NationStates Jolt Archive

Isriyan Geography

The ancient city of Isriya, which contains among its many ruined temples and cathedrals the remains of megalithic structures dating from the period of the earliest settlement of the Levant, is located quite mysteriously in a barren desert region which neither presently offers, nor has offered at any time since the city's construction, any precious natural resources which would logically make it an attractive building site. The one distinguishing geographic feature of the area, which it must be surmised is the reason for ancient Isriyan settlers' unusual choice, is a very large crater created by a meteorite of exceptional size. It has been postulated that, as with the Black Stone of the Kabah in Mecca, that either the remaining fragments of this meteorite or the crater itself held some religious significance to the ancient Isriyans which superceded all concerns regarding water sources, grazing land, or soil fertility. In the city's latter development this was confirmed when a magnificent cathedral was built at the epicenter of the crater.

Cathedral: http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/Isriya/Isriya4.jpg

The natural consequence of this prioritization was that the Isriyans relied almost entirely on trade agreements and accords with their neighbors regarding the construction of irrigation canals in order to provide themselves with an adequate food supply. However, the tenuous nature of these accords and the generally warlike nature of nearby civilizations generally made Isriya an easy victim for extortion and it was thus, throughout the Classical Period, either subject to foreign rule or teetering on the brink of annihilation through starvation. This situation was exacerbated by the hatred many held for the Isriyans based on their peculiar religious views ...

(OOC: To be continued)

OOC: Bump, and interlude with a very rough map of Isriya ...

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/Isriya/IsriyaMap.jpg

The Isriyan Church

The religion of the Isriyan people is phenomenally ancient; anthropologists estimate that it developed into what is essentially its present-day form near the time that the ancient Hebrews adopted monotheism (as early Judaism). This has been disputed, however, as Isriyan religion is basically dualistic and many scholars assert that it was influenced heavily by Zoroastrianism or even Christianity or Islam. It also exhibits some characteristics of Platonism, though when such may have been incorporated, if indeed they were derived from Plato's philosophy rather than independently concieved, is seemingly impossible to determine, except to say "some time during or after the life of Plato".

Though the Isriyans are dualistic in the sense that they believe in two deities, one "good" (referred to alternatively as God, Allah, Yaweh, Ahura Mazda, or simply The Light) and one "evil" (named Satan, Shaitan, Lucifer, Angra Mainyu, or The Shadow), they reject the idea that either one is superior either in power or worthiness of worship, and they do not regard either as creator or potential destroyer of the physical realm, which they hold to be eternal just as the deities themselves are.

The Isriyans also hold that each human being posesses an eternal soul, but do not believe that this can be corrupted or redeemed; it is essentially human and therefore flawed, according to the Isriyan doctrine, but flaws do not, in this view, require forgiveness from the "good" deity or orient one towards the "evil" deity. On death, the soul may leave the body and pass into the divine realm where all is distilled into its purest ideal form, time is meaningless, and individuality is lost; which side of the divine realm the soul passes into is largely irrelevant and it is believed that such allocation of souls is randomly determined or decided by a struggle between the two competing divine forces which has nothing to do with the soul's own qualities. At any rate, all Isriyans dread this fate and many of their rituals are dedicated to securing the soul to the body or at least to the earthly realm at the time of death. As one might imagine, then, preserving the body after death is of the utmost importance.

Interior of an Isriyan cathedral: http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/Isriya/Isriya13.jpg

OOC: More to come ...

OOC: Bump, and interlude with portrait of the Isriyan head of state, a young Prime Archon of the Synod.

Prime Archon Valerius: http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/Isriya/Cleric5.png

Incidentally, he is looking to open diplomatic relations with any nations that so desire, and is petitioning Dread Lady Nathicana for membership in The Vast, if she hears this :).

The Question of Isriyan Worship

With knowledge only of the unique theology outlined above, it would be difficult to ascertain why the Isriyans engage in any religious practices at all; they would seem to have nothing to worship, and indeed the religion has often been pejoratively referred to as "The Church of the Void" for this very reason. However, more details of this unusual faith have recently come to the world's attention, as the Isriyan government, the Synod, under the new leadership of young Archon Valerius, has adopted a policy of openness regarding his Church's more obscure beliefs and practices. According to the new information, the Isriyans believe in the existence of angels and demons and the story of The Fall (cf. Milton's Paradise Lost), in which a portion of the Angelic Host, under the leadership of Lucifer, rebelled against God and was cast into Hell, being defeated by loyal angels under the Archangel Michael.

The Isriyans, however, maintain that there was a third faction of angels who refused to take part in this celestial battle, regarding the fighting as futile due to God's apparent inability to destroy his nemesis (Satan, Lucifer, or whatever he may be named), and vice versa. This neutral host, the Isriyans hold, was comprised of the wisest of the angels, who best understood the workings of the divine realm and its relation to earth. Therefore, they were (and remain) the most worthy of the worship and respect of mortals, even above God and Satan themselves.

Neutral Angel: http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/Isriya/DarkAngel3.jpg

Of course, this made these angels hateful to both God and Satan, just as the Isriyans have been hateful to any who insist that every man and woman must choose a side in the eternal struggle between good and evil. The neutral angels were therefore cast out of Heaven but barred from Hell, and so occupy, the Isriyans say, a celestial realm between the two where there is no struggle at all, but where peace and wisdom have their home.

It is insisted by some Isriyans and has even been claimed by some of their enemies in the distant past that, while these fallen angels who are not demons avoid conflict whenever possible, the angelic allies of Isriya may be called into the plane of physical existence to defend their Isriyan supplicants.

Art depicting a fallen angel leading ensouled corpses of Isriyans to battle against the city's enemies: http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/Isriya/DarkAngel1.jpg

Of course, these tales are regarded as childish nonsense by most modern thinkers, but there have been times when Isriya repelled, even decimated and left madly ranting, invaders who should reasonably have swept the native defenders aside with little effort ...

OOC: Yet another shameless bump, and also an excuse to include my rather crudely-drawn cross-section of the Cathedral of the Fallen, the structure built at the precise center of the Isriyan crater:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/Isriya/CathedralPlan.jpg

Some of the labels should be self-explanatory, but The Pit is the seemingly bottomless well, its depth unable to be determined by any sounding line, created by the meteoric impact. The common altar and the above-ground portion of the Cathedral is used for special services open to all Isriyans, occurring at the equinoxes, the nights of the new and full moons, and solar and lunar eclipses, while the invocation altars are used in ceremonies involving only the nine Archons for purposes of communing with or invoking the physical presences of the Fallen Angels. The Black Stone is a fragment of the meteorite, carven into a perfect disc and inscribed with the sigil which appears on the Isriyan flag, though how the inscription was made and carving done remains a mystery as no attempt to mar the surface of the stone or damage it in any way has succeeded since its original discovery.

The Mausoleum is the largest portion of the structure, as all faithful Isriyans must be, by ancient decree of the Synod, interred within it, and their bodies perfectly preserved. It must therefore be constantly expanded outward, thus the rough edges.

Another view of the Cathedral from afar, during one of many periods when it had fallen into disrepair (though it was never abandoned): http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/Isriya/Isriya2.jpg

The Crater, the Black Stone, and the Abyss

It is important to note that, unlike Dante Alighieri, as he expressed in his Divine Comedy, the Isriyans do not believe that The Fall was a physical event that impacted the earth and created the inverted conical Hell, and do not associate their sacred crater and the "bottomless" pit at its center with this event in the same way. Regarding angels as non-physical entities, with the exception of the infrequent periods during which, by Isriyan doctrine, they deign by their own free will to manifest themselves in the physical plane, the Isriyans fully acknowledge that their crater was created by a meteorite in a scientifically-explainable event. However, they do indeed believe that the divine and physical realms are inextricably connected, and insist that the precise instant of the meteoric impact directly coincided with that of the fall of the rebel angels and of those that the Isriyans worship: Neutral angels in the cosmic struggle, fallen but not descended into Hell and changed to demons.

The Abyss beneath the Cathedral of the Fallen is thus not seen literally as a portal to the ethereal abode of the fallen angels, but as the point on earth that most completely coincides with that abode, and for this reason it holds great importance to the Isriyan faithful and is the location where all the Archons' rarest and most crucial rituals, either of communion with or summoning of thier angelic patrons, take place.

Another view of the Cathedral: http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/Isriya/Isriya7.jpg

Of course, as the creation of the crater heralded the fall of both rebel and neutral angels, the Abyss is estimated to be tied to the dark side of the divine realm--that is, to Hell--as much as the penumbral realm of the enlightened angels sacred to Isriyans. This is why the Black Stone holds its own especial importance, as the Church of Isriya teaches that it is an artifact of the enlightened angels alone, the earthly reflection of the celestial barrier between their dwelling place and the polarised realms of Light and Shadow. As such, any attempt to interact with the angels of Isriya without attracting the attentions of the corrupting demons or possibly those of the wrathful, faithful angels must involve the Black Stone. Fortunately for the Isriyans, all attempts by Isriya's enemies to move, destroy, or deface the Stone have met with failure.

The Nephilim

Among the Isriyans there is passed what might best be termed a legend or folk-tale, although it is generally believed in absolute sincerity, as best scholars of Isriya can ascertain, to be literally true, of nephilim. Depending on which Isriyan one asks, these are either lesser, animalistic angels of the cohort which remained neutral in the War in Heaven, or the offspring of sexual union between the enlightened Isriyan angels in their physical manifestations and the human inhabitants of Isriya, most likely the Archons or lesser clergy as the common folk tell it. Whatever the nephilim's origins are said to be, however, all Isriyans seem to concur that they are unintelligent, malformed, and feral, and are far more closely tied to the physical plane of existence than the worshipful angels; that is, they exist physically at all times, although they simultaneously maintain ethereal reflections in the divine realm. It is said that the higher orders of angels have command over them, but do not always exercise this authority and so the nephilim often run wild.

The Isriyans are generally not fearful of the nephilim but some wariness is evident when one hears them speak on the subject; they believe these creatures to be unpredictable and capricious and see it as best to avoid contact with them if at all possible.

Most Isriyans claim to have sighted or even interacted with a nephilim at least once, and the following sketches have been rendered from their descriptions of the nephilim's form:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/Isriya/Familiar4.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/Isriya/Familiar3.jpg

Some also say that the nephilim serve the clergy of the Church of the Fallen as familiars, though they have never been observed to accompany any clerics in public.

OOC: Sorry for posting yet another reply to my own thread, but I have to mention that this thread isn't meant to be a one-way lesson to you on my nation-state, and I would very much like anyone who is interested to ask questions (of our fictional treatise author or myself OOCly :)), start up diplomatic role-play, etc. Isriya is also looking for a region, so if you belong to one that think would fit this crazy nation, let me know.

The Hierarchy of Fallen Angels of Isriya

Principalities: These are the most powerful of the neutral angels and were instrumental in convincing the others to stand aside as the powers of Light and Shadow fought the War in Heaven. They rarely speak to the Archons of Isriya, though occasionally they impart their wisdom when their people are confronted with a particularly challenging obstacle. There are no records of any Principality manifesting itself physically. They are said to be three in number.

Archangels: The lieutenants of the Fallen, these angels are wise beyond reckoning regarding all earthly matters, but lack the understanding of the celestial realm which the Principalities possess. They are the most likely to answer any questions posed by the Archons, but will enter the physical plane only at the most dire need. They are said to be nine in number.

Angels: This choir is most closely tied to the earthly realm and its members are most like humans in both form and temperament; these angels seem to be eager to clothe themselves in flesh and will do so whenever the Archons of Isriya so impel them. However, they are not great sources of wisdom, being subject, at least to a greater degree than their superiors, to passions which may cloud their judgement. It is said that these angels begat the nephilim, and that they number twenty-seven altogether.

An angel of the lower order, Rhamiel: http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/Isriya/DarkAngel2.jpg

The Clerical Heirarchy of Isriya

The Prime Archon: One of the nine Archons, the Prime Archon, despite the implications of his or her title, does not outrank the others in legislative, executive, or judicial power, but is charged as Isriyan head of state and therefore is the final authority in the conduct of diplomatic relations with foreign powers. The holder of this office is chosen both by the strength of his or her affinity with the Fallen and by skill in rhetoric. The current Prime Archon is Valerius, the youngest cleric in history to attain the post at the age of 23.

Valerius (again): http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/Isriya/Cleric5.png

The Synod of Archons: The Synod is the sole governmental authority in Isriya, and the principle spiritual authority as well. Only Archons have the privelege of direct communion with the Fallen Angels via the rituals conducted at the Black Stone, and the Fallen will only manifest physically at the call of an Archon. The more Archons present, the more successful the requests for council or other forms of aid from the angels will be, in general.

Archon:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/Isriya/Cleric1.jpg

Initiates: The Initiates are full members of the Isriyan priesthood, and are imparted with all the knowledge of the states of the celestial and earthly planes held by their human and angelic superiors. Initiates may speak with angels summoned (bodily or in ethereal form) by the Archons, but lack the power to conduct the ritual summoning themselves. They minister to the day-to-day spiritual needs of lay Isriyans and also act as governors of the various districts of the city-state.

Neophytes: The Neophytes are considered to be clerics, but lack many of the powers and priveleges that the Initiates posess. They are generally apprenticed to a particular Initiate or are part of a class that is taught by a senior Initiate or even an Archon; the aim being to instruct them in all the Seven Liberal Arts, with a strong emphasis on theology. When a Neophyte is considered sufficiently educated, he or she will be tested by disputation, overseen by a superior cleric, and if successful will be raised to the Initiate status. The enlightened angelic host will have little contact with Neophytes but, due to the small power with which they are imbued in the first rites of induction into the clergy, have some control over the nephilim.

The Cosmological Map of Isriyanism

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/Isriya/CelestialMap.jpg

This map depicts entire cosmos, including both the physical universe and the celestial plane, as envisioned by the Isriyans. It is important to note, in attempting to interpret the map, that it is not intended to show spacial relations; only the light grey area at the center and, in part, the red line denoting the Abyss, represent physicality in any way, and the labelled physical realm is intended to denote the entire physical universe rather than the Earth alone. Though the map also seems to imply that the physical realm has a border of some sort, the Isriyans in actuality believe it to extend into infinity, and of course the ethereal planes "surrounding" it are not bound by physical space at all. Thus, the map does not mean to show that the Realm of Light is above the Earth or the Realm of Shadow below it.

They purpose of the illustration, rather, is to allow us to envision the interactions between the spheres indicated therein. That is, it means to instruct that the Penumbra, dwelling place of the Fallen Angels that did not descend into Hell, is connected to Light, Shadow, and Earth at once, which grants the Isriyan angels their especial knowledge and insight into the makeup of the entire cosmos. Angels dwelling in the Realm of Light and subject to its laws, in the Isriyan view, can never understand fully the nature of either the material plane or the Shadow, just as demons confined to the Shadow cannot conceptualize properly either physicality or Light.

The Abyss denoted by a red line is both the actual physical chasm beneath the Cathedral of the Fallen in Isriya and its immaterial reflection, and as can be seen in the map allows (relatively) easy access to the material universe from both the Penumbra and the Shadow, and vice versa. However, the Black Stone is believed to block off access to and from the Shadow while leaving open acess to and from the Penumbra. Thus, Isriya and the rest of the world are protected from demonic incursion but are able to converse with and, at times, interact physically with the Fallen.