Since the Trochiabite Boy takes place in Sarkoshia, I feel it is important to say a little about the place. Besides, I am now coming to call the age many of my stories take place the Age of Sarkoshia. But what is Sarkoshia?
Sarkoshia began as a small, island trade port in the middle of the Shattered Sea, an area of ocean where the shattering took place. Sarkoshia would have originally been considered part of the peninsula connected to Morrigar, but most of the land mass on the edge of Morrigar was destroyed by some largely unknown natural disaster which took place around two or three hundred years before the time Drinna and The Trochiabite Boy take place. This disaster sent the world into a darkness for years, during which time, monsters emerged and people of the world were beset by the Lords of the Fallen Ones, an evil sect of dark aavemancers who attacked the world with undead creatures rising from their graves everywhere. Legends abound during this time of darkness, which ended nearly exactly three years after it began, but the world was left ruined and horrified, skeptical, if not downright terrified, of magic. Some say the legendary Eyes were unearthed and nearly gathered together, which nearly ended the world. Regardless, the world is still recovering from this horrible time now.
How Sarkelosh and Sarkoshia get their names:
The Sark is a word that means, basically, The Unknown/The Unknowable/The Everything/The Allpossible. The word has mutated from this basic concept. Wizards will tell you the Sark exists, but doesn't exist either. It is what could have, can possibly, and may one day be. It's like a giant well of time, power, and possibility, the space between spaces and the space between that. The Sark. Wizards, particularly, find it an infuriating concept to attempt to describe and just used the word Sark to incorporate pretty much everything not solidified into objective, sensible reality. Maybe it could be called pure essence. I don't even know.
After The Shattering decimated the world and nearly destroyed it, Sarkelosh (which many think translates to Finder of the Sark) started his trading town. Where he got his money and his resources, no one will ever know probably, but he gathered together survivors of the horrors of the Age of Brokenness to create a safe place to trade and reestablish civilization. Among the more famous of his maneuvers, and one that got him in trouble with quite a few people around the world, was to establish the Grand Arena of Sarkoshia. He ordered and commissioned bounty hunters to find criminals and many of the monsters plaguing the world, to be brought and made to fight in the arena for the amusement of the good citizens of Sarkoshia. In his mind, he was advocating for the people to face the horrors of their world and destroy them. He created the Counsel of Sarkoshia and invited dignitaries from any of the kingdoms that had survived the horrors to be on this counsel and represent their respective kingdoms. Eventually, this would become the High Counsel or Grand Counsel and would become one of the governing bodies of the Empire. Sarkelosh denied no person rights or privileges to work, trade, or even rule in Sarkoshia based on their race or even gender. He divided his little kingdom into districts to be ruled by the various races of Trithofar, trying to found peace between them, who were in the process of blaming each other for what happened during the Shattering.
Sarkelosh drew even more criticism from detractors when he established (around fifty or sixty years after Sarkoshia was established and he made himself king) the University of Sarkoshia. The university was made to allow aethren to come together and learn to use and master magic. This violated what was known to be the first of the Willonaean Law: 'Magic will not rule this world or the people in it.' Quite a few peoples of Trithofar (including the kunjelic kingdom of Thortinis, the kinto-shah in Tritha-Kinto, the l'wii elves in Undyer, the Morrigari, and whatever is left of the Allorinian/Xomirian Empire, believe it is the violation of Willeonis' first law that caused the Qwadro Wars (two other times when the world was severely assaulted) and the Shattering. Sarkelosh believes it is the lack of magical mastery and unity between the Aethren which caused the near destruction of Trithofar. Though few understand it among the non-magical people of Trithofar, the ideas espoused in Willonaean law are held tantamount to religious beliefs.
Yet again, Sarkelosh managed to aggravate the world around him in his audacity. He has repeatedly tried to annex the islands surrounding Sarkoshia, and has managed to do so for several of the islands north and east of Sarkoshia Paerma (First Sarkoshia), where his palace, the Grand Arena, and the University are all located. Morrigar, therefore, has become a bitter enemy against him.
The Natomist Wizard Order in northern Thortinis decries the actions of Sarkoshia and even influenced the government of Thortinis to attempt Sarkelosh's assassination on several occasions and to keep a running record of his activities after giving that up. Many of the Kunjels believe Sarkelosh is in direct violation of the laws of the universe which keep Trithofar safe, and would love to see him overthrown. Even so, they have a contingency and a district holding in Sarkoshia Seela (Second Sarkoshia) where the counsel meets. Even Morrigar has attempted to get holdings in the Counsel, but have not been allowed until they take steps for peace. Just now, as of Drinna and what's going on in TTB, an unsteady peace has emerged between the kingdoms.
Sarkoshian Terminology and Information:
Days of the Week
Portday (ww: Porday): Usually, this is the day the ports open for the week. They close on Marktday
evening and open again the next Portday.
Goldday: Named for the money that exchanges hands after trade begins for the week, and for the
sunshine, etc.
Fishday: Named because this is when most of the fishermen try to get rid of their fish.
Emperday (ww: Immerday): To honor the emperor. It was originally called Emperor’s Day, but Sarkelosh
actually likes a little slang term use, because that means a language is becoming adopted.
Clarkday: Usually, this is when the banks are about to shut down for the ‘weekend.’ Most of the clarks
and money changers try to get their work done by today, but most likely won’t.
Marktday: The day the market closes. Another slang shortening of the term ‘Marketday.’ No one trades
after this day, and it is illegal, in fact, to do so.
Kneelday: Because of all the different religions in Trithofar, and because Sarkelosh wants religious
adherents to get along, Kneelday was created. Kneelday is when all religious ceremonies are
supposed to take place. It was the Emperor’s goal to have all religious adherents going to their respective ceremonies and not getting in each other’s way. If they are worshipping, they won’t be pestering each other.
Eighthday: In honor of the Eight Aethren Schools, and the original Rule of the Eight, this was an extra day
added to the week. This day is a day where people typically do no work. The ports and markets are closed, usually, and most people close their shops.
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