Fragments from The Chronicles of Vaecec: Rise and Ruin
Collective work of multiple Brothers for the Library of the Gray Halls of Estia
Fragment from the Introduction of Chapter XIX
After enduring 63 years of persistent warfare, which had fragmented the once-unified Empire into independent states, the kings of Vaecec came together to put an end to the devastating conflicts that had plagued the continent since the Veil’s Descent. The Harmony Accord stood as both a landmark agreement and a symbol of unity, signaling a new era of cooperation. Despite occasional eruptions of conflict post-treaty, none approached the scale of the continental war.
Among its over a hundred provisions, the Accord covered four principal subjects:
- Recognition of Sovereignty and Renunciation of Imperial Ambitions
- Non-Aggression Pact and Pacific Border Resolutions
- Council of Unity and Diplomatic Protocols
- Economical and Cultural Reunification
Fragment from the Section Four of Chapter XIX
While many initiatives for cultural reunification were fleeting, giving way to the pull of regionalism, they collectively achieved a vital aim — the rapid dissolution of imperial traditions and the ushering in of a new era dominated by neutral or pro-independence ideals.
One of the enduring legacies of this transformative period was the abandonment of the Imperial Calendar in favor of the Harmonic Calendar. Year 0 was proclaimed, marking the Fall of the Imperial City, symbolizing the end of the Empire and the dawn of independence. The thirteen 28-day-long imperial months, each named after the thirteen members of the first Imperial Council, were discarded. Instead, the Harmonic Calendar introduced four distinct 91-day-long elemental seasons. Beginning with Water, the hot rainy season, followed by Earth, the harvest season, then Air, the cold season, and concluding with Fire, the blooming season. Unlike its imperial predecessor, the Harmonic Calendar found alignment not with historical events but with celestial occurrences. A solitary day, Harmony Day, stood outside the seasons, signifying the dawn of a new year.