Difference between revisions of "Sel"

| Sel—home to multiple empires that, uniquely, have remained somewhat ignorant of one another. It is a willful kind of ignorance, with each of the three great domains pretending that the others are mere blips on the map, barely worth notice.

| [[Khriss]]{{au ref|Selish}}

The location of the planet Sel within the larger cosmere is as-yet unknown, though it is known to orbit a yellow star named [[Mashe]] while in turn being orbited by a single moon named '''Oem'''. Its size is 1.5 [[cosmere standard]] and its gravity is 1.2 cosmere standard .{{au ref|Sel}}.

The story of ''[[Elantris (book)|Elantris]]'' and the short story ''[[The Hope of Elantris|The Hope of Elantris]]'' are both set on a continent on Sel called '''Opelon''' by those in the west{{book ref|Elantris|1}} and '''Sycla''' by those in the east.{{book ref|Elantris|3}}. There is a vast desert to the south of the known nations of the continent.{{map ref|Opelon}}

Most nations on Sycla have been subsumed into the [[Fjordell Empire]]. The empire is ruled by a leader known as [[Wyrn (title)|Wyrn]], who is also head of [[Shu-Dereth]], which has been used as a vehicle to dominate nations. The Fjordell Empire is, on the surface, completely Derethi. However, many of the people of the empire, especially those in back-countrybackcountry areas like Hrovell, still secretly follow their old religions, like the [[Jeskeri Mysteries]].

Located to the west of the Fjordell Empire, [[Arelon]] is the only remaining independent nation on Opelon. The capital of Arelon is the city of [[Elantris (city)|Elantris]], which is a monarchy ruled by the [[Elantrian]] King [[Raoden]]. Under the king, there is a class of nobles who control various plantations throughout Arelon. Their primary function is to distribute food to the people of Arelon. Arelon controls the area to the west of the Atad Mountains, and south of the northern ocean. Arelon is mainly made up of followers of the [[Shu-Korath]] religion, although there are still remnants of the old pagan religion that worshiped the Elantrians. There is also a small number of followers of the [[Jeskeri Mysteries]].

North of the Teod peninsula, beyond the mountains, is the [[Rose Empire]].{{tes ref|76}}. This empire has many provinces, including but not limited to [[Mulla'dil]], [[MaiPon]], [[Dzhamar]] and [[Ukurgi]]. The empire maintains a little-used mountain pass that leads to Teod.{{tes ref|98}} Unlike Teod, the Rose Empire has limited cultural exchange with the nations of Opelon, though it has some diplomatic relations with [[Svorden]] and [[JinDo]]. By the time of the assassination attempt on Emperor [[Ashravan]], they seem to have made contact with the Fjordell Empire, as a southern ambassador with [[gyorn|red priest's armor]] is present while [[Shai]] is rushing through the palace.{{tes ref|98}} Certain segments of the population seem to have a concept of [[Realmatic Theory]].

The original Fjordell empire was formed and the first [[Wyrn (title)|Wyrn]] was created. The empire eventually collapsed three hundred years before the events of Elantris.{{book ref|elantris|5}} Around this time a schism formed in the Shu-Keseg faith forming [[Shu-Korath]] and [[Shu-Dereth]].{{book ref|elantris|43}} The remnants of the Fjorden empire blamed their collapse on a lack of true unity, as a result they adopted the newly formed [[Shu-Dereth]] as the state religion,{{book ref|elantris|43}} it was hoped that by doing so they would prevent any future rebellions or political problems.{{wob ref|2072}} They mixed the Shu-Dereth faith with Fjorden mythology and made Jaddeth the central deity of their religion.{{book ref|elantris|43}}{{wob ref|2072}} A movement was began to update their religious and historical texts in order to make it seem that Fjorden was always of this faith and that the first Wyrn also worshipped Jaddeth.{{book ref|elantris|43}}

An earthquake happened near the city of [[Elantris (city)|Elantris]], this earthquake then triggered an event known as the [[Reod]] causing Elantris to fall. The earthquake was not due to natural causes.{{wob ref|9883}} The native Elantrians became [[hoed]]s and Arelon government collapsed.{{book ref|elantris|5}} The majority of damage and death during the resulting riots was caused by the countries servant class. After the riots eased the government was replaced with a system where the wealthiest ruled the country.{{book ref|elantris|5}} The newly empowered merchant class blamed the riots on the servants of the city being too pampered.{{book ref|elantris|5}} King Iadon was crowned in response.

Gyrongyorn Hrathen was aassignedassigned to convert Duladel to the Empire, it was one of the few remaining nations offering resistance. Within six months he managed to lead a revolution that led to the deaths of the republican class and collapse of its government.{{book ref|elantris|15}} In its place a monarchy was formed and Shu-Dereth pronounced the state religion at the expenceexpense of to the [[Jesker]] religion.{{book ref|elantris|16}} This event caused a renewed interest in an alliance between Teod and Arelon, a marriage was planned between prince Roaden and princess Sarene.{{book ref|elantris|16}} Having successfully converted Duladel Hrathen was then dispatched to Arelon. Unknown to him [[Dilaf]], his old mentor,{{book ref|elantris|60}} was already dispatched to the area and preparing to invade it.{{book ref|elantris|57}} Upon meeting Hrathen failed to recognise him and also misunderstood his orders as to convert the people of Arelon, not destroy them.{{book ref|elantris|3}}{{book ref|elantris|57}}

Before the marriage of Sarene and Raoden could take place Raoden found himself taken by the Shaod.{{book ref|elantris|1}} An effort was made by Sarene to oppose Hrathen's preaching and his attempts to instate Telrii as the new king of Arelon. Telrii had agreed that if he became king he would make Arelon convert to Shu-Dereth. After Sarene discovered the King Iaoden was part of the religious cult known as the [[Jeskeri Mysteries]] where he sacrificed women the king was dethroned.{{book ref|elantris|32}} After this event king Iadon killed himself.{{book ref|elantris|35}} To try and prevent the nation of Arelon from falling into Derethi control it was decided that Sarene had to marry [[RoailRoial]] in order to legitimize his claim to the throne.{{book ref|elantris|35}}

Before the marriage the funeral of King Iadon took place and as per his will a new law was pronounced by Seinalan that reformed the Arelon government again.{{book ref|elantris|38}} Hrathen managed to make it appear Sarene was taken by the Heod before her marriage stopping it.{{book ref|elantris|38}} This led to Telrii being crowned king of Arelon.{{book ref|elantris|47}} After this Telrii refused to follow through on the deal he made with Hrathen unless he was also made a Gyrongyorn as a Gyrongyorn held greater power in the Fjorden empire.{{book ref|elantris|48}} He insisted on this despite Hrathen's protests that such a thing was impossible. Seeing this failure Dilaf then announced his true rank as Gragdet and the true nature of Hrathen mission. He then began the [[invasion of Arelon]].{{book ref|elantris|57}} During the invasion Raoden worked out how to undo the Reod and restore Elantris.{{book ref|elantris|61}} With their renewed power the Fjoredell army was removed and Raoden and Sarene were both crowned the new leaders of Arelon.{{book ref|elantris|63}}

* Initially, Brandon had the shadows of Elantris falling on the city of Kae at dawn. As Kae is to the east of Elantris, this indicated that the sun rises in the west on Sel. However, in the Anniversary Edition, this has beenwas identified as an error and corrected.{{book ref|elantris|1}}