Du'nahai

The **Du'nahai** are a social, religious, and political force found throughout most of the known world. The group is thought to have originated in the city of Aegoth in roughly 60,000 BTE. The Du'nahai consists of both male and female members, called the Brothers and Sisters of the Pale, although it is matriarchal and led by the Mother Ascendant.

The Du'nahai do not inherently possess supernatural traits, instead they are mentally and physically conditioned to understand and manipulate an omnipresent yet undetectable energy force they call *dar'galoth*. The group's awareness of *dar'galoth* allows them to utilize abilities including hyper-sensory perception, telepathy, increased strength and mental capacity, cellular control, astral projection and matter manipulation, among others.

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## Background and origin

### Aegoth (60,000–55,000 BTE)

The Du'nahai are purported to originate in the city of Aegoth, located in the far southwest of Phaegea, around roughly 60,000 BTE. According to their own records, Aegoth was once a thriving port and one of the most populous cities of the Golden Era, serving as the capitol of the Jedalite Kingdom. The literature of Anuzhor the Old speaks of a young prince, Malmoloz Traegoth, who became obsessed with understanding *iphanorium*, or Black Arts, due to the influence of his concubine and high priestess, Lady Belessunu. Through *iphanorium*, Malmoloz was able to make contact with the Kothkomen, the Eight Kings of Zoguul (Hell) and servants of Dazgol, who promised the prince unforetold wealth and power. Malmoloz ventured into the outskirts of Aegoth, gathered eight shepherds to bring with him to the mountains of Aken, and brutally sacrificed them to the Kothkomen in the Balathist Temple of Ruhone. Offering them human hosts, the Kothkomen entered Aegoth and "infected" the city, according to Anuzhor.

The Du'nahai historian Gargan the Wise wrote that upon entering Aegoth, the influence of the Kothkomen began festering throughout the city and corrupting its inhabitants, including Malmoloz. With the assistance of Belessunu and the Kothkomen, the prince managed to kill his father and his council, along with any other potential claimants to the throne. Under Malmoloz's rule, the use of *iphanorium* was no longer outlawed, and citizens freely practiced the Black Arts with impunity, allowing them to manipulate the world to their pleasure. The widespread use of *iphanorium* was not without consequences; the water became poisoned, the sky blackened and plunged Aegoth into permanent darkness, crops would not grow, and the once lush green landscape gradually became replaced by black, thorny weeds and grotesque, contorted trees. Gargan wrote that even the once sparkling granite and marble that the buildings of Aegoth were composed of changed colour to a sickly greenblack which he compared to "akin to rotten fruit". Similarly, all of the stones, rocks and buildings within the city began secreting a slick, black, oily substance described as similar to a mixture of "ash and honey [...] producing the smell of rotten eggs and spoiled meat".

While the citizens of Aegoth were free to practice *iphanorium*, the true power of the Kothkomen, known as *dar'galoth*, was reserved only for the kings, Malmoloz, and Belessunu. As explained by the Mother Ascendant Erezith Visophi Iffaeh in the *Ataraxia*, *iphanorium* is a form of magic that works by providing sacrifices to Dazgol in exchange for the granting of earthly desires, drawing power from Zoguul. *Dar'galoth* works entirely separate; it is not a type of magic and cannot be "performed". Rather, *dar'galoth* is a form of omnipresent energy found throughout the universe, invisible and undetectable to those unaware of its existence. With proper training and instruction, individuals are capable of interacting with and utilizing the energy, harnessing the power of *dar'galoth* to manipulate space, time, reality and matter to their will. To defeat his enemies, Malmoloz directed Belessunu to train individuals in the use of *dar'galoth* to serve as weapons, which became the Order of Du'nahai.

### Jedalite Empire (55,000–47,000 BTE)

Having amassed his forces and created the powerful Order of Du'nahai, Malmoloz initiated a civil war within the Phaegean Sathage in 55,000 BTE, declaring himself Emperor of the Jedalites. Over the course of 2,700 years, Malmoloz managed to gain control over each of the sathage's constituent kingdoms, thus creating the Jedalite Empire. Under the influence of the Kothkomen, the emperor gradually became obsessed with finding the Zagthorokic Relics, artifacts from the Holy War known as Zagthorok. The war, fought between the benevolent god Balath and the malevolent god Dazgol, resulted in the latter's banishment to Zoguul. Eight relics were left on the planet following Dazgol's imprisonment, representing the basic elements of the universe: soil, air, water, fire, space, time, reality and life.

According to the Kathkomen, an individual known as the Kir'on is prophesied to use the power of *dar'galoth* in combination with the united relics to free Dazgol, bringing about the destruction of the universe and ushering in a new empire of Zoguul. Malmoloz, believing himself to be the Kir'on, sought tirelessly for the relics. The empire's obsession was a key turning point in history that resulted in a period known as the Golden Dusk. Much of the empire began to crumble as Malmoloz dealt with constant rebellions, the loss of his sanity, and the neglect of the unprecedented technological, engineering and architectural feats that made the empire so powerful to begin with.

The Order of Du'nahai also began worrying about their place in Malmoloz's plans. By 47,000 BTE, the emperor and the Kothkomen had acquired nearly all of the Zagthorokic Relics, while the mass genocide of entire kingdoms had reduced the empire and much of human civilization as whole to rubble. Unwilling to let Malmoloz bring about the destruction of the universe, the Du'nahai turned against him, resulting in the War of Quohar. Prior to the war, the Du'nahai made plans to scatter the indestructible relics and ensure the continuity of the Order, and several dozen members were sent into hiding. The Du'nahai, led by Belessunu, fought against Malmoloz and the Kothkomen in Quohar, destroying the capital in the process. Faced with no other option, the Order was able to use their combined powers to destroy the emperor and the kings, sacrificing themselves in the process. With the Jedalites destroyed and the use of *dar'galoth* no longer in use to protect the empire from the elements, the once-great civilization crumbled. The Great Lakes of the Phaegean Sea dried up, giant megalithic buildings became ruins, the rivers were reduced to trickles, and the entire empire was swallowed by the sand. In the aftermath, former inhabitants migrated away to new lands and carried their culture, language, religion and stories with them. Gradually, over time, *dar'galoth*, *iphanorium*, the Phaegean Sathage, Malmoloz, the Kothkomen, the Jedalite Empire and the Du'nahai faded from memory.

### Post-Jedalite period

Prior to the War of Quohar, several dozen Du’nahai members were sent to retrieve the Sacred Texts in Aegoth and establish a new temple. According to the account of Mother Ascendant Erezith Visophi Iffaeh, Sister Mariam Sorme left the caravan in the middle of the night, guided by a white, glowing orb. Sorme was guided to the Khoubian Valley, where the orb led her to a cave within the mountain face. Venturing into the cave, Sorme found an underground lake, and was greeted by three figures. These figures gave her three prophecies, which became known as the Three Pillars. The first figure showed Sorme the resurrection of the Kothkomen and Malmoloz, the second showed her a Second Zagthorok, and the third showed her a vision of the messiah, known as Xul'gadeth. According to Sorme, the figures told her where to hide the Zagthorokic Relics and instructed her to establish the new Du’nahai temple in the cave, before guiding her into the lake. When Sorme awoke, she was floating in a river close to the caravan, with seemingly no time having passed.

After retrieving the Sacred Texts from Aegoth, the Du’nahai followed Sorme back to the cave, establishing the Temple of Draecoteron at the location. Over a period of several years, Iffaeh and the Wisemen studied the Sacred Texts and in conjunction with Sorme’s vision, developed the *Ataraxia*. The book held the collective knowledge of the Du’nahai and also contained the Draeconic Creed, which outlined a holy and stringent set of rules which all members of the Du’nahai were required to follow, along with rituals, practices and goals which the group was expected to strive for. Following the defeat of Malmoz and the Kothkomen, the Du’nahai gathered the Zagthorokic Relics and began spreading them out across the known world, including in the city of Tarkesh, the small settlement of Mephisto and the Wandering Isle.

## Organization and structure

### Structure

The members of the Du’nahai are referred to as Brothers and Sisters of the Pale. The structure of the group is hierarchical and they are led by matriarchs known as Mother Ascendants. The Du’nahai are not one unified group, but are instead made up of numerous clans spread out over a vast geographic area, known as *gulats*.

#### Urthrikes

An Urthrike is an initiate to the Du’nahai society. These initiates are usually brought in to be trained at the Du’nahai schools and come from royal houses, however, there are some cases of orphans being selected to join the group. The Uthrikes are characterized by their white robes.

#### Brothers and Sisters of the Pale

The Brothers and Sisters of the Pale represent the next step above Uthrikes. These individuals go through extensive training to understand and control the *dar'galoth*. Members of the Pale are focused on gaining knowledge, physical and mental conditioning.

#### Mother Ascendants

Mother Ascendants are the highest rank of the Du’nahai and is a title reserved exclusively for women. According to Mother Ascendant Juno Sahat, this is because the genes that enable the ultimate understanding of the *dar'galoth* are found only in women, and so a man could never reach the necessary level of power.

#### Gulats

A *gulat* is a type of clan composed of members of the Du’nahai.

### Draeconic Creed

All members of the Du’nahai are expected to abide by the Draeconic Creed, which is codified into the *Ataraxia*. The Creed stipulates specific rituals for recruitments, initiations, examinations and ascensions. It also contains a list of rules which all Du’nahai must abide by.

#### *Igdrilluun*

The concept of *igdrilluun* (lit. “chosen mate”) was a Du’nahai policy of breeding and mate selection. During its formative years, members of the group were only permitted to couple and produce children amongst other members of the Pale. Originally, the intention was to create a community that did not have to rely on outsiders to grow its numbers, thus preventing any infiltration and rifts between a Du’nahais work and home lives. In the early years of the group, marriage and copulation between two Du’nahai was up to the discretion of the partners involved, provided they gained approval of the Mother Ascendant of their *gulat*. Over time the policy became stricter and marriages were pre-arranged by the various Mother Ascendants. While the cause of the shift is unknown, some have theorized that it was in response to the threat of incest, the need to form familial ties between *gulats*, or to cast out undesirable bloodlines. Following the reformations of the Draeconian Creed, the policy of *igdrilluun* underwent a dramatic shift. In response to the decemation of the Du’nahai numbers, partnerships were no longer arranged and members were free to mate with outsiders. Similarly, once the policy of *mazrinum* was enacted, women were encouraged to become concubines and breed with nobility.

#### *Ogomorek*

Traditionally, Brothers and Sisters of the Pale followed the doctrine of *ogomorek* (“shielding of the flesh”) when among outsiders. The Du’nahai, regardless of gender, usually wore long, black cloaks that covered the entirety of their bodies, including a mesh face veil and gloves. The purpose of *ogomorek* stems from the Three Pillars; the resurrection states that the Kathkomen and Ki’ron will rise, or have already risen, so one must protect their identity or risk the safety of the Du’nahai.

Once the policy of *mazrinum* was enacted, the doctrine of *ogomorek* underwent significant changes. First, it was no longer required for the Pale to keep completely covered among outsiders, although one was still expected to dress modestly by covering the body and hair. For the women chosen to engage in the *mazrinum*, the rule was not compulsory at all. During this period, the doctrine of *ogomorek* still applied to Mother Ascendants, however.

The second major change to the rule of *ogomorek* came later and was seen as a shift back to a more conservative interpretation. While the baring of skin was allowed with outsiders, all members of the Du’nahai had to adhere to the strict form of *ogomorek* when among other members, most especially when among Mother Ascendants. The change was noted as a tactic to emphasize collectiveness to the Du’nahai rather than the outside world.

## Mission and goals

Following the Draeconian Creed, all of the missions, goals and objectives of the Du’nahai became centred around the Three Pillars: the resurrection, the destruction and the salvation. The overarching mission of the group was covertly gaining power and influence over the world through indirect methods such as social, religious and political manipulation. Once major societies began to form following the Golden Dusk, the Du’nahai understood that any of these states could produce a leader capable of resurrecting the Kothkomen and the Kir’on. Thus, it was decided that the Du’nahai would need to acquire power and lead humanity away from the influence of Dazgol.

### Objectives

#### *Mazrinum*

The *mazrinum* was a Du’nahai policy aimed at infiltrating the noble houses of the known world, thus exerting a hidden influence. The main objective of the was to provide Du’nahai wives and concubines to the powerful houses, whose ultimate loyalties were to the group itself.

aimed towards covertly gaining power and influence over the world through indirect methods such as social and political manipulation. Once major societies began to form following the Golden Dusk, the Du’nahai understood that any of these states could produce a leader capable of resurrecting the Kothkomen and the Kir’on. Thus, it was decided that the Du’nahai would need to acquire power and lead humanity away from the influence of Dazgol.

Traditionally, Brothers and Sisters of the Pale followed the doctrine of *ogomorek* (“shielding of the flesh”) when among outsiders. However, once the policy of *mazrinum* was enacted.