A generation ago, an enigmatic ship hailing from beyond the Lost Lands sailed into port in Aurora. Next to exotic herbs, tea, rice and jade, the ship bore five bald mystics wielding a powerful and new "magic of the mind". In search of other men, women and children born with "the Talent", these mystics bought a large house in the capital and established a school. Here, Talented individuals are given shelter, food and training. Once the Talent has mastered the gift, she or he is sent out into the Sovereignty to search for other Talented folk.
The school is known as the Emerald Academy, and is widely suspected to be a front for eastern interests. The five original founders are still suspected to be active in the Academy, and a few dozen Talents recruited from all over the Sovereignty have been recruited in the past two decades. The Academy remains adamant that its mission is "to educate" and efforts to learn more about it have thus far met with failure. Whether independent, a front for the oriental warlords, or even a cell of the Hidden Empire, the true motives of the Emerald Academy remain mysterious.
Throughout the Sovereignty, it is whispered that hidden puppeteers pull at the strings of nobles, ecclesiarchs, merchants and sages. This secret cabal is rumored to be many things: powerful conspiracy, mystical convent, assassin guild, illuminati. But fact is it remains thus: a rumor. No credible proof of the existence of this Hidden Empire has been conclusively put forward. Yet its purported activities ripple across the Sovereignty: an abducted Lotharingian prince, a dagger in the back of a Navaronean priest, an Auroran sage disavowing earlier writings - all mysterious happenings attributed to the Hidden Empire.
The most extensive research on the subject has been conducted by the late Blue Wizard of Antissa, himself subject of a mysterious disappearance. According to his journals handed down to his apprentice Jadziah Valerian, the cabal alluded to as "the Hidden Empire" has acces to mystical powers unknown to even the wisest of priests, most knowledgeable of mages. They use these powers of the mind to influence key positions in the hierarchy of the Sovereignty and the Church, conduct kidnappings and cover up assassinations. All to further a mysterious agenda of supremacy. Clues point to a mysterious leader known only as "the Grandmaster" and various independent cells operating throughout the Sovereignty and the mystical Orient across the Wild Sea, beyond the Lost Lands.
Any attempts to probe further of gather more information have thus far met with failure. The people of the Sovereignty meanwhile remain in blissful ignorance - feigned or real.
The Church and the Sovereignty are tightly intertwined, in such a manner as that Church officials sometimes hold more power than kings and princes. Here then, are a few of the most prominent ecclesiarchs of the Sovereignty.
High Ecclesiarch Epiphanus
Επίφανυς
A wise, intellectual and stern man, Epiphanus serves as the foremost advisor to the Golden Throne on matters of the faith and spirit. His position is uncontested and his influence on Rauxes is great - though Rauxana holds a measure of distance as a matter of principle.
Epiphanus is a champion of law and order and an advocate of human expansion and the founding of new forts. He has no patience for mages - which he terms "conjurers" and "magicians" - and sees the Darkening caused by arcane magic as the manifestation of the Mother of Monsters, to be purged with fire and brimstone.
Lord Inquisitor Brogir
Βρογήρ
Epiphanus' right-hand man and leader of the Inquisition, Lord Brogir commands a force of dozens of fanatics. Roaming the Hartlands and the subject kingdoms of the Sovereignty on foot, the Inquisitors root out dark sorcery, beastmen and suspect demihumans. Lord Brogir enjoys unequalled authority and large measures of freedom within the laws of the Sovereignty. By edict of the Golden Throne, he answers to Epiphanus and Epiphanus alone.
Brogir is relentless, fanatical, extremely devout and views the world in shades of black and white, right or wrong.
Jozan
Ζωζαν
At the other end of the scale from Brogir, stands Jozan. Holding no official position within the Church, yet of influence all the same, Jozan roams the Sovereignty fighting monsters, aiding the innocent and providing succor and healing where he can. He operates mostly alone, but sometimes hires retainers or mercenaries to travel to and from dangerous reaches.
Jozan's teachings revolve around the lightbringing aspects of Phaeton, as opposite to the lawgiving aspects, and involve mercy, aid, forgiveness and grace. He is welcomed warmly in dozens of villages and fortresses throughout the Sovereignty.
Ecclesiarch Elektra
Ελεκτρα
The high priestess of the Kingdom of Navarone, Elektra is a strong proponent of justice, progress and education. She frequently clashes with Epiphanus in the Conclave of Aurora, which has further distanced her views from the draconian-adjacent philosophy of the High Ecclesiarch.
As such, Elektra has in recent months urged the king of Navarone to chart his own course for the kingdom, ignoring the edicts and taxes of the Golden Throne. Elektra can thus be seen as the heart of the insurrection that is now brewing in Navarone.
The Church is formally united but in practice consists of a byzantine collection of dioceses, ecclesiarchic principalities and episcopal sees. Its corridors of powers takes a lifetime to explore and another lifetime to master, allowing only the supremely talented in either faith, intrigue or both to rise to positions of influence with the Golden Throne.
Central tenets of the Church inlude the significance of Light, the pursuit of status, obedience to superiors, modesty, courtesy and courage. The worshipers are frequently asked to donate and tithe large sums in order to praise Phaeton and His glory, allowing the Church to build grandiose basilica's with golden domes reminiscent of His sun. The Church teaches that the destiny of humankind is to civilize the world of Aedes. Taming the wilderness and the expansion of kingdoms and principalities are accordingly both material and spiritual impulsed for Sovereign subjects.
In the millennium since the founding of the Sovereignty, Ecclesiastic ritual and dogma has penetrated all aspects of life in Sovereign society and a concept such as "atheism" is virtually unknown.
As mentioned in the previous post, the Golden Throne stands at the center of political, military and religious legitimacy in the Sovereignty. Its occupant is referred to as the Sovereign of Aurora and Phaeton's steward in the lands of humankind, and all kings, princes, ecclesiarchs and feudal landholders pay at least lip service to it. The current occupant is Sovereign Rauxes, and this post will describe him and his closest associates.
Ραύξης
His Celestial Majesty, King of Kings, High Ecclesiarch of the Ecclesiarchical Church of Phaeton, Anaxander, Protector of Humankind, Sovereign of Aurora, Rauxes I of the House of Rauxes
Emerging out of the bloody dynastic crisis of the last two decades as the sole remaining claimant to the Golden Throne, Rauxes has established himself as a ruthless, dedicated, ambitious and highly capable statesman. His military genius and his capacity to build alliances have brought him to the Golden Throne, while his guile and unceasing work ethic have kept him there. He has brought new luster to the court of Aurora as tribute from subject realms has increased, squashed rebellions himself or through his closest general Marsala (see below), and sponsored expeditions to the lands of the Orient to increase trade. If he has a shortcoming, it is sure to be his arrogance. But thusfar, all challengers to Rauxes' might have fallen before his imperious gaze or his golden glaive.
Ναρα
Nara, Sovereign-Consort
While Rauxes and his confidant Marsala form the muscle of the Sovereign family, Nara is the charm and the heart. She and Rauxes are in a marriage arranged by the Sovereign-mother Rauxana (see below), and have been together for more than twenty years.
While the Sovereign and his consort appear to be in a functioning marriage, there is one problem for the court: Nara has yet to produce an heir to the Golden Throne and she is approaching the age where childbearing might be no longer an option.
Ραυξάνα
Rauxana, Sovereign-Mother
If Rauxes and Marsala are the muscle of the Sovereign family, Nara is the heart, then the matron of the family, Rauxana, is surely the mastermind. At the court of Aurora, she is widely considered to be the one responsible for the planning and scheming that brought Rauxes to the Golden Throne. An unrivaled plotter, with a talent for intrigue, Rauxana is seemingly aware of all happenings in Aurora.
But Rauxes is aware of her reputation, and is increasingly jealous of her, for like all sons he seeks to step out of the shadow of his parents. Question remains if Rauxana would tolerate such a move.
Μαρσάλα
Marsala, Magister-General of the Legions of Aurora
If it weren't for loyal, devout, capable, creative Marsala, the Hartlands would still be mired in bloody internecine war. Marsala is Rauxes' confidant, bulldog, executioner and general. As Magister-General of the legions his authority in military matters can only be countermanded by the Sovereign himself.
This loyalty is also Marsala's weakness, as his dedication to Rauxes is unwavering. Marsala is incapable of seeing the flaws of the Sovereign or any of the Sovereign family, and that is a flaw that can be turned against him.
I'm hopelessly behind on Lore24-entries. While starting off strong in January, home stuff and work stuff intervened and slowed down my posting. So this week, expect a few larger articles to appear on this blog to make up for that loss.
Looking back on the entries for January, all these posts are kind of "foundational", laying the groundwork for the worldbuilding to come. I have been calling it "Genesis January". Entries on the various cultures and peoples of Aedes (the name of the world), some historical background on the origin of the Sovereignty (the name of the federation/empire of humankind dominating the campaign area), and a smattering of religious lore. As this project continues, eventually I will compile the entries in a sort of encyclopedia or index page.
If last month was "Genesis January", this month will be "Faction February", with details on the various groups, organizations and blocks vying for power and influence both in plain view of and behind the Golden Throne, as well as the people that comprise them.
So as we head into Faction February, let's start off with that centuries-old institution itself:
The Golden Throne
When humankind fled the Fallen Lands, their former Paradise, in the Exodus, the central gathering point for their people was the colony of Aurora. Rising from the eastern shores of mostly untamed land, this city was already a refuge for adventurers, explorers, hustlers and outcasts. Now, the best and the brightest, the heroes of humankind, led their followers here, guided by the Word of Phaeton.
The wisest and most influential of these was Claudus, a devout ecclesiarch of Phaeton and a self-proclaimed visionary. He and his followers claimed a complex of villas on a high hill overlooking the eastern bay and set about restructuring it as a fortified palace. In these dark times following the Exodus, humans from all across Aedes looked for sanctuary, which they found in and around Claudus' palace.
It was there that Phaeton himself appeared to Claudus and his nine most faithful fellow ecclesiarchs. The golden angel radiated law and order, proclaiming that "From this day, to the Last Day, a King of Kings shall rule over these lands." The golden one vanished, and in the place where a moment ago He spoke from, a golden throne now stood. That moment, a millennium ago, marks the start of the Sovereign Calendar.
It is Ecclesiarchic Doctrine that the one seated on the Golden Throne is the direct representative of Phaeton to humankind, His archpriest and His regent. Claudus was the first such Sovereign, and his nine faithful went on to found the first new kingdoms of humankind, each paying respect and homage to the Golden Throne.
Ever since, with the rise and fall of kingdoms, ecclesiarchic principalities, duchies and independent realms, the Golden Throne has stood at the center of an ever-expanding and increasingly complex web of dependencies, fealty, loyalty and might. It is the literal seat of power, granting legitimacy to not only the Sovereign of Aurora but all kings across the Sovereignty. It is the apex of the feudal pyramid, the source of law and the seat of the King of Kings.
In addition to this, the throne itself is believed to be a powerful artifact, imbued with the power of Phaeton Himself. Though none can agree on what kind of spells are woven into it, it is a fact that when seated on the Golden Throne, the Sovereign of Aurora is wreathed in a celestial aura unparallelled elsewhere.
As such, the Golden Throne is a highy coveted prize, the greatest in the land. Kings, High Ecclesiarchs, warlords and wizards have vied for the right to sit upon it. The Sovereignty has had its fair share of insurrections, palace revolutions and court intrigues. The latest resulted in the overthrow of a dynasty, placing Sovereign Rauxes, King of Kings, on the Golden Throne and at the center of Sovereign politics.
