The Matter Manipulators

and

The Emperor’s Followers

  A group of religious monks showed themselves to Aky-Ut and its citizens in 392 A.F.H. out of nowhere, claiming to be on a diplomatic expedition from their council. News spread very fast of their arrival, which prompted The Emperor’s Followers to immediately seize the opportunity and, in the middle of Aky-Ut’s square, have a philosophical discussion with the monks. Part of the conversation was written down and then spread through pamphlets by journalists and bookmakers:

  Emperor’s Followers: “Who are you and why have you come?”

  Monks: “We are Matter Manipulators and we desire to know more about those residing here.”

  E.F: “Is that so? Well, you have no need of such intrusive knowledge. From what you told me, it seems that you are not with the Emperor.”

  M.M: “The Emperor? We are not with him nor against him, whoever he may be. If it is belief that which you are asking about, we believe in the transformational quality of things, all things, and we practice it from early on. We would very much want to know what you believe in. Is it this Emperor?”

  E.F: “Do not address the Emperor without THE! The Emperor is the Fallen One, whose grace permeated throughout the Empire that HE built. Traitors, unbelievers dethroned and betrayed His Holiness and HIS sons after whom this Republic of Aky-Ut is named. HE knew all and did all and in a mortal shell did HE step down from the Heavens to guide us through HIS rule and Empire! If you have come here to spread your belief in falsities and misguide those under our blessed wing, we bid you farewell. If you wish to stay and speak to those of higher status, those more favoured by the EMPEROR, convert at once to the one true faith!”

  M.M: “We are sorry, however, we shall not convert to those that use power in such means. Convert to speak to those of higher status? The Gods that govern the Universe did not make mortal species different in status one from another. The Gods made all mortals equal and only those chosen by them will be given longer life, though not even for the chosen did they make another status other than that of chosens. Thus, such divisions of power within mortal societies are heresy in our eyes as they have not been designed by the Gods. Unless your Emperor is one of the Gods or one of their children, he is a false God. And it is very unlikely that you, with your primitive technology, know any God or demi-god.”

  Following an extensive and intense exchange, the Emperor’s Followers wanted to trade blows with the Matter Manipulators. The conflict was cut short when the Matter Manipulators grabbed the Emperor’s Followers by the wrists and somehow made them unable to move their arms. As this was happening, the King Vsevolod II Darov, who personally went there to stop the conflict, arrived to the incredible sight.

  He removed his silver hat, its golden and all-encompassing brim sparkling with the light from outside. Vsevolod bowed slightly, placing his hat upon his heart, “I welcome you within the Republic of Aky-Ut.” He said calmly and slowly. “Let me take you to my castle where we shall discuss about your mission and more.” He then turned around, placed the hat upon his head and walked towards the Castle, followed by the Matter Manipulators. From that day forth, Matter Manipulators became known throughout the Republic as “Matterists”.

  In 427, Vsevolod II crushed the Emperor’s Followers Rebellion that began when the King appointed one of the Manipulators as his religious advisor and not one of the Emperor’s Followers. Vsevolod II then enacted the Act of Religious Freedom, through which all within Aky-Ut had the right to choose what they believe in and through which the Church of Matter Manipulators was founded and gained equal rights as that of the Emperor’s Following.

  After the Liberation Revolution, the Matter Manipulators kept their positions as Religious Advisors and gained significantly more followers between 520-540 A.F.H. At the same time, the Emperor’s Followers became less and less relevant, slowly falling into obscurity 541-547 A.F.H. Many fled to the Duchy of Arisis between 547-551 A.F.H., where they continued to have a monopoly over religious belief.

  By the time of the war, 690 A.F.H., if a person of the common folk had a problem in faith and in life, they would go to their district Matter Manipulator for guidance and reassurance. There were no religious ceremonies and one would rarely enter one of their churches. However, daily, the district Matter Manipulator would place a table and two chair in the centre of the district and any who had a problem had to wait in line for the line was always busy and full.

The Merchants

  During those times, specifically before 690 A.F.H., the history of the Merchant Families and of the Merchant Estate was shrouded in secrecy and none but those higher up in the hierarchy of the Estate, which was based on wealth, knew of the Merchants’ history.

  At that point, the average citizen in the city proper knew only what their family went through and the vague rumours spread about the Merchants. The rumours, however, were tightly regulated by the personal armies of the Merchant Families who patrolled the streets regularly, without the permission of the King. Though that did not do much and rumours of the influence the Families had over the Republic kept spreading like wildfire.

  During the reign of Vsevolod II, the average folk noticed the passive conflict that began to brew between the Merchant Families and the independent King and the increase in hostilities generation after generation, for the King’s rule was long and prosperous for everyone but the Merchants.

  When the Liberation Revolution happened, only the Merchants and their armies participated in the Revolution. Even more rumours began spreading because of it. Those rumours of the corruption and of the real control that the Merchant Families had over Aky-Ut were partially proven to be right when Vsevolod II was given the title of “The Oppressor” by the Merchants and when the Duke of Arisis (a duchy previously dominated by Aky-Utian Merchant trade) was chosen as the start of a new line of Kings.

  Had this action been the only one to show truth to the rumours, the next generations of the average folk may have forgotten about the Merchant Families’ corruption and control. However, during Vasylyv I Madiotev’s reign, nicknamed “The Empty” by the populace for his “ass-kissin” of the Merchant Families and his willingness to do all of their biddings, the truth of the rumours once again resurfaced and they were not forgotten.

  By 690 A.F.H., everyone knew of the corruption and self-interest of the Merchant Families, but none could oppose them due to their high income, personal navy and personal army. None but those within the power circle and within the court knew the relations between the King and Merchants and the extent of the truth. With the war and the decline of Aky-Ut’s trade hegemony, the Merchant Families began to tax the Guilds of Craftsmen more and more. In turn, the Guilds bumped up the prices of their Goods to maintain a stable positive income.

The Scholar

  The trade hegemony of Aky-Ut over the lake Xezer brought many new opportunities to the Republic and much prosperity to those that had the means to travel and educate themselves. Out of the first generations of those that educated themselves arose the scholars, who acted as teachers, philosophers, gurus and historians for the Republic. Many scholars between 340 A.F.H. and 494 A.F.H. worked in the service of those who had the means to pay for education and information, usually the higher ups in the military chain of command, the Merchants and sometimes some diplomats. Due to their extensive knowledge, independent diplomats would partner up with them when they went on a diplomatic mission to another Kingdom, Duchy or Republic. This option was not available to dependent diplomats due to their dependency status.

  Regarding the rights of scholars, Vsevolod II Darov wrote and enacted the Act of Education in 490 A.F.H., through which scholars became employed directly by the King to work in the Academy of Defence and Peace Protection. A total of 50 scholars were employed and word spread of the King’s Act. Those more knowledgeable in the Republic speculated that the money necessary for such employment had been gained by the King through his harsh taxation on the Merchants and such rumours spread from house to house. In 499 A.F.H., Vsevolod II writes and adopts the Act of Mass Education, through which, some of those scholars employed by him would set up daily temporary outdoor classrooms in key points within all of the Republic to educate the populace. The populace, through this act, was forced to attend those classrooms, especially those of a lower standing, like the Peasantry. Due to the Liberation Revolution and the Merchant disrupting the activity, the Act could not be enacted effectively.

  After the Revolution, in 502 A.F.H., the Act of Education and the Act of Mass Education were deemed oppressive and illegitimate by the Merchant Families and by Rudias I Madiotev and scholars became, once again, employed by those who could afford them.

 Scholars were not affected much by the growing tensions between the two Republics and gained much from the rivalry such as new jobs and travel opportunities to and within Nyvaz and special invitations to teach in Nyvaz schools.