The Skull of Arkon

A Caillish relic

This article was written for Summer Camp 2024. Therefore it is unpolished and lacking formatting and information. Feel free to comment with any questions or requests for clarification.
  The skull of the Caillish king, Arkon I, is kept in an alcove at The Pale Bones of Our Lady, the biggest church in the country, in Codura. Arkon claimed to have visions and dreams of the Mother from childhood; in adulthood he wrote the Caillish Text, a book that depicted her as much more vengeful than the common depictions of a gentle loving deity. He is the founder of the Caillish Orthodoxy, a much stricter denomination of the Faith, and is revered to this day as a great prophet.   The rest of his body is interred in the royal vault beneath the church, but his son and heir, Cisnir I, insisted that his skull be kept on display as a holy relic. It is unknown what Arkon himself would have thought of this. People come from across Caillah on pilgrimage to see the skull, though they are no longer allowed to touch it as they once were. The skull has a dent on one side from years of being rubbed by pilgrims, so it is now kept safely behind bars. This also helps prevent thievery.


Cover image: by Levi Meir Clancy

Comments

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Jul 19, 2024 13:04

How did the people and other faiths receive the Caillish Orthodoxy? And did arkon actively try and start the new faith?

Jul 19, 2024 13:19 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

He didn't really try to start the new faith, he was devout in his adherence to the Faith. The sect kind of grew after his death.   People who follow the Faith are not too pleased with the Caillish Orthodoxy. People from other places tend to lump the whole Faith together as a whole and don't care to learn about the nuances.   Thanks for the questions :)

Emy x
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Jul 19, 2024 22:19

What is the "The Pale Bones of Our Lady"? It's such a incredible phrase, that it intrigues me. Would also be such a good titel for a metal album!

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Jul 19, 2024 23:00 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

It's the name of the biggest church in the Caillish capital! :) I shall clarify that.   Thank you!

Emy x
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Jul 21, 2024 02:49 by E. Christopher Clark

I love the detail of the skull having a dent in it from all the pilgrims rubbing it.

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Jul 21, 2024 12:22 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

I was thinking about those places where there are dips in the floor where people have stood/knelt for hundreds of years. Thank you!

Emy x
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Jul 28, 2024 09:12

Why did people in your world rub the king's skull - superstition, peer pressure or a secret ritual?

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Jul 28, 2024 19:03 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

They thought a little bit of the Mother's blessing would rub off on them if they touched it. :) Thank you

Emy x
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Aug 10, 2024 11:14 by Han

> The skull has a dent on one side from years of being rubbed by pilgrims, so it is now kept safely behind bars.   hahaha, was there just one specific area they were allowed to touch?


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Aug 10, 2024 19:50 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

I feel like it just became a thing to touch that specific place. Kind of like that bronze statue of Juliet that has a really shiny boob, except less horny.

Emy x
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Aug 11, 2024 06:46 by Han

"I heard if you touch the side, you'll get dreams, too..."


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