A History of Pellaras
A History of Pellaras: The Founding
by Aldwin Urquart
As was established in my previous work on global magical civilization, the creation of the first magical nations was spurred on by the creation of the International Statute of Secrecy. The intricacies of those nation's early days were not touched upon, however. This work shall be focused on Pellaras, its founding, and later history.
In its founding days, Pellaras was initially little more than a social movement; it was a theological reformation that would result in the nation today. That core concept, the Elfredian Heresy that was central to the Pellarastic Reformation, was the unifying belief for magical people from many walks of life. By the time of the Statute's signing, that nationalistic identity had solidified itself, having led to the creation of five primary enclaves which would become the central towns of the divisions of Pellaras.
Of course, such divisions could not be drawn without a full government to draw them. Whilst the Wizard's Council, and their predecessor the Council of the Magus, existed prior to the Statute, they were primarily focused on dealings with non-human entities, and ensuring the safety of the public by sealing away dangerous beasts and other such acts. By the time of the Statute, however, it was agreed that the Wizard's Council would be disbanded in favor of the formation of the Ministry of Magic, a subordinate body to the International Confederation of Wizards, insofar as they were to adhere to the ICW's strictures regarding the Statute and any trade agreements with foreign nations. Appointed as Acting Minister was Carina Cepheus Black, later appointed as Minister via election for her second term in office, one she failed to serve fully, as she was assassinated by her niece, Auriga Orion Black a mere two months after the election.
It was during her term as Acting Minister, however, that Carina Black delineated the regions of Pellaras, along with naming the nation such. As a symbolic passing of the torch, she chose a name of Kernoweck origin, pointing toward the seat of the Wizard's Council's power in Kernow. Pellaras is, of course, named for the folk term of Pellar (which would be adopted as the name for citizens) which referred - initially - to those that would expel malignant spirits. The term was, thus, as much a passing of the torch as it was a cementation of the founding beliefs of the country. Acting Minister Black, however, was as infatuated with a mystical romanticized past as the rest of her kin, and the names of Pellaras' regions are emblematic of her beliefs. Each of the five residential regions is named for the original name in the older tongues of the land. Kernow, Alba, Cymru, Eire, and Oileán, respectively Cornwall, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and the scattered archipelagos and islands surrounding the two primary landmasses, though the regions' boundaries are rather different to the mundane counterparts.
There is, however, a sixth region, one which serves as Ministerial grounds, used for the purpose of Department of Mysteries experimentation, the farming of magical reagents for disciplines such as the brewing of potions and wand crafting, and to act as a meeting ground for non-human beings or foreign dignitaries who wish to meet outside of the Ministry building. This, of course, is considered the last of the regions by the majority, as the final delineation is more akin to a sovereign city-state, that being the Basilica of the Arcane from which the Synod of the Pellars operates (the Synod being the theological council of Pellarastic Christianity.)
The second notable act of Acting Minster Black was the creation of the regional seats, Dowr Lehen, Hogsmeade, Branybryn, Ben Builg, and Afon Alaw each for the respective region in the prior list. Admittedly, this was more of a formalization than a proper founding of each seat, given their pre-existing nature as enclaves. Their formalization as seats, however, allowed the Synod to work alongside the Ministry to facilitate the construction of the five Minor Basilicas. Some historians, such as Reinhardt Selwyn, have posited that the locations of the enclaves were meticulously planned by the Synod, so as to have the Minor Basilicas built in places where saints were buried, however, evidence shows that of the five saints each Basilica houses remains of, only two had predeceased the religion.
The formal creation of Pellaras as a nation, along with the ideals and beliefs that were central to the creation of the country, would then set the stage for the years to follow.