In the beginning ...
Five thousand years ago, the Gateway was new and the High Guild of Magic was just a single chapter house in the Farshine Pass. This pass is along the border between the elves and dwarves. It was here that those elves and dwarves who had come to learn the magics the young goddess Boki had gifted them gathered. Though the Hrockentorm Empire had been destroyed, the other giants races were still a serious problem though far less organized and disciplined. Magic was spreading through the elves and dwarves but too slow to be a force great enough to stop the giantkin raids. They decided it best to include the shorter-lived races into their alliance against the giants which meant making more gates. Before they started, however, both elves and dwarves agreed, they needed a way to ensure these shorter-lived, and lesser witted, folks had a way to never forget the purpose of their alliance. After much debate, it was decided that an Obelisk of Peace be built in the main squares of all the settlements that would get a gate. The Conductors would not allow anyone who could not recite from the Obelisk to use a gate.
THE OBELISKS
Each Obelisk of Peace had three sides. One engraved in Elvish, one engraved in Dwarvish, and the third in the local language. If their was no local written language to put on the local side, it was left blank left blank until the High Guild helped them develope their own. These sides each had seven sections representing the seven laws of the alliance. It was the first law, written in the fourth section which was the middle of the obelisk and easiest to see that all needed to memorize. This law said, "Show Peace to all'.
In a time where peace was such a fleeting, precious thing, the first law in the middle most seen section of the obelisks was priceless to people. Many realms also found it convenient to apply the laws in regards to their own authority, not just to the Alliance, spreading the Obelisks to every major settlement in their domains. The realms who adopted the Obelisk laws as their own made their own councils as well, often adjusting the council of advisors most rulers had.
NOWADAYS
Five thousand years later, there are Obelisks of Peace spread throughout the world. They still stand as the High Guild's Laws of Alliance, and proof that the governing of the settlement it is built in is not only a part of that alliance but has sworn to abide by those laws. Most citizens consider the obelisks the laws of their lands. So much so that, with the loss of the Gateway, they cling to those laws even more now than they have for many generations, much to the frustration of some of the more war-minded rulers.
THE SEVEN LAWS
The First Law: Show Peace to all. (Center-most section)
The Second Law: When an ally is in need, the need must be met. (Below First Law)
The Third Law: Matters are settled with words, not war. (Above First Law)
The Fourth Law: All tariffs between allies shall be equal (Below Second Law)
The Fifth Law: When words between allies fail, allies must heed the Council's decree (Above Third Law)
The Sixth Law: All magi must be oathed to the High Guild as well as their order. (Below Fourth Law)
The Seventh Law: All Councils must decide for the good of all (Above Fifth Law)
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