Minerian Stone
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| Minerian Stone | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Material | Black granite |
| Created | c. 3000 TT |
| Height | 27.3 meters |
| Lcation | Mineria, La Rossa |
The Minerian Stone is an ancient legal codex inscribed on a black granite pillar constructed in the Rossan city of Mineria. Constructed in the early age of the Rossan city-states, the pillar was likely erected several decades after the foundation of the city, and has remained a rare structure of the period to remain untoppled. Interpreted to be symbolizing the self-rule of the city, the monument was constructed by the descendants of the original settlers who had left Averno for the coasts of La Rossa.
History and Legend
Sculpted approximately three thousand years before the Second Calming, the pillar is one of the earliest known records of civilization on the island, and the oldest preserved piece of writing. Although little of the early history of the island is preserved, the oral tradition surrounding the founding of the city has long been part of the accepted narrative history of Mineria. The history has in large part been reinforced by the stone reliefs engraved into three sides of the pillar, interpreted to be telling the story of the city's earliest days.
The city-state of Averno, the oldest large settlement on the island, was estimated to have been founded around the year 3250 TT, and was located in the mountains of Montesuvia. Although the largest at the time, it was far from the first human settlement, and was one of many towns and villages scattered around the mountain range, covering the majority of the core center of the island. The frosty temperatures present in the high altitudes and a lack of fertile resources created a harsh environment and an austere lifestyle for the early humans on the island. Despite such difficult conditions, the existence of such small, insulated settlements persisted, as even the mountains were widely believed to provide a stronger chance of life than facing off with the Storm that enveloped the coastline. Such widespread, but unorganized beliefs formed the basis of Tempestry, a broad set of reverent beliefs surrounding the Storm that for centuries provided the justification and cohesion necessary to continue the traditional way of life, while deterring subsequent generations from attempting to settle the coast.
The small communities grew, albeit at a slow pace, and eventually organized themselves around the city of Averno. With rising population came rising hierarchy, and the eventual emergence of clearly recognized leadership. While few records of the power structure of the city have been uncovered, it is recognized that a class-based hierarchy ended centralized around a single figure, possibly anachronistically referred to as Dux. Backed by an enforcing class of a hereditary patrician nobility, for decades order was enforced to ensure a consolidation of power in the city. Apart from structures of power, backed in tradition, fear and a search of safety, so too emerged opposing forces of interest. Growing with years, stricter persecution began to be utilized to manage discontent and protect Averno from usurpation. Dux Serberius, known to be particularly tyrannical and cruel, provoked a group of several hundred into self-imposed exile, cast as suicidal recklessness.
The group, dissatisfied with Averno's hierarchy they saw as protecting perpetual state of hiding and cowardice, in equal parts spiteful as it was motivated, moved for days to climb down from the mountains, and descend to the coastline they knew to be largely abandoned. Coming with the expectations of a harsh environment unfit for man, the settlers stood stunned in their discovery of a calm bay largely shielded from the Storm. Escaping from the nearly barren fields on the hills, they were met with fertile land and easily traversable terrain. Making peace with leaving their old home, they would construct a settlement on the coast of the bay, creating a new society away from the old one. A far cry from what they saw as the folly of Averno, Mineria would be envisaged as a society tolerant of outsiders, willing to integrate new thought and resentful of old beliefs. A legal codex, built several decades after the city's establishment to tower over it, saw twelve laws established, applying equally to all.
Codex
Written in a form of proto-Rossan, the Stone's writing bears superficial resemblance to the modern Rossan script, although significant differences exist that make it illegible in the modern day. Symbols believed to be numbers do not follow the octal form of the Rossan Numerals, and are likely to be duodecimal. The language similarly differs from the writings of the present, although the meaning preserved in oral tradition has allowed for the decyphering of the original text.
- No man shall deprive another of his life, or he will be deprived of his own.
- No man shall deprive another of his liberty, or he will be killed.
- No man shall attack another, or he will be whipped and beaten.
- No man shall threaten another, or he will be beaten.
- No man shall break into another's home, or he will be killed.
- No man shall steal another's belongings, or he will be required to pay for them twice.
- No man shall refuse payments for his debt, or he will work to pay for it.
- No man shall refuse to work, or he will be [word missing].
- No man shall refuse to pay for another's work, or he will pay [words missing].
- No man shall falsely accuse someone of a crime, or he will be punished as if he committed it.
- No man shall pretend to be another, or his punishment will be placed in the hands of the other.
- No man shall break any of this city's laws, or he will be subject to just punishment.
LAW AND JUSTICE
The codex, while short and highly punishing, had remained the basis of the law in Mineria for over a millennia, although changes have been made to its application across rulers and centuries. Instead of being followed literally, the laws were left up to interpretation, giving less indication for the severity of the punishment, and gaining greater purpose as a sign of actions deemed unacceptable. The rise of the Minestrici Family, placing them as the center of public life and eventually as the de facto rulers of the city-state, has further degraded the law as written. It is unclear whether the 8th and 9th law were defaced intentionally, although it is likely to be the case. Nonetheless, the times of the Spirit Revolution, and later La Denunzia saw the questioning of such history, with a number of writers posing that the punishments were stricken with the purpose of punishing workers more, and the owners less.