This narrative was relayed to me by Devin Lok’ri, who learned it from Terrana Lok’ri, who learned it from Shirin Lok’ri, who learned it from Ajram Varaz, who learned it from Doriam Tol-Araz, who learned it from Damianos Alvarre, who learned it from Trahan Alvarre, who learned it from Maryam Alvarre. Before the time of Maryam, it is unclear where the story originated. Its details are of doubtful veracity, but carries some interest. I pray that God and the Faithful find this story pleasing and edifying.
In the days when Amarr was a single island, in the last years of the quiet times, the Emperor at the time believed that the Empire was at the largest extent it could possibly reach. In those times, our ancestors did not understand the science of shipbuilding, or of navigation, or of making war at sea. That Emperor believed that all would be well, and it would be their lot to rule a peaceful state, in which all was in order.
One day, however, a small three masted ship with a black hull, the likes of which no Amarr had ever seen, laid anchor outside Dam-Torsad, and from it came foriegners who did not speak our language. The Emperor ordered that these foreigners be treated with honour, as guests, and eventually enough language was shared that he came to understand that they were Udorians, from Ves-Udor, and that they offered trade. Being a kindly ruler, the Emperor acquiesced, and the Udorian ships began to appear with their black masts and cloud-like sails.
From their ships came luxuries, but also maladies. Every bolt of Udorian silk unloaded into Dam-Torsad, every amphora of wine, and every sailor on shore leave brought corruption, sickness, and vice to Amarr island. Waves of disease spread from the ports. Waves of ideas that threatened the divine order came from the sailors, enticing commoners to leave Amarr forever. Waves of corruption through finery corrupted the Holders, leading them to neglect their duty to their subjects. For fifty years the black ships of the Udorians were allowed to bring disaster to Amarr.
However, eventually the Blessed Emperor died and their successor looked on the empire and despaired. All was falling into disorder and apostacy. At first, the young Emperor attempted to end the problem with the methods of his predecessor. He talked to the Udorian representatives and kindly asked them to leave. They refused. When he pressed the matter, they became explicit: “We control the seas and there is nothing you can do that will prevent us from bringing our ships to your little island. You should be greatful that we have only brought trade and not armies, but if you refuse us that could change.”
Their ears ringing from this threat, the Emperor retired in despair. During the night, however, the Prophet Gheinok and the Emperor Amash-Akura seemed to appear in a dream. They told the Emperor: “Do not despair! For God has given you everything that you need to make Amarr safe once more!” Waking up from the night, the Emperor pondered what exactly had been meant by this dream. Was it divine revelation? Was it a figment of their imagination? How could one tell such a thing?
As the Emperor was about to call a priest to discuss the matter, they went out to the balcony of the palace, from the window they saw the crew of one of the Udorian convoy’s escort warships leave their ship in a disorderly drunken mob. Suddenly, the Emperor understood what needed to be done.
The Emperor immediately, with new energy and life, convened the Council and outlined the plan: “The Udorians might have dominance over the seas, they might stand proud and arrogant and make their threats, and they might for a moment indeed have Amarr at their mercy. But if they believe this, they have underestimated us. Their only ability to threaten us comes from control of the sea, and they have already given to us all we need to take that from them. So, tonight, we are going to arrest every last one of these foreigners, board every last ship, and build a wall of wood that will protect Amarr from any who might threaten it. Then, we will take those ships and that knowledge, and we will use it to make absolutely sure that their arrogance can never threaten us again.” Saying this, the Emperor made all of their orders and preparations. They first arranged for the tavernas of the city to be especially generous that night, drawing as many of the Udorians in as possible, and they prepared in hidden coves a fleet of coastal boats. Well into the night, when the Udorians were settling into their debauchery, the Emperor set all of the bells in the palace ringing, signalling that the time to strike had arrived.
The Imperial Guard stormed all of the docked ships and then arrested every Udorian found in Dam-Torsad. The coastal boats rowed out under cover of darkness to swarm the few Udorian ships in the harbor that were not docked. Messengers ran out to the rest of the island, informing the Holders of other harbors that they should also arrest all Udorians and seize their ships.
Then, with the immediate threat contained, the Emperor set about learning how ships worked. The ships were dismantled, board by board, sheet by sheet, with every piece labelled clearly so that it could be copied and reassembled. The sailors were interrogated and pressed into the service of the Empire. In this moment Amarr learned to build a navy. Carpenters took the base design of a Udorian light warship, and copied the core of the design. Then the Council of Apostles inspected the diagrams, and made a wide variety of changes to make the ships more in accord with divinely revealed design principles. Where the Udorian design had featured black hulls, the new design was made of a light coloured wood. Where the Udorian aesthetic was utilitarian, the new ships featured reliefs and golden inscriptions praising God and the Saints.
When they were done, the Emperor ordered the construction of an entire fleet of ships. Some of his advisors suggested that perhaps he should order this new fleet to attack Assimia, after all, Assimians were the ones who had forced the Prophet’s second exile! But the Emperor, wise for their years, declined: “The Assimians cannot threaten us in our homes, but the Udorians can, we must always prioritise defeating those enemies who have the greatest ability to hurt our people and the Faith.”
So, the Golden Fleet set out to Ves-Udor to fight the Black Fleet of the Udorians. This first fleet failed. The Emperor learned from the loss and refined the designs and tactics of their navy. A second, third and fourth fleet followed. Each one met the same fate, and each time the Emperor learned from the defeat and improved the designs. But the fifth fleet, well, that fleet came back victorious. Hundreds more followed in its wake, breaking forever the Udorian’s control of the sea. By the time that Emperor died, the Reclaiming was well under way and Amarr was safe again.
I pray that all who read this concentrate their thoughts on their Duty to God and on the Communal Faith which binds all Amarr together in service to the Emperor and to God. May we always prove resilient in service of the protection of the Divine Order of Amarr, even against threats that seem insurmountable. By God’s light and God’s word, Amarr will remain forever glorious.