Lore24 - Military March

 Yikes! I know February is a short month but it whisked by as an elven arrow...

Last month, I only wrote 7 Lore24-posts and we're already a week into March. I will try to step up the pace but as I'm currently in a transition regarding my working life and with family demands, I'm not sure If I can deliver as many posts as in January. Still, the February record should be easy to beat. So there you go.

January's theme was "Genesis", February's was "Factions". The theme for March will be "Military". As the world of the Sovereignty is meant as a backdrop to tabletop rpg's, small fiction and tabletop wargaming, military matters are essential.

So this month, I will explore the various martial traditions of the Sovereignty, its peoples and its armed forces. Expect articles on units like the kataphracts of Aurora and the Sovereign Legions, but also the ancient elvish art of the bladedance or the blood rites of the Borgondian barbarians. I'm still in doubt wether I will provide army lists or number of forces, I don't know if I'm ready to delve into that level of detail. So stay tuned and find out!

Guild of Shadows - Lore24

 

With the right amount of gold, anything can be bought - even death. The Guild of Shadows specializes in the commodity of murder, providing assassination services to the wealthy and powerful. Patrons of the Guild have been rumored to include ecclesiarchs, nobles, even a few past Sovereigns... The Guild itself maintains a strict policy of silence on the matter and its members only act in disguise. No one knows the true appearance of a Shadow Assassin, so anyone could be a Guildmember...

The Guild of Shadows is frequently rumored to be a part of or in league with the Hidden Empire. That reputation does not preclude kings and princes from hiring Guild services to further their own agendas of wealth and power. When the job is done, the hired assassin palms the gold and slinks back into the shadows. The true motives of the Guild remain, like their epithet, shadowy...

The Emerald Academy - Lore24

 

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.

The Hidden Empire - Lore24

 

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. 

Ecclesiarchs, Patriarchs and Clerics - Servants of the Ecclesiastic Church - Lore24

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 Ecclesiastic Church of Phaeton

 

While all temporal and spiritual power in the Sovereignty ultimately flows from the Golden Throne and the Sovereign seated upon it, matters of faith are further disposed of by the most influential hierarchy in the land: the Ecclesiastic Church of Phaeton. Based on the interpretations of Phaeton's Will by the first Sovereign, Claudus, and all subsequent Sovereigns, the Ecclesiastic Church provides spiritual nourishment to the masses.

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.

Sovereigns, Family and Friends - Occupants of the Golden Throne - Lore 24

 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.