Brilliant Manifesto

The **Brilliant Manifesto** is the last great work of archmage Rary, a guide to the creation of his ideal utopia, commonly known as the Brightlands. Its contents are deemed a danger to society by the Circle of Eight, and possession is treason against the three.

## Contents

The actual contents are mostly lost as all copies are either destroyed or in private property, but rough details about the three main sections are known to scholars.

1. Utopia - Plans for the utopian society of the future, in great detail. Rary's notes suggested he was unsatisfied with the utopia of each draft and was therefore was the most rewritten section.
2. Revolution - The steps needed to set the world stage for such a society, which has lead to jihadist movements such as The Students. These were proven by the events of the second scourge.
3. Faith - *esse per fidem*, or the idea that belief holds supreme power over reality, unrealized potential that was hiding right under his nose through his research. In his dying days he realized that regardless of outcome, belief in his utopia would make it so.

The final section was included in no draft but was etched onto his body using sharp stones from the prison cell. For in his stay he found hope in a higher power and through his belief he realized the terrible potential it held. He knew that those who wished to truly fanatic to his vision would find his body and read his final warning:

> Belief in the law of faith, will lead only to reality's doubt in itself.
>
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## History

Rary first thought up the initial concepts explored in his manifesto during his apprenticeship under Shusalgulon in Qalekon. He complied more and more research to back up his claims during his office at the Circle, eventually considering it his magnus opus, and dedicating his life to it.

During his seat on the council Rary ran many secret trials of proposed utopias through use of his many clones. They each became one of the fabled sorcerer kings of distant lands far isolated from outside interference and monitoring, such as the oases of Epresia. It was known by Rary that almost every society failed. Many of his clones falling to corruption of countless forms, turning into violent dictators or horrible beasts. Other societies were simply unsustainable for many reasons. Some on the other hand remain, such as the half dozen isolated city states of Epresia. By Rary's (and most) standards these were no utopias.

He incited unrest across the world with their aid as well, helping to prove ideas in his work about creating stage for a complete societal renewal. These acts indirectly led to the second scourge and many other bloody conflicts, including some great atrocities.

The circle, untrusting of the Shuladi mage during times of war reviewed their own staff, eventually discovering his failed efforts and horrible crimes against the world. Panicked, he attempted a rushed coup that ended in the death of two members and Rary in custody. They promptly exiled him to a prison island on the Silt Sea, where they took from his mind the locations of all his known clones. Many were assassinated in the coming months, but there are a few that they continue to hunt until this day, mostly sorcerer kings of the silt.

The circle destroyed all known drafts, but Circle sources say that assassins looted his last personal copy, mid draft, from his home as they took out a clone. How it arrived in New Badoual is uncertain. After the authorship was uncovered, it was sold on the black market for a very high price and an unknown buyer, but the Circle once again knew it was in circulation and was on the hunt.

Eventually, it fell into the hands of Cadan and inspired his journey across the brilliant sea. There in then Red Bay Company occupied Peruchia he taught his interpretations of the teachings and founded his following, The Students of Rary. Cadan, fearing his students would find their own interpretations counter to his vision, eventually destroyed the remaining copy. No copies are known to exist or have been created, although some experts suspect the Circle holds records.