Eldritch

The ‘communion’ - often regarded as no more than a cult - is somewhat of an obscure faith within Azura. It is said that, instead of the spirits known from Dormia and the recently freed gods, it focuses more on the spirits and souls of the dead. Due to such rejection, many practitioners reside in the North. It’s also rumored that people reside in the North, due to the open graves residing around. Rituals are done, but due to the bad nature it’s gained through fallacies and rumors, people often confuse it for things like demon worship of some sort. While the existence of the spirits and gods isn’t outright denied, and members are quite neutral about their worship.

It’s also frequent to see members in the desert, due to the massive amount of deaths. The amount of deaths regard the ruins as a ‘hotspot’ of sorts, as more spirits make it easier to contact at least one of them. There are many practitioners around Trepheon, but you’d never really know who, as they wouldn’t openly declare their faith. There are quite a few rituals and practices around the faith, many of them, surprisingly, being quite positive in nature. Common practices include:

Knocking once on each corner of the door, to let the spirits know you are entering. Form of mutual agreement with the spirits, I.E. You don’t screw with me, I won’t screw with you.

Opening house to the spirits:  First, you’d draw a symbol, similar to the one to the left. Place candles around the symbol in a triangular pattern. Then, you sprinkle some sort of offering, as a form of ‘incentive’. [I.E. coins, jewelry, or even forms of food.] Then proceed to announce this: “Spirits, please exit the realm of the fallen, as we welcome you to ours. Spirits, we request a

peaceful meeting, as you enter and exit our realm. Please, give us thy wisdom.’

In order to close a house from spirit access, one must draw eight stars in a circular pattern. Then, draw a line from gap to gap between the stars, and place your hand in the middle, and say “Spirits, you have graced us with your presence, please let us contemplate.”

Talismans of sorts are also frequently used. Many are meant to ward off evil or vengeful spirits. Others are meant to provide luck or good fortune, or even spare you from violent conflict. Unfortunately, due to the practice’s negative connotation from gossip, many believe these talismans to be signs of an allegiance to evil forces.

Practitioners of Eldritch often wear quite a bit of jewelry, such as rings, necklaces, bracelets, and so on. They are also rather defensive or secretive of what their beliefs are, and some may even say there may be cultists within kingdoms secretly practicing their faith under the guise of another. They are also said to wear flamboyant, beautiful clothing within their subculture. Although there could be some practitioners of some sort of dark form, they are often excommunicated, as that is the literal opposite of what the religion is about, and it just aids the bias they get from outsiders.

Certain colors are likened to forces and/or emotions, such as:

* Purple: Prosperity, good fortune
* Green: Darkness, evil
* Red: Positive energy, often used as a guard against evil
* Yellow: Neutrality, peace
* Orange: Very positive color, often used directly against evil forces: [I.E. execration]

Lastly, there are seven classes:

First: Tyro, very new, knows few very basic rituals

Second: Ha’dan, knows most basic rituals

Third: Transitional: Knows basic rituals, a few advanced ones

Fourth: Listener: Knows basic rituals, intermediate understanding of the advanced

Fifth: Converser: Adept at advanced rituals. Allowed to promote members.

Sixth: Expert at the advanced. Allowed to promote members.

Seventh: Olori: Highest level, knows most if not ALL rituals, recognized as leader, and is allowed to promote. Current Olori is a man who goes by Romba.

Other assorted facts:

The religion is popular on races major on necromancy. [I.E., the remtar, or demons]

Feathers are used, but not very often.

Talismans come in nearly all forms of jewelry.