Arkivist Revolution

The **Arkivist Revolution** was a period of religious, political, and social upheaval that took place in the Khagoan Empire that began under the reign of the last Emperor of the Wabbash line, Hoyne Wabbash. The period saw the Empire adopt Arkivism as its state religion and the overthrow of the long-lived Wabbash Dynasty.

## Background

The roots of the revolution can be found in the earlier Arkivist Uprising, which resulted in the destruction of the holy city of the Arkivists, Ark Mount, being destroyed by the Legions and Auxiliaries of Emperor Hoyne Wabbash. The result of this was the enslavement of hundreds of thousands of Kohlratian Arkivists, many of whom were brought to the Imperial Capital of Khago. Among these prisoners was their prophet, Daimun, who was later publicly executed by the Wabbash in front of the Red Tower, after being pelted by books captured from the campaign and set on fire. However, following the Emperors victory over the Arkivist rebels the Empire found itself in a serious crisis. The army had been severely depleted by the bloody ten year war and was defeated in a series of campaigns against the bordering Mexihtec and Kazkadiyan Empires and the barbarian tribes of the Plains Nomads and Kanucks. Due to the inability of the Emperor to defend his far flung provinces the eastern and far western provinces were taken over by usurpers who challenged the Emperor. The usurpers made large gains and eventually Wabbash was only in control of the provinces immediately surrounding the Mizzip Sea and the Khagoan homeland of Laeklund. The Emperors mental health severely declined and he locked himself away in the Red Tower for months at a time taking massive amounts of drugs and engaging in endless debauchery.

These Arkivist slaves brought with them their Religion, and began teaching it to the locals they came in contact with. Some Arkivists were freed by their masters or escaped their chains and began to care for the poor of the city, as well as performing "miracles" such as healing the sick with their advanced medicines. This caused the impoverished and enslaved of the city to be drawn to the mysterious new faith from the west, and many converted. The poor who converted faced brutal treatment from the elite families and Aldermen of the city, and Emperor Wabbash eventually launched a pogrom against the faith, which aroused the anger of the Arkivists even more, who rallied under the cry "Kill me and I shall become you!" the last words of their Prophet Daimun.

Eventually the Arkivists became such a large force in the city that the elites began taking them more seriously as a threat. One of the Emperors generals, Cicero Washtenaw, had become fed up with the corrupt nature of the Emperor and the elites of the city, and took notice of the Arkivists. The General saw them as a unifying force to restore a fractured Empire on the verge of total collapse, and met with the leader of the Arkivists in the city, a women named Abaneris. Cicero was captivated by the Arkivists beliefs and extensive knowledge of the Beforetimes, and informed Abaneris of his ambitions to overthrow Hoyne Wabbash. Abaneris agreed to pledge her and her followers support to him so long as he agreed to convert to Arkivism and abolish slavery once in power. The General agreed to the terms and the two began to organize a full scale rebellion against the Emperor and Aldermen of the city.