12 – The Slave Revolt
Oraya Satrapy: This satrapy in the eastern Lunar Empire was founded by the demigoddess Hon-eel as a buffer state between the Lunar Heartlands and the Pentan horse barbarians. It is mainly grasslands, made lush from the fertile Arcos River. Maize grows abundantly here.
Frenzied Ground: Also called the Frantic Ground, this Lunar temple complex is dedicated to Hon-eel, but has shrines to the Seven Mothers and many other New Gods of the Lunar Way. It is a place of sacrificial blood sports, where groups of armed slaves are often forced to fight to the death to celebrate Hon-eel.
Within the temple to Hon-eel are shown shrines to Twilight and Nightlight, the children of Hon-eel and Yelm, as well as shrines to the Red Emperor, the Red Goddess, the Seven Mothers, and other New Gods.
Slave Revolt: Slaves are an important and significant source of inexpensive labor in the Lunar Heartlands, and particularly in the Oraya satrapy. Most of the slaves come from the Pentan horse barbarians or from captives taken in the wars in Dragon Pass. In the 42nd year of the Seventh Wane of the Red Goddess, Beat-Pot Aelwrin, a slave of Pentan origin, led a slave rebellion against the Lunar Empire. The rebel army defeated the local Lunar army, occupied much of Oraya satrapy, and plundered the Frenzied Ground, threatening the satrapal capital of Palbar. The revolt created a panic in the Lunar Heartlands.
Dowager Priestess-Mother: the high priestess of the Frenzied Ground was the dowager mother of Ochlo-molari, the satrap of Oraya. She was one of most powerful people in the satrapy and widely revered by the peasantry. It is said that the Satrap secretly rejoiced in his mother’s demise, and afterwards any restraint she may have placed upon his debaucheries were certainly gone.
This sets up the introduction of JarEel quite nicely!
In the temple, the 6 figurines seem likely to be the 6 previously-human of the Seven Mothers. And flanking the Goddess, I’m guessing are the Red Emperor (obscured), and the Great Sister. But I don’t know who the figurines on the pillars are supposed to represent. Any help?
More Lunar images! How long have I waited for this! ;-D very well dobe, I love all the small details.
I thought this was going to be about Jar-Eel, but Beat-Pot Aelwin will be even better. And the Razoress will surely make an appearance…
The art style really works wonderfully with this material. Love seeing the big sky of Oraya. Those are Hon-Eel’s twins. This is Hon-Eel’s place, which explains why half the columns out front are green.
The detail in the picture of the inside of the temple is staggering. All those figurines of deities…well, it is just fantastic. Well done.
I love the motives on the priestess’ dress. And also the colors ; the ancient Greek temples and statues were not white, but heavily decorated. 🙂
I’m curious about Beat-Pot’s helmet. It looks like a conventional helmet rather than a cooking pot. Has that character detail been changed?
Not at all, no. However his helmet does look more like a conventional helmet, because he took care to make it into such. I can guarantee you that if you strip off the ear pieces and the neck guard, what you’re left is just a beaten up old cooking pot, and I know that is the case because when I was drawing him, that’s the process in which his helmet evolved – we started with a bare cooking put, then added a few more bits of protection.
The rivets are a nice touch. Looks almost like it was once a pot *still*, which might explain the frenzy on the grounds. Copper?
Pretty sky and background!
Hi Kalin – could you tell us who the smaller temples in the top frame are dedicated to? The one on the left might be a Yanafal Tarnils? Thanks.