House Arratheen
"Though not numerous, they remain powerful in amongst the cloisters of their cathedrals and monasteries. In this age of men, they wish for the bygone time of gods and demons. I'd say they want the end of days, if it weren't for the joy they get from condemning us unholy shmucks." - oral account of an Arratheenian Abbot given by an unnamed craftsman from First Fold.
Arratheen's history is written in the monastaries and shrines that speckle Gwendor's rural regions, and the House's exclusion from high politics has not helped to change this isolation. Unlike the other houses, Arratheen has a founding date. There was a meeting of prominent faith-leaders of the Northern Folds in which the theological differences of the day were discussed. This meeting led to others, and eventually- through factionalism and liturgical pressure- one trio of preachers came to lead the conferences when they were held. They became known as the Arratheen: dervied the old Fold word meaning 'a close friend, joined in God', Arääth. This Council handled local affairs in a self-governing and autonomous fashion, and when Gwendor began to emerge further south, they assumed that such matters would remain there. However, this was not the case, and the Council was forced to come to an agreement with Girith and his clansmen: relative autonomy for the price of the title of Prince of the Folds- being given to a Gwendorian loyalist. This arrangement served the interests of both parties well: The Arratheen could ignore the court politics of Gwendor, and the chosen Prince could delegate the management of his domain.
This is until the reign of Gwain Broadbane, whose focus on the urban centres in central Gwendor left many outer regions of the Lordship- and their leaders- without guidance from the central government. Filling the void came the Council, whose place as a local authoirty was used to justify an increase in powers. During this same period, Casper I, the Prince of the Folds at the time, fell ill and died, leaving the princeship to his son, Casper II. Casper II was far less ammeniable than his father, and wanted to take advantage of Gwain's negligence to amass his own power. Naturally, this put Casper II and the Arratheen Council at odds, and there was much arguing as Casper began to stretch his political muscles in having the Council monitored and harrassed by his men. Not only this, but Casper cracked down on the religious rights of ordinary people who attended Arratheen institutions: bannings on public worship, the removal of many shrines and the beating of local faith-leaders amongst the most common. This continued for almost four years, until the Council called a meeting with Casper II, insisting that if the violence didn't stop, then there would be consequences. Casper famously remarked,
"Finally! One torments the children to see the father come running. Am I lucky enough to have my wish? To see your Father?"
This is in reference to the common concept of Nalroldü being the 'Father of Creation", and his followers being his children. It became clear to the Council that Casper had no intentions of letting up, and they made preparations for action. The foremost amongst the Council, Žižka Killenik, wrote to Gwain concerning Casper's madness, but each exchange took weeks to complete. In this time, as Gwain was making arrangements to remedy the situation, Casper burnt down the Arrak Sanctum: site of the first meeting of the Arratheen Council. He also slaughtered everyone he found there, with the exception of Žižka, who he blinded by gouging his eyes out with a sword. The anger that erupted after this event was catastrophic as Žižka tried in vain to calm the rioting. Eventually, after a week, Žižka gave in to the crowd's lust, and joined the ranks, conducting himself as if the battlefield were his church, and the mob his congregation.
Sadly, Gwain's letter requesting the maintaining of peace arrived too late to sooth feelings, and was met by newly maddened zealotry as Žižka led numerous actions against Casper's forces in both pitched battle, and guerilla skirmishes. Underpinning the anger were many factors: ethnic inequality, sectarian discrimination, and economic exploitation amongst them. The soldiers Casper fielded were Gwerrithian, hailing from further south, and had benefitted greatly from the confiscations that had marked the last few years. Not only this, but many weren't religous, and those who were brought the traditions of their homes by the river. These differences quickly became grounds for conflict as local businesses refused to serve non-believers, and soldiers used their powers to settle petty scores, realising there was little oversight for them.
All these grievances laid ample groundwork for what came after the burning of the Sanctum: an unbridled outpouring of rage and revenge. thousands were killed by burning or simple slaughter, and many more were thrown from their new homes and maimed by the crowds. It's these forces that drove the violence in the majority of the Folds, but the only leadership the crowds had was Žižka, who was keen to harness the anger in order to ensure Casper's removal from power. This is to say that though the Uprising was officially religiously motivated, it was more complicated in that religion represented such a pervasive cultural and economic force that 'religion' could actually be construed to mean anything from political identity to economic wellbeing. In this sense, the Uprising was more religiously driven, than motivated, as it was religous figures like Žižka who organised the aimless violence into an agended rebellion.
The conclusion to the Uprising came as Gwain begged for a resolution to the bloodshed. Casper II was promised station and riches further south, and Žižka was promised control of the Northern Folds. Gwain sent Casper II south to Gerreach, and Žižka was allowed to convene a new theocracy, and envoke the rites and authority of a new Arratheen Council. This was not without strife, as local issues remained unsolved heedless of the grand politics, and violence continued in the region for decades afterwards while Žižka's new regime tended to small-scale disputes.
Since the inception of this new order, its authority has done nothing but wane: first eroded by Žižka's much-mourned death, then by the fracturing of his disciples. The 'House Arratheen' of Žižka is no more: the contempory House Arratheen is but a shell of its authority, conviction and hard compassion. All that remains is a disparate collection of loosely alligned religious organisations and authoirties in the North, in conjunction with a very small number of zealots and sympathisers who defend the House's interests in the political institutions of modern Gwendor. The only notable exception are The Charcoal Watchers, an extremist, fundementalist group whose 'commitment' to Žižka's last creeds forced them south through rejection and persecution. Now, this group has rooted itself on the island of Pilgrim's Rest, and has since built a vast network of abbies, shrines and other structures.
"If you are you father's masterpiece, I will see your frame and canvas burnt above the flames of your arrogance." - Žižka Killenik, Blind Prophet, Herald of House Arratheen, addressing Casper II, Lord of the Folds.
The Arratheen are easily identifiable on account of their habit of painting their faces white, and darkening their eyes with charcoal dust. Such a practise was made common after Žižka's First Rising in which many rebels were burnt at the stake: their charred skeletons and left over bones providing the pigment. While at first concieved as an intimidation tactic, the ritualistic significance of the paint persisted till the present day, and now high ranking members of House Arratheen make it a tradition to adorn themselves in black and white paint for ceremonies to communicate the enduring rebellious spirit and zeleotry of their house. Not only this, but the paint to many signifies the eternal memory of Gwerrith's betrayal of Arratheen, showing those in power to be but skeletons at the hands of Gwerrith's negligence.
In light of the chequered past between Arratheen and Gwerrith, it's commonly assumed that they're enemies. However, in modern times, this is hardly the case as each House has made connections in the other's spheres of influence- cementing the interwoven new age. This web does not mean there isn't residual animosity, with many monasteries in the north of Gwendor under Arratheen control still refusing Gwerrithian travellers. As for Gwerrithian attitudes, there is little opportunity for cross over in high politics where attitudes could be shown, but there is a feeling amongst many of Gwerrith's elites that the Arratheen remain untrustworthy and deranged.
Type
Geopolitical, Great house
Government System
Theocracy
Subsidiary Organizations
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