A True Leader
Standing in the centre of Caleb's Rest and stretching to three-hundred feet in height is a grand statue of the Air Eligni Caleb Puff, cast from solid Electrum metal. The figure stands with feet squared, wielding a simple longsword raised and pointed at an unseen adversary, head held to look along the blade into the night sky with a gentle, knowing smirk. Labelled "A True Leader" at its base, this statue commemorates the valiant sacrifice Caleb made at the climax of the Ark Event and the consequences of such a brave and noble sacrifice.
Most Eligni, and indeed most people, believe Caleb's sacrifice to be the key action that allowed the Eligni to claim their right as equal folk, and so along with his recognition as the Air Eligni Saint, "A True Leader" was commissioned in order to fix his place at the heart of the new Eligni world. The statue overlooks a main square that is a hub of activity, song and dance, art and invention, allowing Caleb to watch over the city that he helped create and to be the Father of the Caleb's Rest, protecting its people and inspiring them to heights even greater than his. Many devout followers of the Pantheon of Saints pilgrimage to the statue to offer thanks and to be in the presence of one of the bravest Eligni so far known.
"A True Leader" was created to be a multifaceted symbol. Not only does it exist as a memorium, but it is also a symbol of all Elgini, a statue of their kind in a city of their own. After many long eras living in the Elven Spires, ruled over by leaders that neither represented their kind nor their views, "A True Leader" is a symbol that all can look to and remember that they are free to be themselves, that they are finally recognised as people amongst the other ancestries of the Planet. It is meant to bring courage to Eligni, to remind them to try their best, to be selfless and to care for others, to remind them that no matter who they are born to, what they are, anyone can achieve greatness. The statue is a sight that all Eligni come to visit at least once in their lives, often during the festival that celebrates the sacrifice of Caleb and the beginning of the Eligni's personage. It is also recognised as the symbol of Caleb's Rest, the capital of the Eligni settlements, standing tall above every other building.
The statue does have another, slightly less obvious meaning attached to it. The Elgini were, for many eras, treated as lesser than the other ancestries on the Planet due to there being no history of a Progenitor God, no creator of the Eligni. This led to them being looked down upon in the Spires, mistreated by Elves and others and never given a chance to prove themselves. After Caleb's sacrifice, the Elves offered the Eligni free use of the Sky Chariots once the agreement had been struck that the Eligni could claim the remains of the Moon as their home, later becoming Layman's Belt. Along with this offer was a gift of large sums of gold and silver to help them begin their new lives and as a way of apology for their maltreatment. Instead of keeping this wealth that had been held unreachable to them for so many centuries, the Eligni melted it down, alloyed it into Electrum and built "A True Leader", as well as minting their own currencies. A sign of their freedom, that they did not need the Elves' help and could strike out by themselves, under the glorious canvas of the open sky. Of course, this message was not lost to the Elves and so relations between Eligni and Elf have been strained, with the High Elves holding the most disdain for the Eligni and their settlements.
Purpose / Function
"A True Leader" serves two central purposes. The first is to memorialize Caleb Puff, the Air Eligni who sacrificed himself to save all others present on the Moon on the day of the Ark Event, and to remember that his sacrifice allowed the Elgini people to be recognised as equal by others. The second is to inspire Eligni of all ages to be the best that they can be. Not that all Eligni should look to sacrifice themselves in one way or another, but that all Eligni should push themselves to give to all others as much as they can, to each strive to hold themselves to the highest standard.
Architecture
The statue is a lifelike carving of Caleb Puff in his guardsman uniform, wielding the sword he used to fight back the strange, unknown monster that dropped from the Ark and began to attack those present on the Moon. It is stood atop a simple plinth of stone a foot and a half tall, decorated with all kinds of offerings from Eligni that come to visit. Typically, these range from forged weapons and inventions to pictures and letters, even flowers and other gifts from the non-Eligni people that live on the Belt, such as the Faeries or Halffolk that also revere Caleb and the symbolism he provides.
History
The statue was erected in the 4th Era, in the 13th year, after having been under construction and design for just over a year. The statue's unveiling was a huge celebration, one that is repeated every year.
Tourism
Every year, Caleb's Rest celebrates a city-spanning, week-long festival named the Festival of the Eligni in celebration of Caleb's sacrifice and the beginning of the Eligni's new lives. Hundreds to thousands of people travel to the capital city to celebrate this time, Eligni and non-Eligni alike. On the first night of the festival, every celebrant is invited to gather around the statue and ignite candles inside small paper lamps, setting them all off at the same time into the stars. People stand in the square, hang out of windows and balconies of the surrounding buildings and even gather on the roofs themselves in order to be in the presence of Caleb's Statue. Almost all Eligni make the visit to "A True Leader" at least once in their lives, and the Festival of the Eligni is the best time to make such a trip.
Of course, there are also devout followers of the Pantheon of the Eligni who make the statue a sight of pilgrimage. Those who are clerical in nature, or deeply revere the Air Eligni Saint in particular will venture out to the statue at different points in their life, asking for guidance, strength or bravery, or simply to remember the lessons that he imparted in his sacrifice; to be brave, to put others before yourself, and to never give up. To this end, many followers will leave notes and letters to the Saint, giving thanks for his sacrifice or making promises to hold strength of their own.
Founding Date
4E 13Y
Alternative Names
Caleb's Statue, Caleb's Grave
Type
Statue
Parent Location
