First on the list of known fourth-generation Eternal Titans is both the odd one out of the group and the, in my opinion, best one to begin with: Yandrok, the Law-giver.

Like most of our knowledge on the four generations of Eternal and Wall Titans, our greatest source of information comes from none other than the incredible and influential ancient Neirean states-and-then-churchman Marcus Petruso back in the years 673-675 AC (see sections “Marcus Petruso and the Officializing of the Titanian Church” and “The Clash of the Heavens and Wall: The Single-battled War which Changed Talam Forever” for more details). Marcus Petruso’s erudite teachings are as follows:

The Wisest of All Yandrok was the creation of the Wondrous Guardian of the Sea, Ialgme (see section “The Eternal Titans: Ialgme, Guardian of the Sea” for more details), who, in her eternal glory, poured her power into Mother’s very essence to craft such a noble and wise Titan. And while all fourth generation Eternal and Wall Titans were made as such, Yandrok the Law-giver and his unfortunate and damnable ex-confidant Radiino (see section “The Wall Titans: Radiino, the Unruly” for more details) hold dominion not over various elements of nature, but foundational structures either of civilization (like the law) or the universe itself (like chaos).

Yandrok, the Law-giver, like all Titans, is an incredible creature to behold: an intense face like that of a large, feral cat, having immense eyes which can see us commit sins and wrongdoings and jagged teeth for the purpose of exacting justice, with a spiky mane along the back of its neck and a large, singular horn atop his head; a large, muscular quadrupedal body mostly covered in brown fur, with each of its legs ending with hooves large enough to crush the average car, which represents  the immense force required to uphold the law; a broad and dense shell shielding its back, said to be impenetrable to even Phohoeno’s most powerful blasts (see section “The Eternal Titans: Phohoeno, Guardian of the Air” for more details), which represents the steadfast nature and divine protection the law provides; and a tail which appears like shifting sand, first large and flowing and then small and brittle, which represents how, as time progresses, even Yandrok will change laws to best fit human needs.

So ends Marcus Petruso’s account of Yandrok, the Law-giver, but thankfully we have been given some more information to understand about our Incredible Law-giver over the last five-hundred and fifty or so years.

Throughout the centuries, the leader of Talam’s Justice Collegium has communed with the Steadfast Yandrok, all in the name that our justice departments uphold the name of the divine law accurately (see section “Talam’s Collegia of Government: The Justice Collegium” for more details). With His divine guidance, lawmakers have created, amended, and even ridden Talam of laws to enrich our lives and keep us safe.

The Always Wise Yandrok keeps an eye on what is best for humans and has played a massive role in some of the largest shifts in the continent. When all six provinces became unified, Yandrok decreed that all faiths – dangerous pagan beliefs which aimed to destroy the incredible Titans protecting us – and even lack of faith – braindead heathens so blinded by their own ignorance that they cannot see the divine clearly in front of them – aside from the Titanian Church to be illegal (in lieu of stating the entire name and code of each specific law I use as reference, I will simply give the year of the Justice Collegium’s newest amendment to a particular law; in this case, it was 958 AC). And as the ever changing tide of humanity rose and our relationship with the Titans deepened, Yandrok amended laws which compel Wielders to work for the people in various ways: before 1111 AC, Wielders simply aided humanity whether in the church, through entertainment in specific sporting events, and even in guilds which had the sole purpose of doing jobs for humanity all from the goodness of their hearts. Yet in 1111 AC, Yandrok made it law for Wielders to register with the government so the Republic could better help guide Wielders to aid humanity, making Wielders work in the church, the Republic’s Defense Collegium – which included the newly founded Peace Keepers (see section “Talam’s Collegia of Government: The Defense Collegium” for more details) – guilds, or even sports as a law. Even then, Yandrok continued to watch over us and what we needed, as he allowed Wielders to aid the research and development of private business sectors in 1169 AC.

I find it so compelling that Yandrok eventually made that choice. It is strange to think of a world without Wielders aiding the commonfolk beneath them, yet Yandrok requiring Wielders to register with the Republic and be placed into an approved organization suggests that, even at barely over a century ago, there were some Wielders who did not desire to be beneficent to mankind. There are no written accounts of such a thing happening that I could find, though it stands to reason that was the case. Why else would a Wielder’s punishment for not registering be so high, with a several million credit fine at a minimum and execution at a maximum?

After all I have already written, you might think Supportive Yandrok only cares about large-scale issues, but that could not be further from the truth. Not only does he move his hand – hoof? – over large-scale laws, but also the smaller, seemingly more inane ones, as well.

These changes range from every small adjustment to the law for the entire continent, like adding an extra fine for littering (1229 AC), the punishment for cyberbullying with the ever-growing technological landscape (1232 AC), the number of alcoholic beverages allowed to be purchased each week growing from five to one hundred (1059 AC), and even creating a ten-hour minimum workday (1109 AC). But the Patient Yandrok is so caring, that he even focuses on laws tailored to more specific provinces, like the amount of rice farmers are required to provide each year in Nichugo (1204 AC) or how much grain can be taxed in Mesr (1225 AC).

It is so freeing to know that there is a system in place to keep us safe not by flawed humans who can grow corrupt, but by the very breath of the divine. A divine entity who cares for us, loves us, and wants us to succeed. So if ever there is a time when you feel annoyed and tired for how long you are working each day, or you grumble over how much you need to give the Republic each Siaber in taxes, or don’t understand why you can’t park along the street of a large city overnight, just remember there is a divine will in it all, and every law that is made is for your benefit.

Praise be to Yandrok, One Who Provides Us Law and Order, and may he continue to watch over us, guide us, and protect us, for the rest of our days!

– Lillie Woo, University of Westalk, PhD student of Religion, in Titanian Compendium: A (Mostly) Complete History of the Titanian Church, Beliefs, and Practices