History of the Monralai Empire: 3457-3768 Hist 455 - 001

Prof. Lecunda Shuel

Oct 9- Oct 15 5769 CE:

In 3489 a uprising occurred in Ottawa with in the Clan Enclave. The Enclave was where the Clan merchants and their servants stayed. Through out the next seventy years, Ottawa would have a population of nearly thirty-five hundred Clansmen from various, most from Clan Akusthan, Arthamas and Kalemarg. Unfortunately, deep seated conflicts emerged between the Catholic Akusthan and the Pagan Arthamas. Though there is no clear picture to what happened in the Enclave, we do know that there was a great deal of damage. Roland Stevens is writing from immediately after the uprising.

Dear Dr. Wallace,

First of all, I assure you I am safe. The riots did not reach parliament. I shall tell you of that in a bit.

I am very glad to hear of your families good fortune. I can hardly believe that Alice is pregnant again. It seems like only yesterday that you came to me, hardly out of school, to be my apprentice. And now you have a family and its growing. I often wonder if I did not make a mistake. I spent most of my life in pursuit of medicine, and in doing so I lost something important. Now I am very much alone. Please give Alice and Jason my love.

As for Ms. Lightfoot, I refer you to Dr. Patson’s thesis on Growths and Fungi. I believe he may shed some news on the subject matter.

As for the riots. I am not sure what happened. It was a fuse over a conflict between some of the Clansmen. I am not sure what it was, I attempted to contact His Excellency the Ambassador, but his attempts at answering have only confused me more. Thankfully, nothing of importance was lost; there was only damage to the Clan Enclave, not to the main city. But the Princess has (perhaps rightly) raised a voice about the ‘violent foreigners’ and the parliament has restricted the Enclave severely at the request of the Imperial Princess and with a warrant from the Senate in Monral. Most of the Clansmen are restricted to the Enclave. I have been visiting it to discuss various things with a Dr. Felef OfMesth, who reports to me that the merchants are becoming quite agitated with the situation. The Clan merchants believe they where not responsible for the riots, and therefore should not be punished. Indeed, I would say that I would agree, assuming they make a truthful plea of innocence, but I am not Government. I am merely a physician.

I also was able to meet another ambassador, Scaelin Winn, from Massachusetts. It was in no formal capacity, trust me. He developed a small cold and the Queen directed him to me. A plain drape fellow, who didn’t actually speak a word of Ontarian. However, I enjoy the meeting of new strange peoples, and dare say what I could glean from speaking to him in Monralai, his people are as strange as the Clansmen. I know what you are thinking dear friend, that I am a silly goose. I have not had the chance to travel as much as you had, with the exception of my schooling in Monral, so I am amazed by any foreigners who come my way. You are more worldly then I. I know that you spent some time in Massachusetts, so send me a few words of their language. Perhaps I can warm up cold Mr. Winn.

Every one is tense. It is rather horrible. But I shall make it the best of it. I must go, I have tea with the Queen in a quarter hour.

Roland Stevens, MP

Some of your might have notice the arrival of Scalin Winn. Remember I never do anything without reason, my dear students.

The uprising, quite rightly led to limitations placed on the Clan Enclave. However, this does not prevent the Merchants from complain about it. Religiosity has been proven by psychologist to lead to feelings of persecution by rational society. This is testified by the works of Doctor Charlet Panik and Winsom Chae who studied to the Neo-Catholic and New Follower cultists held in Pandera Psychological Center, attached to the University of Pandera. At the time, however, spirituality was held to be a positive. Even here in Landershael one can still find testaments to the Old Way in temples that have long since been converted to libraries and courthouses.

Debatably, the Imperial government was too hard on the Clansmen. They not only effectively disallowed any business, they prevented the clansmen from leaving. It seems that the restrictions where put in place by a faction, lead by the Mariek Antreen, that wanted to provoke the clans to such an extent that it would lead to the banishment of all Foreigners.

Marg OfAkusthan seems to have a rather strong opinion about all of this.

To Valak OfArthamas, Head of the Council of Outlander Affairs, From Marg OfAkusthan, Ambassador to the Monralai Empire: Greetings.

Old friend, I carry no good news. Massive fighting in the streets of Ottawa, Clansmen against clansmen in the Enclave. Our liberties restricted. Six clansmen dead.

The two clerics, Jon and Kera, had placed in the hearts of the Enclave a great corruption, which has sucked us all in. Neither me nor Sesa knows exactly where the fighting originated. I suspect two Akusthan Men, Valen and Zhahan caused the conflict, but we are unable to find any evidence to bring them in. The Akusthan and the Arthamas began to fight over their difference. They managed to destroy several buildings, including Sesa’s office. Two Akusthan, Three Arthamas, and one Naken where killed during the conflict.

In response the Parliament has curtailed the liberties of the Enclave. Our people are no longer allowed to leave the Enclave and enter the city proper. Sesa has been dismissed by the Imperial government as Governor of the Enclave. It is mainly because of that cruel woman, the Heir, who seems to hate us and everything we do. Right now we are being governed by the Lord Mayor of Odawa. I am afraid of him; he loves so much the Imperial government, he is nothing but a lackey to the Heir.

The ambassador of Shael arrived at my house today. We discussed many things. I believe you would like him.

Keep Well,

Marg

Sesa OfArthamas was sent back to the west, never to return after fifty years of loyal service to the Enclave. We hear very little of her after this. If you choose to take History of the Clans Hist 234, you will get the chance to more fully see the effect of Sesa’s leadership out east. However, it is enough to say that the clans lost one of their greatest leaders out in the East.

By now, we see that Mariek Antreen has effectively earned the hatred of the Clans. And we can also see that there is now a faction surrendering her. Members would include the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament and, of course, the Lord Mayor of Ottawa.

The Dangers of Religiosity

Excerpt from the “Patriarchal[1] Report to the Pontiff on the General Affairs of the Americas”

… If we assume that Mariek Julee Katreen assumes the Imperial Throne, we may have to considered moving the Particharical See from Monral to a mare stable diocese. Mariek Julee Katreen has proven to be a religious radical. She has several times announced that the affairs of religion within the Empire ought not be in the hands of foreign princes, namely His Holiness. She has gathered around her self several radical priest that declare the need for an “American pontiff.” It is obvious that her accession to the throne will lead to the throne will swiftly lead to heresy and schism. It is doubtful if Mariek Julee Katreen can be reasoned with. We must prepare for the worse in any case. The council of Patriarchs recommends that the Holy Father grant the Patriarch of Monral the power to move his See at his own discretion, for the good of the Eastern American Catholic Church. His Beatitude, the Patriarch of Monral, Justene Pious II, feels quiet strongly about this, as does the Charismatic Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, Thomas The Believer, along with the South American Patriarchs. His Beatitude, the Patriarch of Lona, Ignatius Augustini IV, disagrees strongly. His concerns where not deemed important enough to mention to the Holy Father. Patriarch Ignatius disagrees and will be sending a letter along with this report to his Holiness on the matter…

Excerpt from “Letter to the Holy Father from the Patriarch of Lona Ignatius Augustini IV.

… You have been told that Mariek Julee is a danger to the Catholic Church. I strongly advise you pay a visit to Monral to confirm those impressions. I Have visited His Beatitude in Monral, and have meet the afore mentioned princess. I maintain that the greatest danger the Heiress holds is to herself…

We can clearly see now that the religious authorities, specifically the three catholic patriarchies of North America, are greatly worried by Mariek Antreen. Obviously they fear for their own position in society. We can assume that the religious leaders of the Catholic cult where preparing for the eventual termination of Mariek Katreen. Some praise must be given to Ignatius Augustini, or as he would be known in the Clans, Agnatahus OfAkusthan; he seems to have more sense about these things then the Patriarch of Monral, Justene Pious. However, that is probably because Ignatius Augustini did not have the pleasure of actually having to deal with Mariek Antreen on a regular basis.

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[1] In this case, Patriarchy refers to an ancient Christian administrative division, going back to the very beginnings of that superstition.

History of the Monralai Empire: 3457-3768 Hist 455 - 001

Prof. Lecunda Shuel

Oct 2- Oct 8 5769 CE:

Primary Documents

The mystery of Mariek Antreen’s death thickens as we examine the next two letters I have provided. Stevens himself seems to enjoy the company of the Queen Mother, Mariek Julee Katreen Da Kubek a little too much. Makes one wonder, doesn’t it. Then again, Stevens seems just tickled orange just to be in Ottawa. Notice how the letter makes note of Marg. This is the amazing things about these letters, two men, not only writing about the same circumstances, but about each other too. Truly amazing. Also notice, the use of the term ‘Cunning’ to describe various hucksters. Unlike our own country of Lanersheal, who drove out the so called Wickleird Nobility during the Secular Revolution, which occurred 150 years after these letters, the Empire and Clans remained lost in their superstitions. Indeed, Priests and Witches where maintained in the Clans up until the Destruction of the Clans.

Dear Wallace,

I am very pleased to hear you and yours are doing so well. Give my love to your family. And tell your wife that I very much enjoyed her biscuits she sent along. As for Mr. Allen’s problem, I suggest you look into Kelsers Ointment, apply it to the rash gently and it should clear up.

All is well here. I often take walks with the Queen Mother in the Gardens around the city. She is pleasant, sweet and a joy to be around. We talk on all things under the sun. I pity the poor woman; it is obvious she is neglected by her husband. I know I should not say such things, but I trust you enough not to report me to the authorities. One should not speak of the Emperor in such terms. However, it is God Jesus’ own truth, that woman is alone.

Certainly her step-daughter is no help. The Princess will hardly even say a word sidewise to her step-mother. But that doesn’t keep the young girl from going about town, saying what she may to whom she will. Her Highness his the newest social gem of the city. Theirs is hardly a party where she isn’t found expounding her views on all sorts of things.

No, do not mean me to say I think badly of her Imperial Highness. She is young and spirited, and youth leads to callousness, like the moon leads to the tide. But she cannot be blamed for this; she too has lived a lonely life, and to her, the Queen is just an interloper, a replacement for her dead mother. She is actually rather friendly to me; I actually thought, dear Wallace, that I would be the but of her jokes with her entourage, me being a small fellow who has never been burden by too beautiful a face. But she actually gives me kind words when she sees me.

I went out to cards with Craigson, and God Jesus, what a night. The Ambassador of the Clans and the Prime Minister, no less, where at this event. Who would have thought that paper we wrought would have carried me to the card table of such important men. We played Run Wild for a while, and his Excellency thought us a game he called ‘hawk’, which reminds me of Thieves’ Gambit. The Ambassador seems a little rude, he refers to men by the first name, even myself. And he gave me strange looks when I called him ‘Mr. OfAkusthan’, and asked me not to. When I asked why, he said his name wasn’t ‘OfAkusthan’, that his name was ‘Marg’ and that ‘OfAkusthan’ was the name of his clan. I said that in the East men where proud to be called by the names of their families[1], but he refused to hear of it. When prodded for details of the Clan Enclave just outside of the city market, he said that the local Catholic Priest and a Cunning Woman where fighting, causing much disturbances amongst the merchants of one clan which was noted for being very religious, and another, which was noted for being very devoted to the Cunning folk.

He may be rude, but at least he interesting.

Sincerely,

Roland Stevens

Marg seems to be quite offended with Stevens, although he does not mention Stevens by name. Notice how he complains loudly about misuse of his name. Notice too, the beginnings of the Enclave Riots. Violent Riots would sweep through the Clan Enclave as the members of Clan Akusthan and Clan Arthamas began to brawl. It would lead to serious restrictions placed on the Enclave, encouraged by Mariek Antreen, giving the Akusthan Merchants a powerful reason to want her dead.

To Valak OfArthamas, Head of the Council of Outlander Affairs, From Marg OfAkusthan, Ambassador to the Monralai Empire: Greetings.

There was a large conflict between Father Jon OfAkusthan and the witch Kera OfArthamas. The merchants are becoming agitated. Father Jon believes Kera is attempting to raise evil spirits in the Enclave. Kera claims Father Jon is conspiring with the East to wipe out the Arthamas[2]. Its all a bunch of rot, but Kera was selling poisons again, so she’s on shaky ground. [I ask you to] Send another priestess in Kera’s place, use some of your pull. Your message said you would be sending a gift along with another representative from the External Council. I do not need assistance. I certainly don’t need replacement. You know this! Sesa has sent a letter along with this one, testifying to my constant diligence. I know that you would not have sent a replacement voluntarily, so please use Sesa’s letter to influence the other Members of the External Council, and talk to your contacts on the High Councils.

This country is insane. Half of them seem to not know how to behave in public. The other half is too stupid to use the correct name. I have spent many hours in the presence of the Queen. She seems accommodating, but the emperor shows no interest in her, so I can see no way to influence her. And something is not right about her; She seems sweet, but there’s a oiliness to her. She asks many odd questions. She mentioned some things about purchasing mercenaries on behalf of the Empire. I told her that generally the clans do not make it a habit of selling themselves off to external powers. But still, it could be nothing. She talks about a great many strange things. She is friendly, that helps make the days pass less excruciatingly. I await your letter eagerly.

Keep Well

Marg

It is obvious that Marg does not trust Mariek Julee Katreen. But then again, Marg is not an agreeable person. It will become clear though, that Mariek Julee Katreen is not as innocent as Stevens would hope.

The Shael Connection:

Lanershael at this time was not the beacon of world peace and secular society that it is today. Rather then being ruled over by the Democratic Shaelraed, it was ruled by a council of powerful Wickleirds, who manipulated the masses with superstition and religious mumbo jumbo. Now with the advent of high technology, we can see how foolish we where. But still, we must recognize that our ancestors, as silly as they where, had a incredible effect on the history of the region, and the Empire is no different. While other peoples might look down upon the Shael, we know better.

Scaelin Win, Ambassador to the Monralai Empires, Monral,

I send you many greetings to you and your family. My the Gods smile upon you.

I came, to the city, and spoke, to the emperor, in his golden palace, in his splendor. He said he would consider to send to Lanershael two Legions, to defend us from the horrors of our enemies. I told him that the arrows of the Hannoshun to the northwest and the swords of the Nerk to the southeast, sting us daily. He said he would talk to the Hannoshun’s Liason to the empire, to speak of these grievous acts committed against Lanershael.

Shael merchants grow happy and fat on coins of the empire. Many say they fear the coming of her Imperial Highness Mariek Antreen to the throne. The Emperor grows very old. Soon her time shall come. She hates all who live outside of the Empire. All to her are barbarians. She will no longer welcome the Merchants of Lanershael. I shall seek out the Princess in Ottawa, and find her, speak to her, convince her that she is wrong.

to Pander Main, Wicklierd of Lanershael, Shaelam

Questions From Students:

How is it possible that all technology was lost from Post-Destruction Civilization? Didn’t the American Empire write books? Wasn’t the famed ‘internet’ designed to survive world wide disasters? How could everything disappeared?

-Kaisela Thane

Interesting Question. The truth of the matter is that the American Empire and all of the other nations where defeated by their own technological prowess. During the Reigns of Emperor Clinton, Bush II, Smith, Clinton II, and Kennedy II technology had expanded to such a degree that every single technological device was not only connected to the ‘internet’ but needed to be connected to the ‘internet’ to function. In this environment, a virus developed, which historians believe may have been created through a damaged military grade Hunter-Seeker AI program, which aggressively attacked all systems connected to the ‘internet’. Although we are in many ways technologically superior to the American Empire, we still do not understand how some elements of the ‘internet’ function, nor have we equaled the American Empire in data management or Artificial Intelligence, so we cannot be sure as to what exactly happened. The Virus attacked vital military, infrastructure and medical facilities. Nuclear missile silos and nuclear plants self destructed. Disease Control Centers lost their safety protocols and released several deadly plagues on earth. Planes fell from the sky. Guns, cars, computers, toasters, all of them stopped working. Entire libraries of information, which had long been switched from paper to electronic storage, disappeared. Untold billions died because of radioactive poisoning and disease, and when the dust settled, nobody had the knowledge to rebuild the advance technology of the old era. Without their toys, many more people died of exposure. Much of that history has been lost to lore, but estimates seem to indicate that between 70-90% of the earths several billion people died. Now we are protected by multiple stand alone systems and bio-reactive firewalls, but during Pax Americana nobody could conceive that such destruction could have ever happened.

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[1] Stevens mistakes the term ‘clan’ for meaning ‘family’. In Marg’s culture, a clan is a family in the roughest sense of the word; many generations separate him and his clanmates from their ancestor, Augustine Of James Fraser.

[2] Members of Clan Arthamas. Note each clansmen carries a clan name; “OfAkusthan” shows membership in Clan Akusthan.

History of the Monralai Empire: 3457-3768 Hist 455 - 001

Prof. Lecunda Shuel

Primary Documents

Sept 24- Oct 1 5769 CE:

Today we have to interesting documents to discuss, part of a series of letters I collected. One Letter comes from the Estate of Dr. Eric Wallace, a 35^th century physician who was a close friend of Dr. Roland Stevens, physician to the Imperial Court in Ottawa. This letter is a part of forty or so pieces of correspondence, a testimony to the friendship between the two men.

My Dear Doctor Wallace

It warms my heart to hear from you again. How is your young wife? Recovering well I hope. How is the young infant? God Jesus make him strong sir, strong as a horse.

Well my work in the Imperial Court at Ottawa goes very fine indeed. I have had chance to meet with her Imperial Highness, and I must say there is no more spirited woman in all the Empire. Truly, her opinion at the young age of Eighteen does not end. All manner of things are within her grasp, and on even some things beyond, she seeks to give her dollars worth of know to. Oh my, and a capacious one she is. She speaks perfect Ontarion of course. One would never suspect she was born in Monral. Today she accepted her position as Regent of Ontario and gave a speech in Parliament. Pretty enough speech, but the Prime Minister unwisely solicited her opinion on the West; I will not lie to you friend. She gave it fully and without the slightest touch of modesty, within earshot of His Excellency the Ambassador sent by the Clans of the West. The Ambassador rolled his eyes greatly, and she saw this, causing her to curse him greatly and note that every word she said about the west was God Jesus’ own truth, and if one ignorant barbarian thinks otherwise, then perhaps it was the job of the Imperial government to educate him, even by force. Such a creature will soon be on the throne if her father’s health doesn’t improve. I should have great nightmares of the sort of trouble she could brew as Empress.

However, she is a pretty thing, and I have not been taxed greatly in her care. The worse aliment I have had to deal with as her physician is my own, namely a sore ear from a vicious tongue. Oh God Jesus, such a woman. I would not be surprised if she ate hot coals, for it seems like that’s her deposition. But she does not take to illness easily, from what I have heard from her last physician.

Her stepmother is another case entirely. While the girl is young and vicious, the woman is old and gentle. The exact opposite. Truly the kindest woman in the world, who has a kind word for every servant and even the barbaric Western ambassadors. But she often complains of aliments, she is easily scared by the words of illness and plague, and often comes to speak of ghostly aches in this muscle or sharp pains in another. Most are entirely imaginary, but some are real, so I am forced to be patient and listen to every word of it, least I miss the truth and allow her to slip into death’s hand. But as utterly annoying as it sounds, she is pleasant to be around. She often asks me about poisons (another imaginary fear of her) and there effects, and I calmly explain each of them.

It is boring right now the palace, with no men to play cards with. I know no one in the city, and none of the parliamentarians will pay me heed. However, Mr. Craigson said he would invite me to card game with the Prime Minister, of all people, next week, so that might change. Mayhaps they will be so impressed with this physician that they might recommend him to the Party Red. Can you imagine Wallace, me a Member of Parliament? I laugh at the very thought.

Send Anna and the little one my love. I greatly miss our little cardgames old friend. You should come up, and let me show you the city.

Your Dearest Friend

Rev. Dr. Roland Stevens, MP, B. Theo

The Second document is a communication between two Clan diplomats. Marg OfAkusthan is the ambassador mentioned in Wallace’s letter. Notice the difference in attitude between the two letters; Wallace tends to use more verbage then the Clan Ambassador. Notice as well the impression that the Westerner has on Eastern culture. Previous historians have glorified the empire, but here it can be clearly seen that the Empire was not nesseciarly a beacon of civilization to all people in North America.

To Valak OfArthamas, Head of the Council of Outlander Affairs, From Marg OfAkusthan, Ambassador to the Monralai Empire: Greetings.

I had the joy of meeting the Heir. She has no love for the clans. Dangerous days ahead, old friend. I have been speaking with Williams, trying to convince him to push his contacts in the Imperial Senate to get me a House in Monral, but he seems to like me here, which means we need to do something for him. I ask that you send back a response with a suitable gift to give to the people of the Western Kingdom.

No other fears here, it is a secure place. I talk to Sesa and the enclave seems to be in good health. Not a single red rose of illness in a single cheek. I tell the truth.

Now for more personal things. The food is rough to the tongue, the land is rough to the eye, the language is rough to the ear, the clothing is rough to the skin, and the smell… well rough is no word for the smell. Disgusting. Repulsive. Overwealming. I have heard some say that bathing too much can leave a kid open to illness; if its true, these people have taken the rule to the extreme. One would think them the most healthiest people in the world. They aren’t of course. And the Heir is rude. She mocked our clans and houses, and spoke with no honour in her tongue. If what the books say is true, it is a distant relation indeed.

Keep well.

These two documents are interesting because of there relationship with the Heir to the Imperial Throne, Mariek Antreen Da Monral. She is in fact, the princess of Wallace’s letter, and the heir of Marg’s. Unfortunately, the Empire would have to six more generations for a Antreen III, because Mariek Antreen was poisoned. The mystery of her death has haunted historians of this period; who killed the princess has never been revealed. Certainly she was not an easy person to get along with, and there seems to be a good chance she was assassinated by the Clans. While there was no danger of war between the Empire and the Clans, the separation between them being thousands of miles, the Empire was a valuable trade partner, and an ally against the aggressive Central Republic. However, there is no clear evidence indicating that it was a plot of the Clans. We should be aware that there where over a hundred Clans out west, most of them equipped with some kind of militia, and any one of those Clans could have authorized her death without the knowledge of the Council of the Clans.

Take note of the strange last sentence

“If what the books say is true, it is a distant relation indeed.”

Numerous books where destroyed during the Destruction of the Clans 200 years ago, so we don’t have any record of what these books would be, or what relation the Heir could have to anything. The discovery of these books, along with the fable Diary of Mariek Antreen, may shed light on the mystery.

Extra Reading: Politics in Ontario

Politics was a time honoured tradition in Ontario. With the exception of two major disastors (the Great Fall of Civilization and the Occupation) the Parliament in Ottawa traces its origins to the Modern Age. It was at the time, thousands of years old. But after the Occupation the Grand Parliament of Canada became a provincial assembly, subservient to the Senate and the Imperial Government in Monral. As we can see here, Parliament is reduced to debated the trivial and bizarre.

Excerpt from Hansard, Regarding a Bill to Restrict Secret Societies:

Minister of Defense: If I may, Mr. Speaker, the Regent is in grave danger of being attacked by sinister men hiding in the dark. The Honorable Member for Brockville has testified that he has been secretly approached not once, but several times by strange gentlemen claiming to be from various clubs, attempting to gain his support for their nefarious purposes. No doubt these organizations can be for no other purpose other then the down fall of civilized society; why else remain in the shadows… As reported by Lord James, at least six secret clubs are active within the city. Such groups can not be tolerated… This bill, Mr. Speaker, would restrict the gathering of clubs which had no opening stated their purposes to Government… In effect, assuring the liberty of the Imperial Crown, Government and all the people of this great nation.

The Honorable Member for Toran: … Mr. Speaker, does the Honorable Minister mean to imply that we ought restrict our liberties in order to chase down these so called sinister societies? I would dare say that Governments purposes be better spent in chasing down goblins and ghosts, and far more real threat…

At this point he Honorable Minister of Defense Raise a Point of Personal Privilege. Honorable Member for Toran scoffs and further insults the Minister. The Speaker disciplines the Member. The Member apologizes.

Later, Mr. John Craigson, Member for Toran, would be challenged to a dual by Minister Kennedy. Craigson would loose a finger and a piece of ear, but both men walked away with their lives and honor intact.