| 264 -A Revolution Succeeds |
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| The system of power is upended. What was the espoused goal? Did parts of the old regime survive? What's the new structure of power? => Remove a faction. A faction gains power. Rename it. |
The POV character does not have any understanding of those concepts during the conversation with Chwanmi, so that is why I left the colored phrases and words are untranslated. I am afraid that I can't tell you any more about temeu opcheup because the group of friends don't know.
| Changes in the Social Order |
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| The delicate balance of power from the beginning of Cradle's Rest was fated to not last for long with many important changes in the first years of the city. In fact, it was surprising that it lasted as long as it did as the refugee camp grew into a budding city-state. Two major factors would come to show the weaknesses of this structure. The original power structure of Cradle's Rest was built around geographic and cultural origin. This requirement for political involvement left out many residents that did not come from the kingdoms to the North like the Exiles or had the cultural background of the Etchers from the western cities. The Cult of Olpan had originally strove to fill this vacuum and represent the interests of everyone else. However, they found themselves struggling to do this while also keeping the peace between the Etchers and Exiles. The tradition of patronage by Etcher and Exile elites increased the influence of those two powers on the Cult, harming their ability for the priests remain impartial and united. One critical group underrepresented were the Ra'a-el who had come to live in the city. While small in stature, they had become critical participants in several of the city's industries and its security. Coming to the city in small groups or individually over the course of the previous decades instead of a typical full-clan migration, they had created a new clan of mutual support in the city. Ra'a-el traditionally named their clans after geographic marks in the area, so Cradle's Rest's Ra'a-el decided to call themselves the Flight of the Arrow due to the artifact's recent impact. The second factor was major shifts in the religious practices of the city. Despite the preeminent importance of Olpan to the religious life of the city at this time, it would be incorrect to describe the people of Cradle's Rest as monotheistic. Many other deities like Olpan's parent Thekbol and deities representing other heavenly bodies were regularly worshiped in the city's shrines either by themselves or alongside the city's patron deity.. One of these was a minor deity named Qanme. Named for an asteroid that astrologers at the time believed orbited the moon of Olpan, she was seen as the protector of wanderers and hunters. She was strongly associated with Olpan because of their proximity in the sky and association in myth. As a result, she had a stone dedicated to her in the city's megalith at the Shrine of Olpan and was regularly honored by a small segment of the population like merchants. It only seems natural that the "Arrow" that impacted in the Fletcher's Field would eventually become associated with Qanme. Her role with protecting wanderers also appealed to many newcomers to the city, Ra'a-el, and members of the Exiles who still strongly identified with their former home in the North. As a result, interest in this previously minor deity grew until her followers among laity and even priests in the Cult of Olpan came to be quite numerous. Into this change came Lekma, a young acolyte of the Cult of Olpan who had disappeared from the community for several years. She claimed that during her disappearance she had been in direct contact with Qanme. Her supporters set her up as an Oracle for the deity. This was an ancient institution that used to exist at the Shrine of Olpan in the distant past but had been abandoned due to changes in local belief. The new group also encouraged a more personal relationship with the deities and private acts of spirituality. This is contrast to the performance of religious rituals in public spaces that had had the previous tradition. This personalization of the relationship with the deities is further reflected in Lekma's followers referring to themselves as companions rather than priests or acolytes and gave rise to the common reference to the group as the Companions of Qanme. Records and public statements created by the leaders in the Cult of Olpan in this time period express fear and frustration. They call Lekma's assertions lies that flew in the face of centuries of tradition. Oracles and other forms of divination had been considered heretical outside of astrology or catoptromancy using bronze mirrors. They also expressed opposition to the Companions because they perceived them as disrupting the peace of the city. The Cult accused the Companions of favoritism due to the worshipers of Qanme being much more common among the Exiles than they were among the Etchers. Finally, their private records mention that the Companions' beliefs were undermining physical demonstrations of the Cult's importance to the social fabric of the city by reducing attendance to rituals and public religious spaces. |
| The Foundation of the Convocation of Union |
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| It is rather ironic that the Cult of Olpan accused the Companions of bias considering subsequent events. The Etchers rallied behind the Cult, claiming that the Companions were a repeat of the Flock of Qumol due to the perceived disruption to the social structure. Some even claimed that Lekma was an agent of Qumol. This reactionary combination attempted to suppress the Companions, which forced the Companions to align with the Council of Exiles and the Flock of the Arrow. This alignment was made official in the Convocation of Union, which shortly became a major civic decision-making body for the city. The Etchers, as a major guild in the city, often had representatives in the Convocation. However, they never had enough direct influence to direct its decisions. Instead, they mainly influenced politics through outside actions like they had before. As the uneasy peace settled in, both the Etchers and the Council gained in power. While the Council was part of this new union, they were frequently the most influential party within it. Meanwhile the Etchers strengthened their previously flagging influence but became more reactionary in their outlook. Less dedicated members had left to join the Convocation as a result of the Companions' influence, but the remainder had strengthening their convictions. The fragmented Cult of Olpan maintained the Shrine and worship of their main deity, but effectively lost its independence with many of their followers lost and the Etchers being their only financial and social backers within the city. |
What's the difference between good friends and best friends.
| 156 - Gangs Claim Districts |
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| A crime syndicate or a gang has managed to gain control of at least one district. What links them to this place? Why aren't they stopped? => Add a faction |
