Dwilight University/History/The Duchy of the First Temple
The Duchy of the First Temple
For the inauguration of the Duchy of the First Temple this article will detail the extraordinary status of the special region of Caiyun. Sources for this article include Grandmaster Bustoarsenzio Peristaltico, the current Marquis of Caiyun Pierre von Genf, and with special thanks to Caiyun’s former Marchioness Varchilde Esotericus and the Holy Prophet Mathurin Hossenfeffer. Also, facts have been collected from the variety of public sources at the Dwilight University’s library.
The Region of Caiyun
At first glance the townsland of Caiyun is not unlike other regions. It is defended by a motte and bailey and it has a thriving rural and urban economy. Much of the surplus food produced in the region is transferred to feed its neighbours in the Duchy of Donghaiwei. Those who have visited the region, including myself, describe it as a progressing scene of activity and development. Unlike other regions, however, Caiyun is the first townsland of Dwilight ever to be formed into its own Duchy. Such a significant status could not have come without the region’s important stature amongst its faithful. The history of Caiyun is intimately tied to its position as the founding region of Astromancy.
Amidst the town of Caiyun rests a modest but monumental building, the High Temple of Sanguis Astroism. The High Temple is open twenty four hours to all pilgrims and faithful. Contrasting the material ordinarily used in the village, the medium sized High Temple is built with a distinct marble quarried nearby. Built in 1 YD by Marquis Mathurin Hossenfeffer, this was the site that founded the most populous and furthest spread religion of Dwilight. Historically speaking, much is not known about the early days of Caiyun except that it was a region of Morek. Whether the Holy Prophet was the first Marquis of the region is unknown, and I should remark that the list of governing Lords of the region except the ones noted here is lost.
The Holy Prophet remained Marquis of the region until he joined Astrum and became the Duke of Mimer, roughly in 3 YD. In 4 YD, Morek reached its largest territorial peak when the Duchy of Springdale joined the realm. But this height would quickly falter in the same year as Morek’s satellites Muspelheim and Aegir seceded to form the realms Virovene and the Raivanlands respectively. During this time Caiyun was trusted to the hands of Marchioness Varchilde Esotericus. Caiyun became an imperial region of Morek. This was done to reflect its dual status as region of the Realm and sacred site of Astromancy. Throughout this time, an Astromantic militant order called the Warders of the Temple existed. It was said that only members of this Order could be knights of Caiyun and that because these knights belonged to this army of the faith they did not hold ranks in the military of Morek. The Warders of the Temple are no longer active and their influence on Caiyun has dissolved.
In 5 YD, at the beginning of the Secession Wars (5 YD to 9YD), the Holy Prophet, former Marquis of Caiyun turned Duke of Mimer, formed the theocracy Corsanctum. Rebellions, warfare, new colonies and secessions marked this a time of turmoil and change for High Toprak. The tide of the times did not show favour to Morek when in 6 YD its Grandmaster, Deverka Cryfdwr, was killed in Nifel defending a newly formed colony of Summerdale. Shortly after the death of the Holy Grandmaster, Morek succumbed to a drastic change when the Duchies of Donghaiwei and Springdale seceded to form their own new realms. Xinhai was formed out of Donghaiwei in 7 YD and the Libero Empire was formed out of Springdale in 8 YD. The theocracy of Morek would continue in Nifelhold until conquered by the Libero Empire in 9 YD. Under Xinhai, Caiyun became a region of Donghaiwei. It retained its religious significance but now had to contribute to the Realm in the same way as other regions. Xinhai continued as the Realm containing the Holy Land until it successfully spread northwards and reunified the Dongese and Dalian duchies into the Morek Empire in 10 YD. It is likely that around this time, possibly before or probably a bit after, when Lord Pierre Von Genf became the Marquis of Caiyun. As the Empire marched to war and handled internal and external concerns Caiyun remained quietly nestled in the Duchy of Donghaiwei.
The Bishopric of Caiyun
Until now, within the Faith the Lord of Caiyun was referred to as Steward. This title reflects their position as the caretaker of the Holy Prophet’s original fief and of the most Holy Temple. Usually, the Lord of Caiyun is an upstanding and high ranking member of the religion held in esteem by the Realm and the Faith, often the highest ranking member of the faith in the Realm but not always. They are chosen with the consultation of the Grandmaster and the highest authorities of Astromancy. It is expected that the Steward of Caiyun upholds the relationship between the Church and the Empire and balances the needs and wishes of both accordingly. I recall there being a Lord prior to Marquis Pierre and after Marchioness Varchilde but their name, rank and significance is lost to everyone’s memory.
Not until the Autumn of 16 YD would the sacred townsland be awarded its highest recognition in the form of an outright duchy. This ascension returns Caiyun to the forefront of Astromancy in that it is both the first region to preach the faith and now the first region to be given special autonomy as a religious site within a theocratic Realm. Now, the Steward of Caiyun is crowned Duke of Caiyun in the region’s very own Duchy of the First Temple. Having the authority of a duchy allows the region to determine its own course in affairs, although of course it will do so with the consent and consideration of its home Realm and founding Faith.
Winter of 16 YD (or the 7th of October, 2011)
Fact Corrections
In all areas of human artifice there tends to be flaws and errors. Unfortunately, despite my demoniac persuasion I am as fallible a Dean of History as any man. Fortunately, I have keen minded peers who can alert me to my faults.
So the following is a statement to mend the inadequacies of the above article, as corrected by Lady Varchilde, Grandmaster Bustoarsenzio, and Duke Pierre. I choose to attach the corrections to my articles instead of altering the text for the purposes of proving that all history sometimes relies on vague and ambiguous facts, and also to maintain the original document without tedious editions. Just because the History Department publishes my work does not make everything I do unquestionable. Though I give my best effort I am not without error. This is also the reason I state my sources. If anyone should desire to check my facts or follow up my work they need only contact those whom provided me with the details I collected and shaped into a work.
Onto the corrections.
First, I have been informed that there was no Lord of Caiyun between Lady Varchilde and Lord Pierre. Thereby, we can clearly state a record of the Lords of Caiyun: Mathurin Hossenfeffer, Varchilde Esotericus and Pierre von Genf, to date.
Second, the history regarding the secessions of Virovene and the Raivanlands as well as the history of Springdale joining Morek is incorrect. In my article I wrote that Muspelheim and Aegir seceded from Morek to form their own realms. I also wrote that Springdale joined Morek before the two secessions. In fact, the two duchies seceded from Springdale, not Morek, in the Winter of 4 YD and the duchy of Springdale joined Morek in the Spring of the same year, after the secessions.
Lastly, in this article I reported that Grandmaster Deverka was killed defending the new colony of Summerdale in Nimh. First, I was wrong about the region of his death. The Grandmaster was killed fighting monsters in Nifel, not Nimh. Curiously I should have known better considering Dean Pierre and I visited the shrine of the Grandmaster during a pilgrimage near the end of 11 YD. Old age must be eroding my memory. Secondly, to clarify my statement about his death, Summerdale was a colony formed out of the Raivanlands in 5 YD in Nifelheim. According to my sources and from what I remember during the pilgrimage, the Grandmaster was visiting the new colony on a diplomatic mission and decided to participate in battle against monsters on behalf of the Dalians. This battle led to his death. So when I said that the Grandmaster died defending the newly formed Summerdale this is what I meant. Also, I felt it appropriate to correct the location of his death in the actual article out of respect for his Shrine. This may be one instance of me bending my own academic rules.
I am grateful to provide you with relevant histories of our continent and hope to continue doing so. I am also forever in debt to those who contribute and correct my work. Without them I would be unemployed and a hack.
The Dean of History,
Winter of 16 YD (or the 9th of October, 2011)
