From a3e53b8d4051a801e8a507754e6957610747a9e9 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Deepak Mallubhotla Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2022 21:38:29 -0500 Subject: [PATCH] feat: sarla story and lore --- lore/dates.txt | 39 ++++++++++++++ lore/ennearchy.txt | 5 ++ lore/etymologies.txt | 7 +++ lore/hierarchy-structure.txt | 8 +-- lore/places.txt | 12 +++++ lore/politics.txt | 14 +++++ sarlastory/sarla-asks-auroklos.txt | 87 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ sarlastory/sarla-on-a-date.txt | 13 +++++ 8 files changed, 182 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-) create mode 100644 lore/dates.txt create mode 100644 lore/politics.txt create mode 100644 sarlastory/sarla-asks-auroklos.txt create mode 100644 sarlastory/sarla-on-a-date.txt diff --git a/lore/dates.txt b/lore/dates.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..abf1673 --- /dev/null +++ b/lore/dates.txt @@ -0,0 +1,39 @@ +1987 ― Marina born + +1990 ― Sarla born + +1994 ― Hierarchy extremist cell arrested in Bellfort +1995 ― + Summer: Free Yak Alliance loses many Assembly seats to Progress Party, as Progress Party does well in Presidential polling + Controversy in last round of Presidential Election Progress Party Candidate makes unsavoury comments about the Hierarchy, including dissolution and storming of the Eternal City + Fall: Meadowlark Union Party candidate Sonja elected as President + +1996 ― Kral born? + - Late Winter: Sonja officially ends policy of Suppression via Decree + - Spring: + - Legislative Assembly passes laws overturning two elements of Suppression (the education requirements and the ban on Flock members in the Assembly). + The Assembly leaves the previous laws on fund freezing, but leaves intact Sonja's decree on funding. + +1997 ― Hierarch Yakaterina found, arrested. +2000 ― President Dominic of PP elected. MU does much better than usual and siphons away many FYA members. + - PP is very tense with Hierarchy. + +2002 ― Sarla faces Trial, passes + +2005 ― President Laurence (FYA, PM during Sonja's presidency) elected (with FYA + PP coalition), pledges to normalise relationship with Hierarchy + - Overall Hierarchy does not budge, PP does not want to make concessions + +2007 ― Sarla becomes Practicant, starts training with Auroklos + +2008 ― Council agrees to declare Yakaterina a heretic, dubbing her Heresiarch and disavowing her philosophy in public. + Is understood to be forced by Laurence as condition of renewal of funding decree. + No Hierarch named, and no recognition of Galvarelli. + +2010 ― President Laurence re-elected, but largely continues on same (with FYA-led coalition with PP and PM) + +2013 ― Eternal City normalises relations with Galvarelli, signing Concords + Auroklos officially succeeds Yakaterina as Hierarch. +2015 ― President Calvin (PP) takes office, with Vaughan as PM. + Steals votes from Meadowlark Union and FYA by making bold promises on both a final end to Suppression and on refugees. + Tugs at everyone's heartstrings +2018 ― events of Kral's story diff --git a/lore/ennearchy.txt b/lore/ennearchy.txt index e6fe456..b4f6f98 100644 --- a/lore/ennearchy.txt +++ b/lore/ennearchy.txt @@ -10,3 +10,8 @@ charity (quite powerful Ennearch who is the most common patron of Flocks in outl reason strength chastity Ennearch Simeon, who has a team of Meadowlark Communicators + Chastity to yaks represents austerity. They keep their offices bare and minimal, and expect restraint and asceticism. + Fasts are common as prayer. + This helps with Farcalling, which requires a very delicate touch. + Many other offices borrow Farcallers, which ends up giving the Office of Chastity much of its influence. + Not very popular in the lay people, except in a few Border regions. diff --git a/lore/etymologies.txt b/lore/etymologies.txt index 58a3097..73fc2cf 100644 --- a/lore/etymologies.txt +++ b/lore/etymologies.txt @@ -8,3 +8,10 @@ Brody: https://www.reddit.com/r/askgaybros/comments/4zpe82/generally_speaking_wh Notburga: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notburga patron saint of fields + +White Hall + Reference both to Chastity (via chastity -> purity -> white) and to UK civil service. + +Alv: + Reference both to Galvarelli and to the latin word arvum (via arvum -> alvum -> alv). + Also references white (via albus). diff --git a/lore/hierarchy-structure.txt b/lore/hierarchy-structure.txt index e7b2685..497af9e 100644 --- a/lore/hierarchy-structure.txt +++ b/lore/hierarchy-structure.txt @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ # Ranks in the actual Hierarchy as well, Hierarch, the 9 Ennearchs. # The Councillors can actually be of any Meadowlark rank, but theoretical minimum is Renunciate. -# -# Above the Practicants are the Master Practicants and the +# +# Above the Practicants are the Master Practicants and the The Hierarchy is structured along two axes: Meadowlark and Political power. @@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ Practicant - In some sense a Practicant represents a trained Renunciate. Typically, unless someone has a particular interest in scholarship or in pedagogy, or just interest in the actual applied meadowlark, this is where people stop in their Meadowlark training. Auroklos is a Practicant, although one of moderate skill. Sarla is a very, very skilled Practicant, and is on the cusp of being a very young Anendyte. + Blue-sashed black robes. Anendyte / Master Practicant - Capable of / allowed to teach the Meadowlark to Adepts, and necessary to witness vows for Adepts to become Renunciates. The Ennearchs will bring the petition of a skilled Practicant to the Hierarch for evaluation, with the Hierarch's approval, a Practicant becomes an Anendyte. @@ -54,10 +55,11 @@ Anendyte / Master Practicant - Capable of / allowed to teach the Meadowlark to A In practice, a Practicant will already have begun aiding Renunciates, even if not formally teaching them. In the current times, the skill required will almost certainly involve being able to grow plants with some ease. There are not many Anendytes, only usually 15-20 in the whole Hierarchy. + Green robes. Telaugur - Very rare, requires reaching the highest Meadowlarks at least on occasion. If you can command insects, and the wind and the rain, then you are a Telaugur. There is no formal process for attaining this rank. The last Telaugurs were imprisoned and killed during the Suppression three Presidents ago. Caprina has the knowledge and skill to be a Telaugur, but not the will to teach or any desire to be part of the Hierarchy. - Elders often have an advantage in reaching higher meadowlarks, because of their closer connection to the Fifth Race. \ No newline at end of file + Elders often have an advantage in reaching higher meadowlarks, because of their closer connection to the Fifth Race. diff --git a/lore/places.txt b/lore/places.txt index e0bc75d..72141a0 100644 --- a/lore/places.txt +++ b/lore/places.txt @@ -8,3 +8,15 @@ Hall of Roots: Palace of skies: The great palace made of a pure white stone and preserved holly, which contains the Hierarch's offices among others + +Willow Hall: + Contains library, and Auroklos's small office. + +White Hall + Houses the Office of Chastity. + +Tower Hall + Sarla lives here, along with a fair few adepts. + +Bellfort + Fort La Cloche diff --git a/lore/politics.txt b/lore/politics.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..57b0670 --- /dev/null +++ b/lore/politics.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +Parties: + - Progress Party + - Meadowlark Union + - Free Yak Alliance + +Suppression: + - Policy of barring Flock members from the Legislative Assembly + - State school curricula were instructed to denounce the Hierarchy and describe the abuses during the pre-Republican Hierocracy + - Freezing of accounts from old Flocks and suspension of Charters requiring money + + +Currency: + Galvarelli uses alv as its currency. + Subdivided into grani. diff --git a/sarlastory/sarla-asks-auroklos.txt b/sarlastory/sarla-asks-auroklos.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..77b8ba4 --- /dev/null +++ b/sarlastory/sarla-asks-auroklos.txt @@ -0,0 +1,87 @@ +In the week before her Practicant qualification, Sarla felt a surge of confidence in her ability to pass. +Unfortunately, rather than relieving her of the ambient stress she'd absorbed from the other prospective Practicants, the stress branched out to other endeavours. +The most pressing question was that of her duties as Practicant. +All of the others who sought qualification, as far as she knew, were engaged in duties that would continue on. + +Marina had all but guaranteed a post as a Farcaller within the Office of the Ennearch of Chastity. +Cyril would be fucking off to serve as a Council-appointed administrator. +For all her time spent in Willow Hall's library, she hadn't approached anyone to seek out an appointment. +The rest of her life stretched out in her imagination, a life spent sweeping in Tower Hall, fulfilling menial duties in the kitchens. + +Occupied with these thoughts, she spent a free afternoon wandering, finding herself again, in the library, walking through the long shelves. +The white marble floor was padded with a thin rug through the stacks, to muffle the clack of hooves on stone. + +She scanned the shelves idly, looking for nothing in particular. +She passed some biographies of Emperor Yakob, and texts on soil weathering and many others, until eventually, by chance she turned into an aisle and nearly bumped into an older yak. + +He wore plain black robes, slightly tattered, so she surprised herself by recognising his rank. + +―I apologise for disturbing you, Master..., she trailed off. + +It was unusual that she hadn't heard much about this yak, given how few Masters there were. + +―Master Auroklos, he said, bowing his head politely. + Carry on, he said, waving her by. + +She started to walk past as he plucked a book off the shelf and turned away the way she came. +It suddenly came to her: + +―You were the Master at my Trial. + I swore my Renunciate oaths in front of you. + The scholar. + +He stopped and faced her. +A moment passed in thought. + +―Yes. Yes, I remember, he said eventually. + What was your name? + +―Sarla. + +He nodded, then turned back to walk away again, before Sarla interrupted. + +―Excuse me, Master Auroklos..., she said, while he looked at her patiently. + I was, um, well. + I don't know what to do. + +―What to do? + What to do with what? + +―With, um, myself. + You see, I'm going to be qualifying as Practicant, and I don't know what vocation to pursue. + +He sighed. +―I'm sorry, Sarla, I'm not in much of a position to help. + I would not have time to mentor you, and I don't need much in the way of assistance. + +―What exactly do you study? + +He looked at her, puzzled, before laughing. +―You're asking me to help you without knowing what I do? + I study the Meadowlark, child. + There are very few left who do, especially within the Hierarchy. + Our dear Hierarch was the last of the era that did, before she got locked up like a common criminal. + +He spat the last sentence with surprising venom, and Sarla looked around to see if anyone had heard him. +He paused without noticing, deep in thought. + +―Where did you learn to Connect to the Meadowlark? + +―Tomasz and Grigory. She paused as he gave her an examining look. + Well, actually, I taught myself, sir. + I practiced the exercises a lot, every day in my free time. + I promise, I would be diligent. + +―What application of the Meadowlark are you studying? + +―Growth and Vitality. + But the theory of Connection is super interesting. + I mean, that's why I like to spend time here in the library. + +He waved dismissively. mumbling half to himself. +―Fine, fine. + There are better theory books in other libraries. + The Cedar Library is better: Miriam keeps her collection well. + Hm... he drifted off. + My office is on the third floor here. + Come by tomorrow morning. diff --git a/sarlastory/sarla-on-a-date.txt b/sarlastory/sarla-on-a-date.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..54a9c96 --- /dev/null +++ b/sarlastory/sarla-on-a-date.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +Halfway through dinner, Sarla's stomach dropped, realising that it was unclear whether or not she was on a date. +The afternoon's easy-going pleasantries were certainly typical of time spent with Marina, but upon being seated at the restaurant, Marina's smiles had a coquettish quality that Sarla had never seen. +The hazy fog of the pre-dinner drinks smeared out the scene in front of her; a warm fog like a summer day. +Sarla longed to stand and sprint, in any direction, until her legs grew too tired to move. + +Sarla felt her not-atypical post-drink urge to reach into the Meadowlark and burn off the mild buzz, but some foreign thought arrested her as she began. +Marina smiled at her. +The conversation had settled into a lull, and Marina seemed aggressively content to let the comfortable silence between them linger. +Now that Sarla had registered how long the silence had stretched, she felt her mind grapple wildly for something to break it, anything to say. + +―I was reading about the codes of the Office of Chastity, she blurted out. + +Fuck, she thought.