The Akaẓeg Iconoclasts (draft)

[Lleban]

Bulbancha

Mechanical Summary

Region: 245

Required Resource: Animals

Resource: Blue Truffle Oil

Technology: Tall Sails, Poetry & Prose

Faith: Gnostic Monadism

Ruler: Exarch Gwafa of The 2nd Vault

Diplomacy: 3

Military: 2

Industry: 4

Faith: 5

Intrigue: 2

Geography

The Bulbancha archipelago lies just off the coast of eastern Vaire Ven. Once, the islands were imperious basalt plateaus spawned by ancient gouts of magma. However, a sudden rise in sea level would convert these stalwart formations into hilly islands covered in deep caves and arid savannahs. The fierce currents isolating Bulbancha from the mainland have given the isles unique flora and fauna. A wide variety of cacti, evergreen trees, thorny shrubs, and watapana trees inhabit Bulbancha's rolling hills, steep canyons, and rocky valleys. Numerous caves that dot the island are filled with hundreds of species of fungi lighting these abandoned magmatic caverns with pale blue-green light. Roaming the skies is a robust population of seagulls and pelicans.

Meanwhile, the interior of the island hosts a strange reflection of the lands beyond. Dwarf camels, emu, ground sloths, long-legged jackels, and terrestrial crocodiles make the archipelago their home. The fauna that venture into the caves often become infected with parasitic fungi with effects that range from standing in the sun-baked hills to exhaustion, and extra bioluminescence.

History

The Akazeg were one of many people groups of an ancient sun-worshiping federation that once stretched across the Vaires. Cities of Brass and towers of gold once littered vast fertile savannahs. Using the spores that grew in the caverns as a medium for mystical power, the Akazeg sold their services as oracles, soothsayers, and court alchemists in opulent opal palaces of the great princes. This status quo did much to develop the isles of Bulbancha, the silver of noble patrons funding the creation of vast settlements. But as the arid winds cut through the Vaires, savannahs turned into sand. Rivers fractured into tired rivulets. And as fields of corn became subsumed by thorny cacti the Akazeg mystics implored their masters to abandon imagery of the hallowed aspects of the sun. For the beasts they tithed to were not but blind demiurges with foaming jaws trapping all those who sought emancipation from the fallen world. Ears open to the change in mystic winds, the Akazeg embraced acetic life casting away their wealth while enduring constant attacks and programs from the princes who once employed them. As the world turned to dust, the Akazeg constructed great vaults beneath the ground. Emtobing themselves until the Vaires once again became green and fertile.

A dream that would remain deferred by the spiritual calamity of the moonfall in addition to the physical limitations of the alchemical fungal brew that sustained the Akazeg in extended hibernation. Now after millennia, they have risen from their slumber dedicated to spreading their uncorrupted ways. For their survival is a sign of divine providence.

People

The Akazeg are humans. Strange humans with a little moldy on the surface but humans nonetheless. Specifically, Akazeg are stocky humans that range in skin tone from ochre to oak in complexion. Symbiotic influence from the native fungi and millennia of hibernation have given many of the Akazeg blotches of violet and bioluminescent aquamarine across their frames. These features accompany the asymmetrical growth of chitinous plates, misplaced mushroom caps, and even the growth of extraneous chitenized limbs. Many of the recently awakened have metallic prosthetics animated by the user's symbiotic fungi, creeping mycelium functioning like nerves and blood vessels snaking deep into the steel's lattice. Akazeg often wears perfumes, oils, and incense but care little for jewelry. Tattoos and ritualized burn marks are nearly ubiquitous across all Akazeg adults. These markings portray family sigils, alchemical notes, charms, and mantras.

Akazeg organize themselves in various communes where land and productive property are distributed democratically based on the needs of the members. Communes range between 100-500 doting the isles with hundreds of interconnected villages. Each commune elects a member of the island's Grand Council, which in turn elects an Exarch. The Grand Council directs the productive goals of the various communes and collects taxes but this is in reality, a very decentralized society. Communes can and will disobey the grand assembly.

Faith Gnotisc Monadism

Gnotisc Monadism is an aesetic form of mysticism that seeks escape from the physical world and reunites with the all-loving Monad. In the antediluvian darkness, the world was crafted by blind demiurges. But, the world they crafted was a cold static abomination. A grey land of pillars, and formless dust, where years passed as hours. Out to the diamond oblivion, the light of Monad exploded through this antediluvian world as this static material became animated with light. The Demiurges who accepted the animating light of Monad became all-seeing Archons that transcended mere physicality into mystical forms. Earlier Monadists believed in a duality between the spiritual and material realms, however, Gnostic Monadists believe the material world serves only as a corruption of a perfect spiritual existence. The material world and investment in it can only promote suffering at best, at worst it can debase even the greatest into blind demiurges. Divesting from the material world offers a path to connecting with Monad, the universal consciousness, and escaping the suffering of the material world.

Monadists seek to divest themselves from the material world and seek greater connection to the spiritual realm via the Fivefold truths.

Afara Peace- Calls to abstain from dominance. To dominate others, be it the animals, the land, or even other humans is to enmesh oneself even further into the realm of the material. It only serves to blind oneself in a pale imitation of the ancient demiurges.

Tidis Truth- This vow is to always speak the truth. Neither lie, nor speak what is not true, and do not encourage others or approve of anyone who speaks an untruth.

Asfek Reject Covetousness- Followers are discouraged from the theft of objects and of others' labor for theft is the son of dominance.

Marur Embrace Illusion-  Followers should take opportunities to divorce themselves from the material world. Meditation, exposure, and ingesting the fungal oil all can bring about hallucinogenic experiences that draw followers closer to the Monad.

Sllem Compassion- Imitate the animating love of the Monad. Followers must endeavor to show compassion to all living beings.

Holy site: Caves of Katas

Resource

The Akazeg's main product is Blue Truffle Oil, an alchemical oil derived from the naturally occurring hallucinogenic blue Truffle. The oil can act as a drug and preservative. However, the Akazeg require Animals, the isles of Bulbancha are ill-suited for cattle and other profitable ruminants.

 

Edited September 6, 2023 by Lleban (see edit history)