Bulwari Sun Cult

The **Bulwari Sun Cult** is a broad term for a group of Bulwar-centric religions focused on the dualistic nature of good and evil, and the idea of a chosen people waiting to be saved by their god, Surael.

It is largely divided into three denominations: the Old Sun Cult (adhering to beliefs before the elven arrival), the New Sun Cult (which see elves as Surael's chosen) and The Jadd (which believe that any race can be Surael's chosen).

## Concepts

### The Struggle

The oldest records of the Bulwari faith mention the war between the forces of Light and Darkness. The texts suggest that there once were many gods amongst their pantheon, but many of them fell in this war. Most of their names have not survived the ages, but some are mentioned as cursed. These gods carried the names Raša, Jiqaat and Ukedu. They fell to the Darkness and became its slaves. These days they are known as the demons of hunger, sickness and wrath, and parents and priests use them to scare children and the pious. Other gods fought the many named and unnamed evils of the Darkness. One by one they were slain, until a lone god, Surakel, remained. To protect the world from the Darkness he gave up his mortal coil. His bright soul ascended to the heavens and became the radiant sun. He continues the struggle far up in the sky, where he holds out against the forces of the Darkness until he can again regain his mortal form to destroy the Darkness once and for all.

### The Nature of Dark and Light

The vagueness of our sources make it unclear what exactly the Darkness, sometimes called the “Malevolent Dark”, is. It is undoubtedly equated to the evils of this world. Evils that are both internal and external. External evils, such as hunger and sickness, are beyond the control of us mortals, and as such a failed harvest or a plague are victories of the Darkness. Some priests have claimed that these events are a consequence of the darkness within the faithful and a lack of commitment to Surakel’s struggle, while certain theologians, such as Serim of Anzabad, have theorised that such an event indicates the general state of the world and a temporary lapse in Surakel’s fight. Internal evils are diseases of the heart and mind. Anger, jealousy and selfishness are some of the most prominent demons that the Sun Cults warn against.

Surakel’s Struggle is eternal and difficult, and it is the duty of everyone that longs to live in his light to keep their heart bright. A bright heart is full of feeling. There is love, there is happiness, there is enthusiasm. And so the faithful are expected to spread these feelings. Generosity, friendship and inclusivity important to the people of Bulwar. Small festivals and parties to include the community and keep the atmosphere positive are regularly organized. Most importantly: Stay positive, true.

The racial attitude of the Sun Cult is closely aligned to the way certain groups have treated the temples and the people of Bulwar. Gnolls, above all else, are seen as the agents of Darkness by both the Old and the New Sun Cult. Their centuries long occupation of Bulwar and their brutalization have clearly delineated their place in the Struggle: The vanguard of the Malevolent Dark. Harpies have long been a nuisance, and while they are seen as a force of the Malevolent Dark, this appears to mainly be a consequence of their faithlessness. With both positive and negative interactions occurring between the two races, the temples of different areas in Bulwar disagree on their role within the Struggle and their chance of redemption.

## Universal tenets of the Bulwari religions

1. Serve only Surakel, all other gods are dead
2. Banish the darkness from your heart
3. Keep the light of your children
4. Speak no lies, dark and false
5. Don’t abandon hope, the sun will come again
6. Let shine the light of joy

1. The struggle of Surakel is the most important struggle in the world. Everyone needs to do their part and fight their own Darkness. Other gods are dead or a manifestation of the Malevolent Dark, don’t be distracted by them.

2. The most important fight for the individual is the protection of their own Light. They must avoid anger, jealousy and selfishness and seek love, happiness and enthusiasm.

3. The children are the future, their light is most pure and fragile. Shelter and encourage it, protect them from the dark of the world.

4. Lies are the tools of the Darkness. They are a mask to hide its evil creatures. Speak openly and clearly, that others may see your light and receive it.

5. The greatest blow the Darkness can deal is the abandonment of hope, that is surrender. Surakel has not surrendered and he expects you to fight as he does.

6. Don’t let your neighbors be swallowed up by darkness. If someone is sad, help them. Be generous, be kind. The Light of Surakel will protect us all if we share it amongst one another.

## Tenets of the New Sun Cult

1. Follow the Chosen, they are Surakel’s hand on Halann.

1. “Surakel bestowed Jaher with his soul and through Jaher so all his kin gained his Light. We will do his bidding on Halann. Our actions are Surael’s and are taken with Surael’s guidance. All who serve us help preserve the Light.” -Filinar the Tall, High Priest in the city of Bulwar, during a proclamation in 1127 AA, when news of Jaher’s death reached Bulwar.

The arrival of Jaher proved a great turning point in the fate of the Bulwari Sun Cult. After he landed in Brasan he and his sun elven army inflicted several crushing defeats upon the gnoll overlords of the Sun Cult. It is unclear when exactly the first mention of him being the reincarnation of Surakel came, but by the end Jaher was officially proclaimed as the Sun Reborn. He continued his fight against the darkness, striking out west against the Sorcerer-King of Black Castanor and venturing east to bring the Light to Haless, where he was assassinated. Then the title of Sun Reborn passed on to his kin, the sun elves. Who took it upon themselves to protect Bulwar from foreign invaders, but they no longer took the offensive against the Darkness outside the region, instead focusing inwards. Some small exceptions are the Jaherian Exemplars who sought to reclaim and bring the Light to the people of Aelantir, when the continent was rediscovered.

## Tenets of the Old Sun Cult

1. Shelter the remaining Light
2. Prepare the return of Surakel

1. “The Light has diminished greatly since ancient times. The Shadow of the Gnolls nearly extinguished the remaining rays of the sun, with many letting the darkness into their hearts. The coming of the Sun Elves initially heralded an age of rekindling and virtue, but they showed their true colours. These deceivers are not chosen by Surakel, but have usurped his holy temples and defiled his creed. We must retain and shelter the true remaining Light, that one day it might shine bright again.” -Aqeela szel-Akal-Uak, Priestess of Surakel in Zanlib, in Radient Bulwar, 1561 AA

2. “One day Surakel will return to save us from the darkness. We must be ready for that day. Stay strong in arm and save our coin, we will need all the advantages that we can get, for the darkness has infiltrated everywhere.” -Aqeela szel-Akal-Uak, Priestess of Surakel in Zanlib, in Radient Bulwar, 1561 AA

The Old Sun Cult is a minority group in Bulwar that refused to follow Jaher and his successors as he was proclaimed the reincarnation of Surakel. Many of them went into hiding or worshiped in secret. There were numerous hidden temples throughout all of Bulwar. Between 1350 and 1360 the Exemplars cleared 22 locations of Old Sun Cult worship in Brasan alone. But despite the crack down, the faith persisted and gained official recognition when the Akalate of Dartaxagerdim converted to the Old Cult in 1448, in clear defiance of the Sun Elven rulers of Bulwar. While the name is the “Old” Sun Cult, time has undoubtedly warped their beliefs compared to those that existed in Pre-Jaherian times.

## Tenets of the Jadd

1. Be the Light
2. Fight the War on Halann
3. All creatures can be the Light

1. Jaddar demanded of all his faithful to take a step in the religious process and involve themselves in the affairs of the Light. Followers of the Jadd are expected to put their entire life in the name of the cause, following the old tenets of the Sun Cult with an increased zeal,

2. While the Sun Cult of the Sun Elves turned inwards and protective after the death of Jaher. Jaddar turned the Jadd into a militaristic faith. Not content to let the fight against the Darkness turn into a stalemate, the Jadd has declared war upon the Malevolent Dark and actively seeks to continue the war on Halann, while Surael continues the war in the sky.

3. “My kin, the Sun Elves of Bulwar, have long claimed to the sole descendants of Surael. However, their claim is misguided and short-sighted. All races have the capability of being infused with the Light of Surael. No one is excluded if they banish the Darkness from their hearts, including you. So I give you your options. Take up the cause of Light, or be banished like the Darkness.” -Jaddar Jexiszuir, Commander of Jaddari, in a speech to a defeated Gnoll army, 1446 AA

The Jadd arose in the desert wastelands of eastern Bulwar, among the descendants of Jaher’s legions, who trekked across Bulwar and Haless to spread the Sun Elf’s empire and the Light of the Surael. These elves made an alliance with the harpies of the region. The subsequent mingling of these two groups saw a morphing of the ideas of the Sun Cult, as the harpies took well to the tenets of its faith. The result of this military culture and intermingling of species was the Jadd, a version of the Sun Cult that was much more militaristic and inclusive than its western cousins, aggressively so. While the Old and New Sun Cult had both become passive, the Jadd became expansionist and sought to spread the Light of Surael through any means.