Khorl
From AkashicRecord
Contents |
[edit] About the City
[edit] Notable Sites
- The Verrik driven Akashic Guild of Khorl.
- The Circle of Rites
[edit] Notable characters
[edit] The Khorl Akashic Guild
The Khorl Akashic Guild counts 55 members, whereof 48 are Verrik. The leader of the guild is Master Tempora, also Verrik. The ceremonies are very much inspired by the Verrik perspective and way of life, and non-Verrik apprentices and non-indigenous Akashics are forewarned before entering apprenticeship or using the facilities. The Akashics have - on their own initiative - assumed responsibility for certain parts of Khorl's overall state, and are therefore taking an active lead in improving health among the sailors and in the brothels, improving quality of the mead, wine and food manufactured in Khorl, and inventing new vessels, fishing- and docking contraptions and ways to further secure the city against pirates and floods. Thus, the Akashics are fairly well-liked, although often perceived by artisans and sailors as good-fer-nottin' know-it-alls and wise-cracks: As Verriks often lack a solid sense of humour, the Akashics' omnipotence is never politely underplayed or shaken off with nonchalance.
The Khorl Akashic guild is a non typical building in the sense that it carries many verrik insignia, but was in fact built partly by humans. Only the large blue glass facades and some of the enterior walls were built by a purely verrik crew.
- Facade
- The building has a tall blue half transparent glass facade with several small openings across the facade. The center holds a larger opening suitable for giant-kin.
- Conversationary hallways
- These halls, marked with blue floor on the map, have glass like floor tiles, and normally visitors are met by a horde of Akashics discussing and pondering historic events walking up and down these halls.
[edit] The Khorl Akashic Uniform
The Akashics are easily recognisable in Khorl, as the Guild imposes the use of uniforms on all its members. The uniform resembles a dark red, long, sleeveless vest made from a very thick and durable type of cloth. The collar is short and stands upright. There is a rectangular piece of cloth attached to the shoulders on the back, that can be assembled into a make-shift cowl, normally only used during wet weather (which is the norm in Khorl). Verriks invented the Akashic Memory, and the uniform is red in tribute to this fact. The vest has long slits up the middle of the back and up both sides, so to ensure that the vest does not impede any type of movement. It is sleeveless as the broad sleeves normally associated with robes are severely unpractical. The Akashics are recommended to wear an explorer's or scholar's outfit underneath, subject to their speciality.
[edit] Rank and Status
The rank and status of a specific Akashic can be read from the vest as well. The vest can be closed by a number of buttons in the front, but will often have more button holes than buttons. This is not sloppiness. The button holes symbolise how far in the Akashic trade, the owner of the uniform expects to go. The number of buttons shows the actual rank attained. If a uniform is made with 5 button holes, the Akashic expects to gain 5th level rank in his or her lifetime. But an Akashic with 5 button holes and 5 buttons at the age of 25 is treated with much less respect than an 17 year old with 2 buttons and 12 holes. Ambition and recognition of own potential are personality traits necessary for the Akashic trade to evolve.
If rank is to be attained, the Akashic seeks out Master Tempora and asks for needle and thread. If Master Tempora recognises that rank has been attained, he hands over a golden needle and a roll of thick, red thread. The Akashic then places him or herself in the middle of a circular room, on a round cushion, and sows on another button, always the next one from the top. The Akashic often warns fellow Akashics of the ceremony, and thus, The Sowing is often witnessed by the Akashic's closest colleagues. This ceremony is, of course, as simple as possible, with no songs or special aesthetics - just the needle and thread.
[edit] Facilities
The Guild is proud to be able to comfortably accomodate 85 Akashics if needed, but can stretch to 110 for short periods of time. It is widely debated in Khorl (amongst those few who actually care) whether the Guild actually has a library or not. Master Tempora blankly denies it, but the vast knowledge and range of expertise in the Guild leaves the general public in doubt. Most Khorl citizens believe the Guild to house a library rivalling the Vekik library of De-Shamod. This is, of course, a dire misunderstanding. The Guild owns a very, very small collection of tomes. Tomes, which Master Tempora after a good 40 years still believe to hide secrets to be committed to the Akashic Memory.
[edit] New Akashic in Khorl
A non-Khorl Akashic will most often seek admittance to the Guild in order to be able to consult the faculty, participate in lectures or debates, or earn a bit of gold posing as an expert of some field. Master Tempora requires a personal conversation (an interview), where Master Tempora assesses the level of expertise of the Akashic in question. The last question is always "How many holes?" and the Akashic must answer how many button holes his or her uniform should have. The Akashic is not a member untill 3 days after when the uniform is handed over along with the first assignment. The payment for the first assignment pays for the uniform. Henceforth, the Guild requires a 10% fee for all assignments delegated by the Guild, though no more than 10 Queens.
