Illarion

Illarion is the name of the religious order that the Priestesses belong to. Divara is the religion itself. Illarion enforces belief and are also the political rulers of Altierra.

Etymology

From iluminar (to illuminate, from Latin illuminare). Illarion could be seen as “those of the illumination,” i.e. bringers of sacred light. The suffix “ión” is a very common Spanish suffix from Latin -io / -ionis, forming abstract nouns (religión, oración, salvación).

Variants / everyday forms:

Respectful or Semi-formal

• Illaras – the most natural shortening, soft and easy on the tongue. “An Illara came to bless the harvest.”
• Illarinas – diminutive but still respectful, could be used for novices or younger priestesses.
• Illarianas – more poetic, used in songs or ceremony.

Neutral or Colloquial

• Larias – contraction of the middle syllable, what common folk might say in the market.
• Illan – smoother, easier form; feels natural in peasant speech.
• Irias – very pared down, almost nickname-like.

Reverential / Elevated

• Las Luminas – “The Luminous Ones”, poetic reverence that links back to illumination.
• Las Santas Illaras – “The Holy Illaras”, a formal title.
• Las Voces – “The Voices”, if the people think of them as speaking for Divara.

Disrespectful (used by dissenters or rebels)

• Illas – curt and dismissive.
• Las Lloras – play on llorar (to cry), mocking them as “the weepers”.
• Las Velas – literally “candles”, poking fun at their association with light and ritual.

For example, the formal chronicles always say Illarion, common folk say Illaras or Illanas, rebels or enemies spit Illas.

The Four Casta

The religious order consists of four casta or castes:

The Sacerdotisa or Priestesses

The Sacerdotisa are the rulers of Altierra. Ostensibly they are only rulers of Divara but, as everyone is a follower of the religion, this results in the Priestesses also ruling politically.

The Criada or Handmaidens

The Criada are the personal servants to the Priestesses. They are not officials of the religion although they follow it. They have a similar hierarchy based on colours.

The Guardia or Military

The Guardia are the military force used to protect the Cregan and its inhabitants, and to control the population outside. It is mainly army-based but there is a small navy.

The Bestia or Slaves

The Bestia are the lowest caste inside Illarion, performing physical work and attending on Handmaidens. Slaves have few rights and these are dependent on rank and their masters or mistresses if they belong to one.

The Ceremony of Purification

All members of the four casta must undergo the Ceremony of Purification before acceptance. For Sacerdotisa and Criada, this is a requirement of qualification. For Guardia and Bestia, it is strictly speaking only necessary before residing in a Cregan but, because they are likely to enter a Cregan at any time, it is nearly always performed on their initial admission.

The Guardia and Bestia (and the younger Sacerdotisa and Criada) undergo a simple, symbolic Ceremony, but the adult Sacerdotisa and Criada face the full version.

Institutions

There a three principle establishments In Illarion and sereval minor ones:

The Cregan

The Cregan is the principle establishment on each of the Triada, the place where the Alta Sacerdotisa live (and the Arcipresta Suprema), and where government decisions are made.

The Casa de Iniciación (Sacerdotisa training school)

There is only one training school for Priestesses, situated on Veridia at Prueban. All Priestesses spend six years there as Acólitas.

The Casa de Formación (Bestia training school)

There are two Bestia training schools, Alta not having enough of a population to warrant it. Bestia are generally born nearby and spend their childhood there until the age of fifteen.

Temples

For small islands, and in addition to the cregans on the Triada, are temples, acting rather like Christian churches. Unlike churches, however, there tends to be only one per town.

Punishments

As well as the normal judicial sanctions such as fines, corporal punishments and imprisonment, there are two that are specifically Illarion:

The Picota (Pillory)

A common punishment in Illarion is the use of the pillory, placed in a prominent place as a warning to others.

These are often made of two or more individual ones combined, raised on a stand. Unusually they are low, forcing the offender to stand, bent over at a painful ninety degrees. If the offender is sentenced to a long period, a support is often placed beneath their body (after a certain time) to prevent them collapsing and breaking the neck.

It can also be used as a method of execution where the victim is left there until they die of starvation, thirst, cold, etc. The body is then left hanging for some time. The person is usually placed naked in the pillory to increase the suffering and avoid wasting clothing.

A three-person picota

El Umbral

This is the system of execution in the cregans where a spectacle is required, or the victim is high ranking. It involves a horizontal pole placed over a long drop. If there is no suitable drop, a tower is built called La Torre del Abismo (The tower of the Abyss). Often there is an internal drop for private punishment, and an external one.

The official name is La Prueba del Aire (The Test of the Air), highlighting the exposure and the empty space below. The unofficial and more common name is El Umbral (The Threshold), suggesting the very edge between life and death.

The length of the sentence takes into account the strength of the victim, so women would have shorter sentences than men and is rarely too long which might result in the victim simply jumping immediately rather than attempt to hang. However, occasionally the sentence is abnormally long or short if the Priestess wishes the person to live or die regardless of the crime.

External version

Internal version