Cities of the Empire - Tallister

Tallister

Description

Named the “City of Scholars,” Tallister is a mecca for learning and study, hosting countless prestigious academies and research towers. The city is ruled over by the Lords Ravain, a major Noble House within the Empire’s Court. With the death of the ruling Lord, Lady Mei Ravain rules in her infant’s son stead. Under her rule, the city has undergone series after series of reworkings, decorative sculptings, and remodelling, something that the Captain of the Guard watches with increasing frustration.

Tallister lies in the northern reaches of the Empire, bordered by the Endless Sea to the North. The city itself is reachable by the Imperial Highway, which stretches to its outskirts. Tallister itself is divided distinctly into several districts, most notably the Lord’s Tower, the Port, the Common Quarters, the Academy Circle, and the Seaswept Graves.

The Lord’s Tower

The so-called Lord’s Tower is actually Tallister’s noble district, so named because the noble’s estates lie tiered on a high and wide cliff that rises above the rest of the city. House Ravain holds estates at the very top of the cliff, overlooking the entire city. Several prominent academies are also located upon the so-called tower, most of which are exclusive to Nobility.

The Academy Circle

Just south of the Lord’s Tower, in the valley that lies below the cliffside peaks rests the Academy Circle. The Circle is a constant bustle of activity, filled with pretentious scholars and academics, hopeful to make breakthroughs in science, mathematics, and medicine. Historians and politicans also find it a convenient congregating ground.

The Seaswept Tombs

Underneath the towering cliff that houses the Noble Estates lies the treacherous tides and crashing waves of the Endless Sea. Here, the ocean has weathered the rocky formations and cliffside into dangerous spikes that descend from both the underside of the cliff tower and rise from the crashing sea below. It is here that the founders of Tallister decided to honor their dead, establishing a cavernous cemetery that opens up into the harbor. A century of tides has already ruined the lowest level of the graves, leaving most illegible and unreachable. Some say the cemetery houses secret passageways from the common quarters to the Lord’s Tower.

History

Tallister was founded by Riverfolk, in the days when the Leviathan’s Tail still flowed freely. Here, the Riverfolk made simple homes and huts, taking advantage of the fertile ground and bountiful sea to establish the first of the Riverguard settlements, and would later become the capital of the Riverguard Kingdom. For centuries, the Riverfolk lived in peace, building the foundations of what would become known as the Seaswept Tombs, and establishing a castle that would later become part of the Lord’s Tower.

In the early 200s, the Empire had already begun its manifest expansion towards the North. At the time, Dedras had been the Empire’s capital, and Emperor Tyrelius II saw Tallister as a fruitful prize. From Dedras, the Tyrelius II sent a massive army along the edges of the Mistgrave Forests to seize the Riverguard capital. Riverguard was a small nation, joined together only loosely by necessity, and were unprepared for Tyrelius’ sudden invasion, led by Adara Arolar, a renowned general who had led several successful campaigns in the South.

Still, for nearly four years, the Riverguard fended off attack after attack, using supernatural powers they had gleaned from their ancient traditions. This was the Empire’s first taste against sorcery and its deviant power, and Tyrelius found his troops were nigh helpless against it. The Riverguard magisters summoned tidal waves to wash away legions of cavalry, knights, and soldiers. Hordes of insects: locusts, termites, and mosquitos would ravage the Empire’s supply line and cripple their artillery.

Finally, in the year 209, Rhimus I of Ravain was appointed Commander of the Imperial Army, replacing Lord Arolar, who left the military in disgrace for his failure. Lord Rhimus was lauded as a tactical genius, and he applied an insidious strategy here. First, he sowed discontent among the Riverfolk army by spreading rumors that the Magisters planned to use human sacrifices as fuel for their vagrant power. He then convinced several minor Riverguard Lords to betray their Kingdom, with the promise that they would be left as overseers of Tallister once the Riverguard had joined the Empire. Rhimus then staged multiple sacrificial slaughterings, using the bodies of captured prisoners to incense the commonfolk against the Magisters that defended them.

Beseiged on three sides, the Magisters were forced to surrender, and Rhimus Ravain was appointed Lord of Tallister. He executed the treacherous Riverfolk Lords, and established a firm grip on his new home.

Despite this inauspicious welcome to the Empire, Tallister would soon become the birth place of several renowned scholars, most notably Ursa DeLisle and Faris Droganson. These two academics are often credited with the invention of several technological advances, including the invention of the crossbow, and the refinement of steel. Pheston of Tallister, an orphan with no House to call his own, also became renowned for his discovery of orichalchum.

Soon, scholars, historians, researchers and artists all flocked to Tallister in a massive immigration. These new arrivals soon established the Academy Circle, and dubbed the metropolis, te “City of Scholars.”

Chapter 1 Done!

Huzzah! I have completed the first draft of the first chapter of my novel! I also have a first draft of the prologue, but I think that still needs some heavy editing. Still, it's pretty exhilarating to have completed work on the novel. I feel like I'm actually making progress on what I set out to do after I left PwC.

I'm so giddy, I can't sleep! Or maybe it's the jetlag. Probably jetlag. Curse you jetlag + being sick!

If anybody reads this blog and you're curious and want to help me edit Chapter 1, let me know! Maybe I'll email you a copy.

More codex entries coming up still. I'm about halfway done with the entry on the Realm's Assembly. Though, I'm really trying to work hard on the novel. So far I haven't had to use codex entries to pull me out of writer's block yet.

Hope everyone's doing well!

The Realm's Assembly

"In all my travels, I have never seen an organization so loosely defined and yet so deeply united by theology. It was, I was told, a great honor to even be allowed presence within the Assembly Halls itself; outsiders were never permitted. As a historian and renowned scholar, I was afforded a privilege to which even Kings would have been denied.

The Assembly Hall was nothing more than a giant arena. Hidden deep within the Skycatcher Mountains, it took nearly a month for me to scale the peaks alone. Without my guide, I would have doubtless been lost among the endless snowy cliffs and treacherous paths. When we finally reached our destination, I was surprised by the simplicity of the entrance: a small door, no larger than that of any humble hovel, which led directly into a large cavern chamber. Lit by torchlight, the central chamber might seem unimpressive to most; little more than a snowy cave would be. I was asked to leave all my scribing materials aside; the Assembly had agreed only to allow me record what I could see and hear in my mind.

The central hall was filled with dozens of tunnels; I was told each of these led to designated spaces for each of the participants of the Assembly. Upon closer examination, I realized that each tunnel was decorated with intricate carvings of each organization's insignia and symbols. My guide forbade me from venturing further into any of those tunnels. Indeed, no member of any Order was allowed passage into another Order's personal enclave.

While my gaze was still transfixed on the almost-runic sculptings and architecture within the cavern, a tsunami of people entered the central hall, almost like ants converging on their Queen. They conducted themselves with such Order, almost as if the entire assembly was an army, highly trained and finely tuned.

What proceeded was a sight to behold. Master after Master of various styles of martial combat, swordmasters, knights, monks - each a deadly opponent in their own right - began to duel. I watched for hours, saw indescribable things. Finally, there was one champion, one victor who was proclaimed the Voice of the Assembly. I was told that this man, and the man's pugilist Order, would for five years be known as Leader and Commander of the entire Assembly.

Truly, there was nothing so magnificent that I had ever seen in my lifetime.

- An excerpt from the Journal of Sanzo, Scholar.

Sorcery and the House of Vagrants

As an aside, I have finally laid out point by point the plot of my first novel. I am excited! I feel like I am making progress; albeit very very slow progress. It was an excruciating process trying to make sure a story flows not only from the narrative perspective, but also that it makes sense. Juggling multiple characters and having their goals, actions, and accomplishments intersect and clash in different and interesting ways is very challenging. You have to be on constant watch for plot holes that could completely destroy the internal logic and narrative urgency within the novel.

It's also thrilling when you get it just right. And I think, for the first time, I have a story that I would not be ashamed to stamp my name on.

I'm giving it to my friend (edit: bff) to review tomorrow. We'll see how far my hopes are crushed ... haha.

...

Sorcery and the House of Vagrants

And so the Shepherd cast out the unfaithful from his flock.
They were corrupted, meandering, villains with no path.
He left them to the madness of the Wolf,
And lamented their aimlessness, a house of vagrants.

- Song of the Black Soul, Verse 13

It is said that when the Golden Cane snapped, sorcery was borne unto the world. Though the Faithful Forsaken would contest this point, the Sanctuary has always maintained that sorcery was never meant for every mortal. Its power was known to corrupt, pervert the mind, and seemed to be derived from demons. The Mad-Emperor was a known practitioner of these dark arts, and one need only look to his tyrannical rule to see the deadly consequences of such heresy.

The actual origins of sorcery (during the time period of this novel) are as yet unknown. Known effects of sorcery include but are not limited to telekinesis, telepathy, mind control and domination, the manipulation of the elements, and the healing of bodily injury. Sorcery is still rather an uncertain element. It is uncertain why some mortals are able to control it, while others are capable of awe-inspiring, and terrible things.

Those who possess the power of sorcery, and who choose not to suppress it, but rather to embrace its dark temptations and abuse its diabolical power have been dubbed "Vagrant." These are people who have strayed from the Pristine Path, who no longer have purpose in their life, or guidance from the Shepherd.

There are, however, certain aspects of sorcery which are embraced by the Sanctuary. Healers, for example, are highly respected and well-regarded almost universally. Of course, all Healers are required to answer to Sanctuary Law. A vagrant is capable of healing; in such a case, it would still be considered Heresy to use such a power without the express sanction of the Path of Ministers.

In recent times, a new organization has sprung from the ashes of what remained of the Empire's once-mighty retinue of mage-enforcers. Calling themselves the Ardent Flame, the group is composed of the most powerful of the Mad Emperor's personal guard and advisors. They are each and every one dangerous beyond the most heinous of criminals, and brazenly defy the Sanctuary. Constantly on the move to evade the Sanctuary's Redeemers, other members of the Realm's Assembly have named them their very own House of Vagrants. A seat is reserved for them, each year in a different location, to represent the group's nomadic nature. Of course, the Ardent Flame never partake of the Assembly, as they would be seized and slain on sight.

I will discuss the Realm's Assembly in my next entry.

The Pantheon and Other Minor Faiths

The Pantheon of Spirits

" ... The Zhent guide was quite insistent that we remove our shoes before entering the temple. My companion, bless his stubborn heart, had the misguided notion that he was exempt from such traditions and proudly stepped past the threshold with boots firmly in place.

Three days later, his shoes were utterly befouled by the stench of excrement: dog, bird, even human. It seemed there was nowhere he could go within this eastern Kingdom that did not have a ready pile of shit waiting for him. Our guide merely laughed when my friend complained, and recommended to him a speedy act of contrition to the Spirit of the Temple. My companion was a devout follower of the Pristine Path, but you would marvel at the speed at which he raced to deliver his penance to the Pantheon."

- From the Journal of Sanzo, Scholar

While the Empire is dominated by the Pristine Path, there are other nations and lands who follow other Faiths. These Faiths are often spurned by the brothers and sisters of the Sanctuary as heresy, and thus few within the Empire have any significant knowledge of these other so-called "minor" faiths. Of these, it is the worship of the Pantheon that has the greatest following. The Kingdom of Zhent has adopted worship of the Pantheon as their national faith in all but name, and many neighboring islands have come under the Pantheon's practices as well.

While the Sanctuary of the Pristine Path teaches that the one true deity (at least during one's mortal lifespan) is the Shepherd, followers of the Pantheon do not believe in only one god. Instead, most Zhents and other faithful give their devotions and prayers to countless Spirits, which are believed to embody all social, economic, political, and cultural aspects of life. Faithful offer prayer to the Spirit of Fertility for ripe fields and bountiful harvests, then dedicate a song to the Spirit of Passion to grant success in romance. They pray to the River Spirits to quell floods, the Fire Spirits to provide warmth for their houses, and even the Kitchen Spirits before grand festivals so that food may be especially delectable upon consumption. Politicians pray to the Spirit of Fortune, and students pray to the Spirit of Knowledge.

It is said that all Spirits are ruled by a single Overgod, otherwise referred to as the Spirit King, who is also said to be the King of Zhent's Divine form. Only the Zhentian King has ever offered verbal prayer to the Spirit King; to do so otherwise would be an affront and great offense to the mortal King, and an unwelcome annoyance to the Spirit.

Every physical object, from the lowliest pebble to the most towering of statues is said to harbor a Spirit. And while it is not necessary to offer prayer to every single Spirit one comes across, it is considered extremely ill luck to deliberately or negligently offend any Spirit. It is not uncommon for mothers to warn children never to deface a statue, lest it fall over and smash their little legs.

The worship of the Pantheon is not organized into any church or temple as the Pristine Path is. Rather, each faithful offers prayer in their own way and to those spirits they believe would be most capable of aid. Those who have studied the Spirits and dedicate their lives to them are referred to as Sages, but there is no governing body to which these priests answer to, nor are they sanctioned by the Zhent, or any other political faction. Instead, these sages hold sway based on the size of their following.

To test their strength and determine the superiority of one's faithfulness, these Sages often organize tournaments and duels to test the extent of their own powers. Such competitions are foreign and bizarre to behold, often with no clear indication of the conditions for victory. One foreign observer once happened upon two sages laughably attempting to perform handstands.

The Faithful Forsaken

So was the Foul Wolf beaten
Fleeing, back to the Abyss
And yet, the cane of gold was broken
its power to us freely given
Never to be forsaken.

- Song of the Gift, Verse I
The Sacred Hymnals (Apocrypha)

An offshoot of the Pristine Path, followers of the Faithful Forsaken (or simply the Forsaken) were once the devout of the Sanctuary. However, when the Sacred Hymnals were revealed to condemn the use and proliferation of sorcery, a large number of priests abandoned the Pristine Path and formed their own denomination, dubbing themselves the Faithful Forsaken.

The teachings of the Faithful Forsaken are essentially the same as those of the Pristine Path, to the extent that they share the first hundred or so of verses from the Sacred Hymnals. The two faiths also share a similar governing body, though the Forsaken refer to their church as the Haven. Haven similarly has its own set of Ministers, Healers, and Redeemers.

Sorcery is where the two versions begin to deviate. The Faithful Forsaken believe that sorcery is no more than a tool, no different than a spoon, axe, sword, or shield, and that any capable of wielding it should be allowed so by the Shepherd's divine providence. To that end, the Forsaken have even adopted newly proliferated verses to which they have amended the Sacred Hymnals. Officially the Sanctuary views these verses as apocrypha and its worshipers as heretics. Still, the Forsaken number few and the Sanctuary has yet to take open action against this middling faith.

The Path to Freedom

We of able body and sound mind,
We of means and ability,
The Blind lead us no longer,
Shackles bind us no more,
The Truth shall set us Free.

- From the Devotions of the Prophet (Heresy)

Another offshoot of the Sanctuary, the Path to Freedom is filled with people who have deviated from the teachings of the Sanctuary, and believe that it is the Wolf - not the Shepherd - that deserves worship. These people devote themselves to the vices: greed, lust, pride and countless others, all in the name of freedom, liberty and individual expression. The Sanctuary quashes these groups wherever they come across them, believing them to be dangerous dissidents, but some small orders have managed to elude purification.

The Path to Freedom has no governing body, instead relying on a single man dubbed "The Prophet" to spread the Faith. The Prophet is revered above all others, but is constantly on the move, for fear of persecution from the Sanctuary. He spreads his devotions through secret signals: ravens, Qi pieces, and letters shrouded in code.

I will discuss Sorcery in my next entry.

The Pristine Path

Before me lies a field of alabaster white.
In the distance, I see storms that must be weathered.
In the distance, I see mountains that must be crossed.
In the distance, I see a Red Eye that must be spurned.
I question whether I can overcome these things.
But with the Shepherd as my guide.
I walk the Pristine Path.

- Song of Truths, Verse I
The Sacred Hymnals

While the Known Realms is home to many religions, some of which hold only shades of difference from others, it is the Pristine Path that dominates the land. It is named for the biblical story of the path with which the first man ascended to Paradise and became the first Shepherd.

Deity(ies): The Shepherd, The Caretaker, The Wolf

The Shepherd is the One True God, as spoken by the Sanctuary and the Hymnals. The Shepherd watches over mortals lives with painstaking care and careful planning, hoping to see his wards learn and grow and be good to one another. He teaches the Virtues: Compassion, Empathy, and Kindness. He protects the weak and ensures Justice and Fairness are the prevailing law of the land. He is revered by all who follow the Pristine Path and is said to guide mortals to their final resting place in Paradise.

The Hymnals also tell of the Shepherd's Cane, a verse of which refers to how the Cane is passed onto another at the end of the Path. To most modern religious scholars, this implies the existence of another Deity that watches over mortals in Paradise, now commonly referred to as the Caretaker. It should be noted that nowhere in the Hymnals is this other deity named, however, and whether the Caretaker is in fact a separate entity, or simply another aspect of the Shepherd, is a subject of heated debate amongst many scholars within the Holy City, Mecca.

The counterpart to the Shepherd is Fenrir, the Red-Eyed Wolf, or simply The Wolf. He is so named for his wicked attempts to cause pilgrims to stray from the Pristine Path, upon which he devours their souls and sends them to the Restless Abaddon. The existence of radical and heretic cults devoted to his cause have shown that Fenrir values selfishness, violence, and injustice. The Hymnals sing that he is forever on the hunt for souls who waver in their piety, and delights in dragging down devout followers of the Path.

Several captured heretics and worshippers of the Wolf have claimed that Fenrir is not the devil that he is described to be, despite all evidence and teaching to the contrary. They claim that he is another aspect of humanity - one of individual expression. freedom, and even love - and that he should be given the same respect and worship as the Shepherd, if not more. Most of these heretics recant these blasphemous ravings, however, under the Sanctuary's "purifying" fires.

Religious Institution: The Sanctum Penitent

The Teachings of the Pristine Path are proliferated by the Sanctum Penitent. The Sanctum Penitent operates chiefly within Mecca, the Holy City. All who teach the Path are required to journey to Mecca at least once every few years (depending on their mission and current location) in order to pay respects and receive the latest divinations of the Sanctum. Medina is located governed by the highest ranking priest within the Sanctuary, referred to as High Father. In order to spread the teachings of the Pristine Path, the High Father delegates Ministers, Healers, and Redeemers to be the Shepherd's eyes, ears, sword and shield within the Known Realms.

Ministers are the Shepherd's words made law, and they often serve as arbitrators of disputes, leaders of congregations, and judges of holy law. Ministers are accepted within the Sanctuary as leaders, though the Hymnals do not give its servants rank. The wisest and most reverent of Ministers provide counsel to High Father within Mecca, but even those not so stationed are afforded great respect by everyone from commoners to Kings.

Healers do as their title implies, but they offer more than healing for the flesh. Healers are also the Sanctuary's Confessors, who receive confession from penitent pilgrims and absolve sin from the soul. They answer directly to the Ministers.

Redeemers are the Sanctuary's sword and shield on the mortal plane. Redeemers are knights, vigilant and honorable, sworn to uphold Sanctuary and Pristine Law. They answer to the Ministers. A large contingent is always present in Mecca to defend it from invaders, though in recent times the realm has found more Redeemers outside the Holy City as well. They are so named in the hopes that even the most vile of criminals and barbarians may be reformed and taught to follow the Path.

Those who follow the Pristine Path, but do not serve within the Sanctuary's ordered ranks are referred to as Pilgrims.

Symbols: The Broken Cane

Priests, including all Ministers, Healers, and Redeemers, are required to wear the symbol of the Broken Cane in deference to the Shepherd. The Hymnals sing of the ancient story, how when the Shepherd first came to encounter Fenrir.

For most of the early times, sin was unheard of, vice was nonexistent, and evil was impossible. This paradise on earth was soon ruined by the arrival of the Red-Eyed Wolf, however. Fenrir brought sin to the land, teaching men to covet, to be jealous, to use violence to take what is desired by force. The Shepherd soon realized that his Paradise was being filled with corrupted men.

Thus, he went to entreat with the Wolf, hoping to show the vile beast the error of his ways. In return for leaving his wards alone, the Shepherd offered the Wolf friendship and companionship. Fenrir laughed, and told the Shepherd he had no need for friends. The Shepherd tried again to treat with him, this time by granting the Wolf his own afterlife to rule, what would become known as the Restless Abaddon. The Wolf was content to prowl these empty wastes for a time, but soon grew discontent and began to prey on mortals once again.

The Shepherd went a final time to plead with the wolf to abandon his vile ways, offering his most prized possession - his Golden Cane. The Cane was said to harbor extraordinary power, though only to those who could control it. The Wolf greedily seized the Cane, but its nature and intent violated the spirit of their bargain. It is said the Golden Cane wrested itself away from the Wolf's grasp and smashed itself against the vile beast, breaking in half and losing all of its power. The Wolf ran howling back to the Abaddon, and the Shepherd taught his faithful a valuable lesson: redeem when possible, but defend when necessary.

I will discuss the minor Faiths in my next entry.

The Three Covenants

The main setting of my first novel will center around a jiang-hu like parallel world where magic exists alongside martial arts as effective methods of combat. The Realm is populated by various martial and militant orders (comparable to say the Shao Lin, Wu Dang, Hua Shan, Emei, and various other pugilist sects found in chinese wuxia stories). This post will not go into detail about the nature or background of these orders. I have that written up on my ipad actually, and I may eventually bring it here, but tonight I want to focus on a specific aspect of the militant orders in my fictitious world: the Three Covenants.

The Three Covenants were originated by the first knights of the Realm. Legend tells us they were three men determined to establish secret orders where students could learn sacred and ancient combat techniques for use in battle against tyranny and injustice.

The First Knight's order focused on establishing a strong foundation of discipline, willpower and inner strength. The First Knight's students were stalwart and resolute in character, loyal and faithful to the bone. Their descendants would eventually be known as the Knights Lazarenth.

The Second Knight's school taught tremendous martial skills and forms, and became unchallenged in the art of combat. Obedience, Diligence and This School would eventually become known as the Immaculate Swords.

The Third Knight was not like his companions, a lone wolf among a pack of lions. he understood the value of Duty and Loyalty, but he was also wary that power was corrupting. He forbade his disciples from ever revealing his teachings and he impressed upon his followers the necessity of secrecy - and made them swear never to interfere in the affairs of other orders.

Having established their own schools of discipline, the three knights were eager to see their students grow and learn from their teachings. However, they soon discovered that their disciples fell easily into conflict, with students of each school of thought eager to prove his devotion by impressing his beliefs upon the other orders. The knights knew that if they did not do something, their three orders would descend into war. Thus, they joined together once more to bind themselves to the Three Covenants (also referred to as the Unbreakable Covenants), each an aspect of the three knights' teachings.

Thus, the Realm's Assembly became ruled by the Covenants of Loyalty, Duty, and Secrecy.

This is the most commonly accepted accounting of the covenants, though some reclusive scholars insist that it is merely myth. Regardless of the covenants' origination, their interpretation has varied, sometimes radically, from generation to generation. At one time the Covenant of Loyalty meant only that knights were forbidden from declaring themselves of other orders. In recent times, it has also been used to forbid disciples from learning the fighting styles of any outsider teachings.

The Covenant of Secrecy also has changed since its origination. During the reign of the Late Emperor, Knights were forbidden from declaring their affiliations to those outside of the Assembly. This was a practical matter, as the Emperor had been known to be actively rooting out these upstart martial orders. In times past, it also meant that no knight could take political office.

Those who defy the Covenants openly are subject to exile, and even death, depending on the nature and circumstances of each violation. In recent years, however, the chaos caused by the Emperor's death has caused enforcement of the Covenants to fall lax.

I will discuss the Faith of the Pristine Path in the next entry.

This Chapter is For Me

So I have decided to write a novel. I draw inspiration from the wuxia works of Jinyong, including such titles as She Diao Yin Xiong Zhuan, Shen Diao Xia Lu, Yi Tian Tu Long Ji, Bi Xie Jian, and Xiao Ao Jiang Hu. I think the strength of these works is his ability to create believable characters in a tremendously detailed and highly imaginative wu lin jiang hu setting. I love the politics between the various pugilist sects as they sort out quarrels, compete in martial arts and try to live up to be heroes of their age.

Whether or not the book ever becomes published, I think it will be nice to have something that's all my own, a work of fiction in which I am the creator. I've enjoyed other peoples' work; now I want to try my hand at the art of novel-writing as well.

This blog will be my tool to conquer writer's block. They say that writer's block is something you can only defeat by writing. I'll also use this blog to do a lot of brainstorming, so if you ever happen on this place, please don't expect it to make any coherent sense. Although, if you do stumble upon here, you probably won't read this post anyway.

Shruggles!

Here we go...