The Order of the Al-Shurrur can hardly be called an order in the popular sense of the word. In fact, this ancient group of entities can hardly be called by any word which signifies true unity, structure or relationship. The group always was and has ever remained a great mystery to Valeronian researchers from mystics to theologians. This is possibly due to the fact that the Al-Shurrur have never had any interest whatsoever to cooperate with any outsiders. It is less a case of secrecy (Though the Al-Shurrur are sure to have many secrets), and more a case of being unhelpful to the point of passive (or sometimes even ordinary)-aggressivity.
As far as we know, the Al-Shurrur consist of individuals who have forsaken sanity. Although this statement sounds like an insult or an ignorant dismissal, it is anything but.
The name "Al-Shurrur" is as much a mystery as the group it represents. After years of hard work throughout the ages; countless researchers have come to the same disappointing conclusion: The name means nothing. To clarify: Al-Shurrur does not mean the word "Nothing", but rather this name has no lingual meaning at all. There are hundreds of different words it resembles in different ways, yet it always differs in some way or another. Apparently, the word sounds funny and hard to understand to the Anayatans, to us it would be like calling your organization "Blah Blah" or "Murmur". In some sense the name could be seen as just as chaotic as the group.
There is no recorded beginning point to the Al-Shurrur. According to Anayatan's understanding however, the organization goes back as far as anything. It is seen as a constant, like the empire, Bel-Heirion or even the 12-hour day for us. The first mention of the group in Valeronian sources is from the third age, during Rinvarian occupation of the Anayatan coast, but there is obviously no reason to believe the organization does not predate Rinvar Bel-Heirions conquest.
IDEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY
As stated in the prologue, the Al-Shurrur are, and organization shrouded in deep mystery. Even during the recent Wars in the south, these mysteries have seen little light shun on them. Since not a single Al-Shurrur have been captured or found after the First War in the South, many who are aware of the name "Al-Shurrur" have even begun to question their entire existence. The Bel-Heirion and his Lifeguard had seen them in Galagos, both during the negotiations before the war, and during the Ambush of Galagos four months later. There is no recorded dialogue or words of any “True Member” of the Al-Shurrur. (Note: The term “True Al-Shurrur” is used in multiple different instances in multiple different contexts. More on it later.)
What we know does relate to my comment about the Al-Shurrur having forsaken their sanity… But to fully explore these concepts in the best context possible, I have to present a report for said context:
Eight years ago, a mysterious journal came up in the black market in Lavestra. It was an Anayatan text written in a code the reseller had been unable to decipher. This book circulated esoteric circles for a year, before being picked up by a wealthy heartland imperial, called Marcus Fitzpatrick. A week later Marcus was found dead in a hotel in Fostra. His room ransacked, with no property missing; no property, except an old Anayatan Codex. But whoever had murdered Mr. Fitzpatrick, had not taken the book. How do I know this? Because four years ago a friend of mine whose animosity I shall guard, while on a business trip to Savìr, found that a deposit had been made to his family vault there. The deposit consisted of a single item, and old Anayatan book. Though my friend did find this nameless transaction odd, he did not think much of it until two years ago when a private detective he had hired found out the book had been bought by Mr. Fitzpatrick six years earlier, just before his death. My friend not being able to read the book, sent it to me.
Now to my knowledge there are seven people in the world outside the Selmen order who can decipher Selmen code… And I, the humble author of this report, am one of those people. I knew the code, though true acceptance of what was said was hard to manifest. It was immediately clear to me that the book had been written in the Selmen code, used by the trader explorers to guard their secret knowledge from pirates and greedy foreign officials. In the following year, I, along with my trusted friend and colleague from the Cassias Academy: Wulfrim Idanov translated the codex. Now I am fully aware that only ten years ago the knowledge that someone outside the Imperial Conservatory Office, Professor Idanov in this instance, was proficient in the Selmen code would have landed him on the secret police hitlist. I am however confident enough to lay out the true facts now that the Selmen order is no more,
What we discovered was beyond interesting. I would offer you a complete, word to word translation of everything said in this book, yet I must confess I am not able. As soon as word of my work got out, the book was confiscated by the Imperial Secret Service. Therefore, I fear any and all conclusions I can now draw from my memory, are in fact affected by my humane memory. I will however try.
The Book, which I have come to call the “The Green Selmen Codex”, consisted among other things, of what seemed mad ramblings of Selmen explorers over their discoveries in Anayatol. The book handled with depth the question of the Al-Shurrur, what they are and what they believe in. In the book, the author talks about the conflict that the Selmen had with a cult of Al-Shurrur, who were called “Sahim Arahaar”. These Sahim Arahaar (shortened “SHR”) were referred to as “Invisible”, or not having a presence in the humane sense. It is hard to determine what is meant by this, but clearly the Selmen had great anxiety about dealing with them. There is also talk about the SHR, having a special city in the jungles where the water was drinkable. This is a strange remark, since according to imperial surveys of Anayatan jungles, there are plenty of pure springs in those lands. This city was clearly something the Selmen were very interested in, and it was brought up over and over again in the texts.
The Book, which I have come to call the “The Green Selmen Codex”, consisted among other things, of what seemed mad ramblings of Selmen explorers over their discoveries in Anayatol. The book handled with depth the question of the Al-Shurrur, what they are and what they believe in. In the book, the author talks about the conflict that the Selmen had with a cult of Al-Shurrur, who were called “Sahim Arahaar”. These Sahim Arahaar (shortened “SHR”) were referred to as “invisible”, or not having a presence in the humane sense. It is hard to determine what is meant by this, but clearly the Selmen had great anxiety about dealing with them. This is of course very alarming, since the Selmen very rarely had any reservations over diving into dark unknowns. (See the Uthabatar-excursion and REDACTED.)
There is also talk about the SHR, having a special city in the jungles where the water was drinkable. This is a strange remark, since according to imperial surveys of Anayatan jungles, there are plenty of pure springs in those lands. This city was clearly something the Selmen were very interested in, and it was brought up repeatedly in the texts.
According to the Selmen research, the SHR sought to somehow damage their own consciousness. Sapience seemed to be seen as some sort of curse to them, or a condition to be battled. The SHR and all Al-Shurrurs ultimate goal was to weaken their touch with reality, so they could elevate their existence.
The Codex quoted a tortured prisoner, saying “The perception of reality is a limiting factor in existence. When the perception is withered, a more enlightened spirit takes home in the brain.”. As the codex goes on, it becomes clearer and clearer that the Selmen do not consider the Al-Shurrur to even be humans. The perception seems to change, and the writing becomes fanatical and absurd.
There is also the common separation of Al-Shurrur into “Al-Shurrur” and “True Al-Shurrur”, which has remained somewhat of a mystery to me. It seems that the Anayatan mysticists see these two things as vastly different things, though I cannot tell you why. Now the truthfulness of what the Selmen researchers have said can be questioned, but I have never seen a Selmen master chancellor, capable of writing in the Selmen code, lying in their text. These words can also back up what many unconfirmed myths and legends say about the Al-Shurrur seeking to drive themselves, and everyone else mad in order to somehow elevate our race. I believe it is safe to say that at least some part of what we have explored here, is factually a part of the Al-Shurrur ideology.
EXISTANCE AND CONCLUSIONS
I have laid out everything that I know about the Al-Shurrur ideologies and history, but even now the argument for the nonexistence of the group could be made. Few concepts rival the Al-Shurrur in mysticism and mystery, due to multiple differing hard to explain facts. If the Al-Shurrur, as the Sahlags and Serenkai said, did indeed not only exist, but also take control of the Sal-Sahhar; how is it possible that no sign of them remains? Or how is it possible that so few of the millions of people in Anyatol know, or can tell anything about the organization? Is it possible that the Sahlags simply made them up to make their betrayal seem milder? It is hard to argue, since they have been seen at least twice.
The information we have of those meeting is of course extremely limited, due to the political secrecy surrounding them. Multiple members of the lifeguard, most prominently Ser Hervan Di Maiel, have stated that they did indeed see the “True Al-Shurrur” in Galagos, as well as in the citadel of Mudhallam. Di Maiel wrote a letter to lord Arthorion, stating his experiences during the meeting. I think it best to simply copy the text of the archived letter here, to give you the reader a full picture of what exactly he experienced:
" To: Imperial Custodian-General, Lord Arthorion De Laxelian - Confidential
Written on November 7th, 281, 5E
By Ser Hervan Di Maiel, acting member of the imperial Lifeguard
Hopeful Greetings from Galagos my lord and friend! As I am sure you have already heard, our voyage went well, and we arrived this morning in the golden city. Ser Henry Highmore has taken charge of the safety, and I am to work as a personal bodyguard to BEL-HEIRION. As I write this, I am on my break after a phenomenal supper. I must tell you, you were right. There is a lot of history in this city. The oldest towers must be thousands of years old, from the times of the Kaffaris! I will be looking forward to seeing the city and its sights tomorrow. The food is good, but I confess I would like to taste the local wine.
The activities surrounding the supper went well, but I cannot help but to feel quite some anxiety around these Anayatolians. Though I can’t quite put my finger on what, and perhaps I am mistaken, but I will be monitoring their movements closely.
Most of all I do not like these shadowy figures that surround them. They are strange, and there has been talk about exactly what or who they are. They are Al-Shurrur, or something like that, BEL-HEIRION and Lord Evanter are sure of it. If they are correct, I find our situation extremely volatile. BEL-HEIRION has, after the councel of Lord Evanter and Ser Highmore decided to keep this knowledge hidden and continue with diplomacy and care. Needless to say, I counselled against this decission, but you know how keen our lord is to trust the lord Irongold. These shadowy figures are strange. They are often mistaken for tricks of the psyche, rather than actual people. They do not talk or interact with us, but rather move strangely, sometimes like madmen in great pain. I do not trust them, and if they get close to the BEL-HEIRION they will be losing hands or heads... "
I have cut the letter short, since Ser Di Maiel does not mention the Al-Shurrur after these paragraphs. The knight would die only hours after sending out this letter.
To me, it is clear that something called Al-Shurrur exists. Whether they are a myth, real people, demons or some sort of illusions cannot be determined by me now. And like the famed poet and conservator Ilum Ilarion said, “times marches forwards without ever looking back”. The further we go from the Wars in the South, the smaller and smaller chance we have of discovering what exactly is Al-Shurrur.
Created with love, by P.K.Kimpimäki