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Records of the Grand Historian
This was the magnum opus of Dougus RecordSmith d'Archerous who had written a number of lesser historical pieces. In this work he recounted history of The Known World and Imperium from mythic and pre-imperial times to his present (a mere 130 years ago).
The Records of the Grand Historian The Records of the Grand Historian of The Land
(Dougus RecordSmith d'Archerous not to be confused by Dougus RecordSmith d'Amar (1820)
1425 pgs, 12 ill. in the standard edition.
This was the magnum opus of Dougus RecordSmith d'Archerous who had written a number of lesser historical pieces. In this work he recounted history of The Known World and Imperium from mythic and pre-imperial times to his present (a mere 130 years ago). As the first true Humanti historical text, it tremendously influenced historiography and prose (comparable to Herodotus and his Historiai). It gives 'facts' and 'details' about the individuals who help shape history, rather than the Elventi 'lyrical' approach, covering the flow of events with no concern to individuals and groups.
The 90 chapter text classifies all information into several categories:
Stellar Faces (22 chapters) contain biographies of prominent rulers of the various tribes and states. It also details the entire Imperial Court and its procss.
True Faces (50 chapters) contains noted rulers and important figures in the guilds, religions, and warfare.
Land Ways (8 chapters) are economic and cultural records of the time covered in the book.
Stairs of time (10 chapters)are timelines of events.
Unlike subsequent official historical texts that adopted a more Elventi doctrine, Dougus's more liberal and objective prose had been renowned and followed by poets and novelists. Most chapters of Faces sections were vivid descriptions of events and persons, a reason for which is that the author critically used stories passed on from antiquity as part of the sources, balancing reliability and accuracy of the records.
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Interesting to say the least. I love books and tomes for flavor and history. Who said al ltreasure has to be gold and magic? When history and knowledge can be just as powerful to have. Not to mention al lthe plot hooks that can be associated with information found in tomes and books. Endless.
While upon first glance, this may seem to be little more than some background scenery, I can certainly see uses for it. Perhaps one of the Stellar or true faces has since become some sort of undead, and the only record of their weakness can be found in the original text penned by Dougas himself. Alternately, perhaps some of the chapters are replaced with forgeries, that tell a more politically spin version of a person or event.
An excellent way of establishing 'this is the history of the world as the PCs may know it', promising some accuracy but leaving the door open for secret history.
but we want excerpts! There are other articles hinting at historic events of arth like the returner wars, but I feel I am missing the basic picture to place it into.