Duality - Nena and Xigary

[I-0]

---

"It is impossible to discuss Nena without discussing its neighbor, Xigary, and vice-versa."

In both historical and contemporary coverage of the islands off the northeastern coast of Aegis proper, the above sentence has become something of a cliche. It has appeared in virtually every account of the islands in the past thousand years, since their unique circumstance became manifest.

A millennia ago, the two islands were one - historical documents in the region that is now Nena claim that this singular island was referred to simply as 'Nena,' and documents from what is now Xigary claim, of course, that it was 'Xigary.'

The two were forever split apart by a mysterious catastrophe, which each side has their own explanation for - each blaming the other. In the folklore of Nena, the event is known as the Sundering. It is laid at the feet of an unnamed Witch who attempted to summon the 'greatest of all demons' - but she was unable to control it. It split not merely her soul in two, but the souls of all who lived on the island, and even the great spirits that kept it intact.

To Xigary, however, the event is known as the Glorious Rebellion, and given a completely different explanation.

In the stories they tell, the councilmen of what would become Nena swore their allegiance to a fallen angel - imprisoned deep beneath the great lake in the center of the island. In response, the greatest magi of Xigary came together and beseeched the heavens. The earth below moved, the sea shook, and the island was forever divided.

Over the years, as separate societies developed and further generations were raised, an unusual pattern began to emerge.

Whenever a magi was born in one of the two islands, someone of curious parallels would be born on the other, on the same date, at the same time.

Reckless pyromancers, mirrored by patient hydromancers.

Vile occultists, and virtuous exorcists.

Stalwart paladins, and conniving assassins.

Saying that one island is 'the good one' and one is 'the evil one' is vastly oversimplifying matters.

The two are in a constant dance beneath a binary star, pushing where the other pulls.

Some dedicate their entire lives to locating their counterpart on the opposite island, believing that they are fragments of the same soul, sparks from the Lifestream in twine. Some - those who are eternally tied to those of that stance, of course - are determined to avoid them forever. It's not uncommon for a resident of the mirrored islands to report phantom pains when their counterpart is wounded, or for both to claim that they share the same dreams at night.

In terms of climate, Nena is dominated by long, crushing winters, with short hot summers - whereas, of course, Xigary is largely temperate, tropical, with fierce winter storms over a matter of a few months.

Both have civilizations led by Councils of seven members - in Xigary, these leaders are heavily secretive, their identities known only to one another. Their political decisions are relayed to the community at large by way of a single chosen Speaker, an honorary member of the Council who is often regarded as the true head of state. Upon the demise of a councilmember, the Speaker personally chooses one citizen to replace them - and upon the Speaker's death, the Council convenes to choose a replacement from among their own members.

Nena's Council, by contrast, are treated as celebrities - chosen democratically from among the most popular and beloved citizens, often those with the closest ties to the cosmos above. They are all, in Xigary's terms, Speakers - speakers for the stars. The central political issue within both islands is that of unification - whether it is something to strive for, or if complete eradication of the other is a more suitable goal.

Given the nature of the two islands, it's unlikely that the complete deadlock will be resolved anytime soon, if ever. Each brilliant orator fighting for their respective side has an equally genius nemesis.