It is 50 L.K. Fifty years into the Shining Years, fifty years after the completion of the Du'al monument. The battle with the barbarians long ago is now an old wives tale. Stories have been embellished, exaggeration practiced, and overall the war has lost much of its significance. Still, the Hyolnians still remember that they won because of luck, and so they strive to avoid future conflict. It borders a paranoia level as they think of what could have happened, but that never makes for pleasant idling time, so they try not to think about it.
--
Varst Du'al stood in front of the people. He was an Ozrai of the Truth/Du'alism - it was about a fifty/fifty split on the name. It was purely cosmetic and the nine religious leaders felt that it wasn't important enough to quibble about - at least it kept the people unified.
"Hello," he began. A wonderful introduction. "I'm Varst Du'al, Ozrai of the Truth and part of the Council of Nine." The audience indulgently applauded politely. They already knew this.
"As you know, I am a descendant of Roland Du'al, the last author of the Book of Truth. He is a saint, a Liaaymguratudo!"
The people began to look uneasy and mumble among themselves. When was he going to say something they didn't already know?
"And so I call you here, on this 50th anniversary of the completion of the Du'al monument to call to attention something we have now just discovered! I do believe with all my heart that he is the Koraotikanliakut, the Chosen!"
The people audibly murmured. Varst took this opportunity to compose himself.
"You may be thinking, how can we tell?" He didn't wait for a response but nodded. Another Ozrai scurried up to him and handed him The Book.
"Watch, and be prepared...you may be asking, 'Why did it take so long? I have to answer, 'Because we had to verify!' Listen!"
He brought the skeptical audience under his spellbinding performance. He led them through the prophecies. It was tedious work, but he enthralled his people.
"He shall prophesy and write until he is old..."
"He shall send barbarians scurrying with his word..."
"Look, he has had one single son, who begot an only child, who begot an only child...and so shall continue until now! For the prophecies say, 'After his image is created, two score and ten years shall pass before a descendant bears a female, and she shall be so fair when she is born as to shame snowcapped mountains, for her beauty surpasses even that.'"
People could be heard whispering loudly.
"Could it be? The mountains seemed oddly devoid of snow this year..."
"This year was the hottest I've remembered in a long time..."
He took a breath. He had been talking for hours. But now was the good part. He nodded again. His wife scurried up with a bundle in her arms. It didn't take a genius to figure what the bundle was.
"I would like to present my daughter, Christina Du'al. She is the last link of the prophecy. Surely I am the chosen, as well as she! How can you deny it, with this proof! And so I would like to announce something.
"Starting today, we are building a Kinsman Keep. It shall be a massive fortress in Hyoln, my beloved home city. Included shall be libraries and study halls. There shall be enough room inside so that people may flock in and vend things if wished. A marketplace can and will take up much of the space. Living quarters as well shall be housed in there.
"As for the Council of Nine, well, do not fear! You may remain and rule. I hereby resign from my position as Council Member. I think I shall be far too busy with my religious duties..."
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Yes, my pathetic attempt to make my religion interesting and also to make Du'alism something unique.
