Kingdom of Balian 508 Share Posted February 16, 2023 (edited) THE LOTHAR STONES THE SECOND TABLET On The Wheel The Lothar Stones are marble engravings revealing life in the Bathalite Empire, otherwise known as Old Balian, dated somewhere between the fifth to seventh century. They are attributed to St. Lothar the Bannerlord, who served as one of the final dynasts of that ancient civilization. At least twelve of these stones are believed to be in existence, with each depicting the perspectives of Lothar and his Bathalites on various topics. They are written in Old Bathalite, a script similar to non-Dragaari Flexio. The Bathalites were renowned for being one of the most innovative heartlander polities of their time, believed to have spread their influence all throughout Almaris with their rich trade networks, strong piety, and powerful chariot warriors. On The Wheel was recovered in the caverns below the city of Atrus by Constable Peter d’Arkent after a terrible earthquake. It was then translated by Teodosio Cardinal Tyria with the aid of Amiratus Ledicort Vuiller after eight years - a watershed moment in linguistics, archeology, and Canonist history. An account detailing the translation can be found here. SYNOPSIS The second tablet describes the founding myth of the Balthalite civilization. It opens with an allegory of the wheel’s significance to the Bathalites, as well as introducing their hero Balthier, the brawny leader of one of the many tribes in Aaun. The stone claims that Balthier’s forefathers, alongside the Ashfords, or Escheveurds, rose up as Owyn’s chief lieutenants in the Exalted’s rebellion, giving them noble pedigree. Balthier’s chief advisors are also named, consisting of his Rhenyari wife, Sybille, and his amiratus, Edgar of Aaun. The legend of Sybille supports what we know as the cultural influences of Old Balian. While the Bathalite commons inextricably maintained their Aaunite roots, its nobility took great inspiration from the east. Her depiction in Akritian dress, along with the swirls of Empyrean, or the Creator, reveals a worldly and rich leader that may have contributed the most to the identity of the early Bathalite state. The title of the tablet, Wheel seems to lend this theory further credence. Sybille is responsible for cultivating the symbol of the Empyrean in piety, as well as designing the quintessential symbol of Old Balian, the chariot, for conquest. Both these icons would be unfamiliar to the Almaris natives, who would come to learn these respective wheels as symbols of authority. On the other hand, discerning the character of Edgar from this tablet alone is difficult, but the stone reveals that the Balthalite line had a patrilinear connection to the Exalted Owyn through Edgar of Jrent, as well as rare access to understanding Dragaari Flexio through his education. His title of amiratus, while conventionally meaning admiral, seems to instead here mean something alike to chief minister or seneschal, as he serves as Balthier’s right hand man, and even weds his son to Balthier’s daughter. The stone also sheds light into the state of the heartlander realms of antiquity, confirming beliefs regarding infighting and feuding over ‘the power of dragons’. Balthier, Sybille, and Edgar all seem in consensus that these wars were unproductive, and sought a new land away from civil decline. Whether the ‘power of the dragons’ described in the stone involved religious warfare over the Pact of Asioth, or a more political conflict between the priestly bloodlines of Owyn’s descendants is left to be uncovered, however. Finally, the Balthalites declaring an empire is startling information for anyone who dabbled in the historiography of St. Lothar. Old Balian was not previously thought to be so splendorous as to rival Harren’s Idunia. We know now that the Bathalite Empire was driven to its own self-destruction via excess and cruelty, with St. Lothar himself vowing to lower the imperial standard for good. However, Wheel reveals a rare level of prosperity and paramountcy that a proto-Canonist power of old enjoyed. Perhaps such knowledge was intentionally minimized to support the exceptionalism of the Holy Orenian Empire. ___ II. WHEEL The second tablet’s engraving depicts what appears to be Empress Sybille, open-handed, in traditional Akritian dress. Along her sleeves, crown, and the hem of her dress are depictions of the swirling Empyrean. What is the wheel but locomotion manifest? To roll onwards, push further, find the frontier, and enterprise. That was the ethos of the Old Balian. A chariot driven by two wheels, faith and state. In the beginning, there was Balthier of Aaun, a man of command and renown. Though he lacked education, he commanded great respect as a peerless warrior in the Valley of Jrent. His ancestor Balthalain rose up alongside the Escheveurds against King Harren. And Balthier himself had slain the lycanthrope. Balthier wed a daughter of Akritia, Sybille, a skilled sailor and visionary in her own right. She stood to inherit a mighty fleet, and his bride price to her was one-hundred of his honor guard. Together, they could create a future away from the machinations of Aaun Where priests warred another over the power of the dragons. Balthier’s amiratus was the priest Edgar who descended from King Owyn. But Edgar had rejected the dragon keeper’s struggles. Instead, he knew the art of haruspicy After burning a golden auroch, he saw promise in the south. When plague came from the east, Balthier and his tribe set sail. With him were his wife, Sybille, and four daughters who taught him virtues from the court of Rhen. Alongside them was Edgar, who taught him the Old Flexio. These lessons made it so our Balthier could read, rule, and pray as King Owyn did. They sailed for forty-eight days before striking land in our Almaris and settled along the fork of a river. The foundation of our capital of Sibilsgard was made there. The land was named after our Sybille. She earned the honor after fashioning her husband a chariot to rule from. A moving throne conquers, a still throne falters. This was their saying. Almaris was home to many scattered tribes. More men had inhabited this land than that of Aaun and Rhen put together. However, these men were lacking in their worship or wisdoms. Many did not even know the wheel. Some called Balthier devil, and claimed his throne moved on spinning snakes. Others welcomed the riches, faith, and learning of Sibilsgard. All began to realize our industrious state. After uniting fifteen tribes in this virgin land of Almaris. Balthier and Sybille understood this was a world of ponderlot and mandragora. Silver, marble, and ironwood, rich beyond splendor. Their country would command a size and fortune beyond even the over-kings of Idunia. And bring the Scroll of Virtue and Spirit to an untold population. So with Edgar’s blessing, he was named Emperor, a king above kings At his coronation, he wed his eldest daughter Balthild to Edgar’s son Edred. And declared our Balthalite Empire, and as its crest, the wheels. Edited February 16, 2023 by Kingdom of Balian 19 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HIGH_FIRE 4135 Share Posted February 16, 2023 Spoiler I love Balianite Deeplore 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergisala 2804 Share Posted February 17, 2023 "The Balthalite Empire may no longer exist, but the spirit of our Emperor shall always live in our hearts, our memory and personified in His Majesty the King of Balian. God save the Emperor!" said Lucien d'Azor, a refugee from the Commonwealth of the Petra now living in the Kingdom of Balian. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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