Lore:Enderal

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Map of Enderal, drawn by Magistra Yaela on behalf of the Holy Order in the year 8233 a. St.

Enderal is a country comprising the mainland of the continent of Enderal, Kor's Island (Insula Koris), and numerous smaller islands. The land is composed of 13 distinct regions, seven settlements, of which three have been abandoned for a long time by the time of the arrival of the Prophet, and numerous ruins, caverns, dungeons, and other landmarks full of dangerous creatures and people, living and undead. Enderal is Vyn's third or fourth largest continent by total land area, after the forgotten realm of Arktwend, Nehrim, and Qyra. The capital of Enderal is Ark. Ark is Enderal's largest city by both population size and land area; it is also Enderal's oldest continuously occupied settlement (and one of the oldest in all of Vyn), having stood since the early 4000s after Starfall (a. St.). The failed second city of Thalgard would have been the second largest city but, ever since its collapse in 6136 a. St. after the pollution caused by the Sun Fire, an irresponsible experiment conducted by the Keeper Dal'Marak in the hopes of making the land around Thalgard more fertile, the area's only occupants are the highly aggressive and mysterious Sunborn. The town of Fogville, reputedly one of two possible hometowns of the infamous serial killer Jaél Tannerson, better known as the Butcher of Ark, has been abandoned for an unknown length of time, having since been occupied by the grotesque creatures known as the Arp. The mining town of Northwind has also been abandoned for an unknown length of time; it is occupied by Lost Ones and other undead creatures. Thus, the second largest settlement in Enderal is Duneville, followed by the sleepy villages of Riverville and Silvergrove. Enderal has an incredibly diverse geography, climate, and wildlife for a continent its size.

History

Before the Light-Born (0 a. St. - 4001 a. St.)

In the years immediately after Starfall, Enderal consisted largely of barely habitable wasteland. Only a few Ash People had fled there, primarily due to the remote location and the harsh living conditions in other continents.[1] The few who inhabited it called themselves the Ryôth-Shakai, or the "People of the Ruins," who lived as nomads on the inhospitable continent. They followed a pantheistic religion and saw Starfall as nature's punishment for the greedy, disrespectful lifestyles of their people, their enemies, the Aeterna, and their leader, Asâtoron.

Around the year 2700 a. St., a war broke out among the different tribes, leading to the eventual extinction of the People of the Ruins. Around the same time, an event known as the "Flowering" occurred, wherein the land suddenly began to blossom again. The Endraleans view this event as a "gift" of the Light-Born Malphas to pave the way for the continent's development by the First Vassals, which would not take place until 1300 years later.

The Development by the First Vassals (4001 a. St.)

Shortly after the Light-Born rose to power, Enderal was alotted to Malphas as his domain. It was to serve as the headquarters of his Order, whose Keepers would dedicate themselves to the protection of the Light-Born.

The proto-Endraleans, who are called the First Vassals by their descendants, led by Selna and Ketaron, were the first 200 people to settle the land of Enderal, which was "[s]ecluded and perilous, an untamed land," where wild animals roamed freely, and "rich forests reached from east to west and from south up to north's wintry mountains."[2] After traveling several months by ship, they landed on Enderal and began settling it. The Endraleans base their calendar on the events of the "Far Journey," documented in their holy book, The Path:

  • The Departure: The First Vassals set sail towards Enderal.[3]
  • The Hunger Days: The journey takes longer than expected. Hunger breaks out. The 24 Pathless Ones rebel against Malphas's word, stealing the Path-Abiding Vassals' food and leaving them to die of thirst and hunger at sea, for which Malphas punishes them as the first Lost Ones. [4]
  • The Kraken: A Kraken attacks the First Vassals' remaining ship. Ketaron's sacrifice defeats the monster.[5]
  • The Winter Star: The First Vassals spot the red shining star that shows the pioneers the way to the coast of Enderal for the first time.[6]
  • The Arrival: The First Vassals dock on the west coast, in what will later be known as the Sun Coast, and set foot on Enderal for the first time.[7]
  • The Groundbreaking: Selna breaks the ground with her sword to form the base of a fence around the first settlement in Enderal in the Whisperwood, back when it was still healthy and vibrant.[8]
  • The Exploration: The first exploration parties are sent out east to scout the wilderness of Enderal's land.[9]
  • The Fundament: Ark is founded, and Malphas erects, overnight, a wall around the location that would serve as the fundament for the Sun Temple.[10]
  • The Bloodmoon:[footnotes 1] With his magic, Malphas makes the land around Ark fertile, creating the modern-day river Larxes.[11]
  • Kilra's Treason: One of the first pioneers, Kilra, along with 20 followers, rebels against the Holy Order; after his defeat, he is executed in the first trial in Endralean history.[12]
  • The First Harvest: The first grain harvest is reaped since the arrival of the First Vassals on Enderal.[13]
  • The Summer Night:[footnotes 2] The stars in the sky turn red, marking the end of the first year of Endralean history.[14]

To this day, the First Vassals are considered the epitome of honor, discipline, and the spirit of discovery, for which the people of Enderal still revere them.

The Expansion and the Sunfire (6128 n. St. - 6136 n. St.)

One of [Dal'Malak's] ways to do so was a device he called the "Sunwheel"... An old, Pyrean construction which was meant to make the barren lands fertile again. You can figure the rest. One night, there was a bright flash of light, and since then, Thalgard has been contaminated...

— Yerai Dal'TerrowinApotheosis, Part I

There were plans to establish a second great city in the northeastern region of Enderal known as Goldenforst. The Sublime, Dal'Marak, led the effort, wherein his party advanced to Goldenforst and built Fortress Wellwatch and the beginnings of Thalgard, which was to have a new Sun Temple.

As it turned out, the place was everything but a good choice for a settlement: No crop would grow there, and the water sickened the settlers. So, three years after the founding of the first settlement, Malaph, the Order forced the settlers to abandon the mission and return to Ark. Dal'Marak, who was a senior Arcanist of the Order, discovered an unusual constellation of ruins near Thalgard, at the center of which was a device he called the "Sunwheel," an old Pyrean construction which was meant to make the barren lands fertile again by bundling the power of the Sun and breathing life back into death together with magic. Despite the other Arcanists' warnings, he committed himself to the project and began to experiment with the Sunwheel. The result was nothing short of catastrophic:

One night, on the month of the Fundament, 6136 a. St., a bright flash of light illuminated all of Enderal. Around the Sunwheel, a poisonous green fog began spreading out over the entire Goldenforst, turning it into a nearly uninhabitable wasteland. The settlers who remained lost their minds, with pustules forming on their bodies and their extremities swelling. In their anguish and madness, they attacked each other and ate all manner of animals and even other humans.

A rescue party attempted to enter the area, but the damaging effects of the poisonous fog were instantaneous, and all of its members perished.

Goldenforst eventually recovered to its current state after fifty years, but Thalgard, as the epicenter of the disaster, remains contaminated by the effects of the Sunfire; to this day, the area around Thalgard is virtually inaccessible.

Dal'Marak is regarded as the epitome of misguided idealism and greed for knowledge, beyond one's own path. Out of this tragedy arose the expression, "Burn in the Sunfire!.

The Bloodmoon Revolt (7288 a. St. – 7290 a. St.)

Well, I'm not a chronicler, but there was this riot in Ark, somewhere around 7288. It was led by a woman from the Undercity, Kilana Hammerfist and she and her rebels had their camp in that valley. In 7290, the Order wiped them out.

It was a massacre, and up to this day, the valley is littered with bones.

— Erica BravebloodA Touching Effigy

There have been relatively few civil conflicts on Enderal, especially when compared to the devastation of Zoras's war in Myar Aranath and the resulting Aeterna refugee crisis,[15] the war that caused the abandonment of Arktwend,[16] and the numberless wars between the Middlerealm, the Northrealm, and the Southrealm on the continent of Nehrim.

The Bloodmoon Revolt was the greatest rebellion against the regime of the Light-Born since the foundation of Enderal. Kilana Hammerfist, a craftswoman, marshaled the residents of the Undercity and impoverished workers against the subjugation of the Order. She doubted the divinity of Malphas ("why would a God tolerate hunger and suffering?) and stood up for the rule of the many.

The revolt lasted only 2 years, but, in that time, it claimed numerous lives on both sides. In the end, the rebels were wiped out completely at their base in today's Dark Valley, where they had occupied an old monastery. The Order convinced Kilana to surrender, promising to spare her followers; when she had done so, the Order proceeded to liquidate every single rebel. Since the moon shone red that night, it was called the "Bloodmoon Night."

Due to the numerous people who fell in the Dark Valley, the region is now considered cursed. The occurrence of the Lost Ones is far higher than in other areas, which the common people attribute to Kilana's wrath even from death.

Although the Order officially regrets the massacre, it still condemns the rebels and the nature of the revolt.

The Isolation (8202 a. St.)

Put simply, the Order decided to reduce their trade with other countries of the civilized world to a minimum. Not a very economical choice to make, but that was roughly the time when the Light-Born Erodan "left" Nehrim.

— Jespar Dal'VarekThe Void

In response to the death of the Light-Born Erodan and the fear of foreign influences — and thus to the emergence of rebellious thinking — the Order issued decrees at Malphas's behest to reduce trade with other countries (especially progressive ones such as Qyra and Nehrim) to a minimum. Although indispensable and rare goods are still imported, all trade is subject to strict regulations. In addition, merchants are rarely allowed to leave the port area in Duneville or Ark.

The result was an even greater impoverishment of the Endralean lower class due to a shortage of goods such as metal or sulfur, which were once imported. Large mines were built and cheap labor was needed. The result was slave-like working conditions, especially in the Powder Mine near Duneville and the Tarpit under Ark.

Culture

Societal Structure

See also: The Holy Order Enderal is an aristocracy with the Light-Born Malphas at its head. The country is governed by the Holy Order, a religious institution dedicated to the protection of the Light-Born and headquartered in Enderal. The Order is divided into two parts: The Intelligence and the Military. The Grandmaster of the Order, whose office is earned through bloodline and merit, makes most important decisions. The Grandmaster is considered almost holy. All other bureaucratic functions are performed by civil servants.

Keepers of the Order have a high status in society. To survive the Novitiate and become part of the Order is considered a great honor.

Religion

As a theocracy, the religion around Malphas and the Light-Born obviously plays a critical role in society.

The Path

See also: The Song of the Wayward Wanderer

The central element of the Endralean faith is the Path, which symbolizes a determined role proclaimed to each Endralean at the age of eight during their so-called "Consecration of the Path." This role supposedly comes from Malphas himself, and its fulfillment is the ultimate goal in the life of a believing Endralean. People who disregard their task in life - or have not received a consecration of the path at all - are called "Pathless" and despised.

The roles/Paths are divided into the Manufacturers, the Erudites, and the Sublime. Each role usually follows a certain profession, even if there is variance here. Manufacturers, for example, are often craftsmen or peasants. The Erudites are scholars, alchemists, or merchants. The Sublime are often found in the highest and most respected professions, such as diplomacy, the Tribunal, or the Clergy.

Of course, there are people of lower Path, like an influential master craftsman, who actually has more influence than someone of a higher Path. This is often the case, especially among the hardworking. In armies, such as the City Guard, soldiers serve from all three Paths, but a Manufacturer, for example, finds it difficult or almost impossible to reach a higher position. The situation is similar with the Holy Order, whose ranks are almost exclusively occupied by children of the Sublime. There are exceptions here as well, and many famous warriors, such as Loram Waterblade, came from the ranks of the Manufacturers and were accepted by a sympathetic Magister or Keeper into the school of the Order, where they made their Novitiate.

All rules of life and spiritual values are recorded in the "Holy Verses," a religious scripture with 101 verses, which are the rules of every believing Endralean.

Values, Types of Marriage, and Drug Use

The highest value in Endralean society is what is called "Path-Abidingness," i.e., keeping to and observing one's Path. Apart from that, the Endraleans value striving, the good of all before the good of an individual, and the willingness to sacrifice.

The Endraleans live in monogamous, marital relationships called "companionships." Same-sex companionships are socially fully accepted as long as both individuals respect the Path.

The consumption of drugs (so-called drogae; singlular droga), such as alcohol and other drugs, is generally permitted; the smoking of Peaceweed (whose effects are comparable to real-world cannabis) and Fog Sponges is popular, the latter being considered a droga for the poor. The exception is the snorting of Glimmercap Dust, whose consumption has a high mortality rate; for this reason, its cultivation and consumption are prohibited.

Malphas

See Malphas

Malphas is the Light-Born who stands for stability, peacekeeping, and discipline. This thinking is also reflected in Enderal, the country under his rule.

The Last Journey

See The Song of the Last Sunset

The Last Journey represents the funeral ritual used to bury Endraleans. The person to be buried is taken immediately after their death to a previously chosen place (preferably outdoors), which was of great importance to them during their lifetime (e.g., where the Fellowship was closed).

In the last sunset, the soul of the deceased is to pass into the Eternal Paths, a paradise created by Malphas for their Path-Abidingness.

Social Conflicts

In Enderal, there is a high degree of social inequality, especially in the city of Ark, due in no small part to its isolated location relative to other countries. The result is a relatively wealthy population on the surface and a poor, sick population in the Undercity.

As a result, the Undercity has its own society with its own laws, determined by the Rhalâta.

A second major conflict is that of determinism versus free will. Many people decide against the Path and are therefore socially ostracized. This problem is also present among people with magical talent. The result has been numerous Wild Mages who cause social instability.

Idioms and Figures of Speech

"Walk blessedl!" Alternative for "Greetings," referring to the Path.
"Pathless son of a bitch!" Alternative to "dishonorable," used to insult someone.
"They're Wild Mages, that's all!" Name for Pathless mages and witches.
"Burn in the Sun Fire!" Endralean version of "Go to hell!"
"Jaél Tannerson, priest by my Path" Job title
"As unfaithful as one of those bed-breakers!" Insult for promiscuous people, referring especially to Qyranians.
"May the Black Guardian take you!" Endralean version of "May the Devil take you!"
"Dumb as a Vatyr..."
"The guy is as strong as a Vatyr, but at least as stupid."
"It was like being in a Qyranian brothel!" Pathless, dirty, promiscuous
"Thank Malphas!" Endralean version of "Thank God!"
"By the Righteous Path..."
"By the Gods!"
"The Black Guardian knows where this guy went!" Endralean version of "God knows..." which is to say nobody knows.
"By the name of the Sun!" A versatile phrase used to express exasperation, frustration, surprise, terror, or dismay.
"Shut your mouth, or I'll send you on your Last Journey sooner than you'd like!" A phrase use to blakcmail or intimidate.
"All those coal people..." Racist slur for Qyranians, referring to their dark skin color.
"You have smoked probably too much Peaceweed!"
"A hundred pennies? Do I look like I eat God's Tongue for breakfast?" God's Tongue is a rare plant that is considered a delicacy.
"Meet me in two moons at the tavern" Two months
"Seven winters ago..." Seven years ago.
"Against a dozen bandits? Do I look like Loram Waterblade to you?"

Calendar and Time-Reckoning

See Time

In Enderal, time is calculated in days, months (commonly referred to "moons"), and years (commonly referred to as "winters").

Dealing with the Death of the Light-Born

The death of the Light-Born is not known in Enderal.

Although the rumors are widespread, the Order has made every effort to paint them as Pathless delusions and lies. The idea behind this is to prevent spiritual and political chaos, especially in light of current events and the already precarious situation.

Legendary Persons and Mythical Beings

Raláel Gold-throat

Ralaél Gold-throat was a legendary bard who lived somewhere between 7888 and 7960 a. St. He wrote many popular bard songs, such as the "Song of the Last Sunset," "The Maid in Silverlight" and "The Song of the Aged Man." He was known for his promiscuity and his heavy consumption of Glimmercap Dust, which ultimately cost him his life.

The Order has an ambivalent opinion about him: on the one hand, he was considered quite religious, which is also reflected in his works; on the other hand, they condemn his lifestyle.

Samael Dal'Galar

Samael Dal'Galar, also called the "Healer of the Poor," was an Apothekarius who lived between 8170 – 8214 n. St. As a highly gifted herbalist, he revolutionized popular medicine. He owes his epithet to the fact that he was known to treat everyone, regardless of status or wealth. He only ever demand payment from the rich.

However, he was also considered an eccentric. In the year 8206 a. St., there was a conflict with the League of the Apothekarii, which did not approve of his unorthodox treatment methods (for they considered them "unholy"). Dal'Galar then left Ark and moved to a castle in the north, with a select few apprentices. He isolated himself, and three years after his departure, no one ever heard of his castle or his apprentices again.

Ynes Dineja

Ynes Dineja was the leader of the Bloodmoon Revolt. A small, stocky woman, she did not fit the stereotype of a warrior, but she was known for her fiery speeches and explosive temper. Dineja was the daughter of a Nehrimese and an Endralean. At the age of 15, her father, Vostin Dineja, died in an accident in the Tarpit of the Undercity and her mother took her own life. It is said that these tragedies awakened her revolutionary spirit.

She then became active in several underground movements and quickly made a name for herself through her hot-bloodedness and commitment. With her talent for speeches, she quickly took on the role of organizer and founded the movement that would later lead to the Bloodmoon Revolt.

Dineja is still seen by many underground movements as an icon of freedom and justice, although her public veneration is forbidden.

Keeper Loram Waterblade

Loram Waterblade was an Endralean Keeper who lived in the years 7243 – 7290 a. St. As a non-aristocrat, he earned his place in the Novitiate through hard work and an unusual magical talent. He was considered gentle and brave, and gave up his life fighting the Black Nine, a group of brigands who at the time unsettled the streets to a great extent.

Loram Waterblade is often taken as a paragon of loyalty and bravery. Some eyewitness accounts, however, describe Waterblade as far less glorious than he was portrayed. He is said to have had numerous vices, most notably pedophilia, which was only discovered decades after his death.

Nevertheless, he is idolized in the official writings and in idioms and is the goal of many aspiring Novices.

The Black Guardian

See The Black Guardian and The Song of the Black Guardian

The Black Guardian is a mythical creature that supposedly lives under the Undercity. The legend originates from peculiar, screaming noises that can sometimes be heard in the Barracks of the Undercity. Over the centuries, the legend of a demonic creature living under Ark has developed, eating a man from time to time who is careless enough to go too far into the caves.

Archmagister Baledor Dal'Goldenstein

Baledor Dal'Goldenstein was an Endralean Arcanist who was one of the original founders of the scientific development of magic. His magnum opus, Encyclopedia Arcana, is considered the standard work concerning magic in Civilized literature. He is considered the epitome of intelligence and wisdom, but also a heretic, the latter due to his controversial theses and scientific approach to issues such as the Gods and the Path.

Naming Conventions

Endralean first names often sound harsh and frequently have double consonants. Non-Sublime surnames often depend on the profession and ancestral history of the individual in question. Sublime Endraleans carry the prefix Dal' in their surname, followed by the name of their noble family.

Examples: Meogar Ironford, Kurro Mongerson, Jespar Dal'Varek, Jaél Manyson.

Notes

  1. This month was named "The Golden Moon" in its original description in The Path, but its current name is "The Bloodmoon". The reason for this change is unknown.
  2. his month was named "Star Summer Night" in its original description in The Path, but the initial "Star" was dropped for unknown reasons.

Sources

  1. The Path, Tome 1: The Chaos, V.
  2. The Path, Tome 4: The Departure, XXV.
  3. The Path, Tome 4: The Departure, XXXIII.
  4. The Path, Tome 5: The Hunger Days, XXXIV.
  5. The Path, Tome 7: The Kraken, LVIII.
  6. The Path, Tome 8: The Arrival, LIX.
  7. The Path, Tome 8: The Arrival, LX.
  8. The Path, Tome 8: The Arrival, LXI.
  9. The Path, Tome 8: The Arrival, LXIII.
  10. The Path, Tome 9: The Fundament, LXVIII.
  11. The Path, Tome 9: The Fundament, LXXIV.
  12. The Path, Tome 11: The Treason, LXXXIX.
  13. The Path, Tome 12: The Star Summer Night, XCII.
  14. The Path, Tome 12: The Star Summer Night, XCIX.
  15. Dal-Monag, Derrek. “Myar Aranath.” Vyn - A Geographical Overview, pp. 17-18.
  16. Dal-Monag, Derrek. “Arktwend/Tirmatral.” Vyn - A Geographical Overview, pp. 19-20.