Difference between revisions of "The History of the Temple"

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(→‎The prophet Arcavius)
(→‎The prophet Arcavius)
 
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*''1008'' : The Black Day
 
*''1008'' : The Black Day
 
*''1009'' : Battle of the Braziers
 
*''1009'' : Battle of the Braziers
−
 
  
 
== The prophet Arcavius ==
 
== The prophet Arcavius ==
Line 41: Line 40:
 
fire appeared before him and spoke: “You are the chosen one,
 
fire appeared before him and spoke: “You are the chosen one,
 
you have been chosen by Merin. You have inherited His conscience; may it be your reward and your burden.”
 
you have been chosen by Merin. You have inherited His conscience; may it be your reward and your burden.”
−
Th e angel then revealed many secrets concerning Creation
+
The angel then revealed many secrets concerning Creation
 
and Aarklash in particular. After this encounter with the god’s
 
and Aarklash in particular. After this encounter with the god’s
 
envoy, Arcavius became an Incarnate.
 
envoy, Arcavius became an Incarnate.
Line 55: Line 54:
 
realized the task lying in front of him: unifying the diff erent
 
realized the task lying in front of him: unifying the diff erent
 
peoples into one faith, belief in Merin.
 
peoples into one faith, belief in Merin.
−
Th at day Arcavius made a great public speech. He shared
+
That day Arcavius made a great public speech. He shared
 
the revelations of the angel concerning the genesis of
 
the revelations of the angel concerning the genesis of
 
Creation by Merin. He invited the crowd to follow him for
 
Creation by Merin. He invited the crowd to follow him for
 
the glory of the One God: only those who prayed to Him
 
the glory of the One God: only those who prayed to Him
−
would be allowed into the new Creation. Some servants followed Arcavius, and with them Jen, his faithful squire, Ze-
+
would be allowed into the new Creation. Some servants followed Arcavius, and with them Jen, his faithful squire, Zelios, his best friend, Karl, his chamberlain, and Honorinus,
−
lios, his best friend, Karl, his chamberlain, and Honorinus,
+
 
his eldest son. Neither the supplications of his family, nor his
 
his eldest son. Neither the supplications of his family, nor his
 
lordship could prevent Arcavius
 
lordship could prevent Arcavius
Line 71: Line 69:
 
Arcavius sold his knight’s armor
 
Arcavius sold his knight’s armor
 
to pay for his journey and he purchased a book to write down the
 
to pay for his journey and he purchased a book to write down the
−
revelations of the angel of fi re: the
+
revelations of the angel of fire: the
 
Codex of Merin.
 
Codex of Merin.
 
Along his voyage Arcavius rallied many Barhans to his cause.
 
Along his voyage Arcavius rallied many Barhans to his cause.
Line 111: Line 109:
 
of Merin. Only a few instants after this terrible trial Arcavius
 
of Merin. Only a few instants after this terrible trial Arcavius
 
was found by Honorius who had followed him from a safe distance. Thanks to the Eye of Merin Arcavius knew his son was
 
was found by Honorius who had followed him from a safe distance. Thanks to the Eye of Merin Arcavius knew his son was
−
worthy of the Fire of Merin and gave it to him.
+
worthy of the Fire of Merin and gave it to him. Arcavius and Honorius returned to the convoy and guided
 +
their “people” towards the peninsula. When Arcavius told of
 +
his encounter with the griffin, his followers saw it as a good
 +
omen. Adopting this symbol, they painted griffins on their
 +
shields and standards. The travelers they met soon came to
 +
call them the “Griffins”. An army of legend was born!
 +
 
 +
http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/159363temple1.png
 +
 
 +
== The land of the Sun ==
 +
 
 +
When the Griffi ns arrived in the peninsula they discovered
 +
that it was still wild and wider than the Barhan texts had indicated. It was inhabited by many warlike factions: human
 +
clans, greedy goblin colonies or adventurous dwarven trading
 +
posts. At fi rst Arcavius and his followers simply avoided the
 +
most warlike bands and traded with the most peaceful, such
 +
as the dwarves. However, by avoiding any kind of confl ict, the
 +
Griffi ns never found anywhere to settle. They carried on journeying to the north of the peninsula, hoping to fi nd a more
 +
welcoming land there.
 +
Arcavius’ followers discovered a region of fertile plains and
 +
wide forests, irrigated by a majestic river. Under the orders of
 +
Honorius they built their town there and began erecting the
 +
first fortifi cations in the forest by the riverside. Unfortunately,
 +
the goblin raiders operating in the area did not appreciate seeing such a stronghold being built on their territory. Only
 +
days after the Griffi ns had settled the goblins struck
 +
the community hard. But the Griffi ns were determined and united by their faith. Not one of them
 +
stood down: this land would be the cradle of their
 +
nation...or its grave. Th e battle for the future
 +
Arcavia sealed the sense of belonging that
 +
still unites the people of Akkylannie
 +
 
 +
Through this victory the Griffins earned the
 +
respect of the neighboring communities. They
 +
were then able to found their first town, which
 +
was called Arcavia in honor of their prophet.
 +
They built the first temple of Merin and finished the fortifications. The day of the first official mass Arcavius had a vision and locked himself away to meditate. When he
 +
came back among his people, he showed them maps and technical drawings of fabulous inventions: Merin had sent him the tools
 +
to make Arcavia the most prosperous city on Aarklash!
 +
 
 +
Thanks to these inventions Arcavia prospered. The Griffins thrived and extended their influence, even if it sometimes
 +
meant having to take to the battlefield. They converted a
 +
great number of humans and dwarves living in the area. Soon
 +
they had become so many that some of them set out towards
 +
the north of the peninsula, following the trails used by the
 +
dwarven settlers only years before.
 +
On the northern coast of the peninsula they found more
 +
dwarves. They tried to convert them, but the only answer
 +
they were given by these dwarves was the sharp edge of
 +
their blades. At dawn, after some fierce fighting, the faithful of Merin were the only ones left alive. They seized
 +
control of the site and founded their second city: Carthag-Fero.
 +
After the foundation of Carthag-Fero, more communities of Merin were founded. It became necessary for the Griffins to form a government. Arcavius,
 +
Honorius and their early companions gathered to determine the foundations of the Empire of Merin. The
 +
prophet then had a new vision: a phoenix flying west.
 +
This igneous creature was certainly a message from
 +
Merin. Arcavius understood that it was time to take
 +
to the road again.
 +
So the Empire of Akkylannie was founded. In general celebration, Honorius became the first emperor,
 +
in charge of secular power. The Church, the religious
 +
power, was to be led by a council of priests. The same day
 +
Arcavius announced he was leaving on a new pilgrimage, in order to rally more believers all over the continent. He left with a handful of followers, including Jen.
 +
 
 +
During Arcavius’ absence, Honorius undertook
 +
many projects and showed both courage and daring. His decisions soon made the new empire even
 +
more prosperous. Honorius signed treaties with the
 +
other peoples of the Ways of Light, but also with the
 +
dwarves of Tir-Nâ-Bor, despite the Battle of Carthag-Fero. The Fire of Merin gave him incredible charisma,
 +
which allowed him to overcome any reluctance. Furthermore, the dwarves appreciated the Akkylannians
 +
for the rigor and expertise of their craftsmen. Even
 +
the mysterious Cynwäll managed to get along with
 +
the Akkylannians. They considered the humans as
 +
turbulent children and hoped to bring them “into the
 +
Light” through their example and wisdom.
 +
The success of Honorius was the same inside the country as it was outside: he fixed
 +
the borders of the empire and eliminated
 +
the bands of raiders one by one. By the tenth
 +
anniversary of his reign, after the Battle of
 +
the Last Raiders, the whole peninsula had
 +
been pacified. A new age opened before the
 +
Empire of Akkylannie and patriotic momentum seized every Akkylannian.
 +
 
 +
== The Griffin takes off ==
 +
 
 +
Once the peninsula was pacified, the Empire of Akkylannie transformed to adopt its
 +
modern shape. Its institutions were formalized. Zelios studied the inventions of Arcavius, his best friend, and trained the alchemists of Merin. Karl was given the Chair of
 +
Foreign Aff airs. Th e task was signifi cant: he
 +
was to rally all of Aarklash to the flame of
 +
Merin. To assist him, he founded the Order
 +
of the Temple. Kelgar was put in charge of
 +
Internal Affairs, which included enforcing
 +
public order in Akkylannie and keeping an
 +
eye out for traitors and spies.
 +
In the meantime, Arcavius and Jen had
 +
been journeying on and on. Without the
 +
Fire of Merin the prophet proved unable to
 +
convert new believers. However, during his
 +
travels, he trained Jen to succeed him and receive the Eye of Merin. During a communion,
 +
Arcavius entrusted Jen with the Elixir. Jen was transformed
 +
forever. Jen now craved power. Not only did he want spiri-
 +
tual power, he also wanted to lead the Akkylannians for the
 +
greater glory of Merin... and himself. Arcavius on the other
 +
hand was in no way able to lead Akkylannie anymore; he had
 +
lost all mystical powers and his faith blurred his judgment.
 +
As the pilgrims wandered deeper and deeper into the
 +
Bran-Ô-Kor, Arcavius realized he had lost his powers and
 +
sank into despair. Tension rose between him and Jen. Despite how ambitious he might have been, Jen truly wanted
 +
to raise the spirits of his mentor. But he had neither the
 +
strength nor the means. Finally, Arcavius and Jen had one
 +
argument too many. During a stop in a cave in the Bran-Ô-Kor, Jen murdered Arcavius in his sleep. In 590 Jen made it
 +
back to Arcavia alone, bearing in him the Eye of Merin. He
 +
told that he and Arcavius had been captured by servants of
 +
Darkness. He added that Arcavius had died at the hands of
 +
their jailers and that he had been the only one who managed to escape. When Honorius raised an army to avenge
 +
his father, Jen claimed that their jail was protected by spells
 +
of Darkness, and that he would be unable to tell in which
 +
country he had been held captive. No-one doubted his word.
 +
Honorius felt the Eye of Merin on Jen;
 +
he appointed him pope of Akkylannie and reformed the Church to give
 +
him more power, since it was now
 +
led by one of Merin’s chosen ones.
 +
Nevertheless, Karl remained suspicious. He reformed the Temple in
 +
secret and prepared to fi ght the excesses of the Church.
 +
Honorius and Jen prepared their
 +
successors: the council of priests set
 +
up by Arcavius would choose a pope
 +
worthy of the Eye of Merin. The pope
 +
would then use his power to find the
 +
one capable of bearing the Fire of
 +
Merin and make him the Emperor.
 +
However, the council of priests
 +
never managed to agree on someone to bear the Eye of Merin. Its
 +
choice was political in the end: after
 +
Jen died, the Eye became a relic that
 +
the priests hid in the crypt under
 +
the cathedral of Arcavius, in Arcavia. Without the power of the Eye,
 +
successive popes were unable to find
 +
emperors capable of withstanding
 +
the Fire of Merin. The emperors died
 +
quickly, consumed by the relic, and
 +
were unable to impose themselves
 +
against the popes, who became the
 +
true masters of Akkylannie.
 +
Nonetheless, the Empire of Akkylannie thrived after the death of
 +
Arcavius’ first followers. The population was still united by the same patriotism and the country developed
 +
quickly. Contingents were sent across
 +
the continent to find Arcavius’ tomb.
 +
The Ways of Light were soon in need of Akkylannie’s
 +
help. The Order of the Black Togas had stepped out of the
 +
shadows and the barony of Acheron had seceded from
 +
the rest of the kingdom of Alahan. The baron of Allmoon, a repentant Black Toga, raised an army to fight the
 +
Meanders of Darkness. Yet he knew that he could not
 +
do it alone; he sent an angel of Light to warn Centurion
 +
Viriis, whose company had been searching for Arcavius’
 +
tomb in the Behemoth. The Akkylannian commander
 +
did not hesitate for a second. He rushed his soldiers into
 +
an exhausting forced march. The Griffi ns dashed through
 +
the passes and valleys and made it to Kaïber Pass in time
 +
to fight alongside the Kingdom of Alahan. This battle was
 +
known as the Battle of Kaïber, the first great battle of the
 +
Order of the Temple. It was a military victory, but it led to
 +
a political disaster: the Order of the Temple sent almost all
 +
its men to Kaïber to build the impregnable fortress, thus
 +
effectively handing Akkylannie over to the Inquisition.
 +
When the templars returned from Kaïber, they found their
 +
country had changed completely. Th e heresy of Dirz had
 +
spread and the Inquisition had fought back by burning thou-
 +
sands of people who had been declared heretics. Th e templars
 +
were horrifi ed. Th ey protested and appealed to the emperor,
 +
but the Inquisition was just too powerful. Th e Pope ordered
 +
the Temple to hand over its best men to create the Templars
 +
of the Inquisition.
 +
Fearing civil war, Emperor Octavius II instituted conscrip-
 +
tion, the new melting pot of Akkylannian patriotism. Thus
 +
he created the imperial army and gave it the responsibility
 +
of enforcing law and order. In fear of being overtaken by this
 +
new force, the Inquisition maneuvered. It managed to have
 +
a cardinal lead the imperial army and created the office of
 +
Prelate General of the Armies. Soon after, and for no obvious reason, the Cynwäll offered a firearm to the emperor.
 +
Scholars studied it and discovered the secret of gunpowder.
 +
Their powder was coarse compared to that used by the Cynwäll, but it was easy to produce. The fusilier corps was created and attached to the imperial army and civilian peace
 +
was secured. Gunpowder also became a source of revenue
 +
for Akkylannie as it established a profitable trade with the
 +
Kingdom of Alahan. It is only centuries later that the guild
 +
of Architects of Cadwallon has put an end to this lucrative
 +
monopoly.
 +
 
 +
== The Crusades ==
 +
 
 +
The situation had stabilized in Akkylannie, but there were
 +
still two crises to deal with: the constant tension between the
 +
Temple and the Inquisition, and the flight of Dirz to the Syharhalna. Hitting two birds with one stone, the pope invited the
 +
emperor to declare a crusade, in order to bring an end to the
 +
heresy of Dirz and to conquer the Syharhalna.
 +
The Temple was put in charge of organizing this crusade
 +
since its lodges, scattered across Aarklash, gave it good knowledge of the terrain. However, this maneuver had also been devised to channel the Temple’s patriotic ardor.
 +
Commander Daéryn, of the Temple of the South, was chosen to command the invasion: his temple had a large navy at
 +
hand, indispensable to land troops in the Syharhalna. The
 +
Kingdom of Alahan also entrusted Akkylannie with many
 +
ships to assist it in the crusade.
 +
During this seaborne expedition the
 +
templars fought many perils. The Syhars spread a plague epidemic amongst
 +
the men and sent monsters of the deep,
 +
called kraken, to sink their ships. Tired,
 +
sick and sometimes demoralized, the
 +
templars still had to fight waves of
 +
clones when they landed near Djaran.
 +
 
 +
Safe inside Djaran, Daéryn organized
 +
the methodical pacification of the entire region, as Karl had done to rid Akkylannie of the raiders. Unfortunately,
 +
the desert itself was a deadly trap: the
 +
heat killed just as many templars as the
 +
clones, and the sand performed marvels concealing the impious laboratories. And with no other known town
 +
between Djaran and Shamir, far to the
 +
West, the Army of the Griffin could
 +
make no progress in this hostile desert.
 +
The templars were stuck in Djaran.
 +
The First crusade found itself wasting its forces for several years, until one
 +
day Daéryn heard a report concerning
 +
a Syhar fortress being built nearby. He
 +
knew he had to act quickly. He mustered all his templars and marched
 +
them out into the desert. Harassed by
 +
alchemical beasts and deceived by the
 +
technomancers’ magical mirages, the Akkylannians eventually made it through the Ivory Dunes
 +
to within sight of Danakil. The construction of the fortress
 +
was well advanced; Daéryn’s chances were scant. The commander split his contingent in two: he led the first half towards Danakil to keep the Syhar busy. The other half was to
 +
begin the construction of a fortress on the other side of the
 +
Ivory Dunes.
 +
 
 +
Daéryn never made it back; but thanks to his sacrifice, the
 +
fortress of Light was finished in time. The successor of Daéryn
 +
made it the new Temple of the South and carried on the crusade from this fortress.
 +
 
 +
In the meanwhile, back in Akkylannie, the Church was enforcing its hegemony. Over the centuries the emperors had
 +
become more and more submissive and the stakes had been
 +
burning more and more often. The inquisitors had become bogeymen. The Empire of Akkylannie frightened even its allies.
 +
Yet the spark of hope began to shine again: Octavius IX was
 +
not an emperor like the others. He was determined to bring
 +
Akkylannie back into the Light. Notably, he relied on Proteüs
 +
– commander of the South who became the grand master of
 +
the Temple – and Tarkhyn – commander of the West and childhood friend of King Gorgyn of Alahan. When he heard
 +
that mystics had located the tomb of Arcavius somewhere in
 +
the Bran-Ô-Kor, he immediately decided to organize a new
 +
crusade. The Inquisition was not opposed to it, seeing a further
 +
opportunity to keep even more templars out of their way.
 +
Commander Arkhos, the most virtuous and famous templar commander, was chosen to lead this crusade. The entire
 +
Order of the Temple was mobilized behind him: the templars
 +
hoped to find a relic, a teaching or some other clue in the tomb
 +
that would help put an end to the Inquisition’s rule of terror.
 +
Once in the hostile canyons of the Bran-Ô-Kor, Arkhos built
 +
a fortress. This fortress was to serve as an operational base for
 +
many archeological expeditions. The research was hampered
 +
by the orcs living in the area. One of them in particular, Avangorok, kept harassing the researchers and pilgrims. Instead of
 +
combing out the canyons like his predecessors, Arkhos chose
 +
to send small scouting parties of templars and legionnaires of
 +
repentance, rogues who had been given a second chance by
 +
the Temple. In this way he was able to locate Avangorok’s lair
 +
and attack him directly. The Battle of the Marauders weakened
 +
the orcs long enough to allow Arkhos to further reinforce his
 +
position and establish a solid bridgehead in the Bran-Ô-Kor.
 +
He was then able to finish building the fortress that became
 +
the Temple of the East. He then dedicated himself entirely to
 +
finding Arcavius’ tomb.
 +
 
 +
== The Rag'Narok ==
 +
 
 +
The Akkylannians, and more particularly the templars of
 +
the East and the South, were the first to witness the beginning
 +
of the Rag’narok. In 1000, while Arh-Tolth was waking in his
 +
chamber deep under the Second Shamir, thousands of clones
 +
marched out of the desert and crossed the Ivory Dunes, determined to conquer Aarklash.
 +
Thanks to the skills of Arkhos and those of Commander
 +
Sered of the Temple of the South, the first Syhar offensives
 +
were contained. But the cost was high. Nonetheless, the two
 +
commanders were convinced that the two Akkylannian fortresses would hold out against the tide of clones. In a certain
 +
sense they were right. During the following four years the
 +
Syhar offensive was bogged down and turned into a war of
 +
position in the Ivory Dunes. Such unexpected resistance infuriated the Syhar commanders. Yet it allowed them to test the
 +
defenses of Light and prepare a new invasion plan, starting
 +
further north of Aarklash: the Dance of the Scorpion.
 +
Akkylannie was facing Darkness on all fronts. Many Akkylannians died with the soldiers of the Alliance of Light during the second Battle of Kaïber.
 +
In 1003 the disciples of the Hyena, led by Shurat, stormed
 +
through the Protectorate of the North, the Migol Sea and landed
 +
in Akkylannie. For several long years they ravaged the country.
 +
The emperor eventually had to sacrifice himself to rout Shurat
 +
and allow the Akkylannians to repel the Devourer invasion.
 +
In the desert of the Syharhalna the Syhar began the Dance
 +
of the Scorpion. Masses of clones attacked in the Ivory Dunes
 +
and maneuvered through the Mourners Gorge to wheel
 +
around behind Akkylannian defenses. The Temple of the
 +
South was under siege and the Temple of the East fell under
 +
the attacks of Razheem, the Scorpion commander.
 +
 
 +
Then the clones made their way through
 +
the Ægis, sowing death and destruction
 +
in the homeland of the dwarves of Tir-Nâ-Bor, allies of Akkylannie. Despite the
 +
coordinated eff orts of Proteüs, the grand
 +
master of the Temple, Sered and Arkhos,
 +
no reinforcements were sent to them:
 +
Akkylannie was already burning.
 +
It took some time before Arkhos allied
 +
with the orcs and won back the Temple
 +
of the East from the Syhar. At the same
 +
time, Cardinal Aerth, Prelate General
 +
of the Armies, helped the dwarves save
 +
their capital fortress and the Inquisition
 +
sent troops to win back Ogh-Hen-Kir.
 +
The Republic of Tir-Nâ-Bor sided with
 +
the Ways of Light and Akkylannie regained control of the Protectorates of
 +
the South and the East.
 +
 
 +
In 1008 wolfen armies came marching
 +
from the north and pushed aside the Devourers who had been harassing the Temple of the
 +
North for more than five years. There were so
 +
many wolfen on the plains that the templars
 +
could not believe their eyes. They were led
 +
by Asgarh, the terrifying living legend. Th urbard even believed the end had come. But
 +
the Temple of the North held on. With the
 +
announcement of his victory, faith in Merin
 +
reached heights never achieved before.
 +
 
 +
== The Griffin reborns from its ashes ==
 +
 
 +
Soon after the Black Day the Rag’narok entered a less violent
 +
phase. The Syhar advance had been stopped in the Protectorate of the North, notably thanks to the presence of the Wolfen.
 +
Akkylannian borders were threatened no more. And yet the
 +
specter of war still loomed over Aaklash. Every nation was
 +
exhausted by the last five years of uninterrupted conflict, and
 +
Creation itself had suffered greatly from the sheer quantities of
 +
mystical energy unleashed. A great assembly was to be held in
 +
Cadwallon to give the monarchs of Aarklash a chance to negotiate. The time for war was over for everyone, it was now the
 +
time for struggles for influence and covert confrontations.
 +
 
 +
In Akkylannie the choice of a representative tore open some
 +
old wounds. Pope Innocent wanted to send Ædhann Orphelion, Inquisitor General. Proteüs stood against this decision,
 +
which served only to reinforce the pope’s power. Leading the
 +
imperial army, Aerth was worried by Orphelion’s lack of tolerance during the negotiations.
 +
Tensions between the Inquisition, the Order of the Temple
 +
and the imperial army reached a critical level. The matter of
 +
succession soon landed on the table: the pope was supposed
 +
to hand his provisional secular powers to the next holder of
 +
the Fire of Merin. During the debates the grand master of the
 +
Temple, Proteüs, made several faux pas.
 +
He was convinced
 +
the pope had seen through his game, but nothing happened:
 +
the grand master realized that the pope did not have the Eye
 +
of Merin in him. Finally, to ease the tension, Innocent consented to send Aerth instead of Orphelion.
 +
In Cadwallon, Aerth negotiated the recognition of the protectorate of the Temple
 +
and convinced the dwarves of Tir-Nâ-Bor
 +
to sign further treaties of alliance with the
 +
Kingdom of Alahan and the Republic of
 +
Lanever. Proteüs took the opportunity to
 +
arrange a meeting between Aerth and Mirà.
 +
Aerth was enthralled by the young women,
 +
wielder of Hauteclaire and holder of the truth
 +
concerning Arcavius’ death. Mirà revealed
 +
to Aerth that Innocent did not have the Eye
 +
of Merin, confi rming the cardinal’s doubts.
 +
After this interview, a secret alliance was
 +
forged between the imperial army and the
 +
Order of the Temple. Back in Akkylannie,
 +
Aerth kept writing to Proteüs through the
 +
intermediary of the Lodge of Hod, a secret
 +
lodge of the Order. The two men planned a
 +
coup
 +
and actively sought the bearers of the
 +
Fire and the Eye of Merin. Unfortunately,
 +
they ran out of time to fi nd them, as the Inquisition grew more and more suspicious of
 +
them. With little time at hand, Aerth and
 +
Proteüs put their plan into action.
 +
Under the pretext of giving them new orders, Proteüs summoned Arkhos and Sered
 +
to Arcavia. The two commanders were accompanied by their personal guards, as well
 +
as many orcs who had allegedly come to seal
 +
a pact of alliance with Akkylannie. The Inquisition realized the danger and organized
 +
its defenses, but Aerth, as Prelate General of
 +
the Armies, ordered the Griffin executioners to assassinate the religious leaders they
 +
were in charge of protecting. The disorder
 +
caused in the ranks of the Church allowed
 +
the commanders to reach the gates of Arcavia. With nothing more he could do, Inquisitor Eschelius met them under the city wall
 +
and denied them entrance. And so began
 +
the Battle of the Braziers.
 +
 
 +
Inside the cathedral of Arcavius, Proteüs wanted to capture
 +
the two strangers, but Aerth and Mirà prevented him from
 +
doing so: whoever they were, they bore the Fire and the Eye
 +
of Merin. They had been secretly guided through the battle by
 +
Melkion, a powerful magician touched by the grace of Merin.
 +
In an attempt to re-establish his authority, the pope ordered
 +
the insurgents to surrender. The conscripts and civilians present did not know what to think or do. Mirà took off her mask
 +
and, in a mystic trance, she revealed the truth and secrets concerning the death of Arcavius. After the trance Mirà and Ambrosius spoke with the same voice, that of Merin. Eschelius,
 +
who had miraculously recovered from his wounds, recognized
 +
the truth in this voice and the two strangers were enthroned.
 +
Demetrius I became the new emperor of Akkylannie and a
 +
new pope, Antoninus, was chosen.
 +
Over the following months, the Empire of Akkylannie went
 +
through many major changes. All the Akkylannian heroes who
 +
had taken part in the Battle of the Braziers were given amnesty.
 +
Ambrosius was given command of the Lodge of Hod and Eschelius became Inquisitor General of Akkylannie. Emperor Demetrius I, carried by the Fire of Merin, renovated imperial institutions fervor worthy of Arcavius. Pope Antoninus was aware of
 +
how wrong the Inquisition had been: the Griffin had to remain
 +
worthy of Light; torture and burning people were to remain the
 +
last resort. Though the Inquisition remained ready to do the dirty
 +
work for the greater good of the Alliance of Light, the Church
 +
was no longer to terrorize a nation entirely devoted to Merin.

Latest revision as of 15:05, 26 June 2013

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