Giving birth to a child in the Ythrannil Empire has always been a moment of joy and happiness. However, the last few generations have had difficulties delivering healthy babies. The cause has finally been identified as the mystic energy contained in the Etheryl crystals. For reasons still unknown, the crystals have been stopping most pregnancies from achieving their term, causing a steady decline in the birthrate. With only one woman out of five successfully giving birth, the population is rapidly declining, which impacts several vital aspects of Ythrannil society such as the farming of the land and the number of new recruits available to defend the Behemoth Islands.
A mystic ceremony that used to be traditionally practiced by the nobility became mandatory considering the new birthrate reality. Consisting of the Rite of Cleansing and the Rite of Coins, the Ceremony of Discovery must, at the very least, be practiced by a licensed Arcanist accompanied by two witnesses. One of the participants must be an official representative of the Ythrannil Emperor or a Behemoth Island king. The second is someone appointed by the mother, an individual devoid of any magical abilities. In poorer or more isolated locations, the Arcanist, the two witnesses, and a few attendees are the only participants. However, grandiose events involving a newborn's entire family and society's elite also exist. The imperial family's, and any king's, Ceremonies are such examples. Their happenings are talked about for years.
Rite of Cleansing
Grand or small affairs, the ritualistic portions remain the same. It starts with the Rite of Cleansing. The ritual is about cleansing the newborn of all worldly and True Core impurities. The Arcanist gently bathe the baby in a magically enhanced water basin, removing all dirt from his physical form in addition to any disease that might be afflicting him. The newborn, still wet, is then covered with an immaculate cloth made of white silk. Sticking to his dripping form, the piece of fabric cleans him of The Taint that permeates every being and creature of this world, turning the piece of cloth in a greyish-black and foul-smelling tar-like substance. Once all Taint is removed from an infant, the piece of cloth is then thrown into a ceremonial brazier, releasing a thick, black mist that doesn't go up like smoke usually does but follows the brazier's shape, actively searching for a way to be absorbed by the ground.
Rite of Coins
With the newborn fully cleansed, the Ceremony of Discovery continues with the Rite of Coins. The Arcanist places three small metal boxes on a surface nearby. One of them has a roaring dragon head engraved on its surface, another one has arcane symbols covering every inch of it while the last one has no decorations of any sort on it but seems to absorb the very light around it. That part of the ceremony exists to identify where resides a newborn's affinity if any. A potential that can only be revealed once a being has been cleansed.
The Roaring Dragon Coin
The roaring dragon box is the first to be opened. The Arcanist then takes out a 3-inch diameter coin of pure gold. Infused with dragon fear, the disc is presented to the newborn. If the child has no affinity to the dragonkind, he will scream of fear as soon as the coin is revealed. In the rare instances when a baby doesn't react to the coin's presence, applause and congratulations follow as the baby is to become one of the famed and most envied Dragon Riders.
The Etheryl Coin
If the newborn has no affinity to dragonkind, the Arcanist opens the next receptacle and takes a light-reflecting coin made entirely of blue Etheryl crystal. He then puts the half-inch diameter coin into the child's hand. If the coin starts radiating blue light, applause and congratulations follow as the baby is to become one of the powerful and respected Ythrannil Arcanists.
The Soulless Coin
If the newborn has no affinity to the fear infused or Etheryl coins, then a black velvet pouch is taken out of the black metal box. The Arcanist offers the pouch to the magically devoid participant chosen by the mother. When he empties its content into his hands, a light-infused copper coin shines unto the newborn. The participant is instructed to put it in the baby's hand. This moment is filled with nervousness as no one wants a newborn to have the coin reacts to his touch. If the light continues to illuminate its surrounding, applause and congratulations follow as the newborn is to become whatever he wants in life. His destiny is his to decide. However, if the light blinks out of existence, sadness and despair fill the attendees as the baby is to become a Pariah or what is also known as a Soulless. Having the coin's magic absorbed by the newborn signifies that not only is he immune to all magic but, as he will get older, an aura that will disperse and dispel all magic will emanate from him, getting larger as he gains years. The newborn's parents and family member attending the ceremony must make their farewell to the child who will immediately be taken away by the King or Emperor's representative, never to be seen again.
Coming of Age
With the Rite of Cleansing and the Rite of Coins completed, the newborns are returned to their families. Official documents are given to the parents, attesting to the baby's affinity or lack of. In the year following his 12th birthday, a king's emissary will visit him, and official documents are to be provided to him. Depending on his Ceremony of Discovery result, he is to be trained at the prestigious Military School of Dragons, study at the regional University of the Arcane, or select a profession to be an apprentice.
Regarding the Pariahs, rumors are that they are kept hidden on a secret island to be trained as unstoppable and deadly assassins, practicing dark arts shunned by society. The Emperor is said to use them to keep tight control of his empire, ensuring that kings do not become too powerful, popular uprisings are stopped in their infancy, his control of the dragons and Etheryl crystal stays absolute.
LEXICON
Arcanist
A mage who specializes in the very unique magic associated with Etheryl crystals.
Behemoth Islands
Approximately two thousand years ago, titanic pieces of the countryside were forcefully torn away from the continent by the power of special crystals called Etheryl crystals. This was accomplished in order to escape the power of Exode, the God-King who ruled the world at the time.
Etheryl Crystal
These crystals used to be found only in the very deep and dangerous Realm of the Dark. The dwarves magically grew them to escape the dark fate that awaited their people, two thousand years ago. Placing thousands of them at strategic locations, they were able to force the ground above them to levitate a mile above the surface, tearing away huge morcels of the continent. The Behemoth Islands' ability to float above The Below is due to the crystalline composition of its undersurface.
The Below
The Below consists of everything that is not part of the Ythrannil Empire. It is ruled by five ageless dragons, each overseeing its own territory. All are jealous of the peace that reigns over their head on the Behemot Islands but strange magic forbids them from attacking them.
True Core
All living creature absorbs the unique characteristics of its environment, transforming its very essence, or True Core. Changes can be observed not after several generations but after decades. Only humans have the ability to clean themselves of these 'impurities'.
Ythrannil Empire
The Ythrannil Empire consists of all the seventeen Behemoth Islands floating above The Below.
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