Eriphuni

## Overview

#### Tribulations

Eriphuni is an ancient religion with few practicing members in Rathnir. It is a monotheistic religion based on the teachings of Eri, the only god recognized by the followers of Eriphuni. Eri's teachings describe a world plagued by mischief, greed, deception, and chaos. These four "tribulations" are believed by the followers of Eriphuni to be the source of all human suffering in this world.

#### Devils, Demons, and Life

The Great Tribulations, as the followers of Eriphuni call them, along with the many minor tribulations are anthropomorphized into many different demons for the minor tribulations and four Great Devils for The Great Tribulations. These four Great Devils (Orgoth, Grandimor, Mistoph, and Tilopotseu representing mischief, greed, deception, and chaos respectively) are prophesied to bring about the end of the world through internal strife within humankind. To combat this, the followers of Eriphuni believe Eri taught her doctrines to six worthy souls, known as the Grand Missionaries, and gave each a book detailing Her life and all She had learned. Each book detailed a different part of Her life, each with different lessons to be learned. However, only 4 of the 6 books remain in Rathnir with the other two having been lost to time.

#### Angels, Virtues, and Knowledge

These five books, known as Genesis, Light, Life, Darkness, Death, and Terminus, are core to the teachings of Eriphuni. The contents of the two lost books, Darkness and Death, have been lost, but many speculate as to what they contain. However, the contents of the remaining four books are known and are the core doctrines to the followers of Eriphuni. These teachings are meant to combat The Great Tribulations, with themes of solemnity, frugality, honesty, and order. These four virtues, known as The Grand Virtues, are anthropomorphized into four Archangels, known as Anaiel, Iaoel, Lailah, and Andromeda who represent solemnity, frugality, honesty, and order respectively. The followers of Eriphuni must practice all of The Grand Virtues and fight to deter all of The Great Tribulations.

#### Lost Books of Darkness and Death

The lost books of Darkness and Death are speculated to contain information about two more Grand Virtues and Great Tribulations, as every other book known today introduces a unique Grand Virtue and Great Tribulation. No one knows what these two lost Grand Virtues and Great Tribulations might be, which has been a point of contention within the church for many centuries. Over the years, many followers of Eriphuni have searched for the two lost books all across Rathnir, but to no avail. It is a common saying within the Church of Eriphuni that "every bug, every pebble, every blade of grass within all of Rathnir has been looked upon with not even a whisper from the wind to suggest where the lost books might be." The lost books were last known to be in the hands of the Dual Patriarchs of Eriphuni, the two brothers who created the Grand Empire known as Eriph, but the duo has been disputed by many as just a myth as no evidence of Eriph existing has been found on Rathnir. However, proponents of the Eriph myth have speculated that the Dual Patriarchs had hidden the lost books deep within Eriph to preserve them from the mischievous deeds of Orgoth, who was said to be stealing all Darkness and Death books from the followers of Eriphuni.

#### Discovery of New Rathnir

With the recent discovery of New Rathnir, many followers of Eriphuni have been energized, believing that the lost books might be hidden on this new continent. Proponents of the Eriph myth have been the most excited, believing the Grand Empire must have existed on this new continent and evidence can be found of its existence. However, few followers have made it to the new continent, and fewer have said they might have found evidence of Eriph's existence. Although little evidence has been found on this new continent, the investigation is still fresh and the conversations around Eriph and the lost books have been revitalized.