news
Event

The Commandments of Jena

It was a warm Autumn afternoon when the message went out to all the Homins of Atys.

All Homins dedicated to the Goddess Jena were to make haste to Matia and the capital city of Yrkanis.


Just after sunset, with all of the stars shining in their splendor throughout the fair unclouded skies of Atys, the multitude gathered at the stage where they sat in a reverent circle, waiting patiently for this auspicious event.

Whispers flew around the gathered throng, that Miana Sinia the leader of the Guild of Karavia was to announce that she was about to break the royal seal on the commandments of Jena by royal order of Yrkanis himself! Also there was to be a discloser of some hitherto unknown obscure Matis history, as well as a revelation concerning the Guild of Karavia as the personal guard and protectors of the Matis King.

An expectant hush fell over the crowd as they watched her stride in. Miana was a strikingly tall Matis female in green heavy Armour. She stepped out onto the stage as one accustomed to giving orders with an almost tangible aura of power and authority


Beginning to speak in a voice both soft but projecting, with such power that even the farthest away can hear every word clearly, she reminded the gathering of their recent past and thus, the following is a true record of Miana Sinia’s great words and the evil event that marred them.

Homin of the Karavan peoples, I am Miana Sinia, leader of The Guild of Karavia, protectors of Jena's law, of the history and of the freedom of all homin.
We, The Guild of Karavia, are also the personal guardians of the King of Matis, ten sworn paragons of Atysian virtue and strength, personally chosen by the King to defend him.

Today, I am here, to bring to you the word of Jena, her commandments and some of the truth of the glorious history of Matis.

Long ago, by the word of the scriptures, and preceding the first encounter between a homin and the Karavan an apparition of Jena appeared before Zachini of Matis.

Zachini who was later to unite the people and become the first true King of the Matisian lands.

From the apparition of the most holy Jena Zachini recieved the word of her law in the form of her commandments. Her words changed him, mind and soul, gave him discipline, purpose and blessing that was to guide him in his unification.

The great and holy city of Karavia came to stand on the very spot where Zachini received the word of Jena's law, rising as the people of Jena rose, rising in accord with the Karavan.

As time passed and the teachings of Jena grew they naturally came into conflict with those of the Kami, as the Kami wish to control and limit the homins of Atys.

So Jena, so the Karavan, wish to teach the homin to rise, to make use of all their gifts and to ascend to their rightful place.

Nearly forty years have passed since the Kami altars were banished from the Matisian townships with only a small outpost retained for diplomatic purposes in our greatest cities.

Nearly forty years since our guild was founded, named after the Holy City.

Nearly twenty years have passed since King Yasson was cruelly assasinated by unknown assailants, his younger brother, Jintovitch, succeeding him to the Matisian throne.

With the assasination and the upheaval Yrkanis took to the forest with his loyal followers, away from civilisation, thriving thanks to the teaching he had and the foot of Bravichi.

There, in the forests, hunted and pursued by those hostile to him, Yrkanis learned the lie of the land, the ways of the common people, even cutting his own meat!

He travelled disguised, hidden, persuading the common people with reason and royal charm to rally to his banner against the supplanter of the throne, stealing from the tithes of the royal soldiers and returning the money to the common people.

Still, the taxes were levied and Jintovitch raised his great army, leading it into the invasion and annexation of Jinto Waters, known to the Tryker as Lagoons of Loria.

Yrkanis, who had been hiding with his band of followers on the fringes of Zorai land rode out to stand at the side of the Tryker people, challenging Jinovitch directly with his presence.

In answer Jinovitch rode out to join his army, to face down the thorn in his side and take victory.

On his way to the front the usurper of the throne died, a terrible death, left to the tender mercies of kitin scouts by his soldiers. Soldiers who had lost their stomach for slaughter at the command of a false king.

Soldiers who had heard Yrkanis stood hip-to-shoulder with the valiant Tryker in defense of their land.

Just over ten years ago Yrkanis ascended to the royal throne, becoming king and there was much rejoicing to see the removal of the cruel Jinovitch.

In reward for his obligation to his people Yrkanis was given the holy Karavan medallion, first given to Zachini all those years ago. The capital was renamed in the honour of Yrkanis' coronation.

Jinto Waters were returned to the Tryker and since those glorious days past King Yrkanis' reign has been one of wisdom, built on a compact of loyalty between the commoners and the nobility and upon due reverence for the goddess Jena.

Trade and art have flourished and the values of Yasson and Lenardi Bravichi have spread.

Yrkanis has brought peace, reason and wealth, he has signed the Homin rights act and has striven always to rule lightly and carefully, mindful of the needs of the people.

Time and again there have been calls from the more militant members of the court for a tougher stance against the Kamis, time and again that path has been turned away from, but perhaps not forever.

Even the wisest, most gentle of men can abide in peace only so long.

The story of Yrkanis, the story of Matis, is the story of Jena, of homins triumphing over adversity and changing the world to their will, of making things right.

I now break the royal seal on the commandments of Jena and make them available to the people,

The Commandments of Jena...

I, Jena, am your Goddess, the Mother of Creation. You were made in my image. Love your Goddess as you love every fibre of yourself.

You shall adore no other Gods.

Teach your children my love as you would have me love you.

You shall honour my Disciples, they are the advocates of my Law, and are sent to watch over your welfare.

You shall not descend into the bowels of Atys lest the holy light leaves your heart, and the Dragon's darkness devours your soul.

As the leaf of a tree falls to the soil that gave it living force, so your soul shall be called to me when you die. Depending on the strength of your faith you will be born again in my blessing or you will rot in torment.

Spread word of my coming and my love will multiply in your heart.

Do not take the law into your own hands lest they be steeped in sin on the judgment day.

Seek to reach my Kingdom and I will meet you half way.

Once you have proved the purity of your faith, you may reach the joy of elevation and thus become a trusted Disciple.

These are the commandments of Jena, attend them well and live your life in her grace.


As Miana Sinia spoke these last words, an event occurred that would be forever be seared into the minds of those watching and of which songs and legends of the future would tell over and over again, to the awe and wonderment of the children of Atys.

The wickedly clever Fyros assassin, Byrithix, who had quietly hidden among the devout rose to his feet and charged Miana Sinia shouting the reviled infamous words. “DEATH TO ALL WORSHIPERS OF JENA”!! With blows from his accursed sword, he struck her down where she stood.

Leaping from the stage, Byrithix began to run toward the Matian Arena followed by the enraged followers of Jena and Miana Sinia. In a running battle toward the Arena, Byrithix taunted his pursuers as they attempted to catch up with him. Unbeknownst to them a large group of Kami supporters was also advancing on the arena and as they all arrived, a great battle developed between the two opposing factions.

Byrithix was finally killed and the Kami followers were driven away by the greater force of the followers of Jena. During the victory celebrations, joyous news reached their ears. Miana Sinia had been saved by the quick thinking of the few Homins left at the scene of the terrible assassination attempt. She was weakened but alive.

Before she slept however, she promised to reveal more concerning The Guild of Karavia and the personal guard and protectors of the Matis King, stating that they were to be ten in number, however, “I can say no more for now”, she said as her eyes closed and she fell into a deep slumber.


« Back