(UNKNOWN) Bastilles (Shieldstone Caverns)
Dec 8, 2016 0:41:04 GMT -5
Ellywick Fizzlespark likes this
Post by Head Moderator on Dec 8, 2016 0:41:04 GMT -5
The location of bastilles were such well kept secrets that only hints and rumors are found to this day that these places even exist. What is a bastille? Rare areas deep within Arith surrounded by a material known as "shieldstone". This stone literally shielded whoever was within it from anything magical or mundane going on around it. The world could die, and those within a shieldstone cavern, or "bastille" would be safe.
But what happened if those hiding within a bastille were trapped within?
The first bastille to be found in this day and age is called Lacuna. Located in the mountains overlooking Pincer Lake, near Navahla, during the Triple Full Moon (Dec 2016), the once sealed cavern was cracked open, revealing a primitive culture that had lived inside the bastille for near 500 years. A culture devoid of sunlight, moonlight, oceans, green plants, snow, magic, and many other things we have taken for granted. A culture of near 1000 individuals who most are still too afraid to venture into the sunlight.
Except for Maeveen. She was the first contact.
LACUNA BASTILLE
The bastille known as "Lacuna" was used in the Blacksinner's Era, almost 500 years ago. A storm of such proportions that much of the land of Tenebrus was under water sent a group of about 400 Sarkotans into the bastille to wait out the storm, taking only what they could carry and cart with them. A mixture of races, the majority human, camped within the large shieldstone cavern for several weeks until the earth began to shake, and earthquakes rippled through the middle of the land.
The bastille's entrance was sealed under layers of stone and water, and after the shaking ended, the leaders of the group determined that Arith had been destroyed and the only way they could survive would be to live in the bastille. There was an uprising, as many thought that was ridiculous, and attempted to find a way out of the cavern. Unable to use magic, and without sufficient equipment, all attempts failed and many died in the process. As months passed, many more died of hunger and disease.
A human noble of Sarkotos, simply called, "Randolph the Uniter", stepped forward and began to unify the divisions, and bring hope to the people. He encouraged the people to kneel and offer thanks to the shieldstone for their salvation, and it was pointed out that there seemed to be a face in the stone of one section of the cavern. This stone face became a source of inspiration and hope for the people of Lacuna.
Rules were instituted, such as the rule that families could only ever bear one child. Rules about waste, and living arrangements were made. Digging began to make more area in the shieldstone for long-term usage. An underground river was found, which provided cave fish and water. Over time, they learned which fungi and moss was edible, and which was not. They discovered sponges growing in areas of the caverns that could filter air. They quickly learned how to use flint, which was in excess in the caverns, to light fire. A culture with a Chief and Elders at the top, a handful of wise women and men, the storyteller, and highborn and lowborn came to exist over the years. Outcasts were sent to live on the fringes of the cavern, fending for themselves.
Fungi would be fed with the bodies of the dead, their bones used for weapons and utensils and jewelry. The only body that was ever buried in its own tomb was Randolph's. Elders over the years maintained that the world above was destroyed, and that safety was found in Lacuna alone. A very great fear of ever leaving Lacuna was instilled in all occupants, not only by the elders, but by the wise men and women who warned of great dangers. Only the storytellers, who passed on the stories through the centuries from the original families remained to remind the people of Lacuna of what life was like on the surface. They heard stories of sunshine making trees grow, but they had no idea what a tree even was, nor could they truly imagine what it felt to see sunshine on a lake's surface. The storytellers told them of mighty dragons flying in the sky, but what was sky? How could they fathom such a thing? Ships as large as the cavern that sailed upon bodies of water so large you could not see the end. Unfathomable again. They became myths and legends.
Their language and culture not only melded together from all the races, but changed to reflect their new home. Their language is a pidgin of common, Sarkotan and elvish and only the Storytellers of Lacuna were taught by their mentors to read and speak Common, Sarkotan, and even some Elvish as they were the guardians of the tiny collection of ancient books brought in so long ago.
Warfare was near unheard of in the bastille. Survival was far more important than fighting abilities. There were very few things to actually fight in the bastille, besides each other. Which was highly illegal with severe punishments. Issues were usually handled by the Elders, with a decision made by the chief. Hunting and Fishing, Fungi Farmers, and Child Rearing were the main duties of the people. Celebrations happened for marriages and births, and ceremonies to the Stone Face. Randolph was also honored at times throughout the year. How does one actually keep time when there is no moon, nor sun? They learned of the passing of seasons by careful study and watch of the river and what type of fish and creatures appeared at different times of the year. Some of the moss and lichen changed colors through the year. It was never a definite thing, no one truly knew how old anyone else was. You were either very young, young, middling, or aged.
The Chief was chosen by the Elders when a current Chief was too old to rule. Elders were chosen from the Highborn Clans, and each Elder wears the ancient symbol of their clan: the signet ring. Storytellers and Wise Ones could be Lowborn or Highborn. Highborn were descendants of the nobles who had come into Lacuna for safety, every Highborn clan in Lacuna had a relic from their descendants of a signet ring. A clan without a signet ring had no proof of their heritage. Lowborn were then clans who had no signet rings. They might have other relics, but without a signet ring they could never be an Elder, nor Chief. Elders and Chiefs could be male or female. Marriages had to be approved by the Chief. It was extremely rare for a Lowborn male to marry a Highborn female, but very common for Lowborn females to be married to a Highborn male. Sometimes, arrangements were made for marriage when the children were very young. A healthy female was a commodity. A healthy, intelligent female even more so, and if you had a healthy, intelligent AND pretty female, well there was no limit as to how far you could go if you married a Highborn man.
The most precious items used for money in Lacuna, oddly enough, were seashells. They were so rare, it is said if all the seashells in Lacuna were put together they would only fill one man's hand. Gems were also used by some, long plucked out of the rings and necklaces their ancestors had brought into the bastille; though usually saved for dowries. Barter was the most useful, as a fisherman could barter cave fish for a fungi farmer's fungi crop; or a hunter with a catch of cave rat could barter for a tunic crafted from weavers who used certain moss and mushroom to create threads for homespun "cloth".
But what happened if those hiding within a bastille were trapped within?
The first bastille to be found in this day and age is called Lacuna. Located in the mountains overlooking Pincer Lake, near Navahla, during the Triple Full Moon (Dec 2016), the once sealed cavern was cracked open, revealing a primitive culture that had lived inside the bastille for near 500 years. A culture devoid of sunlight, moonlight, oceans, green plants, snow, magic, and many other things we have taken for granted. A culture of near 1000 individuals who most are still too afraid to venture into the sunlight.
Except for Maeveen. She was the first contact.
LACUNA BASTILLE
The bastille known as "Lacuna" was used in the Blacksinner's Era, almost 500 years ago. A storm of such proportions that much of the land of Tenebrus was under water sent a group of about 400 Sarkotans into the bastille to wait out the storm, taking only what they could carry and cart with them. A mixture of races, the majority human, camped within the large shieldstone cavern for several weeks until the earth began to shake, and earthquakes rippled through the middle of the land.
The bastille's entrance was sealed under layers of stone and water, and after the shaking ended, the leaders of the group determined that Arith had been destroyed and the only way they could survive would be to live in the bastille. There was an uprising, as many thought that was ridiculous, and attempted to find a way out of the cavern. Unable to use magic, and without sufficient equipment, all attempts failed and many died in the process. As months passed, many more died of hunger and disease.
A human noble of Sarkotos, simply called, "Randolph the Uniter", stepped forward and began to unify the divisions, and bring hope to the people. He encouraged the people to kneel and offer thanks to the shieldstone for their salvation, and it was pointed out that there seemed to be a face in the stone of one section of the cavern. This stone face became a source of inspiration and hope for the people of Lacuna.
Rules were instituted, such as the rule that families could only ever bear one child. Rules about waste, and living arrangements were made. Digging began to make more area in the shieldstone for long-term usage. An underground river was found, which provided cave fish and water. Over time, they learned which fungi and moss was edible, and which was not. They discovered sponges growing in areas of the caverns that could filter air. They quickly learned how to use flint, which was in excess in the caverns, to light fire. A culture with a Chief and Elders at the top, a handful of wise women and men, the storyteller, and highborn and lowborn came to exist over the years. Outcasts were sent to live on the fringes of the cavern, fending for themselves.
Fungi would be fed with the bodies of the dead, their bones used for weapons and utensils and jewelry. The only body that was ever buried in its own tomb was Randolph's. Elders over the years maintained that the world above was destroyed, and that safety was found in Lacuna alone. A very great fear of ever leaving Lacuna was instilled in all occupants, not only by the elders, but by the wise men and women who warned of great dangers. Only the storytellers, who passed on the stories through the centuries from the original families remained to remind the people of Lacuna of what life was like on the surface. They heard stories of sunshine making trees grow, but they had no idea what a tree even was, nor could they truly imagine what it felt to see sunshine on a lake's surface. The storytellers told them of mighty dragons flying in the sky, but what was sky? How could they fathom such a thing? Ships as large as the cavern that sailed upon bodies of water so large you could not see the end. Unfathomable again. They became myths and legends.
Their language and culture not only melded together from all the races, but changed to reflect their new home. Their language is a pidgin of common, Sarkotan and elvish and only the Storytellers of Lacuna were taught by their mentors to read and speak Common, Sarkotan, and even some Elvish as they were the guardians of the tiny collection of ancient books brought in so long ago.
Warfare was near unheard of in the bastille. Survival was far more important than fighting abilities. There were very few things to actually fight in the bastille, besides each other. Which was highly illegal with severe punishments. Issues were usually handled by the Elders, with a decision made by the chief. Hunting and Fishing, Fungi Farmers, and Child Rearing were the main duties of the people. Celebrations happened for marriages and births, and ceremonies to the Stone Face. Randolph was also honored at times throughout the year. How does one actually keep time when there is no moon, nor sun? They learned of the passing of seasons by careful study and watch of the river and what type of fish and creatures appeared at different times of the year. Some of the moss and lichen changed colors through the year. It was never a definite thing, no one truly knew how old anyone else was. You were either very young, young, middling, or aged.
The Chief was chosen by the Elders when a current Chief was too old to rule. Elders were chosen from the Highborn Clans, and each Elder wears the ancient symbol of their clan: the signet ring. Storytellers and Wise Ones could be Lowborn or Highborn. Highborn were descendants of the nobles who had come into Lacuna for safety, every Highborn clan in Lacuna had a relic from their descendants of a signet ring. A clan without a signet ring had no proof of their heritage. Lowborn were then clans who had no signet rings. They might have other relics, but without a signet ring they could never be an Elder, nor Chief. Elders and Chiefs could be male or female. Marriages had to be approved by the Chief. It was extremely rare for a Lowborn male to marry a Highborn female, but very common for Lowborn females to be married to a Highborn male. Sometimes, arrangements were made for marriage when the children were very young. A healthy female was a commodity. A healthy, intelligent female even more so, and if you had a healthy, intelligent AND pretty female, well there was no limit as to how far you could go if you married a Highborn man.
The most precious items used for money in Lacuna, oddly enough, were seashells. They were so rare, it is said if all the seashells in Lacuna were put together they would only fill one man's hand. Gems were also used by some, long plucked out of the rings and necklaces their ancestors had brought into the bastille; though usually saved for dowries. Barter was the most useful, as a fisherman could barter cave fish for a fungi farmer's fungi crop; or a hunter with a catch of cave rat could barter for a tunic crafted from weavers who used certain moss and mushroom to create threads for homespun "cloth".