", and "Maker guide you" which would be followed by the changing of "you" to "us". After the speech of the priest is over, the people are then allowed to come to the altar, and drink milk; the milk is seen as a nourishment for life, and represents the color and light itself of the Maker. Followers of the church believe that the Maker knows what is in their hearts, and that any action done with a good intent will be rewarded, no matter the merits of the action itself.
It should be noted, that since priests are blessed, they are allowed many indulgences to stay in their own coffers to fund the church, this is because the worship of the Maker should be done as richly as possible as to lend physical credence to His glory. The Old Church does have a proneness to arrogance however, and often preaches aspects of glory, power, wealth, and superiority; this is in line with their militant doctrine when it comes to heresy, within which, unlike the other churches, heathens (non-believers) are given the same violent treatment as heretics (non-believers that preach and convert). Though this does not often come to blows it is not uncommon.
Current state of affairs in Ithlor of Rhodok Old Makerism
While they enjoy barely peaceful relations with Protestant Makerists, their main contention is with the Orthodox Makerists, whom they have been attempting to convert back to their religion for centuries to no avail. They view the Vaegirs as high-brow, prideful hedonists who wish only to better themselves at the expense of their souls. While they do not enjoy a peaceful relation with the Nords, given the age of their traditions and their religion being based upon their own scripture, they do not tend to respond to them with the same religious hatred as an Orthodox Makerist would. They do however, hold the Khergits to an almost vile contempt for what they believe to be nothing but rampant paganism and void-worship, and see their "ancestors" as evil apparitions of the Old Gods. The recent war and the propaganda did much to further this view, and the relations are still at their all-time low.
SWADIANS
The Swadians have very simple facts of life. Nobles become knights, and knighthood in Swadia is seen as something that people simply do, and is a rite of passage rather than an honor, even with the perks it pertains. Swords are Swadia's primary export along with armors, particularly for horses. Their infantry are seen as versatile but pale in comparison to the knights. This same disparity is evident in their culture, where the nobles have an unbelievable amount of control and power when compared to the Rhodoks, the commoners seeming more like dirt that must submit themselves to prayer in comparison, and many Swadians are consented to sweatshops for the production of farming tools.
The Swadian military is based around a simple concept, hammer and anvil. Swordsmen take up a line and seek out formation-driven single-combat until the knights flank the enemy. Swadians have excellent parade discipline, and often march on the flanks of the formations of Opal's guard for the people to watch. Some say that the Swadians will often break formation when the fighting becomes thickest and see it as a vice, though it should be noted that this is not a regularity, and is simply the Swadians taking advantage of their versatility with swords; some Swadian commanders have successfully drilled their men to perfection in marching and fighting discipline in formation, so judgement has yet to be made on the merits of breaking formation for pursuit before the battle is won. The Swadian hierarchy consists of: Lord (Representative), Knights, Castellan (Captain-Governor), Officers and Nobles, and Levies (commoners).
SWADIAN RELIGION
Swadian New Makerism
The Swadians of the Swadian Church broke off from the standard church of the Maker when they found it had grown decadent, weak, and corrupt. It had lost their aim, and lost the sacred languages and many of the clergy were sub-par at best. When new churches began sprouting up in which the people themselves were taught to read the holy scriptures, the Rhodoks labelled it as heresy. Soon however, the movement began to gain followings and worshipers. Demands were made to the Rhodok church to change so that the rebellious churches would return to the fold, but they were denied in the eyes of the public, and a great schism had followed. Though the Rhodoks quickly gave in to many of the demands as the movement took hold they were too late, and they had lost a great following. Their churches have no holds barred on them by a higher clergy nor do they answer to the Rhodok High Wardens. The manner in which the religion is taught supports individualism and self-discipline and schedules for prayer. However, during ceremony, a strict code is followed and the ceremonies are supposed to be bereft of all sound, as to remind their followings of the Void they must fight to drive from the world. They have a tendency to focus on specific portions of the scriptures rather than its entirety depending on the importance a certain line holds to the current leader.
They condemn any imagery or idolatry. They believe that every moment except for ceremony should be lived in direct accordance with the Maker, and they believe that anyone of any religion should do the same. The darkness is seen as something to be purged, and thus many candles are used sparingly to keep out the darkness, and as such are the only item of expense in a typical Swadian mass. They flagellate themselves on a regular basis to feel pain and instill discipline. They believe that the making of statues, icons, or any other imagery of the Maker of concerning the religion is forbidden, and an act of sin. They believe in the distribution of wealth, in which only nobles and clergy are blessed by the Maker to hold power and funds and that none should overly indulge themselves in trinkets; they also believe that any religious ceremony should be done in complete sobriety. Swadians are typically also given the perjorative nickname of "doom-talkers" for their express need to warn others of "false" impending turmoil; it should also be mentioned that in some groups they are known as "The Prophets."
Current state of affairs in Ithlor of Swadian Old Makerism
The Protestants aren't friendly with the Nords at all, but are less violently so than the Rhodoks may be. They pretend the Khergits are Makerists or make similar excuses simply as gratitude for their pressing out of invaders in their lands. The Rhodoks view the protestants as rebels but with recognize their sovereign issues, taking more time to deal with Orthodoxy than the Protestants, whom the Protestants have come to have peaceful relations with as brothers in common cause.
SARRANIDS
Sarranid Sarria
The Sarranids view themselves as an enlightened people, and view their religion, Sarria, as the one true religion; as is understandable, since the religion is one that stresses unity above all else. They believe that the scripture of the Makerists was a start but not an end to the search for God. They believe that the scriptures were corrupted by man, but so far gone that it was no longer acceptable to call themselves Makerists. They believe that Muth'rad, an Old God only ever spoken of as The One, never his name, came out from the void, and not the Maker. The Maker had sinned for the casting away of his Father, and was cast also into the abyss. Thus they reject any form of Maker-worship, instead only allowing deference to his existence, and thankfulness for his role in the creation of the souls of Man. The One had shown the people how to act properly, and dress properly. Women were not to use their bodies to lure men into sin, and thus wear modest clothing at all times, more often than not with head-coverings which are encouraged. Men only have to dress modestly during ceremony and worship. The priesthood in Sarranid religion is hereditary, and comes from an old family known as the Dareevish. Celibacy is not required within the priesthood simply to create families of nuns and priests, and is seen as too necessary a thing to the survival of the religion to abhor, and has since come to holiness.
The One is viewed to have stayed for quite a period, and appeared to have given up his immortality in order to walk the earth. When his mission was done, a disciple of the new religion sacrificed himself to allow The One to ascend back into paradise; Sarria has since taken the act to represent self-sacrifice as a moral virtue, and has become a central aspect of their living and their worship. Fasting is a regular process, some taking one day to fast and dedicate to religious ceremony on Fridays, but some take it to extremes, only eating twice a week at the most. They believe that those that sacrifice themselves to ascend become angels, and that those that murder in the name of the Maker or other such Gods are cast into the void as demonic creatures. They believe in a completely literal interpretation of the texts, although they are the same as the Makerists albeit a new chapter, but view the Book of the Maker itself as a sinful text, and believe its exclusion of the final chapter to mark it as a demonic idol.
Current state of affairs in Ithlor related to the Sarria
Though Ithlor is a multi ethnic and religious society, Sarranids hardly ever had a real place in it and at times were even persecuted. The best memory Ithlor has of Sarranids and the Sarria is that of the two mercenaries that fought on the Khergit side in the war but eventually went rogue on the local civilian population. Since then it's been difficult for Sarranids to shake off their status as 'exotic beast' though the average inhabitant of Ithlor is not likely to cause a scene when they meet a Sarranid. If said Sarranid would be in the middle of worshipping his god, however, that would be a different story. According to the Sarria their god was brought to existance after what Makerists consider to be the true maker. Makerists dispute amongst themselves that "If any godly being was to be created after the maker it could only be his opposite" and thus it had to be a demonic being. Therefore often times the Sarria is considered demon worship by Makerists.
Holy Scriptures of the Sarranid Sarria
The Sarranids believe that there is a Sixth chapter to the Holy Scriptures of Makerism which completes the holy scriptures. All six chapters are of importance to the Sarranid Sarria. Below is the Sixth chapter.
Chapter VI
Ere, the Void opened in a great chasm, opened to the world and from it came Muth'rad, known only as The One. The Maker was cast out for his sins against his Father, and joined his ancestors within the void for his rebellion, granted commune with those that bequeathed him only for his power of creation, and The one had spoken.
Let all bear credence to His fate, for the raising of hands against their fathers any and all shall be damned to the void, and dwell therein for all time. All are One, for united I am become; false worship shall not be bequeathed upon the fallen, only deference for deed, for this one has given to the mortal soul, and mended the firmament.
Woe to the kin-slayer, and all of his kin, for they are the product of demons, and not of this world, for He was cast out; as he had done, so it came to pass.
And he said that all snakes and women shall not lure men into false enlightenment, and would not use the power of their allure to turn men to decadence and sin.
And so it came to pass that the Dareevish were granted sovereignty over the word of The One and were tasked with the writing and spread of its scripture, and their blood was blessed for all time.
As rite of their sacrament, and with an heir apparent, it came to pass that the patriarch of the Dareevish set himself upon a great pyre, and joined with the Maker's light to rend the firmament, and send The One back to paradise.
It came to pass in its final words, that all of the same calibre would join with it in the skies.