Ex. Depellorrion

Exemplar Depellorrion (Pastanan: Exemplus Depellorrius; Anisoran: Esemplare Depellorrio; Wortsproke: Førdedu Polloran; Penrish: Enghreifftiol Dapellydd), also known as Depellorrion the Pius, was a medieval Anisoran king who ruled the Kingdom of Demonarda in modern-day western Pastana Province between 5590-5606. He was a leading figure in the Orkananisation of Anisora during the mid-fifth millennium and is considered the first Anisoran ruler to convert to Orkanan. He is regarded as the patron exemplar of Anisora and is an important figure in establishing the Peratolian Orkanan congregation in Pastana.

During his reign, Depellorrion claimed to have converted the entire region of Pastana, although modern scholars agree that external converters played a more significant role in converting the Anisoran population. He is upheld by many Orkanan organizations as having led an exemplary life and was made an exemplar after his death when he was assassinated by a conspiracy of pagan lords. A considerable corpus of myths and legends surrounds Depellorrion, maintaining his popularity in Orkanan mythology, particularly within the Peratolian Orkanan tradition.

Sources

The most significant source for the life of Depellorrion is the Pastanan biography by the 59th-century writer Galicio Drusio. Although exact dating is impossible, scholars hypothesize that the biography was written towards the end of Drusio’s life, possibly around the late-59th century. The text is believed to have been updated and edited several times over the following millennium, as significant discrepancies exist between the six medieval manuscripts traced by scholars. Fragments of a late 58th-century biography written in liturgical Stoldavic also survive through citations in other Orkanan texts. This biography, believed to have been written by a Stoldavic poet from modern-day Helreich, may have been more historically accurate, but the few lines that survive reveal little that isn't present in Drusio’s later Pastanan version.

Life

Little is known about Exemplar Depellorrion’s childhood except that he was the son of Aphellus and Armilia, the lord and lady of Rilan. At sixteen, he was sent to Thultannia to study at the court of King XX. It was here that Orkanan biographers claim he met Alf Myrddin of the Prydwen Socken, who became one of his greatest mentors and converted Depellorrion to Orkanan. Over the years of study in Thultannia, he learned liturgical Stoldavic, became well-versed in Orkanan texts and religious practices, and became devoted to spreading Orkanan.

Upon returning to Pastana in his late twenties to spread the new religion to his family's lands, he discovered that his parents had been killed and their lands confiscated by Lord Giancarlo of Sergia in a bloody dispute the previous year. Depellorrion returned to Thultannia and petitioned King XX for help in reclaiming his birthright. The king, who viewed Depellorrion as a son, vowed to help him, mustering a great force and placing it under his command. The army landed at Quellorina, where Depellorrion's cousin, Lord Benito of Riveralleta, joined him. Together, they confronted Lord Giancarlo's forces at Rilan Castle. The ensuing battle was a resounding victory for Depellorrion, which he attributed to the work of Vind.

Depellorrion's forces conquered Lord Giancarlo’s lands and those of his allies. Within two years, Depellorrion ruled large areas of western Pastana and proclaimed himself king of Demonarda, ruling in Vind's name. His early rule was marked by obsessive conversion of the local populations to Orkanan, often with the help of his Thultannian allies. He modeled himself after King XX the Great of the Orkanan Realm of Stoldavia and dreamed of creating a Median Orkanan Empire.

Depellorrion faced many rebellions during his reign due to his harsh forced conversions. Without the support of King XX, he might have been deposed early in his reign; however, sources attribute his survival to Vind's protection. After fifteen years of unstable rule, he was assassinated during the Pagan Revolt of 5606. His refusal to compromise in his conversion efforts led to his downfall, especially after King XX recalled his forces to Thultannia, leaving Depellorrion militarily weak and vulnerable to his many enemies. The revolt resulted in the deaths of Depellorrion, his Thultannian wife Aelwyd, and their five children, along with a purge of Orkanan zealots and Thultannian missionaries across the kingdom. Following the king's death, the pagan conspirators turned on each other, leading to the fragmentation of the land into independent petty kingdoms plagued by cycles of warfare, seen as divine punishment for killing the leader Vind had chosen to spread Orkanan to Pastana.

Myths and Legends

Exemplar Depellorrion has a considerable number of myths and legends attributed to him, particularly within the Peratolian Orkanan tradition and mythology. He is of particular importance to Anisora and was the first Anisoran to be canonized as an Orkanan exemplar around the 58th century.

Ex. Depellorrion and Human Creation

According to Orkanan tradition, after claiming the Demonardic throne, Depellorrion was visited by a Ru spirit in his bedchamber. The spirit, appearing as a young girl, told him she had been sent by Vind to set him on a sacred mission: to find the most beautiful example of human creation on Gotha and present it to Vind in a new temple next to the palace. The king then announced his divinely sent mission and called for artists, writers, builders, and thinkers from across the land to propose the best examples of human creation.

Many arrived at the king's court with their finest works, but Depellorrion was unconvinced. When presented with an Etullian statue of the pagan goddess Porrias, which was often described as the most beautiful thing in the world, Depellorrion rejected it as blasphemy and used the opportunity to remove all pagan-influenced artwork from the palace. The next day, during a walk in his gardens, he was moved by the piety of his gardener, who was dedicated to maintaining the beauty of Vind's floral creations. Later, while discussing the gardens with his court, the king's newborn son started crying. Queen Aelwyd comforted the child and suggested to her husband that their son might be the most beautiful thing in the world.

Depellorrion joyfully declared that nothing could surpass his own son as the most beautiful example of human creation, as in children, humans imitate Vind's great creation. The court rejoiced, and Depellorrion presented his son at the newly built temple's altar. At that moment, the Ru spirit reappeared, announcing Vind's pleasure, and a strong wind arose, making the wind chimes around the temple resound.

Veneration

Anisora holds Exemplar Depellorrion in high regard within the Anisoran Orkanan congregation of Pastana. He is considered one of the early founders of the Peratolian Orkanan congregation and is credited with bringing Orkanan to Anisora. As such, he is one of the most important exemplars in the congregation and has many temples and rites associated with him. Depellorrion is closely associated with Anisoran national identity within the broader Orkanan world and is considered a figure of great patriotic importance.