Zion - Light of the New Moon: The City of Zion
Zion - Light of the New Moon
World Information, Part 6
The Holy City of Zion
copyright 2011 comidacomida
Situated at heart of a vast spread of city ruins and sundered walls sits the holy city of Zion, once the capital of the Empire of the Moon Goddess and now a single shining beacon of hope for a blackened land. Unlike the other five city states, Zion did not suffer the horrors of the 200 year war, rather it remained a safe haven for any and all who were willing to set aside the dogma of the separated factions and accept the entirety of the Moon Goddess. Many left Zion in the early years to support their chosen aspect of Tah'aveen, only to return when they realized the horrors the war was inflicting. By the time the separatist movements were picking up speed, Zion became an isolated island of peace in a continent roiling with war.
Located at the junction between six great roads, Zion rises from the landscape like a gigantic sentinel, its pure white walls casting reflections of sunlight and moonlight for great distances whatever the hour. The largest towers within Zion reach for the sky at well over 200 feet in height and the walls, magically hardened and painstakingly upkempt have never, in its three millenium of existence been breached. The magnificent exterior of the city, however, is nothing compared to what a traveler might see once they earn entry.
The streets of Zion are cobbled in Moonshale, a rare stone of uniform grays that is unable to be worked without the aid of magic. The stone never chips, wears, or cracks, thus the streets remain as flawless as the day they were set down. Magic was also heavily utilized in crafting the metal street lamps that are spaced evenly throughout the city. While the metal is unremarkable (except for the enchantments that prevent rusting), the pale blue light given off by them provides illumination throughout the night without so much as a flicker. The light source, enchanted moonstones, rest within a receptacle inside each lamp, and are said to retain their glow for 101 years before needing to be replaced.
The buildings within Zion are as magnificent as its walls and showcase thousands of years of architectural styles, engineering design, and aesthetic art. Murals and paintings are common on long walls while carvings, reliefs, and decorative pillars are used to accentuate smaller sections of buildings. Free land within the city walls, though rare, is always put to good use; gardens, parks, monuments, water features, zoos-- the creativity with which the people of Zion utilize the space never ceases to amaze visitors.
Beyond the generally expected use of this unbuilt land, the greatest, most identifiable utilization of open ground in Zion is for cemeteries. While the majority of the deceased are given final rights involving cremations, Zion still prides itself on burials for the clergy and other high ranking and respected individuals. This is one of the most defining features among Zion, as the other cities have long since run out of protected land on which to honor their dead. Although the history of Zion's graveyards stretch back over the ages, it is widely assumed that the most ancient of burial sites are actually within the grand catacombs far beneath the city; the fact that the oldest graves currently viewable are scarcely 1000 years old helps reinforce the conjecture.
In addition to the complex catacombs that stretch far beneath the city, Zion also has several other subterranean systems below ground level. Although many cities of the empire once had working plumbing, Zion is the only remaining population center that can boast a city-wide sewer. This underground aqueduct helps to provide running water for the entire municipality and is one of the first, most jealously-sought aspects of life in Zion a visitor will come to admire. Beyond the catacombs and the sewer system, severally naturally-occurring caverns round out the subterranean grounds beneath Zion. Rumors once had it that Jebon Fast-Fingers, a historic personality once managed to escape the city of Zion through these caverns after it had been put on lock-down. The security alert, naturally, was due to one of his escapades: the theft of the Tiara of Rashenmar, the greatest heist in the long history of the city.
Despite occasional acts of theft (both legendary and otherwise), Zion maintains a relatively safe society. It is not uncommon for the guards to have some more difficult days, but for the most part social peace is well kept. Guards operate in squads of five or more and at least one of them is a temple peace keeper. The peace keeper provides divine power and holy guidance for the police force able to provide healing to the injured, protection from harm, and oracular insight into truth and subterfuge. The most common crimes are minor in nature and are dealt with both quickly and equitably. Suspects are apprehended and brought directly to court (or, in worse case scenarios, to a healer first, followed by court).
The city of Zion considers fair and impartial trials the only reasonable method through which to pass judgment on suspected criminals. Each of the city's 15 districts has its own judicial council made up of the chairman (a high priest), five priests (one to represent each of Tah'aveen's faces), two professional arbiters or adjudicators, two learned citizens, and a volunteer. The ten council seats are held for one year before new representatives are chosen while the volunteer seat is changed on a weekly basis. All sentences for the guilty are presented by the 10 council members and confirmed by the chairman.
Moral right and wrong are left up to the interpretation of each citizen. The general rule by which everyone within Zion is said to live by is that anything is possible and anything is allowed if and only if it causes harm to no one. Citizens are free to do what they want with their bodies in whatever manner they see fit. Vices are permitted only so long as it does not lead to excess. Friendly brawls, in some circles are often seen as a form of physical worship (so long as it doesn't get out of hand). Sexuality, regardless of sexual preference is open and accepted, though not to the point of excess or debauchery, and never with or directed-toward an unwilling participant.
Considered the shining beacon of hope and promise for the fallen empire, Zion is a city of prosperity, wealth, learning, and culture. Although there is an inequity between the rich and the poor, the well-off are faithful in their adherence to the temple's creed that encourages aiding one's fellows. While some give more than others, the spiritual reward for the altruism in this life is often reiterated by the clergy and has, through occasional karmic intervention, proved to be well worth the minor investment in the city's needy. This 'alms to the poor' mentality is not mandated by the temples and is not coded in law-- the majority of those who provide for the have-nots do so either from a genuine, altruistic want to help, or else as thanks for the blessings the goddess have bestowed upon them.
Education is free within the city, permitting every, regardless of economic background to receive as much learning as they desire. While some of the less well-off families cannot spare their children from labor, most households understand the importance of education and attempt to find at least some time for their offspring to seek some kind of skills or knowledge. More specialized learning such as trades or higher studies are presented through the form of apprenticeship, either among the free traders, sages, guilds, or universities of Zion. The service done by the pupil for the master is considered repayment for the skills and knowledges gained, though some of the greatest master craftsmen or most highly-respected learned individuals are very particular about who they will instruct.
Success within the Holy City is based entirely on effort. Naturally gifted individuals have the option of gliding through life doing as much is as needed to survive, or they may apply themselves and truly excel. Those with shortcomings can receive assistance from their city benefactors, but usually to the point that they are helped to help themselves. The average individual has the capacity to work hard and improve their lot in life, or slack off and live with the consequences; the fair and equitable nature of Zion does not permit free-rides.
Leadership within Zion is given two heads: spiritual and temporal. The spiritual leadership of Zion rests within the High Council, a group of five priests who tend to the more ephemeral aspects of running the city. These positions are held for life, or until a council member is deemed unfit, physically, mentally, or in rare occasions, ethically. The High Council reports directly to the church and is responsible for maintaining good ties with all five factions of the faithful and seeing to the spiritual needs of its people. Representatives come from each aspect of the Moon Goddess-- five total.
The political and administrative leadership is likewise made of a council of three, each with a specific position and power base. The Vizier is a position held by a priest or priestess as elected by the temple; it is his or her task to provide a spiritual and moral direction to the government. The Governor is an elected position which is changed every 60 moon cycles (approximately every 5 years). Finally, the third position, that of King/Queen is the only hereditary position within the government.
While the Vizier may be changed as often as desired, and the Governor is installed for at least five years, the King or Queen holds their position for life. This position is held by a member of the De'aveen, whose bloodline is said to be traced back to the Moon Goddess herself, and whose great progenitor was said to have laid with the goddess while she was in mortal form, creating the esteemed family and blessing the earth with the Goddess' mortal descendants. It is said that the presence of this mortal vessel, the physical embodiment of the Moon Goddess' essence is the reason that Zion has always been so prosperous.
Zion has always acted in the best interests of the empire. While decisions made to this end have not always sat well with the priests of the Moon Mother, the continuity of the faith and the cohesion of the separate factions in service to Tah'aveen are seen as tantamount to all other aspects of faith. Many of the actions taken (or not taken) by Zion continue to haunt the collective conscience of the clergy-- to their everlasting shame, morality has, at points throughout history, been put on hold to preserve the faith. The results, sadly, have rarely been worth the sacrifice.