Retcon? a little
Evolution of Banism and Malkavians
The Mursaat clan in northern terrania first worshiped bane, the Mursaat success in war and battle with the other clans brought his worship to prominence. The other clans would pray for victory from Bane instead of their own War god, until only Bane and Ignatia were worshiped in the clans anymore. Around this time contact with the Citadel of Knowledge and Gamorrea was established, the citadel had a profound effect on the Clans with their guidance they helped found Malkavia. Their influence also affected the Malkavians views on Gods, Bane especially; he was not a savage bloodthirsty warrior anymore but a beacon of hope, a shield for the weak who wanted Justice and order to reign over the world.
The Gamorreans were warlike zealots who raided Malkavia and the Citadel alike in the name of their Goddess Goorah, so when the Citadel decided to trade bronze in exchange for horses, money and promises of peace, the Malkavians felt betrayed. For there was no mention of stopping raids on Malkavia and when asked if they could have bronze to help defend themselves from the raiders the citadel demanded money. To this day Banites hate New Eldists.
While the Lengels and Crystalists fought their wars another was waged in the north. The war of treachery was coming to a close, Malkavians were driven out by the zealots and rebel faction of Gamorrea, the war taught the Mursaat that unity of faith was powerful compared to the infighting of the clan system. Shortly after the Malkavians were pushed out of Gamorrea the clan system of Malkavia collapsed in brutal civil war allowing the Zealots of Gamorrea to sweep aside resistance to their invasion. Unity in the north was achieved.
Founding of Adar
Many Malkavians fled south to the citadel that agreed to ferry them to a new land in the east as long as they convert to New Eldism, many agreed wholeheartedly tired of war, most converters were false.
The Mursaat being the most numerous wasted no time in seizing control of the fledging city-state. They banned use of clan names, destroyed the historical records and began rewriting history telling of an empire they fled from, mighty heroes like the general Strataga, blaming the fall of the empire on New Eldists, heretics, the clan system and northern barbarians. The warriors of the Mursaat formed the Justiciars a religious order (and sole military or Adar) that served the Lord Paragon head of the Banite church. The Mursaat clan elders hoped to mirror the success of the Gamorreans creating their vision of an ideal society.
But within a few years the Justiciars had overthrown the church as head of the state and replaced it with a council of long serving Justiciar generals.
Forced Evolution
Along with the restructuring of society and rewriting of history, they remade the religion and with it the peoples image of Bane. Life became a test to see whether you were worthy of paradise, Bane no longer interfered in mans life but watched and judged. The story of creation become bleak, Bane leaving the first humans to wander a giant desert, those who died on their way to terrania were doomed for eternity to dwell within Braga Gor the river of the damned. Overtime obedience was the only way for the common man to reach paradise; Justiciars could also reach paradise by dieing in battle.
One man had a powerful effect on Adar, Arbiter Wulfnoth. His rampant paranoia and xenophobia infected all society, many Eldists were tortured until they confessed to being part of plot to destroy Adar, all Eldists were eventually killed, a witch-hunt continued for many years. Wulfnoth closed all borders and ordered the death of any outsiders who tried to set foot on Adari soil. Wulfnoth was hailed a hero along with all justiciars; people’s veneration began to transfer from Bane to the Justiciars. Bane was some unfeeling distant demanding deity, while the Justiciars were protectors and leaders with a plan to reach paradise; most Churches were empty during this time.
During Wulfnoth's reign philosopher discussed the meaning of Bane's words during creation about reshaping the world in your image and how to reach paradise. If one could reshape the world then surely we could make it into paradise? Is that what Bane had meant? The Justiciar's thought so. Paradise was a place with one people, one culture, one language and one religion. The wars of the world were merely a larger version the Malkavian clan wars, the only thing Malkavia had been missing was one religion, if they had had that then there would never have been a civil war.
Plans were drawn for the conquest of Zemora and the destruction of its language, religion and culture.
Zemoran Influence
The choice of commander for the invasion of Zemoran would have a surprising effect on society, his decisions on how to conduct the war were common sense treat the conquered chivalrously and they will not resist too strongly. Most wanted a war of genocide but he advocated victory first then putting their plans for destroying Zemoran culture into action, he won the command of the invasion through this position. His later actions of implementing home rule for the Zemorans were perhaps motivated by genuine opposition to majority Justiciar worldview but more probably fear of Divothiest intervention headed by a resurgent Sanx kingdom.
He even signed a defensive alliance with a Sanx diplomat.
The Veterans of the Zemoran War formed a powerful voting bloc in the council elections, many progressive laws were passed, multilingualism strongly encouraged and the renaming of country too Zamdar, the Veterans hoped to create a strong brotherhood between peoples. Many Adari were outraged but they still believed the Justiciars heroes.
Immigration
After the Citadel lifted the blockade on Zamdar contact with the Old-world was reopened, the council sent missions overseas to encourage oppressed and war weary to travel to Zamdar. As the immigrants arrived and none had heard of the mighty empire of Malkavia or the military genius Strataga it quickly became apparent that these were lies. The Justiciar council began buying up all historical accounts it could from merchants from Terrania, Museums and libraries became extremely popular but peoples faith in the Justiciars was shattered.
The history of Veritas in particular captured the interest of the Adari, its history seemed to mirror the history they had been taught, but with one major difference the people had ruled themselves.
As more and more people arrived they brought their own faiths, the most prominent of these was Orthodox Crystalism, a significant percentage of Crystalists joined the Justiciars and their influence compared to other new arrivals is huge because of this.
Modern Banism and the Justiciar order
All the contact with other peoples, their faiths and beliefs changed the Adari's own beliefs about Bane. They no longer believed him to be an unfeeling and aloof deity. But a caring god, who shielded his believers from harm, actively aided them in their struggles granting victory those who fought in his name. Their view of their own place in the world changed as well, instead of stuck in endless toil subservient to the Justiciars, they were destined to lead. Other faiths were to be tolerated and accepted, but they alone knew how to reach the paradise promised to all men in our earliest days.
They alone must rule so they can guide the others to paradise.
This new worldview happily coincided with the strangling death that struck hard the world over, while Zamdar was almost untouched.
The Justiciars on the other hand had forgotten one of the Orders motto's "We alone rule, because we alone risk our lives to defend our people" They had allowed both Zemora and Nontin to train a small defensive force, both had home rule, but Adar did not. They were no longer moving society forward, because if they moved anymore they would have to give up control of Adar, The veterans of the war with Zemora were long dead replaced with veterans from the Arcadian occupation, they were harsh and spiteful like the people they had fought against. Instead of encouraging brotherhood with the conquered, they encouraged resentment
Information would be appreciated.
