Tiamat's Challenge

## Overview

Tiamat's Challenge is a religion followed by the Li'nki of the Shackled Kingdom. It is primarily based around combat and breaking one's "chains", metaphorical and sometimes physical weaknesses, which followers believe hold them down, prevent them from reaching a state of absolute purity.

## History

Recerix, Breaker of Chains, is largely credited with the conception of Tiamat's Challenge. It started from when he claimed to have visions of an event taking place thousands of years ago, in which a deity of the desert, Tiamat, issued a challenge to the proud people of the Li'nki: to attune themselves until they had reached a state of flawlessness, thus breaking their "chains", bonds that held them from this destiny. Blinded by their arrogance, the Li'nki accepted. But they quickly failed, unable to overcome the trial. Thus, causing them to turn on one another in despair. Recerix sought to reunify his people and teach them of their long forgotten divine quest.

He believed in order to do this; he must meet Tiamat's challenge. First, Recerix killed his family, and severed any ties with his tribe and allies, believing them to be needless bonds. He banished himself to the desert, where he dwelled upon his many past sins and regrets, bared them before the might of the desert sun, until he believed he was absolved of them, through the sun burning them away. After ten years in that desert, he no longer was plagued by fatigue, hunger, or thirst, and no heat could scold him. He had become the legendary Unchained of legend. Then, he believed that there was only one thing for him to do. Slay Tiamat.

He searched the many dunes of his homeland for three years, before finding her in the Blistering Rocks, seemingly awaiting his arrival. Armed with only a blade of sharpened bone, he fought the deity in a great battle, ended by him piercing Tiamat's heart, ending the beast's life. Though Recerix believed that his life's goals had been achieved, he soon saw the folly in this. The divine quest had been offered to his people as a whole, not just one individual to represent them. All the Li'nki must reach his state of being. So, he spread the tale of his exploits, of his newly acquired status, and of Tiamat's challenge, inspiring the people to meet it as he did, laying the seeds for a religion which Recerix would spear head. The Unchained then helped in constructing the Iron Arena from the skull of Tiamat, as he believed that through battle could one burn away most, if not all, of their bonds, their chains.

At present, only eight other Unchained have arisen from Recerix's principles. Though frustrated, the more devoted of the cause believe that the principles laid down years ago are quite effective, and the people of the Shackled Kingdom are simply too weak at present.

## Organization

### Unchained

The Unchained: an individual considered among the Li'nki to have broken past all of their weaknesses, and bonds, is not only the head of the Shackled Kingdom, is also the head of the more religious natures of its nation, due to the present scarcity at which they emerge. Their duties remain the same as their figure heads: govern the Lo'kceer, enforce the principles of Recerix's laws, and extinguish any source of heretics.

### Lo'kceer

The Lo'kceer are the primary attendants of the Unchained, dwelling in the top level of The Marrow. Their duties are simple but clear, to spread the word of Recerix, and oversee the battles of the Iron Arena. They are asked with judging any new individual who claims the title of Unchained, putting them through a test known as Recerix's Trial, to determine the genuineness of the claim. It is also the Lo'kceer's duty to govern the Shackled Kingdom in the absence of an Unchained.

## Practices

### Principles

Sometimes known as Recerix's Law. The principles of Tiamat's Challenge hold that in order to reach a state of purity, one must break free of any weaknesses, bonds, past sins, and regrets holding them down. These are called "chains". Many believe that one can attain the strength to break these chains through combat against one another and beasts of great power. Others reinforce these combative beliefs by stating that past regrets and sins can be cut from the soul. Due to the wide variety of one's ties and regrets, it is sometimes unclear of what Li'nki refer to when speaking of their chains. Though, it should be noted that there are general rules which apply to all Li'nki in order to attune themselves to perfection. These are as follows:

* To be unburdened by thirst, starvation, and rest.
* To be unburdened by a tribe's weight.
* To be unburdened by a families need.
* To be unburdened by the suns heat.
* To be unburdened by personal possessions.

Li'nki often have conflicting opinions on the last and third precepts. Some believe that, like Recerix, they should attempt to kill their family, or be killed by them if they fail to do so. Others simply cut ties with their parents, wives/husbands and children's. Regarding the last law, a great many Li'nki think its meaning refers to things such as gold, precious metals, a prized pet, etc. Meaning the only personal possession one should keep on their journey to becoming an Unchained is their weapon. There is much contention over this, and currently, it is widely held by the current council of Lo'kceer, that one must also sacrifice their weapon.

## Known Followers

### Unchained

* Ferceri, The Fool
* Recerix, Breaker of Chains