Cult of the Enlightened Dawn

The Cult of the Enlightened Dawn are an NPC Faction in Revelations Online. They are often antagonists in quest lines tho exceptions do exist throughout the world. Enlightened Dawn members believe that the transmogrification of humanoids into Phazers is a type of evolution, and seek to bring denizens of The Underground into the light so that they may be ascended.

## History

### Before the Golden Damnation

Enlightened Dawn was originally a sect of highly dogmatic Pelorian Clergy known as the Children of Corona. Their rites were gruesome and involved extensive self harm, purposefully giving themselves horrific sunburns all over their naked body, self immolation, and filling open wounds with soil to grow plants from their own bodies. These practices placed them as pariah's amongst the Sovereigns and Nobility of the old world, but because they provided structure and a promise of a deeper understanding, they garnered adherents amongst the marginalized and desperate of society.

### Initial activities underground

The Children of Corona who were not taken immediately by the Golden Damnation would make their way underground, eventually joining up with the Solars with the aim to try to re-establish some kind of above ground life. In spite of their colorful history, the Corona was tolerated due to the undergrounds need for manpower as well as subterranean life's prevention of some of their more graphic rituals. This was short lived, as the cult would make several power grabs at the reigns of the Solars. Once it became clear that they could not work together, the Corona were exiled from the Solar Scavengers. Once conventional politicking for power underground proved fruitless, the Corona changed their name, and began a campaign to make subterranean life untenable and increase the populations dependence on surface scavenging as possible, making it easier or them to "ascend" their victims.

## Tenants

1.) Pelor accepts all humanity unconditionally

2.) Pelor's light beautifies humanity. Humankind does not decide what forms are and are not ideal.

3.) The Enlightened Dawn is Pelor's plan for humanity, chosen for them out of his boundless love.

4.) To die before one becomes Ascended is to lock one's soul in an eternal prison of darkness.

5.) It is the duty of all who worship Pelor to bring humanity back into his Light.

## Activity

It's no surprise that with these tenants and their fanaticism that the Cult of the Enlightened Dawn pose a major threat to the stability of Urlut. They are connected to acts of kidnapping, arson, and property destruction. That being said, their methodology is murder avoidant. This is consistent with their belief that death underground is an abomination.

### Kidnapping

Cult members have often been apprehended for kidnappings. They seek often to bring children above ground into the sun. The exact reasons why they target children aren't known but the prevailing theory is that they are simply the easiest targets and their aim to ascend is indiscriminate. Others have postulated that the killing of children brings greatest despair, and despair amongst the underground is to their benefit.

### Property Destruction

Cultists work to destroy crops, dwellings, and just about anything else they can in order to make underground life less sustainable.

### Arson

Immolation is the only methods of death they have deemed fit to take place underground. Thus, many of the cultists are adept pyromancers and will resort to potent fire magic if lethal confrontation cannot be avoided.