Ahmoar'An

## Beliefs

The belief of Ahmoar’An is a dark path that leads to power and magical secrets. The main figure of worship is Ahmoar’An itself, or “The Harbinger” to the common tongue. It is a force of dark power and a sentient void of shadow and blood.

Blood for mana, this is the main creed. Sacrifice to the void and power is rightfully yours.

Serve the Harbinger and feed the Void with blood and you will earn your place in the shadows of mystery forever.

Magic equals might.

Blood rights are the highest honor of sacrifices and draw the most power.

The Harbinger is viewed as the unseen force of All that creates, destroys, and transforms everything in the world.

To sacrifice something, you stand to gain what it was worth in magic/mana in return.

Abacus is a being revered as a being of chance and risk made by Ahmoar'An, while Maneki is likewise revered as matron of fortunes. These 'children" of Ahmoar'An are said to be the only other 'divinities' in the faith.

## Myths/Stories

Ahmoar’An has always been and yet never was. It grows and shrinks, and is everywhere and yet nowhere at the same time. It dwells in the dark shadows and the fringes of reality. It is the cycle and the end of all things. Eternal and yet terminal.

## Sacred Texts

The Void Tome is the sacred text or rather grimoire of the faith. It is a book of demented rituals and spells that are said to priase and contact the Harbinger. It is said that those reading it go mad from gazing upon the text of the Harbinger itself. Thus it is thought only Sorama can read it.

## Ethics and Morality

If you want to gain, sacrifice. If blood is given, mana will flow forth.

Seek to gain a place in the Eternal Shadows of the Harbinger and join with the All that is Naught.

Care not for the flesh of those that know not the shadow’s powers, they are weak and yet make for the best sacrifices and ingredients.

There is no good or evil, there is only power.

## Rituals

Zan: The sacrificial ritual of all major spells and worship gatherings to the Harbinger.

Rell: The bonding or “marriage” of two Sorama.

Xalta: The funerary ritual for a dead Sorama. The body is cast into the darkest lowest place in a cave to join with the Void. Elsewise, if that can’t be done the body is either burned and used for spell work or roasted and eaten to absorb mana, by the clan they belong to.

Thenash: The ritual of giving a blood offering to curse another.

Sadalis: A meditation ritual to commune with the dead and Ahmoar’An.

## Social Structures

The Hand is absolute authority. It acts on the will of the Harbinger.

Caves, grottos, dark canyons, and black shrines and altars are places of worship to the Sorama.

Sacrificial victims have no rights likewise with slaves, known as “Thralls”. They lost rights when they were captured.

Private or group ceremony occurs in the faith.

In group ritual it is usually a Hand member to lead the rite.

To lead a ritual sacrifice is to gain power and mana. Hence it is a sought after honor.

## Religious Experience

Trance like chanting is the norm for religious ceremony.

Sacrifices are either bleed dry, beheaded, vivisected (normally for the heart), strangled, burned alive, or cast down a dark abyss.

Rituals are enjoyed almost fanatically.

Rites are never to be done in view of any other than a Sorama.