Introduction

The Takmahl were an ancient race once part of the Amarr Empire who, having crowned their first emperor in -6876YC, could also be considered an ancient race.^[1] Despite originating from a faction with a long and well preserved written history.^[2] little information is currently available on the Takmahl. They were exiled from the Empire, for reasons unknown, shortly after the Amarr returned to space.^[3] Relics in Araz have proven the Takmahl had a thriving culture for centuries after this, eventually dying out, again for reasons unknown.^[3]

We do know the Takmahl remained a religious people, building temples, creating statues and idols depicting their god, and composing texts describing their rituals.^[3] Yet currently we know almost nothing about the Takmahl religion beyond what can be drawn from the faiths of the Imperial creed, the Order of St. Tetrimon, the Sani Sabik, and the Blood Raider Covenant.

Further study of Takmahl history would benefit the fields of theology and Amarr/Sani Sabik history, with possible benefit to the field of Earthology. It would also improve our understanding of the history of the New Eden cluster, potentially providing information on other ancient factions. History provides context to the present, allows the examination of new viewpoints, and provides a greater pool of experience to draw from when looking to the future. Although not a goal of this project, historical analysis of a faction with advanced or alternate technologies may contribute to the production of new technologies, in this case most likely in the fields of biotechnology and cybernetics. While pursuit of practical applications is not discouraged it should be remembered that the Arek'Jaalan Project takes an active stance against any further weaponization of ancient technology.

Research Goals

The aim of this project is to attain further information on Takmahl history. There is no specific final goal therefore submission for review will be at the discretion of the Project and Division leads. Research shall continue after submission and hopefully benefit from feedback generated by the Arek'Jaalan Project and its affiliates.

Review

To avoid duplication of effort and provide a starting point for further study a review of current data can be found below. As further sources and interpretations become available they will be added to this section providing an overview of current understanding on the subject matter.

The known history of the Amarr begins with Dano Gheinok, accredited in Scripture as leading what would become the Amarrian people to Athra.^[1]^[2] Also referred to as Gheinok the First, it can be implied he was the first Amarrian Prophet and established the foundations of the Amarrian theocracy.

This demonstrates retention of data from before the Dark Ages, which are themselves seemingly referred to in Book 1 1:14, which the Amarr apparently survived better than most other factions.^[2] The retention of knowledge and rapid development, compared to the Caldari and Gallente, suggest that the Amarr also devolved less during the Dark Ages themselves. Eight millennia passed before the Amarr crowned their first emperor^[1], presumably following the leadership of the Prophets as established by Gheinok the First during this period.

Amash-Akura rose to power with the support of priests who went on to form the Council of Apostles, and there are more memorials, statues, and icons dedicated to him in the present day Empire than any other Emperor. Written over 6,000 years ago, Chapter I of the Epitoth describes events during the time of Emperor Amash-Akura which can be interpreted as the interference of another faction in Amarrian development.^[2]

The arrival of the Sefrim, during a solar eclipse not caused by the moons of Amarr Prime, is depicted in terms that could describe a starship landing and they are described as "speaking the Language of God" and being "those that guard the high seats of heaven". They gifted Ametat the Scepter and Avetat the Crown to the emperor, which remained in the Imperial family for four centuries (and are claimed by Amarr Theologians to be similar to the Jovian and Ancient Race artefacts) and "For a hundred years while the Sefrim watched over the empire no wars or epidemics or famines ruined the lands and the people were content and joyous."

The Sefrim ultimately left, turned away by Amash-Akura for not aiding him against Molok the Deceiver.^[2] God speaks to Amash-Akura and tells him "Thy folly is great, Amash-Akura, thou hast rejected those I sent to thee in thine hour of need. Thou must redeem thyself to me by thy own merits." Amash-Akura succeeded in this five years later, dying the same day he sacrificed Molok to God.

The arrival of the Udorians on the Amarr continent spurred rapid change, including the launch of the Reclaiming. The Sani Sabik sect appeared, founded upon the Scriptures used to justify the Reclaiming, the Emperor, and the rise of the Holder class. Their faith has two central dogmas, that certain people are born destined for greatness, with all others existing solely to serve and breed these savants, and that immortality is attainable for these savants. Despite engaging in human sacrifice in the name of purification and immortality the Sani Sabik sect gained such notoriety that it began to threaten the power of the Emperor himself, who ordered the cult exterminated.

The Sani Sabik had remained suppressed for thousands of years until the Amarr first reached the stars and spread beyond their home world. Small groups of Sani Sabik left the Empire to settle colonies and build their strength. One of these groups used primitive cryo-ships to settle far from the Amarr homeworld in the Araz constellation founding the Takmahl Empire which rose to great technological heights within a few hundred years.

Potentially influenced by the Takmahl or Sani Sabik, Zaragram Ardishapur, dubbed the "Mad Emperor", rose to power shortly after the Amarr reattained interstellar travel.^[4]^[5] He placed himself above the Apostle Council and issued many decrees directly usurping the Scriptures. During his time many traditions of Amarr society were uprooted and eradicated, replaced with his own ideas on divinity. Zaragram II constructed Mezagorm in the Shastal system, now known as the City of God, to 'get in touch' with his supernatural self. Many high-ranking Apostle Clerics who refused to swear loyalty to him and espouse his divinity were imprisoned of executed.

After 114 years as emperor, including the Reclaiming of the Ealur, Zaragram was assassinated by a nobleman of his own family upon Mezagorms completion.In the aftermath the Apostle Council returned to power and established the Order of St. Tetrimon to reverse the “corrupting influence” of Zaragram II.^[5] They “purified” the scriptures, removing chapters that disagreed with the "canon" of the Amarrfaith, and those chapters which had been added in recent times.

Half a century later the Moral Reforms began.^[4] The Emperor, along with what would become the Theology Council, created a new canon of scriptures.^[5] Previously the power of the Amarr Emperor was channelled through the Apostles, with the Emperor being first among equals. The Reforms made the Emperor supreme head of the church and granted questioned authority. Over the 75 years the Reforms took many aspects of the Amarr faith were purged and modified to fit the new political order. After the Reforms the Amarr began taking tentative steps towards further exploration and expansion, implying a pause in these activities after 660 years of progress. Scripture pre-dating the Moral Reforms has since been rigorously suppressed by the Theology Council.^[4] Amongst them, the writings of the Takmahl and the original Scriptures guarded by the Order of St. Tetrimon.

Another piece of suppressed information is the Sixth Sign of the Amarrian faith.^[6] While officially there is no sixth sign the sequence implies its existence. The inversion of the first sign, the Sixth can be interpreted as Man become God and follows on from the Fifth, which is said to represent that the empires future lies in space. Visibly the symbol resembles an egg or capsule shape. The symbol may have influenced Zaragram II’s pursuit of Godhood, which may in turn explain its suppression.

The Takmahl empire itself "floundered and eventually collapsed under its own religion" centuries after its founding. This fall occurring shortly before, or being part of, the Moral Reforms. Today the Takmahl are said to be the predecessors of the Blood Raiders.^[3] though the level of similarity between the two groups is difficult to ascertain.

Direct information on the Takmahl is sparse. Takmahl derived design naming conventions point towards the Takmahl being related to the knight crusaders who led the early Reclaiming which ties in with their links to the Book of Reclaiming.^[7]^[8] Knightly tradition may still be seen in the Khanid Cyber Knights.^[9] The Labyrinth, in Aphi, contains numerous Takmahl relics and a Temple site.^[10] It is hoped Project Theseus will lead towards further data on The Labyrinth and that recovered artifacts will provide more information on the Takmahl in general.

Another site of interest, brought to light in recent times, is the Temple of God’s Assuring Whisper. An Amarrian religious center, which was destroyed during the Moral Reforms, the site was said to once contain "Amarrians receiving training on how to walk the path of God and work in the spirit of the Reclaiming."^[11] Holy statues were recovered from the site which the Tetrimon believed would herald the coming of a new Reclaiming that will "bring God’s faith to all." This statement may connect the statues to known apocryphal texts.^[4] The statues and links to the Reclaiming may hint at links to the Takmahl.