Bédenes/1st edition/8

POWER IN BEDENES
The Warriors of Mameka are a separate entity from the Order of Mamaka, Master of Steel, and a complex web of interdependence and rivalry exists between the Warriors and their sponsoring clerical order. The Warriors hold Bedenes from the king and their control of Emesa Hundred is complete. Their authority and reputation beyond Bedenes, however, relies upon the goodwill of the clerical order and the political power of its Senesharil.

The Akarata was appointed by the previous Senesharil and is expected to communicate with the clerical order through Maral Laltanae, the Aperterahn (Master of the Middle Discipline) although the Aperterahn holds no authority over the Akarata. The daily reality is that the Akarata commands scores of armed men and controls all commerce and traffic at this frontier outpost.

The House of Ordeals
The House of Ordeals is a seminary controlled by the Order of Mamaka. The Mamakans maintain only one temple, located in Golotha, and divide their temple masters between that temple and Bedenes. As acting Master of Acolytes, Bedai Borganau commands the acolytes, priests, specialist crafters, and Laumchari servants, former acolytes who failed to demonstrate sufficient talent or discipline for ordination. Bedai reports to the Senesharil and is as loyal to him as he is to anyone other than himself. The other masters are more loyal to the Senesharil than to Bedai, but none doubt his ability. The Mamekan avoids politics and seldom speaks except for brief utterances while working at his forge.

The Keep and the Chapterhouses
For almost 30 years, Akarata Horab ensured the support of his Meketa through regular councils. Since the debacle of 718, he has grown withdrawn and now summons them only rarely. They are increasingly falling into two cliques and planning their own futures. How much Horab knows of these factions is unclear as he prays alone in his chambers at the top of Caer Bedenes.

The Kustan Faction
The face of the traditionalist faction is Tolmey Wolkene, Meketa (High Commander) of the Hask chapterhouse, but it is Alshain Risalsin, Meketa of nearby Penor, who engineers meetings between Tolmey and Meketa Bron Zarnist. They often hunt around Penor, sharing concerns over the souls of comrades left behind at Kustan. They desire to take back Kustan with overwhelming force and find the cairn that scripture claims was laid in Peran by early Agrikans. Alshain knows the keep relies upon the chapterhouses for food. He plans to gain the support of all the Meketa before "the old man finally drowns in his own blubber" and thus gain control of the keep by controlling the chapterhouses. His family investments in Techen provide independent wealth that will provide valuable resources when the time comes.

The Southern Faction
Meketa Halan Uelasen, the astute and worldly commander of the elite Akarata's Guard, represents the small progressive faction. He wants to see Bedenes grow in power and influence but his vision does not include Peran. He predicts that the king will soon crush the traitorous Earl of Tormau, presenting an opportunity for the Warriors to extend their control south to the Denia River. Halan does not command the revenues of a chapterhouse but is popular with the Laumak. He is close to Mara! Laltanae and, through him, Senesharil Klyrdes.

Halan intends to ensure that the Senesharil anoints him as the next Akarata when Horab departs for Balgashang. He intends to use the Warriors' discipline and religious indoctrination to ensure there is no public struggle among the Meketa. Halan has long recognized Alshain Risalsin, Meketa of the Penor chapterhouse, as his most potent adversary.

Although Klyrdes Bisidril is Senesharil of the Mamakans, he funds the Akarata's Guard through his office as Apalankh (primate). Because any man appointed to the Guard must be approved by Klyrdes, the Akarata is suspicious of their loyalties. They are often assigned to patrols against the Kubora and other dangerous tasks that keep them away from their beds in the keep. The Akarata maintains a separate bodyguard of trusted Laumak handpicked at the Festival of the Pillars.