“akep[1]
- to Refyia, for your beautiful lucios and your kindness. You really are a Trykess of heart,
- to the Imperial Academy officials for allowing me to search their archives,
- to the varynx who died so that I can write on their leathers, because, I will never stop saying, the writing is in my opinion more beautiful than any Amber cube,
- and finally to our sharükos [2] for his confidence since so many years.
Introduction
Pyr is the capital city of the Burning Desert, theAtys region the Fyros inhabit. With its ramparts, streets, vaults, arches and buildings with remarkable architecture, it is the only town worthy of the name. Pyr is also built in a tree stump, which makes it a fortified city.
The main artery of the Fyros economy, the city is considered by some to be the most beautiful in whole Atys. The city is a maze of streets and curved lanes that intersect around arranged squares. It is a pleasure to meander through this labyrinth, in the heat of the day's star, protected by the shade of the flaps stretched between the houses, or in the evening, by the light of firefly lamps.
It is in these narrow streets with names steeped in history that I invite you in this book to discover this wonderful Fyros culture of which we can be proud. For those who already know the city I hope it will be a guide rich in information to rediscover the city in a different perspective. And for those who have not yet had this chance, I am sure it will make them want to visit it.
A people in the service of an Empire
As the capital of the Desert, Pyr is home to the Imperial Palace, where sharükos and his family reside, and the Senate. It is the nerve centre of the Empire. Many of the streets are named after an illustrious Fyros Emperor. The Emperor is the Empire and thus may change or remove at any time, and without consultation, celiakos'[3] orakenak[4], as well as any of the organs of society or dismiss from office any Fyros holding a position.
Impérial Hall Square
On this square burns the Flame of Justice. Here begins the Fyros citizenship rite, which consists mainly in finding the three other flames that are those of Discipline, Truth and Honour distributed in the region of the Imperial Dunes, thus forming with the flame of Justice the four pillars of the Empire.
Cerakos Gate and Avenue
Cerakos Gate marks the main entrance to Pyr. Majestic but firmly guarded, it is named in honour of Cerakos II.
Fyros Emperor during the Great Swarming[5], Cerakos II is a tutelary figure of the new Fyros Empire founded after 2483. Born in 2449 and died in 2481, Cerakos II led the Fyros people in the Prime Roots during the Great Swarming, but he also died then while fighting one of the first waves of kitins. As no fire can be lit in the Roots without causing a disaster, his body was embalmed waiting to be cremated by the Sacred Fire as the Fyros tradition requires. Thus, in 2443, two years after his death, a pyre was raised to incinerate his body. The first bricks of Pyr were laid in this precise place, and this pyre became the graet gate of the City. A commemoration of the Emperor's burning at the stake takes place every year under the moon of the winter solstice. This day is known as Day of the Pyre. The Sacred Fire at the gates of Pyr does not harm homins. It comes from the Flaming Forest, where the Watchers tribe maintains the activity of its sources while avoiding their expansion. Its magical essence was passed on to the Fyros by the Kamis, in order to better control true wildfires. It is maintained at the gates by a few homins who are in charge of it.
Arispotle Avenue
Arispotle is a Fyros Emperor born in 2313 and died in 2361. He reigned from 2329 until his death. He was saved by a Kami, which secured a friendship between the Fyros and the Kamis, as well as a deep respect in the hearts of the Fyros. Indeed, a Kamis' ambassador is always present at Cerakos Gate. The avenue, like that of Cerakos, has walls covered with glyphs. Here and there are arranged kind of booths, twenty in number. These two avenues are called the Sanctuary.
Below is an excerpt from the Sanctuary of Ma-Duk of the Imperial Dunes, entitled The Kamis and the Fyros.
"Very early on, the Kamis noticed a particular ability in the Fyros. The Desert people simply did not fear one of Atys' great plagues: fire. The Kamis tried to win their hearts and rally them to their cause. The Fyros were initially wary of these strange creatures. Then the rescue of Emperor Arispotle by a Kami sealed a new friendship and marked the birth of a deep respect in the hearts of the Fyros.
The Fyros gradually turned to the Kamis to learn from them the secrets of magic. The Emperor was the first homin to use the kamik teleportation. The Fyros experimented with magic using the powers of fire, manipulating the primordial energy of the Desert. In return for the favours of the Kamis, the Fyros have guaranteed protection from the fire of the Dragon[6], and have agreed to fight to master it in the event of a wildfire.
Fantastic warriors, the Fyros have always been ready to mobilize for a just cause. Although they preferred their own Kamist cults to the Great Order of Ma-Duk, they have repeatedly responded to the calls of Kamis' followers, regardless of their origins."
Abylus Circus
Abylus the Learned is a Fyros Emperor born in 2366 and died in 2348. Son of Cerakos the Righteous (not to be confused with Cerakos II) and father of Emperor Pyto, as well as of Tanistie and Thesop, he is the founder of the Council of Chroniclers, a council in charge of writing the history of the Fyros people. He had to face Fire of Coriolis during his reign.
Leanon Street
Sister of Emperor Cerakos II, Leanon held the position of regent when his brother died, until his death in 2502 following a long disease. In 2490, she signed the Mutual Assistance Agreement (MAP) with the Matis King Yasson, the Zoraï Great Sage Hoi-Cho and the Tryker Governor Rigan Mac'Darrell to counter the kitin threat.
Dexton Street
Dexton is an emperor Fyros born in 2480. He succeeded his father Cerakos II. He was not in power until he was 22, when his aunt Leanon, who was until then in charge of the regency, died. He died in 2562 during the Second Great Swarming. He is responsible for the rapprochement with the Zoraïs, in particular because of his friendship with the Sage Mabreka. He is the father of the present Emperor Lykos.
