Difference between revisions of "Meqil Jandui"

From ShireWiki
Jump to: navigation, search
m
 
(2 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
The '''Meqil Jandui''' (Elw: ''Sword of Virtue'') was created by blacksmiths and craftsmen employed by Steward [[Hallbjörn Haraldsson]] in 16xx as part of his ongoing quest to fabricate a mythical Froyalanish history for the Elwynnese Union that would serve to legitimate the rule of the [[House of Ettlingar Freyu]].   
+
The '''Meqil Jandui''' (Elw: ''Sword of Virtue'') was created by blacksmiths and craftsmen employed by Steward [[Hallbjörn Haraldsson]] in 1630 as part of his ongoing quest to fabricate a mythical Froyalanish history for the Elwynnese Union that would serve to legitimate the rule of the [[House of Ettlingar Freyu]].   
  
==Wielders==
+
In 1666, following the [[Partition of Elwynn]] the blade was melted down and the molten steel was poured down the throat of a gelded [[Froyalanish|vanakarl]], sentenced to death for economic sabotage in a worker's colony. The condemned Froyalaner had been attired and perfumed as the anthropomorphised  depiction of [[Elwynn (Goddess)|Elwynn]] which had served as the fixation point for Storish cultists during their rule. The scorched body of the victim was subsequently dumped into the waters of the Blue Elwynn with a ritual done in mockery of the Froyalanish "rite of return" for casting the sword back into the river at the end of a reign.
The Church of the Froyalanish Ancient Ways sought to encourage an aura of mystery around the introducing a number of taboos and curses directed against those who were not of the faith and stipulated specifically that divine punishment would befall any unrighteous ruler to handle the sword. These dire threats have not yet transpired, in the wake of the [[Auspicious Occasion]] giving rise to some doubt about the veracity of the traditions associated with the blade.
 
 
 
===Stewardship and Regency===
 
In the event of a [[Steward of Elwynn|Stewardship]] or Regency during the minority of a holder of the White Orchid Throne, both the Steward/Regent and the Monarch may touch and wield the Meqil Jandui.
 
 
 
==Features==
 
The Sword of Goodness is extremely sharp and cuts through metal and stone like a hot knife through butter. In battle the blade blinds the enemies of its wielder and makes zie virtually invulnarable to attacks. Zie also acquires the power to command earth, water, flame and air and bend them to zir will. Various other properties are only known to its wielder and the Goddess Elwynn.
 
 
 
==Acquisition of Sword by Ruler==
 
Notionally the Meqil Jandui remains the property of the [[Elwynn (Goddess)|White Orchid Lady]], ergo formerly of the Vanic faith and now of the [[Church of Elwynn]]. After its creation, the priestess, actress or other lady charged with performing the role of the Goddess in state ceremonies is supposed to solely the blade upon rightful and worthy Rulers of the [[Elwynn#Names of Elwynn|Jewel of Many Facets]] as a visible token of Her Divine favour. To obtain the sword a Ruler must from evenfall of the day the became aware that their reign or tenure, as the case may be, has commenced, ride along the [[Elwynn (River)|River Elwynn]] on the back of a white horse, usually a mare, in order to meet the Lady Elwynn before dawn to ask Her for the sacred blade. A Monarch who is a minor will make the aforesaid horseback ride one year and one day subsequent to their coming of age.
 
 
 
A number of fabricated myths concerning the bestowal ritual came into circulation as part of the process by which the Froyalanish sought to mystify the rituals of kingship and thereby frustrate efforts to seek any alternative to their rule. These mostly were an attempt to retrospectively incorporate the sword into the legends of previous dukes, barons and princes of Elwynn and thereby lend legitimacy to the claim of Prince, later King, Noah to the White Orchid Throne, alongside other invented traditions such as the introduction of [[Hierogamy]], the way of asking the Lady Elwynn for the Sword of Goodness by [[King Noah of Elwynn]] differed from that attributed to His numerous predecessors, making it in effect an engagement ceremony and a prelude to the King's symbolic marriage to the land.
 
 
 
<br> The widely publicised transcript of the bestowal alleged that the ceremony consisted of the following conversation:<br>
 
 
 
"Your Most Sacred Majesty, I pray you tell me whose sword is that which are holding so gracefully? I wish it were mine, for I have want for a King's sword."<br><br>
 
"That sword is mine, Your Riverine Majesty," the White Orchid Lady answered, "and it is destined for mine royal consort. I shall give it to you, if you in return shall take me as your Queen and Consort during your [[Konungstekja]]."<br><br>
 
"Your Most Sacred Majesty, I would be delighted to [[Wedding of Kingship|wed You during mine Konungstekja]]," King Noah replied, "I cannot wait for the moment that the Two of Us shall be joined in Sacred Marriage!"<br><br>
 
"There is one more thing, " the Lady Divine continued, "I require a wedding gift of you and also that you shall give it to me when I query you."<br><br>
 
"By all that is holy to me," King Noah replied, "I shall give Your Divine Ladyship whatever wedding gift Your Most Sacred Majesty shall ask."<br><br>
 
"Well," the Lady Elwynn then said, "be presented then with the Sword of Goodness and rule by and with the Power of Yaanek! As for mine wedding gift, I shall ask it in mine own time."<br><br>
 
The Goddess then held the sword aloft, sung a joik in a magical mysterious Divine Tongue, and handed the Sword of Goodness to [[King Noah]] before disappearing into the river in a burst of golden magic.
 
 
 
===Froyalanish taboos concerning denial===
 
The Vanic priesthood maintained during the rule of King Noah that, in the event that Lady Divine Elwynn considering the new ruler unworthy, She will appear to the new ruler and answer the question in the negative by shaking Her head and then disappear without uttering a single word. It being further alleged that there were instances that She found a new ruler so unworthy that She even did not bother to show up at all. This mainly serving to account for the silence of the historical record concerning the ritual.
 
 
 
The legend further alleged that, without the bestowal of the Sword, it would be extremely difficult for the Ruler of Elwynn to command respect and he will in consequence thereof have a very hard time with governing the country. The tenure or reign, as the case may be, of such ruler will usually end in utter disgrace. This being rather ironic in view of the case of the only known recipient, Noah, and the ignominious manner of his deposition.
 
 
 
==Location==
 
The sword is kept at the [[Tower of Araxion]], which is one of the residences of the Goddess Elwynn in [[Elwynn Proper]] as well as a holiday residence of the [[Royal Family of Elwynn|Royal Family of the Flower of the North]]. It is guarded by clerics of the Church of Elwynn and the [[Church of the Froyalanish Ancient Ways]]. Any Ruler of Elwynn who has been given the Sword of Goodness is required to take the sacred blade aforesaid to the Tower of Araxion to have it put away for safe-keeping. The putting away occurs in a special ceremony.
 
 
 
==Return of Sword by Ruler==
 
Any living Ruler of Elwynn who ceased to hold the reins of government or the White Orchid Throne, as the case may be, is required, upon the pain of the Lady Elwynn's Wrath Divine, to forthwith return the Sword of Goodness to Her by throwing it into the River Elwynn from the battlements of [[Eliria Castle]]. Before the sword will hit the water's surface, the White Orchid Lady will gracefully rise up out of the Great Sacred River of Benacia aforesaid, catch the sacred blade by the hilt, and shake it three times while crying out "From me to the ruler, and from the ruler to me!", before slipping silently beneath the surface of the water.
 
 
 
In the event that a holder the reins of government or the White Orchid Throne dies, the sword is returned on the manner aforesaid on behalf of the deceased ruler by a senior cleric of a faith that worships the Goddess Elwynn.
 
  
 
[[Category:Froyalanish Ancient Ways]][[Category:Monarchy of Elwynn]]
 
[[Category:Froyalanish Ancient Ways]][[Category:Monarchy of Elwynn]]

Latest revision as of 15:03, 14 November 2018

The Meqil Jandui (Elw: Sword of Virtue) was created by blacksmiths and craftsmen employed by Steward Hallbjörn Haraldsson in 1630 as part of his ongoing quest to fabricate a mythical Froyalanish history for the Elwynnese Union that would serve to legitimate the rule of the House of Ettlingar Freyu.

In 1666, following the Partition of Elwynn the blade was melted down and the molten steel was poured down the throat of a gelded vanakarl, sentenced to death for economic sabotage in a worker's colony. The condemned Froyalaner had been attired and perfumed as the anthropomorphised depiction of Elwynn which had served as the fixation point for Storish cultists during their rule. The scorched body of the victim was subsequently dumped into the waters of the Blue Elwynn with a ritual done in mockery of the Froyalanish "rite of return" for casting the sword back into the river at the end of a reign.