Okay, for all of you who still check this "deadbeat blog," here's something I've been stressing over. I promised to post this one to a few people about a week and a half ago, but I've not liked it. I still don't. There are things that need to be worked on, parts that need to be elaborated on, fixed, etc. Anyway, this is a completely new piece, so give me your advice and comments. Everyone who has commented has been more than helpful. I appreciate it!
In the fifth year of the Restoration, the land of Oaklin saw the fracture of peace between the Three Kingdoms. For many years, Oaklin had been under the rule of the Tyrant Ostan, who had been a good ruler, an unbiased administrator of justice and the canniest of warriors. Before he died, six years preceding the present, he set up an unusual system of succession. His kingdom was to be split between his three children thereby restoring the original nations of Oaklin to their sovereignty. Ostan knew he was going to die ere the year had passed, so he had an army of clerks make account of the Three Kingdoms. Then, on what was to be his last birthday, he called his children together.
"The accounts have been finalized," he told them, pausing for a caughing fit, part of the illness that would eventually kill him. "There are three pieces of parchment, each detailing one kingdom. Choose one of them and when I die it will be yours. Omnia, beloved daughter, as my eldest child, you may choose first."
Omnia's two younger siblings, the young men Orik and Owain, watched as she carefully studied each parchment. Of the three of them, she was the most like their father, though with a woman's compassion. she took her time reading each report, considering the details. First was the northern kingdom of Cai, largest and most populated, bordering the Outlands to the North of Oaklin. It was a poor country with a low standard of living and relatively few natural resources, but with a large army and good defenses. It was basically a plain country with the Desert in the midst of it. The River Oro and the Outland Mountain Range, dominated by Mount Deter, ran along its northern border. From here came the country's most important resource, metals. Mines spanned the length of the range, providing jobs and metal for weapons. This added to the somewhat militaristic focus of the country.
Most of the people in Cai lived near water, especially around the Lake Kerrib which was fed by the river. The city of Caivile, largest in the kingdom, sat on its southern shore and it was here that any ruler would live. The capital city of Cail was in the center of the kingdom, making it the perfect place from which to administrate, but it was still very small compared to other capitals, because of the shortage of water. The roads in the north were good enough, but those in the south were rough and ill-kept, since most of the economy stemmed from the mines in the north.
Next was Scoe, the wooded southwestern country with the only natural bay and peninsula in Oaklin. It had a fair amount of seafarers, but the majority of the population was either merchants or members of the logging industry. Because of the Bay, ships came from everywhere to drop off or pick up goods and there was always a ship for hire, so trade was profitable. Timber was the nation's major export. The forests, which covered half of the land, were carefully regulated, however, so that they would never be depleted, for not only were they the largest part of the economy, they were a key part of the defenses, as well. In time of war or invasion, the people could retreat into the woods, which they knew well, and pick off their enemies one by one while they remained safe in the recesses of the dense forest.
The roads were the best in Oaklin and the most used. There was a steady traffice from the logging town of Cine to the Port of Law on the Bay of Scoe, and, therefore, a steady stream of repairs on the road. The Port was the largest city in the nation with the capital of Ninak coming in a close second. Ninak was the most famous city in Oaklin, being the birthplace of two famous men: Ossian, the first Tyrant of Oaklin, who achieved the unification of the three peoples, and Linden Ophelos, creator of the Ophelian Rings on the peninsula. Every year, many pilgrims made the journey to Ninak and the peninsula as part of Ophelos' cult.
Finally, Omnia read the details of Havel, the southeastern kingdom. It was the most insular of the Three Kingdoms being hemmed in by the jagged Inland Mountain Range on its northern border, the steep Cliffs of Rahula against the ocean and the rapid River Havel in the west. Inside these boundaries, Havel had enjoyed peace for over two hundred years since the coming of the Tyrants and before. Thus, it was the most culturally advanced nation in Oaklin.
There were two universities in the capital city of Dos, a public and a private. Known as the College of Dos, the public university's claim to fame was that it was the only one of its kind , not only in Oaklin, but in the known world. For many years, under the tyrants, it had been funded collaboratively by the nations of Oaklin, who sent students there with regularity. The private university, the official University of Dos, however, could claim Linden Ophelos as its most famous alumnus, which was a great draw for aspiring architects. These two institutions had helped to make Dos the largest city in Oaklin.
The universities, however, were not the only achievement of Havel. That was the administration of law. Only in Havel had laws been recorded and set as the only standard for judgements in the country. Usually, local rulers dealt justice as they would, appealing to the king in matters concerning themselves. Every law in Havel, on the other hand, had been standardized in writing, teaching and universalized in practice, so that there were no arbitrary judgements. Every verdict was recorded and once a year, they were brought to Dos during the Festival of Peace and put into the archives for the sake of posterity.
Each nation was individual with strengths and weaknesses to be considered. Cai was poor, but large with a strong military bent. Scoe was a trade nation with vast international scope, but it was small. Havel was peaceful and ordered, yet isolated from its neighbors, forcing it to remain largely self sufficient instead of participating in the exchange of goods. Omnia had to weigh the options carefully, knowing that her first choice was the final choice, unchangeable.
"I shall be Queen of Scoe, Father," she said.
"A good decision, daughter," said her father. "Now, Orik, eldest son, choose."
In Ostan's decline, Orik had become the primary general and war leader. He was a large man, powerfully built as befit his profession, but he was fresh faced and had little beard. He was a grasping soul, always wishing for more, and chose Cai as his own. Owain was left with Havel and he was happy to have it. As the youngest son, he was fortunate to inherit anything and a peaceful country was far beyond his wildest dreams. Havel held a special place in his heart anyway, for he had been formally educated at the University of Dos.
With the matter of succession taken care of, the Tyrant Ostan enjoyed the last months of his life in peace. Only a few months later, he died of his illness and was interred with his ancesotrs at Tyrant's Rest on the peninsula, the Last Tyrant of Oaklin. The period known as the Restoration began with the succession of his three children to the thrones of the Three Kingdoms. On the same day, they were simultaneously crowned, each in the capital of their chosen kingdom. Omnia was made Queen of Scoe in Ninak, Orik was made King of Cai in Cail, and Owain was made Prince of Havel in Dos. This day was comemorated ever afterward as the Regalia, a universal holiday.
Four times was the Regalia kept with peace between the nations. Before the fifth, however, peace had begun to deteriorate and by the sixth, the Cai had invaded the Southern Kingdoms.
"The accounts have been finalized," he told them, pausing for a caughing fit, part of the illness that would eventually kill him. "There are three pieces of parchment, each detailing one kingdom. Choose one of them and when I die it will be yours. Omnia, beloved daughter, as my eldest child, you may choose first."
Omnia's two younger siblings, the young men Orik and Owain, watched as she carefully studied each parchment. Of the three of them, she was the most like their father, though with a woman's compassion. she took her time reading each report, considering the details. First was the northern kingdom of Cai, largest and most populated, bordering the Outlands to the North of Oaklin. It was a poor country with a low standard of living and relatively few natural resources, but with a large army and good defenses. It was basically a plain country with the Desert in the midst of it. The River Oro and the Outland Mountain Range, dominated by Mount Deter, ran along its northern border. From here came the country's most important resource, metals. Mines spanned the length of the range, providing jobs and metal for weapons. This added to the somewhat militaristic focus of the country.
Most of the people in Cai lived near water, especially around the Lake Kerrib which was fed by the river. The city of Caivile, largest in the kingdom, sat on its southern shore and it was here that any ruler would live. The capital city of Cail was in the center of the kingdom, making it the perfect place from which to administrate, but it was still very small compared to other capitals, because of the shortage of water. The roads in the north were good enough, but those in the south were rough and ill-kept, since most of the economy stemmed from the mines in the north.
Next was Scoe, the wooded southwestern country with the only natural bay and peninsula in Oaklin. It had a fair amount of seafarers, but the majority of the population was either merchants or members of the logging industry. Because of the Bay, ships came from everywhere to drop off or pick up goods and there was always a ship for hire, so trade was profitable. Timber was the nation's major export. The forests, which covered half of the land, were carefully regulated, however, so that they would never be depleted, for not only were they the largest part of the economy, they were a key part of the defenses, as well. In time of war or invasion, the people could retreat into the woods, which they knew well, and pick off their enemies one by one while they remained safe in the recesses of the dense forest.
The roads were the best in Oaklin and the most used. There was a steady traffice from the logging town of Cine to the Port of Law on the Bay of Scoe, and, therefore, a steady stream of repairs on the road. The Port was the largest city in the nation with the capital of Ninak coming in a close second. Ninak was the most famous city in Oaklin, being the birthplace of two famous men: Ossian, the first Tyrant of Oaklin, who achieved the unification of the three peoples, and Linden Ophelos, creator of the Ophelian Rings on the peninsula. Every year, many pilgrims made the journey to Ninak and the peninsula as part of Ophelos' cult.
Finally, Omnia read the details of Havel, the southeastern kingdom. It was the most insular of the Three Kingdoms being hemmed in by the jagged Inland Mountain Range on its northern border, the steep Cliffs of Rahula against the ocean and the rapid River Havel in the west. Inside these boundaries, Havel had enjoyed peace for over two hundred years since the coming of the Tyrants and before. Thus, it was the most culturally advanced nation in Oaklin.
There were two universities in the capital city of Dos, a public and a private. Known as the College of Dos, the public university's claim to fame was that it was the only one of its kind , not only in Oaklin, but in the known world. For many years, under the tyrants, it had been funded collaboratively by the nations of Oaklin, who sent students there with regularity. The private university, the official University of Dos, however, could claim Linden Ophelos as its most famous alumnus, which was a great draw for aspiring architects. These two institutions had helped to make Dos the largest city in Oaklin.
The universities, however, were not the only achievement of Havel. That was the administration of law. Only in Havel had laws been recorded and set as the only standard for judgements in the country. Usually, local rulers dealt justice as they would, appealing to the king in matters concerning themselves. Every law in Havel, on the other hand, had been standardized in writing, teaching and universalized in practice, so that there were no arbitrary judgements. Every verdict was recorded and once a year, they were brought to Dos during the Festival of Peace and put into the archives for the sake of posterity.
Each nation was individual with strengths and weaknesses to be considered. Cai was poor, but large with a strong military bent. Scoe was a trade nation with vast international scope, but it was small. Havel was peaceful and ordered, yet isolated from its neighbors, forcing it to remain largely self sufficient instead of participating in the exchange of goods. Omnia had to weigh the options carefully, knowing that her first choice was the final choice, unchangeable.
"I shall be Queen of Scoe, Father," she said.
"A good decision, daughter," said her father. "Now, Orik, eldest son, choose."
In Ostan's decline, Orik had become the primary general and war leader. He was a large man, powerfully built as befit his profession, but he was fresh faced and had little beard. He was a grasping soul, always wishing for more, and chose Cai as his own. Owain was left with Havel and he was happy to have it. As the youngest son, he was fortunate to inherit anything and a peaceful country was far beyond his wildest dreams. Havel held a special place in his heart anyway, for he had been formally educated at the University of Dos.
With the matter of succession taken care of, the Tyrant Ostan enjoyed the last months of his life in peace. Only a few months later, he died of his illness and was interred with his ancesotrs at Tyrant's Rest on the peninsula, the Last Tyrant of Oaklin. The period known as the Restoration began with the succession of his three children to the thrones of the Three Kingdoms. On the same day, they were simultaneously crowned, each in the capital of their chosen kingdom. Omnia was made Queen of Scoe in Ninak, Orik was made King of Cai in Cail, and Owain was made Prince of Havel in Dos. This day was comemorated ever afterward as the Regalia, a universal holiday.
Four times was the Regalia kept with peace between the nations. Before the fifth, however, peace had begun to deteriorate and by the sixth, the Cai had invaded the Southern Kingdoms.
