Fall of the Sharrarchy

Transcription and Analysis by Alean, Sinn'Deann Lýsenngead the People of Targos, 3000ATC

Abstract

Hereafter is recorded the final edict of the last Sharrarch of the Zendylite Empire, Alarsis-Tero Asharia Marchis do Carosh, issued from the throne room of the Baz Hesteran, dated 17th Corelo, 2682ATC ('1657th year of Sharr Zendylhia' in the Zendylite calendar). By royal decree, the two-hundred highest ranking functionaries, military officers, and nobles from Sia Zendylhia and Sia Coren were in attendance, as well as one-hundred scribes who were instructed, on pain of agonizing torture and death, to record the Sharrarch's words precisely as he spoke them. Eighty-eight of the One-Hundred Scribes' texts match perfectly¹, and are unanimously agreed to be a factual representation, verbatim, of what the Sharrarch said.

In the edict, the Sharrarch acknowledges the challenges facing the Empire². The 'time of darkness and of testing' mentioned at the beginning of the speech, judging by the timing of the Sharrarch's abdication, and corroborated by other contemporary documents, referred to the recent loss of the Empire's territories in what is now the sovereign state of Peraea, which was the last of their possessions in the Akeaoman Confederacy of City-States, as well as of the far eastern Imperial cities of Ezcarosh and Col Darsia to a Mor'Rhaia invasion that shocked the Empire to its core³. He then reminds the people of the Empire of their sacred creed, the Tenets of Zendyl⁴, assuring them that they will endure, despite the current crises, and implying that they will do so because of the decisions he is about to announce. He proceeds to decree that after him, there will be no further Sharrarch, until 'the true Sharrarch shall return', further implying that the throne is to remain vacant unless, or until, Zendyl himself returns to guide them.

In the next several passages of the edict, he issues decrees dividing power over governance and the Imperial military between the three Triarchates, confirms all the rights of the ancient Hesteri Guard, and reminds all present that his words are Imperial Law, before resigning as Sharrarch and assuming the title of Triarch Col Zendyl.

Much speculation has been made as to whether Alarsis-Tero was pressured by his fellow Triarchs into issuing his monumentous edict and dividing the Empire equally between them, or if he truly felt such a division of power was necessary to preserve it. Particular attention is often given to the passage confirming the rights and privileges of the Hesteri Guard as potential evidence that he was coerced, and sought to retain the Hesteri as a check on the other two Triarchs; what is known however, is that this stratagem, if intended, failed, as the Hesteri expelled the now-reduced ruler from the Baz Hesteran shortly after his abdication.

Notes:

1. The twelve texts which did not match differ from the others in ways that strongly suggest that shock and disbelief at what the scribes heard, or perhaps shouting from the audience, prevented them from recording what had been said. Imperial history records that the twelve scribes were later pardoned by the Triarchs.

2. The Zendylite Empire is not referred to as such by its people, but rather as 'Sharr Zendylhia', which can be translated as 'Zendyl's World' or the 'World of Zendyl'.

3. These events constituted the final phase of what students and authors of Zendylite history now refer to as 'The Collapse', a roughly three century period, beginning with the Bloodhand Rebellion in the late 24th century ATC and ending with the abdication of the last Sharrarch, during which the Empire lost nearly all the territory it had accumulated outside its home waters in the Targotian Sea.

4. Zendyl Heste do Shaphel, known in the Empire reverently as Zendyl the Messenger; founder of the Empire and its religion.

Original Text of the Edict

People of the Messenger's Word, Citizens of His World, hear now the words of your Sharrarch.

Our great nation faces a time of darkness and of testing. At every corner vengeful barbarians encroach upon our lands, their hearts full of avarice and spite, seeking to overthrow the Messenger's Holy Word; they know not the light they seek to extinguish. But Sharr Zendylhia is eternal.

The Holy Messenger's Tenets tell us we must survive, for thus do we prove our worthiness; and so we shall. They tell us we must be bold, for thus do we rule the seas; so we shall. They tell us we must be fierce, knowing our superiority, for thus do we earn the right to dominate; so we shall. Lastly, they tell us we must endure, for the Messenger's World is eternal.

So we shall.

In these times of turmoil, it is made manifest to us that the institutions of our great nation must be made to fit the demands, and to address the challenges, of the age in which we live. Thus do we command:

After us, the Legacy Throne shall remain vacant, exalted and venerated, until such time as the true Sharrarch shall return to guide Sharr Zendylhia in glory.

After us, whomsoever rules the Unbroken City shall continue to wear the ancient title of Triarch Col Zendyl; they shall, along with their esteemed colleagues from Col Shaphel and Col Aylia, rule Sharr Zendylhia in council, dividing power equally among them.

After us, in the temporary absence of the true Sharrarch, the rule of Sharr Zendylhia shall be divided between the three Triarchs; the West shall be the domain of the Shaphelite Triarch, the East shall be the domain of the Aylian Triarch, and the North shall be the domain of the Zendylite Triarch.

After us, in the temporary absence of the true Sharrarch, the military forces of Sharr Zendylhia shall be likewise divided between the direction of the three Triarchs, that each should have command of the armies within their domain, to see to its security and stability. Orders to this effect have been drawn, signed, and sealed, and shall be distributed throughout the officer corps forthwith.

After us, in the temporary absence of the true Sharrarch, the Hesteri Guard, noble guardians of the Messenger's Word and His Holy City, are hereby confirmed in all their ancient responsibilities, rights, and privileges, as set down by the Messenger Himself, in perpetuity.

Let it be remembered that our words, to which all assembled here are witness, are the words of your Sharrarch, made binding law on this seventeenth day of Corelo in the one-thousand six-hundred fifty-seventh year of Sharr Zendylhia.

[Here the Sharrarch descended from the Legacy Throne, turned, and knelt before the hallowed seat; then stood to address the assembly]

Thus let all assembled bear witness, that with these acts enshrined in Sharrarchial Law, we hereby resign the Holy and Ascendant title of Sharrarch, and take up the exalted title of Triarch Col Zendyl, the better to guide the World of the Messenger in concert with the wisdom of my honored fellow Triarchs.

May the Will and Word of the Messenger guide you all.