Lore - Feet Republic / Sollesahrs

“My art is dance, for I am an artiste of theater.

My art is death, for I am an artiste of war.

I answer the call of Loyalty, for I am a patriot.

In the river of history I am but a drop,

But its mighty currents are unstoppable.

I vow to liquidate our enemies;

And their blood will become the rain,

Which irrigates the gardens of our victory.”

The concept of the Knights of Creation is relatively new to Feetic society and was adopted not that many centuries ago. Because Feets believe in reincarnations, and that the Gift is Meora’s reward for the great triumphs of previous lives, the Engifted have always been held in high respect and have had no need to be defined by a specific title; the greater one’s vehemence as an Engifted – that greater is the respect. After all, the Allmother made us all equal… it is just that some have earned the right to be more equal than others.

Although, in old times, the Feets were known for their Yamsgyaru – the elite members of the Vagyaru. These were the Engifted chiefs who were the first to rush into battle and lead their fellow warriors as an example. The respect and might they possessed can undoubtedly be compared to that of the Knights of Creation of that era.

The Sollesahrs are the Knights of Creation of the Feet Republic in this era – Ballerinas of Death, Dancing Executioners. Elegant, agile and graceful killers. For them, slaughtering and dancing are one and the same art; a performances differing only in the audience, with the exception of one seat – our Allmother, who watches every performance of Her daughters.

Ballet is a traditional Feetic theatrical art, intended exclusively for war stories and epic tales. It became the basis for the image of the first Sollesahrs at the founding of the Republic, because the death of the Alleater and its creations is an art form, and the best of us are the main players on the stage. It should be understandable that futales are often excluded from the ranks of Sollesahrs, because many of them have two big disadvantages that prevent them from becoming perfect Dancing Executioners, which has become yet another example of female superiority in a Matriarchal society.

This is why to be deemed worthy of Her Deathly Visage, Sollesahr must not only receive the Herquisition’s approval for heroic deeds, but also become an exemplar of elegance and artistry. Over the years, one will be judged and observed by the superiors, who will, with all honesty, deliver a verdict determining Sollesahr’s right to Her Deathly Visage. Once endorsed, she should prepare a theatrical play befitting such a ceremony, acting as both director and lead actor, assisted by experienced actors who will perform the other roles. Through this play she will demonstrate her honed mastery of the art of death and tell the story of her life that led to this very day. And at the end, the performance and real life will merge – the final scene of the story will unfold in the present moment; the noble Inquisitors will present the Sollesahr with Her Deathly Visage, where she will hold it in her hands for the first time. As both character and actor, she will repeat the oath of the Feetic Knight of Creation, surrounded by the singing of the Herquisitorial Choir, and then don the golden mask before the audience, for all to see and remember this moment – when another mighty daughter of Meora becomes the one who makes even the darkest nightmares cower in fear.

***

A person begins the path of a Sollesahr from childhood, when the Herquisition assesses her Engifted Grade for the first time, which must be either Spark, Blaze or Enshined. Those of lower grades lack the power to become one of these heroes, while the higher-grade Engifted are either too destruptive for modern delicate technologies, or are unable to grasp the art and beauty of ballet.

A healthy body and spirit must be developed to a level worthy of a Feetic Knight of Creation. Young Candidates will be enrolled in gymnastics and etiquette classes to train their agility, endurance, fitness and elegance; will receive a specialized Engifted education; and will be taught loyalty and patriotism – towards their parents, the Republic, and especially toward our Gorgeous and Joyful Meora. And even if a person, for whatever reasons, is found unfit to serve in the ranks of the Sollesahrs, by decree of the Chancellor she still automatically receives Grazhdaninship, with a place in the theater and full rights to perform in the ballet.

On the day of her coming of age, after the Herqisition has assigned the Engifted Grade for the last time, the Candidate is drafted into the Comradeship like all other young Feets, but a special one. By this time, the body is prepared and developed for much more complex training: she will learn about different art – the Dance of Slaughter on the Stage of War.

After a year of primary drilling, depending on the Tribe and the individual’s Engifted Grade, instead of choosing the Comradeship, the Candidate will be offered several Sollesahric service options. The different services will require the Candidates to perform different roles in the Feetic Army, and the duration of their further training will vary accordingly. Regardless, by the fourth year, every Candidate must be physically and mentally ready to combat the Nightmarish enemies of Meority, but some may require additional years to be fully prepared to fulfill their specific roles.

Many of the Sparks grades, the weakest of Candidates, will either serve in the Submerged Watch or become officers of Hussahr units; the strongest Sollesahrs form the elite units of the Crus Plaguefighters and Mariners, participating in the most dangerous military operations, and being more likely to earn Her Deathly Visage; and even those who are too frail for physical combat may serve their Battle-comrades as the War Musician, bringing the melody to the noble art of holy slaughter.

Formally, a Candidate becomes a full-fledged Sollesahr after the first nine kills, and until then, calling oneself a Knight of Creation would be extremely inappropriate, disrespectful to battle-comrades, and punishable by a week of cleaning the other Sollesahrs’ feet with one's tongue.

The Sollesahrs are obliged to serve a certain number of years to repay their patriotic debt to the Motherland, after which they can willfully retire at any moment. However, a truly Loyal Grazhdanin of the Republic will serve to the very end, because for the virtuous and hardworking children of Meora, there is never time for rest.