Difference between revisions of "Kingdom of Syldar"

Revision as of 16:07, 14 September 2008

Government

As a people, the Syldar are mainly philosophers and historians. Many, who do not know of their ways, see them as creatures that are filled with bloodlust, a fear conceived from the Syldar's appearance as a whole. However, in truth, they are an honorable, proud race who simply protects their land from those who would attempt to claim it. As such, they have developed a very controlled, honor-bound community, where individuals are assessed at birth and placed into a specific social caste at the age of ten to better serve the Syldar as a whole.

There are five castes in the Syldar kingdom, with all holding specific, honorable social station: The Keepers, the Warriors, the Maga, the Societal, and the Sovereigns.

Aside from being of royal blood, the highest social standing one can attain is being a member of the Keepers, of whom the preservation of both the Syldar and Midgard histories remains paramount. As far as maintaining order and defining punishment, the Sovereign family are obeyed without question, and their decision is law, and even the honorable Keepers bow to their wishes.

In terms of marriage, any two Syldar of any caste are able to wed, regardless of station; the proceeding is then made binding by the Sovereign, and any child resulting in such a union is placed through the ritual of selection.

Landmarks

• Palace of Solace - The Palace of Solace is home to the current royal rulers of Syldar. Under the watchful eyes of King Thelaric, the palace has been the center of the kingdom, where law and punishment are just, and the Syldar experience a peaceful comfort.
• Library of the Keepers - The Library of Keepers is a large building dedicated to holding the thousands of tomes containing the detailed events of the past. It remains constantly updated and cared for, with new tomes either being written or added to on a daily basis. In some ways, the library has become the pride of the Syldar people.
• Altar of Truth - In the courtyard of the Palance of Solace, the Altar of Truth can be found. On its smooth top, newborn Syldar are subject to the ritual of selection, where they are then placed into their caste and their future in Syldar culture set.

The Keepers Caste

The Keepers caste is dedicated to conserving and maintaining constant recordings of time, with every detail gained being written with ink on paperus. By discovering truth behind events, uncovering the past, glimpsing the future and cataloguing it in their ever expanding tome library, few other races have gathered and kept as complete a history of the land and its people as the Syldar; knowledge, as they say, is power.

Since 'The First', the Library of Keepers has remained carefully maintained, continually organized and every tome cared for. Following thousands of years of study, the Syldar have developed a highly effective means of preservation that involves coating their tomes in a conjured mixture of tree sap and wax, which leaves the paperus protected from the elements, before being placed into a perfectly fitted wooden sheath for easy handling and shelving.

Due to the intensive nature of their assigned station in Syldar society, very rarely do Keepers venture beyond the city of Aureska. Instead, they send out envoys who serve as information vassals, with whom the Keepers are able to magically scry and witness events through said vassal’s perceptions. It has become most common, with the current state of the land, that those of the Warrior caste are used as vassals, while the Maga remain largely within the kingdom to maintain protection of the city of Aureska from the ever increasing menace covering Midgard.

Those of the Keeper caste have also developed a magical gift to see into both the future with premonitions, and the past.

The Warriors Caste

Born into battle, trained in the use of the Syldar weapon of choice, the Qian, which is a deadly spear that can alter in staff length through magical enhancement. Taught the tactics and harsh lessons of close quarter combat, the warriors of the Syldar are considered highly skilled martial artists. They are both deadly and silent, their bodies trained to physical peak, while their home in the forest has taught them to be quick footed and soundless; what the Syldar lack in physical strength, they make up for with impressive agility and precision.

Those of the Warrior caste can be considered the epitome of physical agility and speed.

The Maga Caste

Those dedicated to the study of the Syldar magic, those of Wind and Fire. The Maga meditate and give their lives to the understanding and use of magic, often discovering new aspects of their given school of magic through working in conjunction with the Keepers. While not the strongest of mages in the land, the Maga are known for their defensive tactics when dealing with otherworldly creatures.

Those of the Maga caste are gifted with a profound sense for magic; they can both sense and absorb the mystical energy around them.

The Societal Caste

The Societal caste are those that help the city of Aureska flourish on an economical level. Beings of this caste are given considerable freedom in their choice of life profession, and can decide to become almost anything they wish, save what the other four castes represent; whether these are farmers, builders, hunters, cloth-weavers, nursery hands, healers, butchers or cooks.

Each Syldar of the societal caste is given basic training in the use of the Qian, and those with some aptitude for magic are given basic lessons, also. This caste acts as the main community of the kingdom of Syldar, and a ruling council of twelve members act as the liaisons between the people and the Sovereigns - any proceedings in law or otherwise are presented first to the societal council, before being brought to the attention of the King and Queen.

Those of the societal caste have been given the most freedom in their choice, and are able to change professions as often as they choose, so long as they continue to contribute to the kingdom in a productive manner.

The Sovereigns Caste

Those born of the royal bloodline of The First, King Belareyl. These are the kings, queens of the kingdom, those who are charged with maintaining order and control, keeping the laws of the Syldar and performing the ritual of selection to the newborn. Only the Sovereign caste may ever decide the path of a Syldar, and that decision remains final. There remain two sovereigns at all times, and those that are born of the bloodline are placed into a specific caste until such time as they are required to take the position truly reserved for them; as such, all sovereigns have become well-versed in specific aspects of the Syldar community, whether as keepers, warriors or maga.

Those of royal ancestory are gifted with extended life, due to the strong blood of 'The First' that flows in their veins - where most Sylvar live for around one-thousand years, a royal may live to up to five hundred more; given they are no taken by illness or injury.

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