SUPER ALPHA

They say that in the darkest of storms, hope shines down, a guiding light that illuminates the way to the faithful. Maybe it's true, maybe it isn't. But, in the middle of a dark storm of destruction and hopelessness, five souls triumphed and made their home in a long forgotten city.

Many years ago, a fierce storm encompassed a small nomadic settlement. In this settlement, was a Family of seven. A loving mother, Ayla, a father, Timur, and five children, named Ibrahim, Abbas, Malik, Gezgen, and Asena.

But then came the Dust Storm, a fierce thing that swallowed the settlement. It destroyed all the Yurts and killed all but the Four Brothers and one sister, who suffered a head injury, and entered a deathly sleep, of which they could only pray to whatever Gods they could remember to save her. The Siblings miraculously found four camels and rode through the perilous, stormy desert.

They rode for seven days and seven nights, and the Dust Storm raged for the entire time. Visibility was low, their supplies were dwindling, Asena's injury seemed to only get worse, and the Brothers, one by one, were losing faith.

Finally, on the Eighth day, Abbas saw it. A Beam of sunlight, through the cloud layer, pointing in a direction. Hysterically, Abbas rode in the direction, and the Brothers followed. They found a large ruined settlement, riddled with fallen walls and broken statues, but with a large undercity of interconnect basements and tunnels. They Children of Timur took refuge in that undercity, just within the entrance of the vast former network, only waiting to be uncovered.

They set up torches, checked their supplies, and investigated the area. One wall, in particularly, seemed to be dripping water. Ibrahim had a taste of it, and it was the coolest, most refreshing water he had, and it plunged him into a Vision.

In his vision, he saw Eight Figures. One by one, they explained their names, Tumeken, Elidinis, Amascut, Icthlarin, Het, Crondis, Apmeken, and Scabaras, and their purposes. They explained that they were Gods, explained the beam of light as their doing, and gave Ibrahim a mission, now known as Ibrahim's Revelation: He was to build a Colony in the name of his father and the Desert Pantheon. They told him that they were to build this Colony out of the ruins of the former settlement they found, which was called Uzer. They said that the Water Wall was also a blessing from the Desert Pantheon, and that each of the Children should have a taste. Finally, they explained to Ibrahim that he should make sure that all of the World knew of the Desert Pantheon, and were united, despite their difference, under the just rule of the Pantheon.

Ibrahim accepted, and came out of him vision. Malik, the smartest, most inventive, and most observant of the brothers, had a taste of the water next, and Saw Scabaras, who explained to him the path of Science that lay before him, and would lead the Uzer Colony to greatness. Then, Abbas drank from the wall, and saw before him Het, Tumeken, and Scabaras, who showed him the code of Honor, Bravery, and Skill that he, the Chosen Military Idar, would lead. They also taught him to create explosive weapons, and he became the first Bombardier General, and would go on to teach a select few the ways taught to him. Gezgen was the next to drink from the wall, and saw a vision of Apmeken, Crondis, and Elidinis, who entrusted him with the ways of Skillful Diplomacy.

FInally, Abbas brought the group's sister, Asena, who still had not awoken. They poured accumulated water from the wall into her mouth. For a moment, nothing happened. But then, Asena woke up, and claimed to have seen a vision from all the gods, and to have been given a Doctrine from Tumeken, which would later become known as the Doctrine of Tumeken. They went on to tell her that her duty was to be the Lips of the Gods: Speaking the Words they say to her. She says that more Nomads with similar stories would come, each with a Doctrine given of their own, to add to their religion.

Over time, Travellers came. From Al-Kharid, Nardah, Ullek, Menaphos, Pollnivneach. All across the land. Uzer had blossomed back into a settlement that it once had been, many thousands of years previous.

The House of Timur and the Fallen City of Uzer had indeed, once again, risen from the Ashes, to confront a storm of war that they could find their way through, only with hope and their faith in the Pantheon.

Eventually, the House of Timur would triumph over the storm, and Tumeken's Mission laid out to Abbas, Ibrahim, Malik, Gezgen, and Asena would finally be accomplished.

When the Kingdom of Gielinor was established, traditional borders evaporated; people laid down their arms and allowed their cultures to spread and mix naturally. The mingling of the Kandarinian and Fremmenik cultures created a small country just north of Seers' Village and south of Rellekka, where children were given Fremmenik names but raised mostly as Kandarinians.

Gregor Reinhardt came from this country twenty four years before the World Guardian's death. [Aaaaand the rest, which I can only write after checking some things with GW5's lore!]

The Empire is an imperial oligarchy formed by individuals selected according to competence and experience. Reinhardt acts as the Emperor and leads a group of seven Provosts - collectively called the Council of Provosts - each of whom has a specific set of imperial duties and is deemed worthy of becoming Emperor should Reinhardt fall.

The Grand Provost is the one directly chosen by the Emperor to succeed him. Should he prove incapable of handling the prestige and power associated with the Emperor title, the Council may vote one of their own to the position; a majority vote determines the Provost to be chosen. Any Provosts who are promoted or killed in office are replaced by a candidate chosen by the Emperor.

When it comes to the hierarchy of authority, the Provosts propose laws and regulations that relate to their sphere of management; for instance, the Provost of Land and Agriculture will propose a tax break for farmers. The proposal is closely examined and amended by the Council and then shown to the Emperor for final judgment. Provosts only discuss their decisions with the Council when more than their sphere of management is affected by them. However, the Emperor is always notified of what each Provost does and can overturn decisions if necessary.

The tenets of Saradomin are clear. Strive to live in a world of order, peace, and pleasantry, and do not raise your sword except in defense of these ideals. The Engellian Empire takes this a bit further: Citizens are expected to contribute to the greater good and will receive protection, benefits, and freedoms (so long as they abide by the laws). Those who don't contribute will not receive anything from the Empire, though they may still find charity from the local churches of Saradomin dedicated to spreading goodwill. The Empire makes no attempt to stop this charity; in fact, it's encouraged, so long as enough citizens are contributing to the greater good.