Calbain Troubles

WRITING IN PROGRESS

The Fall of Calbion of 1730-1731 marked a pivotal moment in the history of the Calbain people, Aeronesia, and the Calbain overseas territories. The fall was characterized by a convergence of political upheaval, cultural tension, and societal disintegration. Triggered by the succession crisis following the death of Prince Arthur III and exacerbated by the controversial ascension of Deiniol to the princely throne, Calbion's collapse unfolded amidst a backdrop of intense opposition, nationalist fervour, and internal strife. As divisions deepened and allegiances fractured, the realm descended into chaos, with conservative factions seizing control in certain regions while others succumbed to anarchy and violence. The human toll exacted by Calbion's demise was profound, leaving untold suffering in its wake and laying bare the fragility of governance structures in the face of societal discord.

Background

Calbion was rocked by turmoil and uncertainty as news spread of the untimely demise of Prince Arthur III. With the passing of the beloved monarch, the principality found itself thrust into a state of mourning and apprehension. Whispers of succession loomed heavy in the air, casting a shadow over the once-stable realm.

Amidst the somber atmosphere that enveloped Calbion, the mantle of leadership fell upon an unexpected heir — Deiniol, a distant relative from Hurmu, who did not speak the Calbain language well, nor was considered a child of Calbion by the people there. As the newly crowned prince took his place upon the throne, murmurs of uncertainty rippled throughout the country, and questions lingered regarding the moral legitimacy of his claim to power. Much of the difficulty for Deiniol also lay in the media's outing of him as gay, which further strengthened the opposition against Deiniol in this rather homophobic country.

The ascension of Deiniol was thus met with a cacophony of dissent and opposition from segments of the Calbion populace. Protests erupted across the realm, with banners emblazoned with slogans denouncing the new prince and his rule. Across Calbion, voices clamoured for change, their grievances echoing through the hallowed halls of power.

As tensions reached a fever pitch, nationalist fervour swept through Calbion like wildfire, igniting the flames of resistance against external influence. Conservative factions rallied around the banner of cultural identity, fiercely protective of their traditions and heritage. The spectre of secession loomed large as regions sought to assert their autonomy and resist loyalty to the Prince, fearing the new Prince's leadership would lead to the erosion of their way of life.

Against the backdrop of escalating discord, allegiances within Calbion began to fracture along lines of loyalty and defiance. While it became evident that certain territories pledged their support to Prince Deiniol – such as Ynys y Calbain, Ura'Bos, the Brettish Isles, Sant Paula, and Blackstone, as well as the Calbain Church, for various reasons for themselves – the rest of the country withheld its allegiance, casting doubts upon the unity of the realm. The once-unified principality now stood on the precipice of fragmentation, its future hanging in the balance.

In regions such as Kilkelly, Aerys, Ingavia, Cybwlach, and mainland Andilaria, conservative factions seized upon the tumultuous climate to consolidate their hold on power. Draconian laws were enacted, dissent quashed, and opposition silenced as autocratic rulers tightened their grip on authority. The once-thriving communities of these strongholds now found themselves under the iron fist of oppressive rule, their freedoms curtailed in the name of preservation.

Despite the initial veneer of stability maintained by conservative strongholds, this soon descended into a state of chaos and despair. Internal power struggles and factional rivalries tore at the fabric of society, leaving communities fractured and vulnerable. As the central authority waned, criminal elements seized the opportunity to exploit the vacuum of power, plunging the realm into a protracted era of lawlessness and violence.

Faced with the specter of anarchy and societal collapse, Prince Deiniol embarked upon a desperate bid for survival, seeking refuge in his birth country of Hurmu. Diplomatic channels were opened between the Prince, with the support of the areas he had secured allegiance, and the Order of the Holy Lakes. Negotiations were initiated, as the beleaguered prince sought to secure the integration of the core of Calbion into the Hurmu realm, without which, he feared for a Calbain auto-genocide. Yet, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, the fate of Calbion hung precariously in the balance, its future teetering on the brink of oblivion.

Calbain Church

As the winds of political turmoil swept across the realm of Calbion, the once-unified Calbain Church found itself torn asunder by a profound theological schism, fracturing along lines of allegiance, doctrine, and tradition. At the heart of this division lay the question of the Church's stance towards Prince Deiniol, whose ascension to the throne ignited fervent debate and dissent within ecclesiastical circles.

Of the 23 masterdoms (akin to bishoprics) that dotted the landscape of Calbion, a majority in Ynys y Calbain rallied behind Grand Master Huw Macklemore in a show of support for Prince Deiniol, albeit tinged with prayers for his conversion to what was perceived as the "right way" according to traditional Calbain teachings. Yet, in regions such as Kilkelly, Aerys, Ynyshir, and Armoria, the faithful found themselves grappling with profound internal divisions that threatened to unravel the fabric of the Church itself. Here, bishops and clergy wrestled with the moral and theological implications of Deiniol's rule, with some voicing staunch opposition while others cautiously embraced the prince's leadership, albeit with reservations.

At the heart of the theological rationale behind the Church's support for Deiniol lay a complex interplay of tradition, morality, and political expediency. Synthesizing ancient Calbain polytheism with the tenets of Catologism, the Calbain Faith espoused a cosmology and theology steeped in Unitarian Polytheism, wherein the universe was believed to exist across eight planes of existence, each governed by its own deity. Central to this theological framework was the concept of the Death of Cato, the original god, whose demise gave birth to the eight gods of Calbain religion. Against this backdrop, the Church's endorsement of Deiniol's rule was framed within the context of divine providence and the unfolding of cosmic destiny, transcending the constraints of human understanding and moral judgment.

Amidst the turmoil of theological debate and ecclesiastical discord, a faction within the splintered bishoprics coalesced around the banner of localist-nationalist conservatism, forming what came to be known as the Independent Calbain Church. Embracing a narrative of cultural preservation and resistance to external influence, the Independent Calbain Church rejected what they perceived as the capitulation of the mainstream Calbain Church to the forces of change and modernity. Aligned with conservative factions in secular society, the Independent Calbain Church sought to assert its autonomy and fidelity to traditional Calbain values, even as it found itself on the fringes of ecclesiastical legitimacy.

The theological schism within the Calbain Church reflected deeper tensions surrounding interpretations of scripture, doctrine, and moral authority. While some bishops and clergy in the splintered bishoprics espoused a rigid adherence to traditional Calbain teachings, others grappled with the complexities of reconciling faith with the exigencies of political reality. Questions of moral compromise, divine providence, and the nature of governance loomed large, with each side invoking theological justifications to bolster their respective positions. Moreover, the revelation of Prince Deiniol's homosexuality added another layer of theological complexity, with some factions citing it as evidence of moral depravity while others argued for compassion and acceptance within the Church.

In the crucible of theological debate and ecclesiastical discord, the Calbain Church stood at a crossroads, its future uncertain and its unity fractured. As bishops and clergy grappled with the implications of Prince Deiniol's rule and the broader societal upheaval sweeping across Calbion, the Church found itself embroiled in a struggle for its soul, torn between the imperatives of tradition and the exigencies of the present. The theological schism that emerged laid bare the profound complexities of faith, governance, and identity in a realm teetering on the brink of collapse, leaving an indelible imprint on the religious consciousness of Calbain society.