Nestled among the hills and forests of Alashar, in the duchy of Xeilias, within the kingdom of Alesia sits the idyllic settlement of Kaatane Vaala, more commonly know to the natives of Xeilias as “Cotton Vale”. Kaatane Vaala is locally renowned for both being home to a very large enclave of The Waerd, as well as their proficiency in all things related to local agriculture, particularly husbandry. The town maintains close ties to the port town of Yataana, on the western shore of Alashar, home to another enclave of The Waerd in exile. The Waerd of Kaatane Vaala have gained quite a reputation for their ability to reap and sow in this unfamiliar land, but most of the common folk are unaware of the depth to which that reputation extends…
Excerpt from the records of The Familiar of Kaatane Vaala
- 8 Angelan 805
You are now no longer a son, a brother, or a father. You are part of us. We are all servants of the Two-Fold Queen. We exist for Her service, together as one. The time has come for you find your place among The Set. For according to Her will this has already been determined.
Remember Her laws are the laws of the Balance.
Remember we are her Tifa, her servants.
Remember it is through Her alone that The Great Work is done, but not as a source of our own fulfillment, but as our duty to the Queen.
Remember well what brought us to this land, but remember we are not of the land.
The folks native to these lands, the common Neran and the diminutive Kypiq know this place we have chosen simply as “Cotton Vale”.
They see us as individuals.
They mistake us for exiles without purpose.
They see us only for what we do in the fields, the crops we sow or the livestock we raise.
They are oblivious to truth of the Two-Fold Queen and are thus blind to the truth of the harvest.
Kaatane Vaala, in our shared tongue is the true name of this land. “They who reap”, in our words. For as we are the reapers of this land, so do we harvest for the Two-Fold Queen.
You are trusted to carry out the will of the Two-Fold Queen in this new land of Alesia. We now share the truth of our collective with you, so that you may truly be one of us in the service of the Two-Fold Queen.
It is our duty to know all who pass through these gates.
It is our duty to know why they pass.
It is our duty to know the answer to the questions before they are asked.
It is our duty to know of the task, for without the blessing of the Two-Fold Queen, the request would not even fall upon our ears.
And in this duty, remember the truth of the harvest, and the truth of the Two-Fold Queen.
She is the keeper of balance. All who ask for the creation of life shall be prepared to balance that with the ending of life.
She is the giver and taker. All who are given much through Her will be asked to return those with equal service.
She is the hand of judgement. All who have been judged will receive Her justice through us, without question.
She is the granter of mercy. All who have been granted that mercy will find sanctuary among us.
He rises now with the understanding that your duty is not to the community of Kaatane Vaal, not to The Waerd, not to yourself.
He rises now with the knowledge that through the will of the Two-Fold Queen all things flow through us, as we shall flow through this land.
He rises now obedient as both the reaper and the sower of Her will, which always is and will always be.
He rises now as a member of The Set, instrument of The Familiar, through which the Will of our Queen will be done.
Speak now the words that have been put on your tongue, and all shall be done as it has been spoken.
Accompanying the entry is a strange coin, not of a common Alesia denomination. Inscribed and perfectly centered on its edges is the phrase, "They know She rises".
