The Faith

By Garrik Corrilius, Lore Adept at the Tower of Sau'dom

The Creation:

The High Temples of the Gods inform us that in the beginning the benevolent Divine Spirits chose Arkendrose to be the world where they would bring about Life and Rule over its Domains. As the Divine Spirits began their great work, they formed a Realm (a plane of existence that is not a World) known simply as the Spirit Realm. It became their seat of power and the place from which they planned and executed the Creation.

The Divine Spirits chose the Domains in which the Spirits would ascend to Divinity to rule over. Fonel (Foe-nell) and Reena (Ree-nah) set about creating life but lacked a key ingredient in that process. Together, they birthed a son who would become known to history as simply "The Blood God." This new god presented the missing ingredient to aid in the creation of sentient life.

While Fonel, Reena and their child set about creating life on Arkendrose, Ignyon (Ig-neon) and Obsidel (Obb-Sidel) set about creating an underworld which is known by many names in many cultures throughout Arkendrose. At the same time Jena (Gen-ah) and Gashno (Gash-no) set about to bring about a Realm on High for the afterlife and as a domain of their Courts. One by one and two by two, Divine Spirits ascended to Divinity once domains were set by the Council of the Spirit Realm. Not all Divine Spirits were accepted however. The refusal of ascension would lead to cataclysmic events further along in the history of Arkendrose.

The Council of the Spirit Realm:

The Council of the Spirit Realm was formed by the first Divine Spirits who created the World. As domains of rule were allocated to the Divine Spirits, the Council's founding members collectively ascended taking on their new mantels. The Council's leader became Jena who many in Arkendrose call "The King of the Gods." The Council then ruled from the Spirit Realm and oversaw the ascension of other Divine Spirits, or denied it.

The Spirit Realm is thus the Realm of Divinity. It, however, is not used as a permanent seat by many of the Gods who have chosen their own Realms and Domains as their house.

The High Temples:

As life began to flourish and the age of tribes came to a close, the Faith in the Gods of Arkendrose evolved and with it the structures of religions were formed. In the Age of Ishtikarr, the High Temples of the Faith were founded. High upon the slopes of The White Mountain, the High Temple of Jena was constructed with its grand-white pillars. Deep within Arkendrose's tallest mountain, the Air Claw, the High Temple of Obsidel was founded.

Many such temples came to be during the Age of Ishtikarr but they were not all the same. The Faiths differed from folk to folk and so too did the doctrines of the Faith they served. The differences in faith structures were further exasperated by the Great Migration period where faiths from beyond the Doom Ridge and the Gate to Old Sau'd0m entered Known Arkendrose. In these days, the faiths were vast and varied. Though it has been more than a thousand years since the Great Migrations, many of the Faith deviations still remain firmly intact.

In spite of the differences in religious beliefs, the High Temples still exist and serve as the premier seats of their respective faiths. Each High Temple has a High Priest or Priestess which serves as their god's voice on Arkendrose. Due to the division in the Religions, not all High Priests are accepted as leaders of the Faith by all.

The Known Gods of Arkendrose:

White Totem

Jena (Gen-ah): Jena is the Leader of the Council of the Spirit Realm, Master of Light and Salvation, King of the Halls of Salvation and Patron God of the White Mountain. The Faith of Jena is also the Faith in the Council of the Spirit Realm of which He leads. Those who champion the natural order of the Gods champion Jena. Faith in Jena is strong in the Kingdom of White Mountain and The Kingdom of Celtica. Jena has minority followings in the Kingdom of Shimabora, The Empire of Tengoku, The Kingdom of Lassanda, the Kingdom of Seenitory and the Ishtikarr.

Gashno (Gash-no), The Sky Dragon: Gashno, also known to the Saudomeese people as the Sky Dragon, is the Champion of the Halls of Salvation, the Master of Protection and Battle and the Patron deity of the Empire of Bri. Faith in Gashno is strong in the Empire of Bri, Kingdom of White Mountain, the Kingdom of Celtica, the Kingdom of Shimabora, the Kingdom of Lassanda and has minority followings in the Ishtikarr, the Kingdom of Kira, the Nation of Corgen and the Kingdom of Dak'lavan.

Green Totem

Reena (Ree-nah): Reena is the Lady of Elyssion, the Master of Love and Nature and one of the two prime deities of the Kingdom of Seenitory. Faith in Reena is strong in the Kingdom of Seenitory and has a minority following in much of the lands of the Star and East.

Fonel (Foe-nell): Fonel is the Lord of Elyssion, the Master of Life and Peace and one of the two prime deities of the Kingdom of Seenitory. Faith in Fonel is strong in Seenitory and has a minority following in much of the lands of the Star and East.

The Blood God*: The Blood Good is the essential ingredient to sentient life. The Blood God was believed to have been destroyed in the Age of Ishtikarr. However, the Blood God has since resurfaced in recent decades. The Blood God has only minority followings throughout Arkendrose and is considered weak by the High Priests of Ignyon, Obsidel, Sect, Ahk'ha'ma and others.

Blue Totem

Insolissa (In-so-lis-sah): Insolissa is The Lady of the Spirit Realm, the wife of Jena, the Master of Illusion and Time, the Matron Deity of the City State of Chee and one of the two prime Deities of the Kingdom of Celtica. Faith in Insollisa is strong in Celtica, Chee, the Kingdom of West Lake, the Kingdom of East Lake and has a minority following in the Kingdom of Shimabora, the Kingdom of Simila, the Kingdom of Lassanda, The Republic of Dragonia, the Empire of Tengoku and the Kingdom of White Mountain.

Sudami (Sue-dahm-iee): Sudami is the Champion of the Spirit Realm, the Master of Water and Storms, the Patron Deity of the Kingdom of West Lake and one of the prime Deities of the Kingdom of Celtica. Faith in Sudami is strong in the Kingdom of West Lake, the Kingdom of Celtica, the City State of Chee, The Kingdom of East Lake and the Kingdom of Shimabora and has a minority following in the Kingdom of Lassanda, the Nation of Corgen, the Gram Collective, the Republic of Dragonia and the Empire of Sycon.

Thorrin (Tor-rin), The Juggernaut: Thorrin, known to many as the Juggernaut, is the Master of Null-Magic (the Anti-Flow) and the Unnatural and is the Patron Deity of the Nation of Corgen. Faith in Thorrin is strong in the Nation of Corgen and has a minority following in the Gram Collective.

The Shadow, the Shadow Dragon*: The Shadow, known to the Saudomise as the Shadow Dragon, is the Master of Chance and Shadow and the Patron Deity of the Provinces of Mithania. Faith in the Shadow is strong in the Provinces of Mithania, the Sorbo Caverns and the Empire of Sau'dom. The Shadow was destroyed and banished by the Council of the Spirit Realm after Maltoveron's war but in recent decades has been reformed and has now sided with Sect in the New Council.

Maltoveron (Mal-tov-er-on), Morim (More-em)*: Maltoveron was the Master of Space and Armor for a short time and even ruled all of Arkendorse for over a year. Maltoveron has, however, been destroyed by the Council of the Spirit Realm and His remains have been scattered to the four winds. Maltoveron or Morim may one day be resurrected and ascend once more. Maltoveron has a minority-cult following throughout Arkendrose.

Yellow Totem

Margoff (Mar-goff): Margoff is the Master of Strength and Conflict and the Patron Deity of the Kingdom of Kira and the Lands of Armen. Faith in Margoff is strong in the Kingdom of Kira, the Lands of Armen, the Kingdom of Lassanda and the Empire of the Ishtikarr and has a minority following in the Gram Collective, the Nation of Corgen, the Kingdom of East Gate, the Kingdom of Mith'gul, the Kingdom of Beckhorone and the Republic of Dragonia.

Roshna (Rawsh-nah): Roshna is the Lord of Blacksmiths and Masons and the Master of Stone and Weaponry. Faith in Roshna is strong in the Kingdom of Kira, the Kingdom of Dak'lavan and has a minority following in the Kingdom of Lassanda, the Kingdom of East Gate, the Kingdom of Mith'gul. Anywhere there are Blacksmith an idol of Roshna can often be found in the forges where they work.

Maltoveron (Mal-tov-er-on), Morim (More-em)*: Maltoveron was the Master of Space and Armor for a short time and even ruled all of Arkendrose for over a year. Maltoveron has, however, been destroyed by the Council of the Spirit Realm and His remains have been scattered to the four winds. Maltoveron or Morim may one day be resurrected and ascend once more. Maltoveron has a minority-cult following throughout Arkendrose.

Red Totem

Ignyon (Ig-neon): Ignyon is Lord of 14 of the 27 Gates of Retribution, the Master of Hate and Strife and the Patron Deity of the Kingdom of Jar'gon, the Kingdom of Rigen and the one of the prime Deities of the Kingdom of Beckhorone. Faith in Ignyon is strong in the Kingdom of Jar'gon, the Kingdom of Rigen, the Kingdom of Beckhorone and the Empire of Sycon, the Order of Florence and has a minority following throughout the rest of the Alliance of the Holy Blood.

Pyra (Pie-rah): Pyra is the Lord of the Void, the Master of Fire and Chaos and the Patron Deity of the Kingdom of East Gate. Faith in Pyra is strong in the Kingdom of East Gate, the Kingdom of Rigen, the Order of Florence, the Empire of Sycon and has a minority following throughout much of the rest of the Alliance of the Holy Blood and even has some minor followings throughout Arkendrose.

Cron (C-ron): Cron is the Master of War and the Patron Deity of the Duchy of Ral and Warlords and Ladies throughout Arkendrose. Faith in Cron is strong when there is war and with those who wage it. Cron is among few Gods with only one Domain.

Ahk'ha'ma (Aahk-haa-maa): Ahk'ha'ma or Akuma is the Master of the Vampire or Gift as the Ahk'ha'ma faithful call it. Ahk'ha'ma is the Patron God of the Kingdom of Lorace, the City States of Grerkly, and the Order of Florence and is one of the prime Gods of the Kingdom Beckhorone and the Kingdom of the Islands of the Mists. Faith in Akh'ha'ma is strong in the Kingdom of Lorace, the City States of Grerkly, the Order of Florence, the Kingdom of Jar'gon, the Empire of Sycon, the Kingdom of Beckhorone, the Kingdom of the Islands of the Mists, the Republic of Row and boasts strong influence and faith as well in the rest of the Alliance of the Holy blood save for the Ishtikarr which are are new to the Alliance and its Patron Faith.

Black Totem

Obsidel (Obb-sidel): Obsidel is the Lady of 13 of the 27 Gates of Retribution and the Master of Darkness and Damnation and the Matron Deity of the Empire of Coastaar. Faith in Obsidel is strong in the Empire of Coastaar.

Traith (Tr-wraith): Traith is the Master of Destruction and Necromancy and is the Patron God of Necromancers. Faith in Traith was once strong in the Empire of Costaar until his Betrayal and the subsequent Imperial Order which ordered the detainment and then eradication of all necromancers. Faith in Traith has since waned as a result of the persecution and Traith's leaving of the New Council for the Wheel.

Sect: Sect is the Leader of the New Council and the Master of Pain and Evil as well as the Patron Deity of the Kingdom of Sect and the Duchy of Wron. Faith in Sect is strong in the Kingdom of Sect, the Duchy of Wron, the Empire of Coastaar (as the Faith in Sect has begun to fill the whole the followers of Traith left) and has a minority following in the Empire of Sycon, the Kingdom of Jar'gon and the Kingdom of the Islands of the Mists. It is also believed that the Kingdom of the Fallen include Sect in their worship.

Death: Death is one of thew few Gods with only one Domain. Death is the Master of Death. Faith in Death is strong in the Empire of Coastaar (in spite of Death Joining the Wheel) Meoloden, the Doom Ridge (both sides) and of all who are on their deathbeds and for those who await the culling.

All Totems

Acra (Ah-crah) Acram (Ahk-rahm), Sacrem (Sack-rem): Acra or Acram or Sacrem is the Master of the Wheel, Master of Fate and the Patron Deity of the Kingdom of Simila. Faith in Acra is strong in the Kingdom of Simila and has minority followings throughout Arkendrose.

Variations of Faith:

The Faith as recorded in the High Temples is held together by a loose set of beliefs which are governed by the High Priests and Priestesses. The Faith as it is decreed by the High Temples is not the only method of belief and indeed is not the only religion in Arkendrose. The High Temples have sought to simplify and unite the various religions by explaining that their Faith's are one and the same with that of the High Temples and only the belief structures surrounding them are different. In short, they worship the same Gods.

In the Lands of Syconia, faith has been a splintered web whose influences have risen and fallen over the centuries. Where once the Faith of Sudami was strong in Syconia, now all that remains is the Temple of Water and a small following. When the Saudomise first migrated to Arkendrose from beyond the Gate of Sau'dom they brought with them their faith in the Sky and Shadow Dragons which the High Temples were quick to identify as Gashno and the Shadow.

Culture to culture, people to people, the religions of Arkendrose are as varied in belief structure, custom and traditions as one could imagine. The tribal people who reside in the jungles surrounding the Sleeping Gate on the Isle of Lassellese are a war-like people who worship nature and spirits. It is believed by some lore adepts that these people stem from the first tribes of Arkendrose in the Age of Tyrillia and their beliefs have never evolved to meet with the knowledge of the current day. The High Temples would organize their tribal faith into the worship of Fonel, Reena, the Blood God and Cron but that would be an over simplification of their beliefs and culture.

When the Children of Acra migrated from beyond the Doom Ridge into Arkendrose, they brought with them a new Faith that had not been seen in any variation in Akrendrose before. Persecuted for their differing beliefs at first, the Children of Acra migrated across the islands of Central Arkendorse settling in Iptia and Keta before moving on to settle the islands of Simila. There, they built the great city of Ju'sem with a great domed temple at it's center, the High Temple of Acra.

Although the Faith has been long established in Arkendrose, as one can tell from travel and travelers, missionaries and priests, variations in belief structures are diversity distributed throughout the known world and new Faiths have taken root.

Ancient Gods:

The Divine Spirit of Pain and Evil: The oldest texts in the High Temples of Arkendrose tell us that The Divine Spirit of Pain and Evil approached the Council of the Spirit Realm during the end of the Creation and requested the right to Ascend as the Master of Pain and Evil. The Council denied the Divine Spirit His wish. In anger, the Spirit went down to Arkendrose to a peninsula in Meoldolen to what is now known as the Birth of Evil. There the Divine Spirit set out to create his own race of beings that would worship him.

The ancient texts at the High Temples tell us that no creation can happen without the leave of the Council of the Spirit Realm. Procreation is permitted and in many cases encouraged but the creation of new sentient existence is only done at the will of the Council of the Spirit Realm. The Divine Spirit of Pain and Evil went against the ruling of the Council and created the race of the Wraiths.

The Lands of the Wraiths, the Duchy of Wron, have told us through their own histories that an alliance of the Wraiths buried the Divine Spirit under his Own Temple and left him there for thousands of years. Free of their would-be master, the Wraiths forged their own path forward culminating in the later ascension of Sect in the place of the Divine Spirit of Pain and Evil.

Morim: Morim was among the first Divine Spirits believed to have been denied ascension by the Council of the Spirit Realm. The High Temple cannot agree on why Morim was denied divinity but some suggest that Jena was jealous of Insolissa's affection for the Divine Spirit. The High Temples and lord adepts alike can also not agree on if Morim rebelled against the Council of the Spirit Realm or not.

What is known is that Morim devised a plan to bring about his own divinity centuries if not thousands of years in the future. The Divine Spirit planted his seed in the lines of humans and barbarians (seen as its own race of man in Arkendrose) and then tore himself into pieces of Divine Armor. This Divine Armor, known as Morim's Armor, was then hidden throughout Arkendrose. When Morim's heir Maltoveron was born, he was born with the knowledge of the Armor and the knowledge of His path to ascension.

Maltoveron: Maltoveron, the Son of Morim, is believed to have existed in the Age of Tyrillia and the people of Kira believe he fought in the Second Tyrillian War which the oral histories claim lasted for 5 thousand years. The truth of this is not known as it is likely possible that the followers of Maltoveron could have added them to their religious doctrine thousands of years later during Maltoveron's Rise. What is known is that a little over a thousand years ago at the end of the Age of the Imperial Age, Matoveron and his followers rose up and struck at the kingdoms of Arkendrose winning battle after battle. In an unbelievably short time, the Armies of Maltoveron had crippled the ancient Empires of Arkendrose and had worked to subjugate her people.

The true extent of Maltoveron's control is questioned at this time as accounts from around Arkendrose often conflict with one another. The High Temples can however agree that Maltoveron ordered the destruction of all shrines of temples of the Gods during this time. The Faith in anything that was not Maltoveron and his ilk was banned. Most of the High Temples were sacked or destroyed completely during this time as well as countless lesser temples and shrines throughout Arkendrose.

Maltoveron did not slow His progress to ensure a lasting dynasty. He took on the mantel of the Beast of Arkendrose, Ascended to Divinity claiming dominion over Space and Armor. His ascension was forced and it tore apart much of Arkendrose in an event which would be later known as the Great Boulder Run. After His ascension, Maltoveron marched on the Gates of Salvation.

The Gods of the Council of the Spirit Realm were waiting for him for Maltoveron's plan had been whispered to the Gods by the Divine Spirit of Chance and Shadow. Maltoveron was defeated and destroyed. Morim's Armor was stripped from him and with it Maltoveron's Divinity. Maltoveron was immediately returned to the Chamber of the Heart of Arkendrose where he had taken on the mantel of the Beast of Arkendrose to be the Heart's* protector form that day forward until his eventual death at the hands of Lucifarion Spite a thousand years later.

*The Heart of Arkendrose is the Divine Artifact which houses the Power and Flow of Arkendrose including the power of the Gods.

The Shadow: The Divine Spirit of Chance and Shadow had first entered Arkendrose centuries ahead of the migrations of the Sau'domese people. Once there The Shadow allied Itself to Maltoveron during Maltoveron's Quest. As the High Temples tell us, The Shadow later betrayed Maltoveron to the Gods. The gods allowed The Shadow to Live but banished It for Its involvement in Maltoveron's War.

The reason for the betrayal would be learned in recent years, when The Shadow was reunited with his Divine Spirit and ascended to Divinity as the Master of Chance and Shadow, that The Shadow had met Sect, the First Wraith. Through that meeting, Sect convinced The Shadow of a "better" way where he confided in It parts of His plan. The Shadow has since served Sect and even aided him in his Ascension to Divinity.

The Spirit of Good and Pleasure: The High Temple's of Jena, Gashno, Insollissa and Reena have all hypothesized that there must have been a Divine Spirit of Good and Pleasure. While the High Temples of the New Council claim this hypothesis exists only from a position of fear as the New Council is winning the war against the Council of the Spirit Realm and the people's who champion its Gods. The High Temples of Jena, Gashno, Insollissa and Reena ignore the statements made by the High Temples under the New Council and reaffirm their hypothesis claiming it likely that the Gods of the Council of the Spirit Realm denied the Divine Spirit of Pain and Evil ascension for fear it would tip the balance. The location of this believed Divine Spirit of Good and Pleasure is not known nor the reason for Its absence in the pantheon.

The Blood God: During the Creation, Reena and Fonel struggled to create sentient life. Feeling they were missing something the two brought a child into existence which is known to history as simply the Blood God. The Blood God had a singular purpose, to make sentient life complete. The Blood God succeeded in this quest but would later be destroyed by the arrival of Ahk'ha'ma.

Today, however, the Blood God has resurfaced though not fully ascended as part of Its power is missing. Today the Blood God is simply known as the Blood Knight and wanders Arkendrose in search of its missing Divine Artifact which would complete Its return to Divinity.

Acra: During the Great Migrations, the Children of Acra brought their faith to Arkendrose from beyond the Doom Ridge. The Faith was in a One God who was above the pretenders and their infidels. The Children of Acra were persecuted at first wherever they went until they finally settled in the Similan Islands. There, they constructed the great city of Ju'sem and established their Faith.

The High Temples of the Council of the Spirit Realm have all agreed that Acra is an Ascended God but have not acted against the faith which is clearly not represented in the Pantheon. Recent actions of the followers of Acra may change how both the Faithful of the Council of the Spirit Realm and those of the New Council approach those of Acra and The Wheel*.

*The Wheel is discussed later in this text.

King Tyrillia: During the Age of Tyrillia when the great Tyrillian dragons ruled Arkendrose, the Tyrillians became fat with arrogance and pride. They worshiped their King as a God until the alliances of man eventually saw to their downfall and the destruction of the King of Tyrillia and Tyralor. Today, the Tyrillian Talon, former Archon of the Republic of Dragonia, claims linage from the King of Tyrillia.

The New Council: With the ascension of Sect as Master of Pain and Evil, the World of Arkendrose was shaken and so too were the High Temples. In the first decade after the ascension, most of the world did not accept the new Divine including the Empire of Sycon who lost land to the faith when it declared the Kingdom of Sect on the eastern fringes of Syconia. With His ascension also came the return of the Kingdom of the Fallen who had plagued the world after the fall of Tyralor or so the oral histories tell us.

During the years following the ascension, Darloth, High Priest of Sect, worked diligently to change the minds of the High Priests and Priestesses represented both in the Alliance of the Holy Blood and in his homeland of the Empire of Coastaar. Once the Church of the Alliance of the Holy Blood accepted Darloth as a peer, work began in earnest in ending hostilities between the Alliance of the Holy Blood and the Empire of Coastaar.

When the High Priests and Priestesses of Sect, Obsidel, Ignyon, Cron, The Shadow Dragon and Ahk'ha'ma united, the New Council was announced with Sect as its leader. Among the Faiths that originally declared this new Council of the Gods, Traith betrayed His Mistress Obsidel and went over to Acra to form the Wheel. Death as well was taken from the New Council to Acra and the Wheel. In spite of these complications, the New Council has been steadily victorious in their Holy War against the Faithful of the Council of the Spirit Realm.

The Wheel: The Wheel was formed by Acra and declared by His High Emahm. Thorrin and Traith joined the Wheel and Death was brought to it after. The purpose of the Wheel is a mystery to both the Faiths of the Council of the Spirit Realm and to those of the New Council but both pantheons worry about what the so-called Master of Fate has planned.