Hexara

Overview

The Holy Sovereign State of Hexara was the seat of power of Hexalism. It housed the central temples of the faith as well as the most important location of the faith: the Lake of Order. Farmland and forests surrounded the central temples, with many monasteries dotting the land.
Although within borders of Auroma, Hexara was not a part of the Golden Queendom. Despite its small size, Hexara was completely self-sufficient, with its own farmers, artisans, military and government. This was thanks to the variety of skills the different priesthoods of Hexalism required: all of the inhabitants of Hexara were also capable of mundane jobs.
In terms of governance within Hexalism, Hexara was its own zodiac. However, unlike other zodiacs, the zodiac of Hexara had six Circle Hextants, one for each deity. Together, these six Circle Hextants formed the Sunbeam Council, which oversaw the operation of Hexara. Although the position of a member of Sunbeam Council was a prestigious one indeed, it wasn’t the highest authority of Hexara; that were the High Hextants, and especially the Solar Beacon, whose commands could overrule the decisions of the Council. Such commands were rare; the High Hextants had their own duties, and the position of a Circle Hextant of Hexara was not given to people not ready for the duties.
The central location of Hexara was the Lake of Order, a small lake shaped like a perfect hexagon, containing water that can heal the soul. It was the most popular pilgrimage location in all of Hexalism, with shrines decorating its beaches. Surrounding the Lake are the Lakeside Temples, which were the central places of worship for Hexalism. Each temple was governed an inhabited by one of Hexara's Circle Hextants. The temples are:

1. The Sharpening Ring: This temple contains a training ground where people used to hone their martial skills, either independently or by guidance of a Lightbringer. Official duels of Hexara also taok place here.
2. The Dance of Leaves: Another open temple, capable of holding more people than any others - and ample air space creates even more room for people who can fly! The Dance was used for both large services and as the heart of celebrations.
3. The Grand Workshop: The Workshop was responsible for maintaining Hexara's equipment, from simple spoons to the walls of the temple itself. The temple also crafted all kinds of items to either donate them to people in need or for sale outside Hexara.
4. The Lunar Luminary: Lectures were available to all who enter, no matter the time of the day. The contents of the lectures changed constantly to ensure that the faithful always have something new to learn. The temple also had a large library, but any who enter had to prepared to endure the noise coming from outside.
5. Choir of Bells: The oldest temple in Hexara has many bell towers, containing a total of 216 bells. During celebrations, the Lightbringers of the temple rang the bells to play songs of astonishing beauty. Besides ringing bells, the Lighbringers crafted costumes, masks and everyday clothes for Hexara.
6. Court of Tolerance: The Court handled all of the administrative tasks of Hexara. With so many people and monasteries, someone was always in need of something, and Lightbringers of Court of Tolerance ensured that the requests went where they need to. They also listened to worries of pilgrims, for sometimes, merely being heard is what a person needs.

The lands around Hexara proper were mainly farmland, tended by the Lightbringers and Candles living nearby. Thanks to these farms, Hexara wasn't reliant on other nations to import food, although without donations the meals of the locals would’ve been small and simple. A few forests had been kept for wood and aesthetic and spiritual reasons.
On the southern and western borders, the mighty Celestia Peaks rise, containing a few mines and some caves that hermits used. The nothrern and eastern border were drawn by Flowing Cloud River. Many sturdy bridges reach across the river, allowing even heavy carts to pass. On the other bank, trading posts used to serve both the pilgrims or Hexarans looking to buy - trade within Hexara was forbidden.
Monasteries can be found everywhere, on both fields and the mountainsides. The most famous of these are:

1. Officer's Barracks: This monastery taught leadership and military skill. It grew up significantly during the War of the Eight-Legged Terror, and remained popular ever since. Many Hexalist officers spent a few years here to learn how to work with people of other nations if needed.
2. Daring Retreat: Built on the only Amberwood Titan Hexara, Folium Sacrum, the Daring Retreat held many kinds of flying practices. For people who can't fly, life in the monastery also offered practice for wilderness survival.
3. Architect's Cave: Don't try to look for this monastery: it's fully underground! This monastery was built to give architects a place to design and experiment in peace - The Grand Workshop is noisy enough that focusing in something complex is difficult.
4. The Archives: After the Lunar Luminary started amassing countless books, the Lightbringers needed a place to store them without filling the temple. This monastery was the solution, built right on top of Architect's Cave, to give the Candles of the Cave an easy access to any book they need. One had to stay quiet in the Archives, as the monastery was a place of writing and silent study.
5. The Wondrous Brewery: The source of most food and all of the drinks of Hexara was a joyous place indeed! The monastery also helped with the many festivals that the Lakeside Temples arranged.
6. Home of Penance: On the hillside of Celestia Peaks, the Candles of this dour monastery toiled in the mines and the fields. The life of a Candle of Home of Penance was a hard one, but such life also alleviated any guilt the Candle feels. Everyone was welcome - and nobody's past was discussed.

History

The history of Hexara stretches back to the beginning of known time. In 1 AO, the gods of Order revealed themselves to the world and chose their champions. This miracle took place at the Lake of Order, where the gods entered the world by stepping out of the sunlight that reflected off the holy water of the Lake. It didn't take many years for the first pilgrims to arrive at the Lake of Order to pray and meditate.
As time went on, the pilgrims began to build shrines on the beach of the Lake. They began as simple idols, but over time, the faithful continued to work on the shrines, adding more idols and a roof to protect the shrines from rain. They also built huts where visitors could rest and eat safe from the elements.
A century later, a priest of Mairun, a scarab named Ani Maat, arrived at the Lake of Order with a single goal in mind: to build a real temple on the sacred ground. Scarabs are skilled builders, and soon the temple was ready for use. Word of the Lakeside Temple reached far and wide, and eventually priests from other nations moved in and built their own temples around the Lake of Order.
This started to cause problems in the queendom of Zenith, whose grounds the new temples stood on. Although the Zenith were initially unhappy about the priests of other nations building on their soil without asking, they eventually understood that the Lake of Order belongs to all peoples of Order equally, and the Zenith can't claim it for their own. Thus, the Zenith released their claim to the lands surrounding the Lake of Order.
Over time, Lakeside Temples grew, and monasteries started to form on the surrounding area. There were now enough people in sacred land that they needed a government to keep everything functioning. The head priests of each of the Lakeside Temples formed the Sunbeam Council, and founded the Holy Sovereign State of Hexara in 473 AO.
For over a thousand years, little changed in Hexara. Pilgrims arrived and left, priests held services, and monks toiled in the farms and mines. The next major change happened in 151 AC, when the Solar Beacon arrived in Hexara. He codified the different strands of faith into one unified faith: Hexalism. Hexara became the seat of government for the reformed faith, growing significantly in both wealth and political power.
Life in Hexara was good until the Tunnel War began in 313 AH. The current Solar Beacon, Otrec Firebite, pleaded with Harko Ironfang to stop the war. But Harko responded by telling that he was coming for Otrec as well. Otrec knew that the defenses of Hexara could not stop the White Flood, and thus, he ordered a full evacuation. All of Hexara's inhabitants moved to the Radiant Sanctum of Arboraeum, taking anything they could with them, leaving Hexara abandoned.

Present

The hallowed halls of Hexara stand empty and silent, abandoned by the faithful who used to flock the land. This is not due to lack of effort; on the contrary, after Tunnel War ended, many people have attempted to return to the blessed land... and none have stayed.
The people who returned have talked of strange events taking place there. The air is cold, and fire can't make people feel warmth in Hexara. Any animals encountered show unnatural aggression towards anyone - person or animal. And worst of all, anyone entering will feel that their companions, even life-long compatriots or family, will betray them. Any group inside will either leave the land or disperse - or fight each other.
Only explorers working alone have managed to reach further in. To this day, nothing of interest has been found in any of the monasteries the explorers have reached. They have only confirmed that some criminals try to hide in Hexara to evade their pursuers, and that the land's supernatural effects worsen the closer one gets to the Lake of Order.
The latter discovery has caused much speculation among the Hexalists. Something must have moved in during the Tunnel War, but how could anything profane desecrate a place as holy as the Lake of Order? Some believe that Hexara's current state is a divine punishment, either for Hexarans for abandoning the land, or for Detrinians for attacking their brothers and sisters in faith. Others say that a nymphian moved in, deterring any explorers with their magic. Yet others claim that the first Solar Beacon has returned, awaiting for a worthy successor. But whatever the truth is, it can only be found by reaching the Lake of Order.

by Captain Tagada

Alternative Names
Hexara
Religious Symbol
Cocoon shining out six solar rays in the form of butterfly wings; hexagon
Type
Religious, Organized Religion
Membership
0
Demonym
‌Hexaran
Divines
‌The Radiant Cocoon; Katisan, Aurius, Chitas, the Architect, Gnol-Dotera, Mairun, Zaqātu
Dates Active
‌473 AO - 314 AH
Important Locations
‌ Lake of Order, Lakeside Temples
Notable Members
‌Solar Beacon Otrec Firebite, Solar Beacon Olivia Galeshield