The Faith of the Five Saints

The Faith of the Five Saints is the primary religion of Etherel. It is predominantly practiced in the Free Lands and the Imperial borderlands. A variation of the faith is practiced in the Ten Kingdoms, which features a denunciation of the Immortals and the God Slayers, and an emphasis on worship of the Geophreic Saint, Mother Shiri.

## Houses

The faith concerns itself with the worship of elemental spirits who are categorized into five sectors called Houses. Each house is believed to be ruled by a spirit of greater power than the rest associated with that house. The Houses are further divided into light and dark by mortal men, though the spirits do not make such distinctions, and are thought to have a neutral understanding of the concepts of good and bad, or morality and immorality.

The Houses are Sa, Fire, Air, Earth, and Water. They represent the elemental forces that facilitate the use of magic. Each house has a secondary, cosmic element associated with it, and those elements are regarded as the exclusive domains of their rulers. The ruler of each house is called a Saint, and together they are thought to represent the constant flow of time, and all of the changes that occur throughout the ages.

### Sa

Sa is the element of change, and is associated closely with time. It is a representative catch all for forces that cannot easily be associated with the other four elements, and houses spirits associated with concepts like space, age and luck.

#### Mother Shiri

Mother Shiri is the Ruler of the House of Sa. She is associated with the moon and moonlight. In most depictions of her, she is represented by the peacock. She is believed to be a shape-shifter, and is sometimes also represented as an old, albino woman.

Mother Shiri is closely associated with the Sky Lord in the Ten Kingdoms, and with the Hero, Boreas, throughout the rest of Etherel. Of the Five Saints, she is the most broadly worshiped, and is seen as their leader.

##### The Cult of Shiri

The Cult of Shiri is a sect within the Faith of the Five Saints which is, as its name suggests, concerned with the teachings of Mother Shiri and those who are seen as her disciples. Within the Ten Kingdoms, the Cult of Shiri is the most common sect of the religion, and the only one to have mass appeal.

Monks of Shiri are concerned with values of individuality, learning and freedom of thought. They are patrons and practitioners of the arts. Many of them become teachers of the mundane arts or the magical forms. They are known to travel broadly, and some dedicate themselves to the Immortals Ansa and Azerith, as well.

### Fire

The House of Fire is the house of decadence and deception. Spirits associated with fire are often considered to be tricksters. Many are regarded as dangerous or dark by followers of the faith, though monks dedicated to the House of Fire believe these spirits have the ability to both create and destroy, and are therefore dangerous only insofar as they are not well understood.

#### Edna, The Fox Queen

Edna is the Ruler of the House of Fire. She is usually represented as a fox with nine tails. In some depictions of her, she is accompanied by nine other foxes, which are representative of the nine names of fire. On rare occasion, she is depicted as a regal, feminine figure clad in a dress reminiscent of the night's sky.

Edna is representative of fire, the stars, and starlight. She is associated with Esmerelda the Hunter, and with the Zouis, the highest among the Ten Kings. Both figures are thought to have studied under her before the time of the Sealing.

##### The Grand Forge

Edna's exclusive domain is the Grand Forge, a secret school of enchanting in the east of Etherel. The Grand Forge is the subject of countless myths and legends, and is believed in most circles to be a mythical place in itself.

##### The Cult of Edna

Beyond the Grand Forge, a cult of worship for the Fox Queen exists. Most of its practitioners are enchanters, and few of them refer to themselves as monks. Practitioners value eccentricity, innovation and artifice. Those who do not practice enchantment tend to be builders or political figures. Wealth is central to their practices, and they are not shy about displaying it. Worshipers who align with this sect of the faith are associated with grandiose parties and lavish lifestyles, but also with providing for their communities in whatever way they are able.

### Air

The house of air is the house of balance. It is associated with air, the sun and death. Most forms of death magic rely heavily on air spirits or energies, and followers of the Cult of Emediel are often associated with duties whose emphasis is on death.

#### Falcon Lord, Emediel

Emediel is the Ruler of the House of AIr. He is generally represented as a large falcon. He is sometimes depicted as a bird-like shadow across the land, which calls to his celestial association with the sun and sunlight. He is associated with Pythos, the Seer, among the God Slayers.

##### Cult of Emediel

The Cult of Emediel is a cult of death. It is the smallest of the sects associated with the Faith of the Five Saints. Monks of Emediel tend to be executioners, assassins, gravediggers, exorcists and undertakers. Some also serve as intermediaries between the living and the dead.

Monks of Emediel further revere the Immortals Ansa, Felicity and Seraphel. They approach death as a necessary means to an end, a neutral event, or a thing to be celebrated as a transition into *Gan Amde Ojid.*

The official mantra of the Cult of Emediel is *Cha'an Zente* which translates from the ilfeiyan language as All Things End. In contrast to their association with death, Monks of Emediel tend to be light-hearted individuals who place an emphasis on humor and living full and meaningful lives.

### Water

The house of water is associated with healing, battle, and darkness. Rites for the manipulation of darkness, and by extension gravity, tend to be water dominant. Most healing rites are also water dominant, and the best healers are considered to be those with a natural affinity for water.

#### Madthria, Queen of the Sea

Madthria is the Ruler of the House of Water. She is usually depicted as a sea snake with a skeletal head and cat-like whiskers. Hashia Magi has a close association with her, as many followers of the faith believe she lurks somewhere near the island. She is associated with darkness, particularly that of the night's sky which fills in the spaces between celestial bodies. Of the God Slayers, she is associated with the Pirate Queen, Anastasia, who the histories tell spent most of her life pillaging her way across the nation of Soldran and the coasts of Jarra and Juakali.

##### The Cult of Madthria

Cultists who worship Madthria tend to be healers or soldiers. In either case, their primary focus is on the study of healing. The healers among the cultists who worship Madthria are generally considered to be the best in the world, and entrance into their schools is highly sought after by mages with a water affinity who wish to learn to heal. The largest of these schools is located in Morgrotten.

The largest share of worshipers of Madthria belong to the *merenern* race, who trend toward being born with water affinities to a greater extent than other races. Large temples to Madthria exist in their lake cities, featuring grand depictions of her rendered as carvings, paintings and statues. Additionally, depictions of Anastasia tend to be common in these regions. Among her worshipers, Anastasia is considered a patron saint of healing and battle, and is often called "Si" as a shorthand. Members of her mythical inner circle are often depicted in close proximity to her, and hold high regard among these cultists.

Outside of *merenern* settlements, worship of Madthria is most common in Soldran and along the coasts of Stratholm, Juakali and Jarra, particularly in the city of Nacear.

### Earth

The house of earth is associated with life, earth, and the planet. Life Magic, which focuses on the propagation and manipulation of lifeforms, is associated with earth, and Gardeners are typically born with an affinity for the element.

#### Dragoconus, the Wyvern

Dragoconus is the Ruler of the House of Earth, which is sometimes referred to by his cultists as Home. He is most often depicted as a wyvern or a dragon, with stone-like skin, four legs and two, broad wings. He is associated with the season of spring, and his celestial association is with the planet and the energy of tectonics. He also shares a place as patron saint of Gardeners and Life Mages with the Immortal Felicity. The God Slayer associated with Dragoconus is Sura.

##### The Cult of Dragoconus

The Cult of Dragoconus is the most reserved of the sects of the faith. Monks concern themselves with charity, moral action, and, in some circles, agriculture. Many Gardeners are monks of Dragoconus, and he is deeply associated with life energy, food and prosperity.

Monks take on many different duties with an emphasis on charity. Some run orphanages or feed the poor, others are priests or religious figures of other kinds, teachers, counselors or philanthropists. Those who enter into the cult of Dragoconus are required to forfeit their claims to titles and property of value they may otherwise have inherited. They are the most reserved of the sects, but are also defenders of the innocent and in that capacity tend to be skilled warriors. In most reaches of Etherel, the monks of Dragoconus are given diplomatic immunity insofar as they come to the aid of the poor.

## The God Slayers

The God Slayers are five prolific figures who lived during the time referred to as the War of the Gods. They were leaders in the resistance which ultimately resulted in the Sealing, when the Sky Lord was forced into the prison under the Tree of Souls and sealed away so that he could not longer affect the world.

Each of the God Slayers is associated with the ruler of an elemental House, and each is the subject of countless myths and legends.

### Anastasia (Si)

Anastasia was born in what is now the nation of Manathel, and ran away from home as a teenager. She resettled in the nation of Soldran and quickly rose to fame as a pirate of particular cunning and skill. Most stories of her revolve around her rivalry with the ruler of Soldran, Sara, and the raids she conducted together with her crew, the Sound Pirates. She is believed to have been the leader of naval force which was instrumental in the War of the Gods. She is a patron saint of healers and warriors.

##### Sound Pirates

Anastasia's pirate crew consisted of a great many pirates whose base of operations is believed to be Hashia Magi, then described as a peninsula as opposed to an island. The pirates most often associated with her crew are Charles Bennette, Damien Gibbs, Nicholas Del Borg, Sakejin, Sebastian Fitch, Derek MacMillon, Michael Gibbs, Maxwell Avien, and Samuel Gates. These figures are often depicted alongside her or in close proximity to her in shrines and temples associated with both Anastasia and Madthria.

### Sura

Sura is most often called Lokai Orgrou which translates from Ilfeiyan as Black Brother. He is usually associated with the Immortal Seraphel, and is the subject of an epic whose plot follows him through the abduction of his wife by a Nepherim and a series of trials in the Pits of Amorahiya to win her free.

Sura is believed to have been born in a city in the desert lands, either Shadal or Lazul, and both people claim him as their own. He is usually depicted as a strong man standing proud and generally facing west. He is also associated with the spirits of the elements, who he is believed to have had a closer bond with than any man or woman who lived during his time.

Stories of Sura associated with the War of the Gods suggest he was a leader of a military company which won large gains against the forces of the Legion of the Sky, the Sky Lord's army. In most stories of him, he stands in direct opposition to Neldeva of the Ten Kings, and is attributed with the capture of Ferenze, a general in the Legion of the Sky thought to have been created from a statue of the king.

### Pythos

Pythos is believed to have been the Seer who predicted the rise of the Legion of the Sky and the Sealing. He is believed to have been born in Amsol along with Boreas, and some stories portray the two as brothers or cousins.

Pythos is considered to have been a skilled assassin and a teacher in Emediel's services responsible for raising an assassin force in opposition to the Sky Lord's armies. Many stories tell of his deep hatred and frequent clashes with Baris, the King of Gorozoan. He is also seen within the lore and the faith to have stood in opposition to the necromancers Arador, Gyarval and Zaigaz, having killed the latter at least four times over the course of the War of the Gods.

### Esmerelda

Esmerelda is believed to have been the Secret Keeper of the Grand Forge in her time. She is also credited with having formed the Order of the Red Hoods, which, in storied tradition, concerns itself with hunting down, apprehending and killing those who attempt to smuggle artifacts out of the Grand Forge or otherwise mount a betrayal against the Fox Queen.

Esmerelda stands in opposition to Zouis, the highest of the Ten Kings and Lord of the Legion of the Sky, who held the position of Secret Keeper before her. Stories of her follow her through her fruitless journey to hunt down and kill Zouis for his betrayal of the Grand Forge and the destruction he wrought thereafter. Some of these stories portray her as a former lover of Zouis, a sister, or a close friend. In all of her stories, she possesses a personal grudge against him, which extends far beyond that of her fellow forge lords.

Esmerelda is also credited with having killed both Berseph and Eriadne, whom themselves are associated in some capacity both with the Legion of the Sky and the Grand Forge.

### Boreas

Boreas is believed to have been the leader of the God Slayers. Countless stories tell of his conquests during the War of the Gods. Most tell that he was born in Amsol and had a close, familial bond to Pythos. He is further deeply associated with the cities of Duyaire Bense, Hiyal Alam and Hiyal Ijad. All of these cities credit him with having founded them.

Of all of the God Slayers, Boreas is most closely associated with the Children and the Immortals. Many tellings have it that he fought alongside them against the Sky Lord, and directed them to create the prison under the Tree of Souls, under which the Sky Lord would eventually be sealed.

## The Sky Lord

The Sky Lord is the central and most controversial figure in the Faith of the Five Saints. He is the god of the faith. The Sky Lord's true name, Bel'thel, is not uttered by any true believer of the faith, whether they revere or despise him.

In the Ten Kingdoms, his name and title are met with reverence, and he is seen as a good and virtuous god. The Ten Kings are worshiped as his regents on earth, and are considered to have the divine right to rule. He is associated with Mother Shiri, who is considered to be of near equal power to him, and is elevated above the Ten Kings as the spirit who "chose" him.

In the Free Lands, and in most circles within the Faith, the Sky Lord is considered a malevolent god. The Immortals are worshiped alongside the God Slayers for standing in opposition to him, and it is believed he will remain sealed as long as the Immortals live. the sacrifices of the God Slayers are remembered and celebrated at certain festivals throughout the year, and the Sky Lord is traditionally never depicted in artistic representations. Instead, the Tree of Souls, which is his prison, is used as an identifier.

Both sects of the faith believe the Sky Lord's return is prophesied, and that his return will bring about a time of great turmoil followed by a new era of peace. Worshipers of the Ten Kings' sect believe this new era of peace will exist under his rule and by his laws. Worshipers of the Free Lands' sect believe he will be cast out and destroyed by the Immortals, and the new era will be ruled by them, free of his taint.

## The Immortals

The Immortals are comprised of seven entities believed to be weaknesses cast out of the Sky Lord in his pursuit of ultimate power which took on flesh and life. They are seen as a great evil and a stain on the history of the world in the Ten Kings' sect, and as a neutral force dedicated to guiding mortal kind along the virtuous path, so that they may enter the afterlife, often referred to as *Gan Amde Ojid.* An additional two beings are incorporated into the number of Immortals, though they are not technically Immortals themselves. These are the Children, who are believed to have died in the way that they could during the War of the Gods, and who are the true born children of the Sky Lord. The Immortals are separated into two subsets, Lights and Shadows. Lights are considered to be gifts meant to help the people cope with the distressing aspects of existence, while Shadows are considered burdens or punishments which are meant to keep them on the right path.

### Lights

#### Light of Ignorance, Conan

The Light of Ignorance was the first born of the Immortals. He is sometimes also called the Light of Bliss. Practitioners of the faith believe ignorance was sent into the mortal world as a sign that they may turn a blind eye to the cruelties of the world, and as such those who follow his way tend to be apolitical, and to abstain from matters of controversy where possible.

#### Light of Truth, Azerith

The Light of Truth was born alongside the Shadow of Lies. He is the embodiment of truth, and it is believed that he cannot lie. In some beliefs, if the Light of Truth speaks a lie, he will die. In others, he will age rapidly, and only speaking truth to the lie will reverse the damage done. The birth of the Light of Truth is considered a sign that believers should be honest as often as possible, and that the truth is the only thing that will set them free.

#### Light of Life, Felicity

The Light of Life is believed to live in the city of the dead alongside her husband, who was born alongside her. She is believed to mold vessels out of clay into which new life is imbued. Her handmaids gather fruit from a place called the Astral Forest, which surrounds the Tree of Souls, and she uses these fruit to create that new life. The effigies are then pulverized, and from the dust rises new, mortal life in Etherel. Felicity's existence is generally associated with the idea that life itself is a gift.

### Shadows

#### Shadow of Morality, Cane

The Shadow of Morality was the second born of the Immortals, and considered a reminder for believers to follow a moral path, to act in the best interests of other, and to do no harm. He is most often depicted with the head of a lion and the body of a man. Of the Immortals, he is the most widely worshiped and is commonly prayed to by mortals during times of internal conflict or uncertainty.

#### Shadow of Lies, Rahkna

Born alongside the Light of Truth, the Shadow of Lies is considered a reminder of the destruction that can be wrought in the absence of truth. He is considered a punishment by most believers, worse than any whisperer or common criminal, his lies are believed to be the kind that create widespread devastation, and in all places except for the Ring of Fire, he is hated. Inside the Ring of Fire, a small subset of worshipers revere him, seeing him as less a punishment than a reminder of what happens when mortals turn off the right path.

#### Shadow of Death, Ansa

The Shadow of Death is believed to live in Morania, the City of the Dead, alongside his wife, who was born alongside him. He is the figure of a reaper, and, together with his nine Guardians of Death, is responsible for the ending of life. Each of the Guardians of Death represents a means by which people die, and takes lives from the pool of those who bring about their own end in that fashion. The Death Lord is further thought of as the king of Morania, and a kind of ruler over the recently dead, while they remain in his city ahead of their day of judgment in Amorahiya.

#### Shadow of Judgment, Seraphel

The Shadow of Judgment is most often depicted as a boy between ten and twelve years old with paper-white skin, black hair and eyes, and a shadow like a demon. He is the judge of all sin, and the gatekeeper to the afterlife. The Shadow of Judgment is thought to have been sent into the mortal coil as a punishment for mortal hubris. He is both feared and respected by believers, who see that he will ultimately be the one who judges their fitness for the afterlife.

The Nepherim and Seraphim serve him. The Nepherim are punishers of sin who reside in the Pits of Amorahiya, torturing the souls of mortals who succumbed to evil in their lives for a period of time equal to that of their former lives. The Seraphim are seen as guides of good souls into the afterlife.

### The Children

#### Mother of Night

Celesti is the Mother of Night, believed to be the daughter of the Sky Lord, who joined the Immortals and the God Slayers in opposing him during the War of the Gods. She is the subject of many myths, most notable among them one concerning the origin of the queens of Shadovane. In her pursuit of true love, so the story goes, she threw herself into the Arc of the Afterlife and was destroyed. But a piece of her soul survived as a stone which is central, in modern times, to the selection of a queen in Shadovane. The woman who can make the stone glow becomes the queen until her death, and the cycle repeats.

The Queen of Shadovane is believed to be the reincarnation of the Mother of Night, and is given the honorary title of Shadow of Passion. Though she is born mortal and will die as all mortals do, in the capacity of the incarnate of the Mother of Night, she is considered to be an Immortal. Shadow Queens, as a result of their contact with the stone, do gain immense power and access to the memories of their predecessors.

#### Father of Lands

Argor is the Father of Lands, believed to be the son of the Sky Lord and twin to Celesti. He is believed to have joined the God Slayers in opposing the Sky Lord during the War of the Gods, and is subject of a number of myths and legends many of which feature him alongside Seraphel and Sura. Argor is deeply associated with agriculture and the changing seasons. He is believed to have sacrificed himself to form the prison under the Tree of Souls, under which the Sky Lord is imprisoned.

Like his sister, Argor is believed to have a reincarnation in Etherel, and his reincarnation ascends to royalty on displaying a bond to a crown which was believed to have belonged to him. The crown is presented to boys who selected the right toys from a long carpet placed on a street in the outer city of Gourum. The child who passes the tests to ascend is named king of Gourum, and up the throne at Del Zaros. The King of Gourum is called the Earth Child, and in this capacity is considered an Immortal. His title as an Immortal is Light of Honor.

The Earth Children, throughout history, have lived for exactly eighteen years, dying on the day of their birth and being succeeded by another. The average length of an Earth Child's reign is ten years. Some exceptions to this rule have existed in the past, living long lives in apparent defiance to what is natural, and almost all of those have been discovered to have engaged in necromancy or located and killed their apparent successors in attempts to extend their lives. The reigning Earth Child gains access to immense power and the memories of his predecessors as a result of his contact with the crown.