Skip to main content

The Lothriad

When he’d finished this declaration, the First Chair reached down into the empty throne beside him and slammed something. Craning my neck, I could just make out the black leather cover of a book, a volume perhaps a foot wide and a cubit tall, a little larger than one of my own folios. Standing, he lifted it above his head, showcasing the black star embossed upon the cover. I knew then that I was looking at a copy of the Lothriad itself.

I had never seen one printed. I’d read it as a boy, of course—every child of every great lord does, if only to understand the evils of it—but like so many of the texts I’d been given as part of my education on Delos, I’d only interacted with holos. Seeing it somehow in its proper place it struck me as an object of horror.

A black book.

The only book permitted in the Commonwealth.

A fitting emblem that, a fitting contradiction. They were a people who called slavery freedom, a nation that called narrative truth, a culture that glorified its People by destroying the very concept of personhood.

How could they be anything but a nation of book burners founded on a book?

Kingdoms of Death, Chapter 16: Vultures

Foundational Beliefs:

"The purpose of the Conclave is to dissolve the Conclave.”

“The Old monsters shall be swept away: Old Customs, Old Culture, Old Habits, Old Thoughts. Old Bodies. Old Natures too will be swept away.

How shall Old Thoughts be expunged? By eliminating Old Desires. How shall Old Desires be expunged? By eliminating Old Natures. How shall Old Natures be expunged? By eliminating Old Bodies.”

Kingdoms of Death, Chapter 16: Vultures

Known Quotations:

    — “That which is for the good of all men is good for each,”

    — “Each man must serve the good of the People in fullness of ability. Even the smallest contribution to the good of the People is a benefit to all.”

    — “Let each toil for the good of all.”

    — "Let there be bread, and board, and good order for all who toil.”

    — “There are neither kings nor masters in the Commonwealth.”

    — “The good of all is the good of each.”

    — “Who names others master or slave cannot know a man as comrade. Ask how equality may be practiced by one who knows it not.”

    — “A yearning for equality lies in the heart of all.”

    — “A man requests the Voice!” (Permission to speak freely) "On behalf of the Conclave..." (precedes whatever needs to be said after receiving approval to speak freely)

    — “A man who speaks without correct speech elevates individual will above the will of the People.”

    — “May all who excel in one avenue of life offer that excellence to the People. May each bend that excellence to the service of the People. May each offer a life entire.”

    — “Here is a People without masters, without gods, a People whose every action glorifies itself.”

    — “Let there be hard labor for the strong. Let there be deep learning for the wise. Let there be great trials for the just. Let the skill of each be turned in service to the good of all.”

    — “Let each be loyal to the Conclave. Let then the Conclave be loyal to the Book. This is order and justice.”

    — “An idle hand is ever turned against the People. Let no hand be idle. Each must serve each.”

    — “The only true pride is pride in the People.”

    — “Only correct speech serves the will of the People."

    — “Rugyeh" (means Others; used when discussing people groups not already identified by the Lothriad)

    — “The will of the Conclave is the will of the People. A good man is to the Conclave as a son is to a father. A father gives voice to a son.”

    — “I am a steward (sometimes handmaid) of the Lothriad.” (Recited when asked for one's name)

    — “Let there be provision for all the People. Let there be water and food and rest for all that labor.”

    — “The enemies of the People are everywhere."

    — “The enemies of the People will be brought low by unity and resolve."

No comments to display

Back to top