Expositions Upon the Five Truths of the Ankora

The Expositions Upon the Five Truths of the Ankora are a ous pap written of the Ankora religion. It was written by the Ankoran oracle Durnhelm Runehammer and published in order to provide a canonical innterpretation of the The Five Truths which are a core tenets of Ankora.
= Expositions Upon the Five Truths of the Ankora =
The Ankoran oracle Durnhelm Runehammer makes the following writings for faithful believers of the Dwarven religion known as Ankora. These writings are a part of a religious paper made by the Ankoran Church, and are made to provide further information on the Five Truths that outline the main tenets of the Ankoran faith.
====== The Truth of Divine Exclusivity ======
"There are no gods but those of the Ankora, and no other faith holds true divine power compared to the Ankora."
The first divine truth given to us by the Ankora is a simple truth. This truth is that Tokad, Yora, and their children are the only true gods, and it is them who hold sole power over everything. It is an existential truth that cannot be denied, for it was first spoken to the prophet Rhesh in the age of the Tokora. The Flame Father and Earth Mother are the two true architects of the cosmos, and it is them and their children we thank for our existence upon Etta and no other. It is Tokad’s justice that governs us, it is Yora who gave life to the earth. No other spirit and no other god holds divine essence, and are either false idols, demons in disguise, or lesser spirits of Etta who lack any true divine essence. No other has guarded us from evil, though many a charlatan shall attempt to lead us astray from the light of the Anlora. It is our duty as faithful servants of the Ankora to uproot and prevent this corruption from other races, and to prevent other faiths from corrupting our kin. It is us who are the sentinels of truth and guards of the faith, and it is a great burden that we have the honor of bearing. We are the blazing light within the dark, we are the torch-bearers in the night. To stray from our light is to forsake our purpose upon this world.
====== The Truth of Creation ======
"The Flame Father and the Earth Mother crafted the world in their infinite wisdom, and made the Dwarves their chosen people."
The second truth is of creation, and this is a simple truth. Before the first sunrise was ever seen upon Etta, the world was a silent sea of stars and endless night. For as the holy Az Kron, written by our forefathers, states, “Darkness sat over the universe, blanketing it in chaos and lifelessness. In this primordial void took form the world, empty and lifeless, chaotic and dead.” But this darkness was not alone, for there was another. Tokad, in his mastery over all things, brought forth his light, and the sun rose upon the world for the first time in all time. It is Yora, born from the ground itself, it is she who sculpted and molded us from the ground, and it is she and Tokad who brought life into our souls. It is us, the Dwarves, who are the First People, and it is us that shall remember the world and its story long after it is gone. Such is our duty to bring the holy light of the Ankora to all corners of the world to honor the Nine Gods above us that made it. 
====== The Truth of Guidance ======
"The Ankora created the Dwarves to supervise and guide the other races to the light of the Ankora and are thus the most holy of all races."
The third truth is our sacred duty to spread the faith to each other and to other races. The Ankora, in their infinite wisdom, did not create the Dwarves to live in isolation, nor were we brought to life among other races by mere chance. Never! We are the guides, the light that shall lead others by mere chance. Though some may say we cannot be the chosen people of the Ankora due to the existence of other races, I refute this claim for all time. The existence of outside races, and the existence of other faiths that seek to persuade us is a test. It is to be believed that some races, such as Orcs and Elves, were corrupted from their intended form by Itka, the Father of Darkness. Though Orcs are more visibly corrupted than Elves, all can be saved by drinking Giant’s Blood and joining the fold. We are tasked to bring other races towards the teachings of the Ankora and their path of righteousness. It is Tokad and Yora who sought to give us wisdom, strength, and resilience unmatched. These gifts are not for ourselves, but so we may improve the lives of others around us, and so we may bring others into the light. Though this may be an arduous task, for some refuse the truth of the Ankora’s power, all will fall into the light eventually. Whether by sharing our wisdom, or by fire and sword. We must remain vigilant in this duty, as the hearts of other races are often prone to the temptations of false gods and unholy ways. We must correct them, and bestow upon them the truth of the Ankora. To falter in this duty is to fail before the gods, let us remain focused on our mission.
====== The Truth of Faith ======
"To be faithful is to be loyal, charitable, brave, hardy, and industrial. To be sinful is to exhibit slothfulness, cowardice, weakness, and greed.
The fourth truth, known as the Road to Purity, is by no means an easy path to travel. Our desires and emotions hold great sway over us, and while they are natural and a part of our lives, it is our duty as Ankorans to discipline ourselves and resist impulsiveness. This truth, of virtue and sin, is the standard by which all races are judged before the Nine Gods. To be faithful is to adhere to the virtues that the Ankora hold dear. If one declares himself a worshiper yet does not follow the tenets, he is no true worshiper of the Ankora. After all, what is a dwarf without his beard, and a worshiper without their devotion to sacred practices? Loyalty is paramount—first to the gods and then to our kin. Loyalty to those to whom you have sworn an oath and those who seek to do true good is essential for leading a righteous life. To betray and to lie is the opposite, for to deceive another is a grievous sin not tolerated by the gods. Loyalty is the bond that binds us together, and we must be strong together; to break this bond is to weaken our strength. Charitability is another great virtue. To be charitable is to reflect the generosity that Yora provides us. Yora, in her everlasting mercy and kindness, gives us a world with all that is necessary to live. Greed is the killer of progress, and it will sap both you and those around you if allowed to persist within a society. It is a cancer, and like cancer, it must be eradicated. Your life is not measured by possessions or the amount of coin you have but by your deeds and legacy. Bravery is also a great virtue, for the world is harsh and vast, and overcoming its challenges requires courage. Through bravery, we persevere against the trials upon Etta. Woe to those who cower from adventure, battle, and worship. However, cowardice should not be confused with wisdom, for the wise know when to fight and when to speak. Bravery must also not be confused with foolishness, as a pointless sacrifice or reckless action dishonors all of the Ankora due to its wastefulness. Hardiness is the trait of perseverance, and it is something we must all strive for, as we Dwarves are people of stone and must be as strong as stone. Just as stone endures, we must withstand whatever seeks to break us, remaining as unyielding as the seas and as strong as steel. Weakness is an attitude that cannot be allowed to linger; it must be eradicated and replaced with true strength. To be weak is to see surrender as a favorable way to escape the troubles of a Dwarf’s life. The final virtue is to be industrious—to labor and continue until your craft is perfected and your duty fulfilled to your kin and the Ankora. The slothful and indolent are those who seek to tear down the work of others instead of creating their own. They seek nothing in life, lacking the energy to perfect a craft or contribute to the common good. In their idleness, they turn away from the sacred virtues of the Ankora, as do all sinners. All who sin fail to honor the gifts given to them by the Ankora. Yet all who perform great deeds and uphold the virtues outlined in the Five Truths and the Runescript bring glory to the gods and will be rewarded by them upon their ascension to Valam.
====== The Truth of Ascension ======
"If true and utmost belief is achieved, the true follower shall ascend to the plane of the Ancestors."
The fifth and final truth concerns death and what lies beyond. While many faithful followers, upon death, will rise into the halls of Valam as part of the valiant dead, a select few may ascend even further. These exceptional individuals, through extraordinary deeds and unwavering faith, may impress even the Ankora themselves. Such deeds might include becoming one of the most talented warriors in the world or a healer who saves tens of thousands of lives with a new medicine. These individuals are rare, perhaps appearing only once or twice in an entire clan's lineage. For a Dwarf to be chosen as an Ancestor, two conditions must be met: they must have true and utmost faith in the Ankora, and they must accomplish a great deed during their time on Etta. Those who meet these criteria may be selected by one or more of the Ankora to join the ranks of the Ancestors. Although we cannot know for certain what this ascension entails, the dying words of some great Dwarves who ascended to Ancestorhood suggest that these Ancestors continue to aid us, invisibly guiding those they see potential in through their lives. The Ancestors reside in Ubrun, the Hall of Guides, their own sacred space within Valam. From Ubrun, they are sent back down to Etta as spirits, guiding those they see potential in toward better lives. Kron, the god of war and protection, has a unique pact with the faithful warriors of the Ankora. Those soldiers who earn Kron’s favor, but not to the extent of becoming Ancestors, may be granted the rare honor of being reborn on Etta. This rebirth is Kron’s way of allowing them to fight in the name of the Ankora once more. These chosen Dwarves are reborn from magma and fire, their spirits tempered anew for battle, and their skin is made of rock and lava. They do not retain the memories of their previous life, all they can recall is their name, their instinctive skills of combat, and how to speak our language, Neo-Khuzdul. These reborn chosen warriors of Kron rise from a few specific pools of lava upon Etta, one being in Urd-Azhâr.
Category:Dwarves
Category:Religions