Difference between revisions of "Ral"

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The Ral, or Ralians, are an ethno-religious group of humans. Their actual homeland is unknown, being somewhere beyond the edge of the [[known worlds]], but they were brought to [[Aren]] during the [[Long Night]] as slaves of [[Samuel Fate]]. Settled msotly in the [[Serpentia]] and [[Iami]] regions, they became a heavily persecuted minority during the [[New Day]], and were forcibly resettled on Geth, which they renamed as [[Ral'Parthia]].  
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The Ral, or Ralians, are an ethno-religious group of humans. Their actual homeland is unknown, being somewhere beyond the edge of the [[known worlds]], but they were brought to [[Aren]] during the [[Long Night]] as slaves of [[Samuel Fate]]. The Ralians were an ehtnic minority that, by tradition, were educated as scientists and tradesmen. Though still slaves, they served in the skilled positions producing what little industry was required by Fate. Settled mostly in the [[Serpentia]] and [[Iami]] regions, they became a heavily persecuted minority during the [[New Day]], and were forcibly resettled on Geth, which they renamed as [[Ral'Parthia]].  
  
 
==Origins==
 
==Origins==
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===Persecution Under the New Order===
 
===Persecution Under the New Order===
When the [[New Day]] began, the only local authority came from the Duchies, a group which by now vehemently hated the Ral. When they began to seize the cities and exert dominance, many Ral were ostracized from society. They were denied rights under the new order
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When the [[New Day]] began, the only local authority came from the Duchies, a group which by now vehemently hated the Ral. When they began to seize the cities and exert dominance, many Ral were ostracized from society. [[Following the Battle of the New Day]], the Ralians(who had been slaves the same as everyone else) were branded as collaborators and denied rights under the newly-formed free governments. The Ralians were not alone in their persecution, though were far and away the largest(and only ethnic) group deemed "undesirable" in the new order of things.
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While other groups, like the [[Necromancers]] were able to join communities elsewhere, the Ralians were eventually left stateless. They were forcibly re-settled on the then sparsely-populated islands of Geth, which they renamed [[Ral'Parthia]].
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[[Category:Course Books]]
 
[[Category:Course Books]]

Revision as of 03:58, 12 August 2022

The Ral, or Ralians, are an ethno-religious group of humans. Their actual homeland is unknown, being somewhere beyond the edge of the known worlds, but they were brought to Aren during the Long Night as slaves of Samuel Fate. The Ralians were an ehtnic minority that, by tradition, were educated as scientists and tradesmen. Though still slaves, they served in the skilled positions producing what little industry was required by Fate. Settled mostly in the Serpentia and Iami regions, they became a heavily persecuted minority during the New Day, and were forcibly resettled on Geth, which they renamed as Ral'Parthia.

Origins

The true homeworld of the Ral is unknown. They have only their oral history, which tells how they were "chased from many lands" before their eventual enslavement by Samuel Fate. They had been under the domination of his empire for at least many thousands of years. What sets them apart is, despite the total control exerted upon them, they never succumbed to the worship of Fate. They kept, the whole time, their own unique faith.

This is partially due to their role in Fate's empire. Most regions under Fate's dominion lacked any formal education, and his rule was enforced through keeping his subjects docile and stupid. However, as his armies did require some technology to conquer new territory, centers of industry were needed. The Ral already had a cultural tradition of passing knowledge from parent to child, so they made for a natural cog in the war machine. Ral did not need schools, but simply taught what they knew to their children, which made safeguarding "sacred knowledge" of technology and science very easy.

History

The first Ral were not settled on Aren until True Night, or about 250 years after the death of hope. They were brought mostly to Iami and Serpentia, which had not been heavily industrialized regions before the Long Night . This made them ideal for Fate's purposes, as there was not already a long tradition of science and technology. The local peoples were sparse, and after being forced into work as farmers and herdsmen, it was easy to move the Ral in.

By some estimates, as many as 55 millian Ralians were re-settled in the area, though estimates are impossible to pin down. Based on what is known of Fate's practices regarding conquered people, it seems likely there are many Ral elsewhere beyond the known worlds.

Their arrival on Aren, however, was not welcome. They looked and spoke differently from anyone else, and occupied what was viewed as a "privileged" position. While the use of technology for entertainment or personal enrichment was strictly forbidden, the Ral still enjoyed a better standard of living, with ready access to things like clean water and electric lighting; all unavailable to the enforced primitive conditions of the majority. To further enforce the divide, the Ral had a deeply secretive religion which they were openly forbidden from practicing, but had carried on in the shadows. The locals saw elements of this, and made educated guesses on the subject. Cardinalism had been largely stamped out in the region, leading many local peoples to take up open worship of Samuel Fate.

The rise of the Dutchy System further compounded the issue, and by the end of the Long Night, racism against the Ral had become deeply entrenched.

Persecution Under the New Order

When the New Day began, the only local authority came from the Duchies, a group which by now vehemently hated the Ral. When they began to seize the cities and exert dominance, many Ral were ostracized from society. Following the Battle of the New Day, the Ralians(who had been slaves the same as everyone else) were branded as collaborators and denied rights under the newly-formed free governments. The Ralians were not alone in their persecution, though were far and away the largest(and only ethnic) group deemed "undesirable" in the new order of things.

While other groups, like the Necromancers were able to join communities elsewhere, the Ralians were eventually left stateless. They were forcibly re-settled on the then sparsely-populated islands of Geth, which they renamed Ral'Parthia.