Post by SummerCrow on Jul 24, 2015 23:13:42 GMT -6
Excerpt from a Children's Story:
The Kingdom of Solgen, on the continent of Biessel once stood as a bastion of equality, a country where laguz and beorc stood arm-in-arm. Together, they created beautiful works of architecture, wonderful art, amazing food, and beautiful music. They plowed the fields together, forged weapons together, went to war together... and triumphed together. The Kingdom of Solgen was respected far and wide as one of the most powerful in all of Biessel.
But all great things must come to an end. Slowly, cracks began to form between the two races. Many historians theorize the tensions were created by agents of the neighboring country of Selsen. It's certainly possible, but impossible to prove. Slowly, laguz and beorc grew to resent each other.
In the year 427, violence finally broke out. Laguz and beorc began to openly fight one another. The beorc quickly found themselves pressed into a corner, with many of the survivors seeking refuge in the capital of Solace. The laguz armies laid siege to the city. After months of resistance, Solace was razed to the ground. Nothing survived the slaughter, save for the Shrine of Solgen. Legends say that on the day Solace fell, the statue at the shrine's heart was seen with tears streaming down its face. Now, it is endlessly covered in the ash of the dead and destroyed, tarnished almost beyond recognition. The laguz found themselves in control of Solgen. Taking the positions of nobility, they constructed a new society with laguz firmly in control, with their positions decided by their strength.
The year is now 789. Generations have passed, and Solgen has adjusted to the shift in power. Beorc now understand they are firmly beneath the rule of their betters, those who fight with tooth and claw and unmatchable strength. These beorc sub-beasts are considered second class citizens. Magic is all but gone from Solgen, with only a few small schools taught in secret, and weaponry is tightly limited to soldiers in the Solgen militia.
Rumors have begun to spread. In the Rosim Mountain Chain, a rebel army is forming. Under the leadership of Tilo Hartmann, they rise to challenge the combined forces of the laguz and the beorc milita that remain loyal to the crown king, Bastian Ferik, in the new capital of Lunda.
In the beginning, Biessel was nothing but a barren wasteland. Two beings, Ziehen and Zeugen, wandered ceaselessly. As Ziehen travelled, she created the plants, green and vibrant, to ease her loneliness. As Zeugen travelled, he created the animals, wild and untamed, to ease his loneliness. Long, long did Ziehen and Zeugen travel, until all of Biessel was alive with their creation.
One day, Zeugen came upon Ziehen bathing in a stream. So surprised was he that he tried to hide himself, but Ziehen sought him in her loneliness. When the two met face-to-face, they embraced. From their union came twelve children. To each of their children, Ziehen and Zeugen granted a gift. A gift of creation. Their journey finished, Ziehen and Zeugen lay down together and entered an endless sleep.
The eldest son, fearsome Luwurl, created the dragons, with their longevity and dauntlessness. The newborn dragons named their newly founded country in his honor. His task complete, Luwurl became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over his creation.
The eldest daughter, graceful Iba, created the herons, with their beauty and song. The newborn herons named their newly founded country in her honor. Her task complete, Iba became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over her creation.
The 2nd son, mighty Lowen, created the lions, with their nobility and ferociousness. The newborn lions named their newly founded country in his honor. His task complete, Lowen became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over his creation.
The 2nd daughter, ageless Lannis, created the phoenixes, with their vitality and warmth. The newborn phoenixes named their newly founded country in her honor. Her task complete, Lannis became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over her creation.
The 3rd son, sharp-eyed Gauren, created the hawks, with their keen sense and powerful wings. The newborn hawks named their newly founded country in his honor. His task complete, Gauren became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over his creation.
The 3rd daughter, trickster Vanta, created the crows, with their wisdom and foresight. The newborn crows named their newly founded country in her honor. Her task complete, Vanta became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over her creation.
The 4th son, proud Nasain, created the wolves, with their loyalty and hunger. The newborn wolves named their newly founded country in his honor. His task complete, Nasain became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over his creation.
The 4th daughter, aloof Saelin, created the cats, with their sharp instinct and pride. The newborn cats named their newly founded country in her honor. Her task complete, Saelin became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over her creation.
The 5th son, brave Terik, created the tigers, with their bravery and tirelessness. The newborn tigers named their newly founded country in his honor. His task complete, Terik became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over his creation.
The 5th daughter, fleet-footed Kanin, created the taguel, with their agility and speed. The newborn taguel named their newly founded country in her honor. Her task complete, Kanin became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over her creation.
The youngest son, ambitious Selsen, wished to create a creature to surpass all his siblings' creations. He created the beorc, creative and adaptive. The newborn beorc named their country in his honor. His task complete, Terik became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over his creation.
The youngest daughter, merciful Solgen, watched her siblings' creations. She watched as they fought and killed each other, warring over territory, warring over honor. And Solgen's heart wept. Unable to bear the cruelty of her siblings' creations destroying each other, she chose to create harmony. From each of her siblings' creations, Solgen chose the most virtuous, uniting them to create a new country. The newly united people named their newly founded country in her honor. Feeling her task was incomplete so long as strife still exists, she refused to join her siblings. Instead, she traveled to her the grave of her parents. To this day, she stands as a statue, forever locked into a silent vigil. Around this statue, the Shrine of Solgen was created. And around the shrine came the capital city, Solace, jewel of Biessel.
-The Legend of the Foundation of the City of Solace, written in 204
One day, Zeugen came upon Ziehen bathing in a stream. So surprised was he that he tried to hide himself, but Ziehen sought him in her loneliness. When the two met face-to-face, they embraced. From their union came twelve children. To each of their children, Ziehen and Zeugen granted a gift. A gift of creation. Their journey finished, Ziehen and Zeugen lay down together and entered an endless sleep.
The eldest son, fearsome Luwurl, created the dragons, with their longevity and dauntlessness. The newborn dragons named their newly founded country in his honor. His task complete, Luwurl became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over his creation.
The eldest daughter, graceful Iba, created the herons, with their beauty and song. The newborn herons named their newly founded country in her honor. Her task complete, Iba became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over her creation.
The 2nd son, mighty Lowen, created the lions, with their nobility and ferociousness. The newborn lions named their newly founded country in his honor. His task complete, Lowen became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over his creation.
The 2nd daughter, ageless Lannis, created the phoenixes, with their vitality and warmth. The newborn phoenixes named their newly founded country in her honor. Her task complete, Lannis became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over her creation.
The 3rd son, sharp-eyed Gauren, created the hawks, with their keen sense and powerful wings. The newborn hawks named their newly founded country in his honor. His task complete, Gauren became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over his creation.
The 3rd daughter, trickster Vanta, created the crows, with their wisdom and foresight. The newborn crows named their newly founded country in her honor. Her task complete, Vanta became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over her creation.
The 4th son, proud Nasain, created the wolves, with their loyalty and hunger. The newborn wolves named their newly founded country in his honor. His task complete, Nasain became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over his creation.
The 4th daughter, aloof Saelin, created the cats, with their sharp instinct and pride. The newborn cats named their newly founded country in her honor. Her task complete, Saelin became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over her creation.
The 5th son, brave Terik, created the tigers, with their bravery and tirelessness. The newborn tigers named their newly founded country in his honor. His task complete, Terik became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over his creation.
The 5th daughter, fleet-footed Kanin, created the taguel, with their agility and speed. The newborn taguel named their newly founded country in her honor. Her task complete, Kanin became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over her creation.
The youngest son, ambitious Selsen, wished to create a creature to surpass all his siblings' creations. He created the beorc, creative and adaptive. The newborn beorc named their country in his honor. His task complete, Terik became a star and traveled to the sky to watch over his creation.
The youngest daughter, merciful Solgen, watched her siblings' creations. She watched as they fought and killed each other, warring over territory, warring over honor. And Solgen's heart wept. Unable to bear the cruelty of her siblings' creations destroying each other, she chose to create harmony. From each of her siblings' creations, Solgen chose the most virtuous, uniting them to create a new country. The newly united people named their newly founded country in her honor. Feeling her task was incomplete so long as strife still exists, she refused to join her siblings. Instead, she traveled to her the grave of her parents. To this day, she stands as a statue, forever locked into a silent vigil. Around this statue, the Shrine of Solgen was created. And around the shrine came the capital city, Solace, jewel of Biessel.
-The Legend of the Foundation of the City of Solace, written in 204
The Kingdom of Solgen, on the continent of Biessel once stood as a bastion of equality, a country where laguz and beorc stood arm-in-arm. Together, they created beautiful works of architecture, wonderful art, amazing food, and beautiful music. They plowed the fields together, forged weapons together, went to war together... and triumphed together. The Kingdom of Solgen was respected far and wide as one of the most powerful in all of Biessel.
But all great things must come to an end. Slowly, cracks began to form between the two races. Many historians theorize the tensions were created by agents of the neighboring country of Selsen. It's certainly possible, but impossible to prove. Slowly, laguz and beorc grew to resent each other.
In the year 427, violence finally broke out. Laguz and beorc began to openly fight one another. The beorc quickly found themselves pressed into a corner, with many of the survivors seeking refuge in the capital of Solace. The laguz armies laid siege to the city. After months of resistance, Solace was razed to the ground. Nothing survived the slaughter, save for the Shrine of Solgen. Legends say that on the day Solace fell, the statue at the shrine's heart was seen with tears streaming down its face. Now, it is endlessly covered in the ash of the dead and destroyed, tarnished almost beyond recognition. The laguz found themselves in control of Solgen. Taking the positions of nobility, they constructed a new society with laguz firmly in control, with their positions decided by their strength.
The year is now 789. Generations have passed, and Solgen has adjusted to the shift in power. Beorc now understand they are firmly beneath the rule of their betters, those who fight with tooth and claw and unmatchable strength. These beorc sub-beasts are considered second class citizens. Magic is all but gone from Solgen, with only a few small schools taught in secret, and weaponry is tightly limited to soldiers in the Solgen militia.
Rumors have begun to spread. In the Rosim Mountain Chain, a rebel army is forming. Under the leadership of Tilo Hartmann, they rise to challenge the combined forces of the laguz and the beorc milita that remain loyal to the crown king, Bastian Ferik, in the new capital of Lunda.
