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Modern Introduction to Aristi
Posted: 11 Jun 2004 01:01 PM |
*From a lecture by Scholar Beal Comeister, doctor of ancient history at Ka’zam Tower*
Aristi was as much of an idea as it was a place. The mists of time have clouded the idea that was Aristi, but even the Museum of Midor acknowledges it was a place. Aristi was the jewel of the south, a grand city where the Princes of Aristi ruled over their people for centuries.
To hear the clergy of Midor tell the tale, Aristi was a debaucherous city, fill of corruption and greed. Midor has used its significant influence over the past thousand years to propagate inaccurate and misleading information about the true nature of Aristi. But, this is not a political lecture, is it?
The Church of Midoran no longer allows direct archeological digs in the city of Midor proper, however, recent excavation of the areas surrounding Midor have proven illuminating.
First off, there is evidence of an extensive cavern system underneath the entire city of Midor. It is supposed that these caverns are natural extensions of the Midoran Catacombs, where the honored dead of ancient Midor are buried. The content of these caverns are still a mystery, as no obvious entrance can be found.
Very few texts from the era of Aristi still exist today. Most books on the subject were burned by the Order of Midoran during the Salvation of Aristi. They were considered heretical. The few that survived speak of a single leader that founded the ancient city-state. Precious little information is present regarding this man, named Aristi, including his first name.
We do know that Aristi the man formed a group of knights, called the Heralds of Aristi. There is no direct evidence as to the role of these knights, but my thesis states that they were a sort of paladin in the service of Aristi. There is a written description of a shield of a Herald that was unearthed two hundred years ago in the Sewers of Midor. The shield has been lost, but the description does not make reference to any particular deity, therefore, we can assume that the Herald’s either followed an unknown deity or no deity at all…
…little is known about the culture of Aristi other then what the Church of Midoran tells us. Official historical records from the Church of Midoran state that the culture of Aristi was corrupt and hedonistic. They claim that the Great Plague (which, by the way, is a matter of historical record) came from Gukathul, but was allowed by Midoran as a form of punishment for the arrogance and ungodliness of Aristi. It is the stance of the Church that the Order of Midoran saved Aristi from the destiny it deserved…
…whether the Church’s analysis of the Aristi is accurate remains to be discovered. |
Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.
-Henry David Thoreau
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Re: Modern Introduction to Aristi
Posted: 12 Nov 2004 07:47 PM |
The man that would become a God.
A commentary on the history of Midor by Lord Westaerhaus.
It can be said that modern Midor is in fact the result of one mans ambitions, and those that followed him. Let us look now at the rise of the man that would become a God and the city that bears his name.
I quote now the writings of the Scholar Beal Comeister of Ka'Azim.
"Aristi was as much of an idea as it was a place. The mists of time have clouded the idea that was Aristi, but even the Museum of Midor acknowledges it was a place. Aristi was the jewel of the south, a grand city where the Princes of Aristi ruled over their people for centuries."
To hear the clergy of Midor tell the tale, Aristi was a debaucherous city, fill of corruption and greed. Midor has used its significant influence over the past thousand years to propagate inaccurate and misleading information about the true nature of Aristi. But, this is not a political lecture, is it?
The Church of Midoran no longer allows direct archeological digs in the city of Midor proper, however, recent excavation of the areas surrounding Midor have proven illuminating.
First off, there is evidence of an extensive cavern system underneath the entire city of Midor. It is supposed that these caverns are natural extensions of the Midoran Catacombs, where the honored dead of ancient Midor are buried. The content of these caverns are still a mystery, as no obvious entrance can be found.
Very few texts from the era of Aristi still exist today. Most books on the subject were burned by the Order of Midoran during the Salvation of Aristi. They were considered heretical. The few that survived speak of a single leader that founded the ancient city-state. Precious little information is present regarding this man, named Aristi, including his first name.
We do know that Aristi the man formed a group of knights, called the Heralds of Aristi. There is no direct evidence as to the role of these knights, but my thesis states that they were a sort of paladin in the service of Aristi. There is a written description of a shield of a Herald that was unearthed two hundred years ago in the Sewers of Midor. The shield has been lost, but the description does not make reference to any particular deity, therefore, we can assume that the Herald’s either followed an unknown deity or no deity at all.
Little is known about the culture of Aristi other then what the Church of Midoran tells us. Official historical records from the Church of Midoran state that the culture of Aristi was corrupt hedonistic. They claim that the Great Plague (which, by the way, is a mater of historical record) came from Gukathul, but was allowed by Midoran as a form of punishment for the arrogance and ungodliness of Aristi. It is the stance of the Church that the Order of Midoran saved Aristi from the destiny it deserved.
Whether the Church’s analysis of the Aristi is accurate remains to be discovered"
Based on paragraph one it is not terribly difficult to conclude that prior to the appearance of Midoran there was a city of vast wealth with an advanced culture. Within the same paragraph we see that there was in fact an Aristocracy of Princes and the like. With this in mind we can also assume I believe safely that they ruled by divine right. The names of the Gods and Goddesses they worshipped are now lost to time and the suppression of information by the Midoran Church as the Scholar points out in his commentary.
The Plague.
The plague as is written was "allowed" by Midoran, though Midoran had no following in Aristi or base of power in fact. A pact with Gukathul perhaps it could be speculated by those with the ability to see through false pretense. Yet to some the plague would seem justified, a mass genocide inflicted upon the people of Aristi which brought the entire civilization to its knees. Divine act? a pact between a man and an Evil God? or simply a weapon of mass destruction used to achieve a goal?.
Midoran.
By all accounts was a living man as is said in ancient text. We know he appeared at a certain point in the History of Aristi altering its face forever. A man now a God, achieveing this in a short space of time. There are many arguements as to how this came about. From the perspective of this writer, the plague was a tool. Most likely discovered in a far away land, which as the ancient texts have stated, Midoran also had come from. It is not too difficult to come to the conclusion that he and those of the church at the time could have orchestrated the events with the idea of conquering the civilization with a disease turned into a weapon. It is known among the scientific that the body once exposed to a sickness becomes hardened against it.
Midoran and his followers were foreign.. could that not explain their immunity to the sickness for reasons other than "divine blessing"?
These are questions for the rest of you to answer.
Lord Westaerhaus |
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Re: Modern Introduction to Aristi
Posted: 13 Nov 2004 09:52 AM |
*A footnote issued from the Tower of Ka'Azim*
Scholar Beal Comeister of Ka'Azim does not endores the above inturpretation, assumptions, and accusations Lord Westaerhaus advances, choosing rather to take a neutral and analytical stance required by serious scholars. While Scholar Comeistar does not discount the possible accurateness of Lord Westaerhaus's claims, there simply is not enough evidence to make a substantive conclusion.
*signed with the seal of Scholar Bael Comeistar, Associate Scholar of Ka'Azim, specializing in ancient world history.* |
Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.
-Henry David Thoreau
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Re: Modern Introduction to Aristi
Posted: 27 Mar 2005 11:20 AM |
*bump*
just because I like these posts. |
Purpose in life: finding better ways of allowing players to kill themselves. Repeatedly.
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"...Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good."
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<@James42> Lawful good isn't in your vocabulary, it's on your menu.
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Re: Modern Introduction to Aristi
Posted: 03 Dec 2005 05:24 PM |
*bump*
just because I like these posts.
*Bump Bump*
Me too |
Moon |
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