Discovery & Restoration
When excavations around the Mist District of Meridia began early in the Age of Rule, a number of damaged statues were found buried near
bluestone deposits along the edge of Lake Mira. However, record-keeping in this early portion of Anhara's history was limited to matters of politics and religion, so sources vary on what exactly was found and when. Through a summary of contemporary sources, as well as the words of the statues themselves, historians have come to the conclusion that at least five or six were discovered. The five confirmed statues have become the famed agalmas seen in Meridia today.
481AR when a young sculptor by the name of
Maré Moore was commissioned by the warehouse's owner to restore them. The records of Moore's studio show he took in six statues at the time, however, only five are known in the city today. This discrepancy may be due to another, non-agalmas statue having been sculpted or restored around the same time, owing to both the fad for statues around the turn of the century, or just the general business of an art studio. However, this continues to give credence to those who believe in the existence of more agalmas. While the technique of Moore is a trade secret, and part of the mystique which generator so much celebrity for so long, most of the statues needed thorough cleaning and repair. Most importantly, the heads were caked in dirt, thus preventing any attempt at speaking. Beyond this cleaning, which would have been simple for anyone, every statue's body was damaged in some way. Luckily, these were all repaired via the sculpting of separate parts to replace whatever was missing, then attachment through means known only to Moore and
Art.
"Maré Moore, sculptor well known for his work on restoring the city's Arcane Statues, began work today on the new Palatial Villa of the Rhetorlord." - The Whistling Observer
Following the restoration of these five or six statues, their magical or at least mysterious properties became glaringly evident. Each statue had its own personality, as well as a hinted upon past and the ability to speak at the level of any mortal. The source of this mysterious facet of the statues is unknown, with some speculating that this was due to Moore's sculpting skill, beginning the legend of Maré Moore known to all Anharans today. Historians, however, as well as the statues themselves, make clear that this is not the case. With personal histories stretching back before their restoration, the statues' own words seem to discount the notion that they were "created" or "imbued" by Moore, rather that his restoration simply brought their more magical aspects back to the surface.
Personalities & Political Influence
The Growler
"To say more than what's necessary, I don't think is appropriate for a man, but know this..." - A frequent and ironic refrain of the Growler
The first statue to be restored was the agalma of the
University of Alarca, lovingly referred to by students and alumni alike as the Growler. This likeness of a wizened older man with tufts of curly hair upon a balding head is one of the most outspoken of the agalmas in Meridia. From here, the tradition of statue-based satire began. Given his propensity for shouting at students he knew or disliked, the young men of the university soon turned this against the staff or others with whom they disagreed. Notes would be placed upon the base of the statue, with the Growler never revealing from where they came, for him to shout out at either the target or large groups in order to get the message across. These were often political in nature, emphasising reforms wanted by the younger generation at the time. If the Growler agreed with them, advocacy would be endless, however often he was threatened with decapitation. The University's agalma has become a source of pride and a main feature of the Snowmelt District, with the Growler's excellent memory making students past and present feel appreciated.
The Politician
"You know, if I was younger I would have won a debate against him with my mouth closed..." - A common lament of the Politician
The second statue in Meridia, located in the Cloud District, is that of a seated politician. This middle-aged man's personality is unsurprising to anyone familiar with politicians, especially in Anhara,
and he frequently espouses exaggerated accomplishments. Given his status as a statue, and not a real person, his only accomplishment was removal from the main square of the Cloud District to be placed at the base of the entrance to the University of Alarca, on the far-left of that level of the city. This move took place after government leaders were finally fed up with harassment received while giving important speeches from the Rostra, the main service provided by the Politician. Following his relocation, the tradition of pinning notes to bases spread, with his statue's plinth sporting satirical or poetic refrains against local leaders. The most beloved part of the Politician's personality however, is not the facilitation of satire but rather his status as one-third of a love triangle, competing against the Poet for the favour of the Maiden.
The Maiden
"She came to me with great mirth, spreading stories about her worth, but when the rumors she told were done, she was as boring as anyone" - The Maiden, on a recent bit of gossip she heard.
On the opposite side of the Cloud District from the politician, is his goal, the Maiden. This statue of a young woman wearing the traditional garb of a member of the
College of Vestrial Priestesses is the most upstanding agalma of the lot. Representing the capital's virtue, around her plinth is placed more eloquent poems about the cultural life of the city, rather than the more vulgar notes directed at leaders given to the others. However, around her statue is often seen sailors from the Mist District's docks far below, who have run up to this level on a mission from the Poet, attempting to woo her.
Around the base of her statue, other than sailors, often gather the upper-class women of the city. Here they form the main font of gossip in the capital, with any tail worth telling being spun in the presence of the Maiden, as failing to include such a leading lady of Meridia would be most uncouth. Thus, the Maiden is the repository of all rumor in the city, though if she chooses to share these tails with historians or others is at her discretion.
The Knave
"Hear ye hear ye, you wealthy dandy. Arcus' streets wish to know you not, stay up in your Virga District and rot!" - The Knave, shouting at merchants on the upper level.
Located in the Arcus District of the capital, this statue has the appearance of a hooded young man. Formerly located in the main square at the base of this level's Deluge Stair, the Knave was a casual troublemaker known for shouting class-based satire up towards the wealthier Virga District. However, shortly after the beginning of the Age of Men, a local politician was speaking lies so blatant in the Arcus square, that the citizens of that level chose to move the statue in protest, so as to prevent him from hearing the politician's honeyed words. Now, he is traditionally moved around the district at random, with his personality changing somewhat as he moves. When placed closer to the mountainside, his is more in the spirit of a rogue or robber. However, when nearer the water, he becomes more a good-natured and silver-tongued rogue.
The Poet
"Balding head and boring words, that Politician is full of turds. Please love me." - Message delivered to the Maiden, more the work of a jovial sailor than the silver-tongue'd Poet.
At the foot of the Mist Distict's largely destroyed Deluge Stairs, stands the Poet. Thanks in part to his location near the docks, as well as his biting words against the upper-class, this agalma has become the favourite of the working man, especially sailors. These seamen and dock-workers are recruited to run messages up the Mistral Way or small staircases to the upper levels, in order to attempt to woo the Maiden. The Poet's main competition for her marble hand, the Politician, is often the target of acerbic messages from this level, both by the Poet or written in his name by sailors.
Theories
Divine Origins
Owing partially to their original location near bluestone, a material evoking many religious connotations, these statues are thought by some to be the work of one of Anhara's patron deities. In various quarters the agalmas are believed to have been crafted by
Vestria,
Mistra, perhaps even
Churus, or a combination thereof, and imbued with some of their attributes of oratory and thought.
Other divine theories rely somewhat on the belief in six statues, attributing them to the six societal gods. The specific gods attributed with each is not uniform, but generally the Poet is recognised as
Art, the Maiden as
Altra, the Knave as
Cothrum, the Growler as
Dianeia, and the Politician as
Repute. By process of elimination, this leaves the sixth statue as
Labor.
Number
"When the original sewer systems of Meridia were outgrown, construction work broke into a large cavern, believed to be referred to by the lower classes as the 'Undercity'" - Architectural Facets of the Capital
While theories about the number of statues were mentioned previously, this belief is generally accepted by most in the city, regardless of actual evidence. With the divvying up of statues into the realms of societal gods, Labor is agreed upon by most to be the missing link. The only major issue in that regard, to most in the capital, is its location.
Upper class citizens, on average, believe it to have been either lost sometime after intake into
Maré Moore's studio, or not yet uncovered through excavation. Numerous dredgings of the lake immediately around the docks has occurred in order to allow easier access for ships, but a secondary goal has always been the discovery of the last statue. If the last statue is found, it is hoped that its discovery will clear up the origins, as with Moore deceased, it will either work and be divine, or not, clearly owing the five other's powers to the sculptor.
However, the theory among members of the Fog and Mist Districts, is that the sixth statue was washed down into the Undercity. There, coupled with the tools left behind following the excavation of the area, as well as the occasional disappearance of items from the city proper, the denizens of the Undercity are believed to thrive with the aid of Labor himself.
Below is CONJECTURE & POTENTIAL SPOILERS(?)
Sixth Statue
The following is unbeknownst to most of Anhara.
Deep within the Undercity, in caves unnaturally formed, sits the Sixth Statue. Originally of a smith, hammering away upon an anvil, this agalma has since been corrupted. Chaos, chief amongst the
The Obscure Ones, has molded it into his own image and darkened the deepest bowels of the Undercity. While nearest the surface, the community of thieves, criminals, and the poorest of the poor persists, those who wander where even they dare not dwell will not be themselves much longer.
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