The Student, Speaker of the Keep
An old figure exited Kryr Zyrr, the moons’ light reflecting brightly on his spectacles. He walked like a marionette, his long limbs moving sharply and his head hanging from his neck as if the string had broke. The man was thin despite the thick woolen coat that covered him from his shoulders to his hard heeled boots. Descending the keep stairs he came to an iron gate where he could address the gathered crowd through the unmoving bars. He lifted his head with some effort to regard those that had left their homes at this late hour to hear the words of their Lord and God. Silence swept through those assembled as they strained to hear the messenger. On this Nightsdeep, on this day, the same as it was every year since before any could remember, the Speaker delivered the Lord’s word to the people of Morn. The Speaker looked no different than he had the year before, or decades before, but no one dared guess why.
“People of Zyrr” he began, “Your Lord bids you well and great thanks, for your obedience, and for your prayers. May the land of our Lord continue to provide us with health and prosperity in the coming year. May we continue to be guided by our Lord’s great wisdom, compassion, and power. Praise and devotion to him.” To this the people murmured as one. At that time cloaked men filed before the gate and then turned toward the crowd, their hands concealed within their garments. At this time the crowd parted and a column of children moved toward the gate. When the children were grouped between the common folk and the Shroud, the cloaked figures revealed their hands which shimmered with loops of silver pendants.
“On this, the first night of this new year, the Lord welcomes all children who are celebrating their thirteenth new year this evening. He asks that each of you come forward and receive his gift.”
To most Zyrran, Tagìl Dis was the keep’s Speaker, whose job it was to address the people on behalf of Lord Zyrr each New Year’s night. It was also his duty to bestow pendants on each child of thirteen years to mark their passage into adulthood and the beginning of a long and arduous initiation that would culminate in Temple membership or slavery. What all but the highest members of the Shroud did not see was that Tagìl Dis was a devoted servant, adviser, and student of Lord Zyrr. In this capacity, the venerable student served for over two hundred years before his master permitted his old bones to rest. As expected, death did not terminate his service.
Following the “retirement” of Tagìl Dis, the Shroud ordered a number of shrines be erected throughout the Land of Zyrr. The Temples of Zyrr were from that point off-limits to all but the Shroud. The Shrines served as locations where people could pray to their God-king (though few did), offer tithes, or make their concerns heard to the Cult. The Shrines of Tagìl Dis also became locations where young adults would gather for indoctrination following the Pendanting. This schooling was led by teachers of the Order of Malórdakra.
The Last Age
The name Tagìl Dis is known to the world primarily due to his authorship of a book entitled “The Last Age”. In 788 HK, a copy of the book was found by a librarian doing research in a Viríllian library. The book had lain forgotten for hundreds of years on a remote shelf. “The Last Age” detailed an apocalyptic scenario that would bring about the end of the world. A monk of Drāūn who was working at the library recognized its importance and had a number of copies made (i.e., the Viríllián Editions). These copies were sent to each of the High Temples for comment. The Temples of Pæð and Roð are believed to have made additional, redacted copies. Neither the Cults of Zyrr, of whom Tagìl Dis seemed to be affiliated, or Sūdul, the Goddess of prophecy, would comment on the book.
News of the find spread quickly throughout the Old Empire. The unresponsiveness of the Temples only made matters worse. In short order the abridged copies of the book were copied, reprinted, and disseminated throughout the Empire. By 790 HK, the book had been reprinted innumerable times.
The Golden Schism
Only in the city-state of Taldàna was the book forbidden, for its dark passages were contradictory to the teachings of Amra. This action sent a tremor through the Empire, for each of the Old Empire’s Cults and their teachings were protected by law, and permitted in all city-states regardless of devotion. A designation of Shroud priests were dispatched to Lanàdus to argue this point. The High King listened to their concerns and agreed with them. Word was sent to Taldàna that the book and teachings of Zyrr and his Aspects were protected by the Council of Lanàdus and should be accessible within every city-state. The High Priestess of Amra refused the High King’s command on the grounds that the writings of the hitherto unknown Tagìl Dis were blasphemous and contradictory to the Promise of the Golden Lady. Furthermore, High Priestess Serásde V took the opportunity to openly question the divinity of Zyrr. These acts prompted the Golden Schism.
The High Priestess’s positions were quickly seconded by the Cults of Drāūn and Irul, who welcomed the chance to challenge the Cult of Zyrr. Each had their own reasons. The Cult of Drāūn had long suspected that the Zyrran were engaged in necromantic magics, forbidden to all but themselves, and the Umman, neighbors of the Zyrran, had witnessed strange and disturbing events which they attributed to the Doomweaver’s influence. All but one of the other Temples supported the High King’s position. The only Cult to abstain was that of Sūdul, who refused to offer an opinion on the prophecy. A Sūdulite priest, speaking at Kryr Trèmendūm, explained that portents could occur in many forms and that caution was needed before disregarding the message for the messenger.
In the fall of 791 HK, a ship arrived in Nyr Alùrin with emissaries from Lanàdus. Despite many attempts, the emissaries were refused audience with Serásde V. When the High King received word of this, he was outraged. In the Spring of 792 HK, a fleet of warships appeared along the coast of Taldàna. Word spread throughout the Old Empire that the High King sought to force the High Priestess, Heart and Voice of the Goddess Amra, into submitting to the will of the Dragul Throne. Receiving this word, the Cult of Drāūn recalled all priests and monks throughout the Empire to Ildûn as the armies of Ummon marched from their mountain strongholds toward the Nūlēun Vale and the cities of Zyrr.
On the brink of sectarian war, the High King convened the Council of Lanàdus to discuss what should be done. After much fruitless debate the representatives of Amra and Zyrr agreed to meet privately and determine whether compromise was possible. After many days of sequestered debate, the priests sent word to their respective Temples against the protocols of the Council. It was against the ancient rules of the Council for members to communicate with the Outside before matters were approved by all members. The priests of Amra and Zyrr remained steadfast in their belief that the matter might be resolved without Council action. Members of the Council complained to the High King, but he wisely refused to get involved in the body’s inner workings. What happened next is not fully understood by historians, but has been a rallying cry for conspiracy seekers for centuries. Eðérim phantoms called the Vaporous appeared throughout the City of Taldàna. Their appearance put fear into the hearts of the City’s residents, though the silent entities never acted against the populace. When the bells of the Temple sounded the arrival of Nightsdeep, the gates were opened and the High Priestess exited Kyrm Or’Amra astride a white horse. The Vaporous gathered about her and escorted her from the City despite the pleas of her priests, people, and her consort Lorin of Shalvàsal. As she rode through Taldàna, hundreds converged from every town, hamlet, and farm to beg her stay, but the High Priestess only smiled and continued onward. For months Serásde V rode south amid her ghostly entourage, through the lands of Kændal, along the Snaking Pass, and finally into the shadowed lands of Zyrr. Once in the City of Morn, it is said that she met with the God-king Zyrr and the two were united for one day and one night. On the morning following, bells peeled throughout the City of Taldàna, for the Love of Amra had been passed on, and a new High Priest was chosen. Shroud priests throughout the Old Empire collected what books they could find and returned them to the Land of Zyrr.
There is much speculation about what happened and whether anything was resolved. The priests of Drāūn returned to their posts. The armies of Ummon returned to their lands, but not before building a line of keeps along the border. It is assumed that the Visitation was both physical and spiritual. The High Priestess of Amra is believed to be a manifestation of the Goddess’s will and love upon the World of Teréth End. All interactions with her are assumed to be as with a Touched of the Goddess. Those who braved her Vaporous escort and touched her trailing garments as she rode through the lands claimed to be cured of illness, infused with happiness, etc. It is suspected that the High Priestess believed that the presence of the Goddess within her would have a precipitous effect on the God-king Zyrr. Whatever effect it may have had is unknown except that he followed through on the Shroud’s promise to recover the words of Tagìl Dis. What is guessed is that either the High Priestess rode to her death, for her consort was chosen the day following their meeting, or that the spirit of the Shining Lady could no longer abide her form and returned to Taldàna to chose another.