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A History of the Order of the Kukshin& the Order of the Crimson Dancerby James Chokey |
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Introduction
Though currently based in Orbaal, these two orders are actually
of Thardic origin. This article traces the history of both orders from their
foundation tothe present, with an emphasis placed on events which took place
before the move to Orbaal. A briefer account of these orders' history can
befound in the general overviews of these two orders.
Thardic Origins (600-636 TR)
The Kukshin and the Crimson Dancer have their origins in the Thardic Interregnum (c. 590-625 TR). It was a time of anarchy, during which violence, brigandage, and crime reigned in the countryside and cities alike. The distinction between brigands, bandits, criminal gangs and legitimate armies all but ceased to exist.
Troubled by the social chaos, a group of women from Shiran decided to take their defense into their own hands. Arming themselves, they vowed that they would stand together to fight off any man who attempted to rape, rob, or otherwise harm them. To add fear to force, they vowed that any man who raised hand (or anything else) against them would be hunted down, captured, and subjected to the most painful and violent punishments. This band called itself the Sisters of Crimson.
There is evidence to suggest that the Sisters of Crimson were initially non-sectarian— or possibly even Laranian— in their religious leanings (cf. Larani's epithet, “The Terrible Lady in Flowing Crimson”). That seems to have changed in the 620s, however. With the creation of the Shiran Republic in 625 and the end of the anarchic Interregnum, many women choose to leave the Sisters and return to a life of 'normalcy'. Those who remained were overwhelmingly Agrikan in their religious leanings and had become attached to the martial life.
Things came to a head when the new Shiran government, seeking to curtail banditry and brigandage, endeavoured to put an end to all 'illegitimate military organizations', including the Sisters of Crimson. When asked to disband, the Sisters refused, and it looks as if there might be conflict between them and the new Shirani government.
Such conflict was prevented however, when the Sisters, noted that the the Republic's leaders considered religious fighting orders to be legitimate military organizations. They immediately proclaimed themselves to be a fighting order pledged to the service of Agrik and changed their name to The Crimson Dancer. And since fighting orders were expected to have a sponsoring clerical order, a few of the more oratorically-gifted Sisters proclaimed themselves to be Agrikan priestesses and founded the order of the Kukshin.
Under the guise of this newfound ecclesiastical structure, the warrioresses were able to avoid being disbanded by the government. It is worth noting, however, that this church affiliation was entirely self-proclaimed: the Hierarchy of Eternal Flame had not yet acknowledged either order. Rituals and theology, such as they existed, tended to be extremely rudimentary.
The Move to Rethem (636-645 TR)
Far to the west of Shiran, Arlun the Barbarian swept out of Peran and conquered Rethem in the early 630s and established a kingdom with himself as its head, Eager to supplant the Morgathian church, which had wielded power in southern Rethem for over fifty years, Arlun invited priests of other churches to establish themselves in his new kingdom. Impressed by the performance of his allies in the Roving Doom fighting order during the conquest of Rethem, he also accepted the service of a number of Agrikan fighting orders, promising them wealth and spoils if they would aid him in future campaigns.
Seizing the opportunity that beckoned, the Kukshin and Crimson Dancer sent representatives to Rethem to pledge their support to the king. Though a bit amused by the idea of female warriors, Arlun nonetheless perceived the competence of the women and, always eager for more troops, he accepted their fealty in 636 TR. He also permitted the Kukshin to erect a small temple in Golotha. Two years later, in 638 TR, both orders were formally accepted into the Hierarchy of the Eternal Flame.
Arlun's next campaigns were directed against Kanday and the Thardic League (i.e. an alliance between Shiran and Coranan). Because of the participation of Crimson Dancer troops in the latter, it and the Kukshin priestesses fell into extreme disfavor in Tharda. Sensing the high level of hostility in Shiran, its native city, the order abandoned it altogether in the early 640s and the remaining priestesses and Terahni came to Rethem.
Increasing Problems in Rethem 645-700 TR)
The Kukshin and Crimson Dancer showed loyalty to King Arlun and to his son Obras. Yet, neither order received grants of land from either monarch. Nor did they receive anything from King Nemiran when he parcelled out land in 681 TR to several other Agrikan orders. This was perceived as a grave slight by members of both orders. Many believed the kings were passing them over becaue they were 'just women'.
When Ezar's war broke out in 682 TR, the Kukshin and its Terahni supported the war. A good number of Crimson Dancer warriors were placed at the disposal of King Puril. To the outrage of both orders, however, Puril declined the offer of troops, insisting he was not going to trust "important military activities to a bunch of women trying to be men". His short-reigning son Kabe acted similarly, further exacerbating the growing tensions between the two orders and the Rethemi Crown.
King Chafin I, Kabe's successor, was a bit more open-minded. When he decided to attempt to assassinate Queen Ariel of Kanday in the hope of dispiriting the Kanday troops, he turned to the Crimson Dancer to do it. He also promised them lands and priveleges as recompense for the deed.
Unfortunately for both orders, however, the assassination was not a total success. While the assassin, Brenlyn of Shernath (the sister of the current Crimson Dancer Akarata), managed to kill Eriel, she was caught while escaping. Even worse, she confessed under torture that she had been acting on Chafin's orders. Outraged, the Kandayans launched a lightning offensive, seizing the Rethemi keeps of Dunir, Selvos and Menekod. Fearful that further hostilities would be even more devastating to Rethem, Chafin agreed to peace of Selvos in 697 TR.
At the war's end, Chafin refused to give any reward to Crimson Dancer, claiming that the assassination was 'botched' and that they were directly responsible for the war's loss. Other Agrikan orders— especially the Fuming Gate and Copper Hook— joined in the scapegoating. Some even contended that the fact that Brenlyn was caught and that she confessed was proof that women were unfit to be either priests or warriors in Agrik's service. Hostility towards the two orders— and towards women clergy and Terahni generally— grew quite strong within the Rethemi Agrikan church.
Exile in the Northlands (700-720 TR)
Sensing the growing sentiment against her order, the Kukshin Senesharil and Crimson Dancer Akarata decided to explore the possibilities of relocating in order to avoid the growing hostility towards them. Far better, it was concluded, to leave voluntarily than to be exiled. Still, On a trip to Orbaal to look into it as a possible location, one of the Kukshin envoys, the priestess Melkea of Akarne, seduced King Alegar I and convinced him to allow her order to establish a temple in Geldeheim.
Even more, she even persuaded the king to 'solve the problem' of clan Cysemet's dissident talk, by giving Quimen (the hold of clan Cysemet) to the Crimson Dancer. On spring of 701, consequently, Crimson Dancer troops, blessed by Kukshin priestesses, attacked Quimen, massacred the Jarin rulers, and took charge of the settlement for themselves. The sheer brutality of this attack sparked the Jarin Rebellion (in other parts of Orbaal, there was no revolt at Quimen itself), and earned both orders a fierce reputation in the northlands.
Since then, the order has been quite successful in attracting converts among women of Ivinian blood. A temple was built in Quimen shortly after it was seized, and another has been built just outside of Thursa, on Cape Krämen.
Since 710 TR, the order has been expanding into Ivinia itself. Two temples have been built in southern Ivae and a Markithra has been appointed to oversee them. Because of the distance between her and the Senesharil in Quimen, however, the Ivinian branch of the order is substantially independent and the Markithra has as much authority as many Akaratai.
Although they seem to doing well— even prospering— in the northlands, many of the older members of the Kukshin and Crimson Dancer (typically those of Thardic/Rethemi origin), dream of re-establishing the order in western Hârn one day. They are conducting negotiations with the rebellious Earl of Tormau to support him in the upcoming civil war between him and King Chafin III.
