Altar of Tuon

The Altar of Tuon is a cult that primarily worships Tuon and the Undead. People of all races are allowed to enter, although they are primarily comprised of Humans. The Altar emains hidden, operating from the shadows. Established shortly after the events of the First Great Plague, The Altar's purpose is to serve as agents to Tuon and wipe out The Great Plague. The Altar is primarily based in the Desolated Lands and ever since their foundation, their membership has increased. The Altar is responsible for majority of Tuon's bidding outside of the Desolated Lands.
== History ==
=== The First Great Plague ===
About 30 years after the First Great Plague, Tuon began sending visions to the Mortal Races, especially to Humans. Those who received these visions were known as prophets. Tuon aimed to create a secret society of her followers to combat Rutt and his creations with the help of the Undead. The prophets were guided to the Desolated Lands, where the Altar of Tuon was eventually built at the Altar of the Legion of Fire. It was here that the first council, known as The Stone of 7 Bones, was formed, comprising the initial seven prophets of Tuon.
As the years passed, more individuals were inducted into the Altar, primarily Humans. Over time, the Altar began capturing members from various races, sacrificing them to swell the ranks of the Undead. Under the direction of the Stone of 7 Bones, all Altar members were required to worship Tuon, eventually recognizing her as their sole deity, dismissing all other gods as insignificant. By this time, the Altar had evolved into a religious cult, though its members referred to themselves as a "society of free people," separate from monarchs and rulers. Most of the Altar's followers were individuals who had suffered losses, seeking Tuon's guidance in hopes of reuniting with their loved ones.
=== The Second Great Plague ===
In 1310 AHD, another Great Plague struck, even worse than the first. Anticipating this second outbreak, the Altar had prepared for its arrival. They mobilized their forces, as did Tuon with her Undead Warriors. The Altar's fighting force, known as the Levies, was led by Tuon's first prophet in over 1,288 years, Izcill Turguh. Under Tuon's guidance, he commanded the Levies and the Undead in battle against Rutt's plague-infected armies, which had once been soldiers of the three kingdoms, including Karlia and Haltia. 
Most of the fighting took place in the Desolated Lands, although the Deep Forest of Modir saw action in two significant battles. Izcill, along with the Stone of 7 Bones, led the Altar's Levies and Undead armies. His leadership proved effective on the battlefield. The plague-infected armies were sentient, intelligent warriors, in contrast to Rutt's forces during the Third Great Plague. By 1330 AHD, most of Rutt's plague armies had been defeated over a 20-year struggle. Nonetheless, the Altar continued its crusade against Rutt and his affliction. By the end of the Second Great Plague, the Altar had undergone significant changes. Originally, it was led by both the Cleric and the Stone of 7 Bones, who maintained a system of checks and balances. The members of the Stone of 7 Bones ensured that the Cleric did not gain too much power, while the Cleric kept the Stone in check. However, this dynamic shifted when Izcill rose to power. As the newest and only prophet of Tuon, he was immediately appointed as the Cleric by the Stone of 7 Bones.
Typically, the Stone of 7 Bones comprised descendants of the original seven prophets of Tuon, preserving the purity of their lineage. The Clerics were regular members of the Altar, not necessarily tied to the original prophets. Izcill proposed a radical change, he ordered the execution of all members of the Stone of 7 Bones after receiving a vision from Tuon, warning him that they were plotting to kill him because of his status as a prophet. Despite facing opposition for this drastic action, he ultimately chose the new members of the Stone himself. He appointed several veterans from the Crusade against the Second Great Plague, believing they were suited for the role. Izcill also abolished the previous checks and balances system, establishing the Cleric as the absolute leader and reconfiguring the Stone of 7 Bones as a council.
=== Third Great Plague ===
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== Hierarchy ==
he hierarchy of the Altar is straightforward but well-defined. It consists of several branches, each with its own focus.
# The Altar's Levies: This is the militaristic branch, serving as the Altar's military force.
# The Clergy: This branch handles the religious aspects of the Altar. They are responsible for preserving the history of the Altar, conducting ceremonies and sacrifices, and safeguarding ancient artifacts related to Tuon and the original seven prophets.
# The Governmental Branch: This branch focuses on the Altar's politics and governance, including members of the Stone of 7 Bones and the Cleric. Originally, both the Cleric and the Stone of 7 Bones had checked each other and balancing power until the reign of Izcill Turguh, who revamped the policy and now the Cleric has the power over the Stone of 7 Bones.
Each branch plays a vital role in maintaining the structure and function of the Altar.
== Members ==
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== Stone of 7 Bones ==
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Category:Faction
Category:Altar of Tuon