The Dalsham
The Eshanic Mandate is the name for the laws set down by the Eshan at the conclusion of the First Feud- composed largely by Aebaster and his victorious allies and only slightly modified by Acolitus and his defeated faction. It regulated the direct interactions between Eshan and olundi, such that those consummated in the Mandate were unable to physically interact with olundi- killing, intermarrying, etc. and they were compelled to choose between dwelling in Esha or in Vussalas. Once decided Eshan were no longer allowed to pass between those realms. The list of limitations continues, but this is the essence of the matter.
Enforcing these new laws became the immediate next question- for it was proven during the First Feud that mere words and promises were insufficient to bind the Eshan. Acolitus knew this better than any other, having been himself betrayed against spoken promises by Atun. He insisted that the Eshan must invest their own ever-growing power into the Mandate, such that violating the terms would be a matter of life and death rather than current opportunity. Indeed, Acolitus threatened to continue the war toward mutual annihilation if this demand was not met. Aebaster conferred with his allies and they reluctantly agreed. Nothing would survive if the war were to continue- something gained then or everything lost! It was after this that the Eshan in agreement with the Mandate joined their Esseythu together in Kasteries, the Land Within the Mind, and this exposed their most vulnerable self to harm and Eshanic ruin if the Mandates were violated. This would manifest as a depletion of Eshanic power through the Esseythu, essentially opening a wound that could not be left unhealed, and thus draw power to severely weaken the subject. Acolitus appointed a trusted Eshan, Idorun, to oversee the physical manifestation of this agreement- Misladur, wherein that Eshanic power lost according to the Mandates would pass into Eshan and join with Qalesham, thus be lost to all relevant parties. These conversations are recorded elsewhere in this work.
Last among the great issues at hand was the physical division of the world. It had been seen as one domain since the earliest days of creation, yet the Eshan were covetous of its land. The victorious Alor’eshan, spurred by Atun, desired to take half of it for themselves as spoils for their victory and otherwise a token of appreciation for the liberation won against Acolitus. The Ebal’eshan pushed back with a general fury against this theft, for even the allies of Aebaster of lesser birth were denied a part of this new half. A great many among them refused to consummate themselves in the Mandate in protest, thus creating the largest generation of Nith’eshan whom Acolitus hates the most. Yet, the one who bears power dictates the law. The Alor’eshan claimed their half, named it Qadal, and resisted all newcomers. The Ebal’eshan were left with the remainder- too small a domain for the many hundred residents and their olundi races. Maintaining the boundaries was an immediate difficulty, for movement was hitherto no trouble for the Eshan.
Open water separated the two worlds- no physical barriers could be easily erected, not without impossible effort from olundi or the expense of too much Eshanic power. Moreover, a physical barrier, were it even possible to create, is by nature immovable and without justice. The tempers of the Eshan could change one future day and they might choose to reunite these worlds. Acolitus considered these options and desired for a solution that was moveable and capable of altering itself according to command and good wisdom. The answer might appear obvious- place some Eshan or dynasty of Eshan on guard between the two worlds under the command of Acolitus. This would satisfy all the criteria presented. Yet, Acolitus was wary of such a solution, for the First Feud had shown both the capability for violence among the Eshan and their duplicitous nature- a servant might be loyal today but an enemy tomorrow if so convinced. He required a solution that was moveable, capable of administering justice, and not too closely invested in the Eshanic politics between worlds. This was a more difficult issue.
For this, he created an Eshanic mechanism that he would later replicate with the Naarstor of the Vestanir and Aemar- creating a middling domain half in Esha, half in Kasteries in which the Esseythu of chosen dead might dwell forever, make judgements, and use their collective Eshanic power to affect change in the world. No olundi were included in this work. Only those Eshan who volunteered for the purpose, seeing it better than any of the alternatives written about elsewhere, were even considered. Acolitus then took the final judgement into his own hands- who would be loyal and serve well and who would not? Moreover, he required sufficient participants to grow the power of the Dalsham, as its potency would be based off of the collective Esseythu of its composite members.
Enforcing these new laws became the immediate next question- for it was proven during the First Feud that mere words and promises were insufficient to bind the Eshan. Acolitus knew this better than any other, having been himself betrayed against spoken promises by Atun. He insisted that the Eshan must invest their own ever-growing power into the Mandate, such that violating the terms would be a matter of life and death rather than current opportunity. Indeed, Acolitus threatened to continue the war toward mutual annihilation if this demand was not met. Aebaster conferred with his allies and they reluctantly agreed. Nothing would survive if the war were to continue- something gained then or everything lost! It was after this that the Eshan in agreement with the Mandate joined their Esseythu together in Kasteries, the Land Within the Mind, and this exposed their most vulnerable self to harm and Eshanic ruin if the Mandates were violated. This would manifest as a depletion of Eshanic power through the Esseythu, essentially opening a wound that could not be left unhealed, and thus draw power to severely weaken the subject. Acolitus appointed a trusted Eshan, Idorun, to oversee the physical manifestation of this agreement- Misladur, wherein that Eshanic power lost according to the Mandates would pass into Eshan and join with Qalesham, thus be lost to all relevant parties. These conversations are recorded elsewhere in this work.
Last among the great issues at hand was the physical division of the world. It had been seen as one domain since the earliest days of creation, yet the Eshan were covetous of its land. The victorious Alor’eshan, spurred by Atun, desired to take half of it for themselves as spoils for their victory and otherwise a token of appreciation for the liberation won against Acolitus. The Ebal’eshan pushed back with a general fury against this theft, for even the allies of Aebaster of lesser birth were denied a part of this new half. A great many among them refused to consummate themselves in the Mandate in protest, thus creating the largest generation of Nith’eshan whom Acolitus hates the most. Yet, the one who bears power dictates the law. The Alor’eshan claimed their half, named it Qadal, and resisted all newcomers. The Ebal’eshan were left with the remainder- too small a domain for the many hundred residents and their olundi races. Maintaining the boundaries was an immediate difficulty, for movement was hitherto no trouble for the Eshan.
Open water separated the two worlds- no physical barriers could be easily erected, not without impossible effort from olundi or the expense of too much Eshanic power. Moreover, a physical barrier, were it even possible to create, is by nature immovable and without justice. The tempers of the Eshan could change one future day and they might choose to reunite these worlds. Acolitus considered these options and desired for a solution that was moveable and capable of altering itself according to command and good wisdom. The answer might appear obvious- place some Eshan or dynasty of Eshan on guard between the two worlds under the command of Acolitus. This would satisfy all the criteria presented. Yet, Acolitus was wary of such a solution, for the First Feud had shown both the capability for violence among the Eshan and their duplicitous nature- a servant might be loyal today but an enemy tomorrow if so convinced. He required a solution that was moveable, capable of administering justice, and not too closely invested in the Eshanic politics between worlds. This was a more difficult issue.
For this, he created an Eshanic mechanism that he would later replicate with the Naarstor of the Vestanir and Aemar- creating a middling domain half in Esha, half in Kasteries in which the Esseythu of chosen dead might dwell forever, make judgements, and use their collective Eshanic power to affect change in the world. No olundi were included in this work. Only those Eshan who volunteered for the purpose, seeing it better than any of the alternatives written about elsewhere, were even considered. Acolitus then took the final judgement into his own hands- who would be loyal and serve well and who would not? Moreover, he required sufficient participants to grow the power of the Dalsham, as its potency would be based off of the collective Esseythu of its composite members.
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