[ — Personal Journal — ]
I finally met with Sefyra Leto after approaching the Grand Master of the Guild of Hunters. She had been waiting for me, and we were able to speak at great lengths about many things regarding Elmadel, not least the emergence of the Sykan faith.
At first glance, she appears as ordinarily mundane as with the rest of her family, and all other unelmuns. Even I was caught out by her careful guise. Henna mixed with indigo to colour her hair which would normally be white, and powder to conceal her skin which is pearlescent (as with all engels). Her body is covered in the garb of her Hunter’s uniform, and her eyes are concealed by use of magic, but would normally be a wonderful shade of fuschia – which she revealed to me after our introductions.
Since she was twelve years of age, she has been a student with the Guild of Hunters – an organization that was originally set up by Sefyra’s biological mother to counter the attacks from the Vosundelr assassins. Superficially, the Guild of Hunters originally functioned as skilled hunters and mercenaries which would accompany travellers and serve as protection. Beneath the surface, they were highly trained warriors – most of which had studied at either Tenalue or Liretika for variable amounts of time.
Though descended from the Engels of Vosundelr, the Emporer of Astasi is completely against mana of any kind – more so than any other previous ruler upon Sirin. Unable to move directly against the remaining refuges of man because of his lineage, he employs the Guild of Assassins to do his bidding. This led Sefyra to re-forming the Guild of Hunters into what it is today to “function as protection for many traders and artisans who seem to be suffering an unusual amount of attention from rivals outside of Elmadel, especially when “travelling from city to city” as she put it.
That Sefyra is willing to cover her appearance is less to do with her father’s abhoration of her kind, but more a convenience in that appeasing him allows her to work with the Guild of Hunters. The involvement with Guild, and the freedom to train with one of the Scholars of Liretika has led to Sefyra mastering a great deal of engeline abilities to a degree never seen before; especially when combined with her inherent abilities which also seem to number far higher than any of her ancestors.
They have since become an indispensable part of the economy of Elmdadel – protecting both the trade and the traders, but also in offering a multitude of services catered to the individual’s specific requirements. The majority of Elmadel’s wealth now comes from the Guild of Hunters, and even many among the palace have resorted to hiring out the Guild in one way or another.
*
Much of the day-to-day management of the city is done by Sefyra’s husband Deoliaeth, and while they have a somewhat uneasy and tempestuous relationship, they do seem to manage the city between them. Deoliaeth openly deals with the traders around town and founded the Guild of Merchants and the Guild of Artisans, and Sefyra deals quietly in the movement of information throughout the city, having secretly placed several Hunters in each Guild (I believe even Deoliaeth is unaware of this arrangement).
The currency of gold coin and silver denominations keep the physical city turning with various goods moving in and out like clockwork, the real currency is information, and Sefyra has slowly been extending her network further through Sirin. Through the emergence of the Sykan faith, she is able to move various guild associates throughout Sirin with ease. Some travel completely undercover, others as “hired guards”. In this way she is able to acquire even more information, which, most important of all, her father is totally unaware of.
While Elmadel appears almost utopian to many residents who live comfortable lives, it is on a superficial level only, and they are blissfully unaware of the darker undertow. Subtle law after subtle law is passed out which slowly restricts the liberties of the citizens of Elmadel, particularly the work of artists and scholars.
Those who create something that might cause the people of Elmdadel to start thinking beyond their daily routines or to question the integrity of authority seem to vanish without a trace. That which can be studied and/or researched is controlled by the Emporer’s government with scholars and academics having to apply for permits directly through them. Anything that could be perceived as connected to spehirikin in any way (even if that was not the intention of the work) is now avoided.
This has however led to a lucrative side business for the Guild of Hunters who have taken on many of the previous scholars and academics and employed them outside of Astasi in some way. These deals are confidential between the individual and the guild, and are based on a mutually beneficial trade-off, usually a transaction that slips unseen through the accounts.
From the network of informants Sefyra has set up around Sirin, it transpires the Emperor has also been making connections abroad, specifically with the Emperor of Draelah who has been tinkering with unelmun genetics and creating a new breed of unelmun that are “enhanced” and totally subservient to the owner.
Of greater concern still is that firearms are now being brought in from Draelah as well. All firearms have been illegal to own throughout Astasi for over ten years after a brutal shooting in Elmadel almost led to civil unrest. Even the city guards are banned from carrying firearms. Should such a time occur that the guards needed such weapons, only the captain of each unit is licensed to carry one rifle, and they have to go through a strict process of withdrawal through the Guild of Hunters.
Sefyra’s concern is that with an almost totally de-armed state, the Emperor bringing in such weapons, and potentially some unnatural and puppet-like unelmun soldiers, is that He seeks to enforce total control and domination in the not so distant future. Crime has always been very low, and so there are not many laws in place for dealing with criminals – or of a head of state which goes too far against His or Her people.
- One convicted of murder is sentenced to life in prison. If proven guilty, they will be given the death sentence.
- One convicted of assault and/or abuse of another will be sentenced to life in prison. If proven guilty, they will be stoned publicly.
- Petty crimes are usually dealt with by use of variable fines and/or unpaid work throughout the city.
Letter to the Metsaeri
The Path of the Sykan
Family Life in Elmadel and Astasi
Notes
