Path of Inspiration

## Worship

### **Holy Days**

Feast of the Founding (observed on daybreak on the day of the moon Therendor’s new phase in the month of Therendor)

## Manifestations

### **Favored Weapon**

Flail

> *"Each life is a lesson, and you must live the life you have been given if you hope to rise in the next."*
>
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> -Excerpt from The Path of Inspiration in Secrets of Sarlona
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**The Path of Inspiration** is the state religion of Riedra, and the faith forms the backbone of the nation. Indeed, the faith and the nation are one and the same in the eyes of most of its citizens.

## Doctrine

The main precept of the Path of Inspiration is that devotion to the *il-altas*, the great spirits, comes first. They believe these great spirits are opposed by evil gods and fiends, which they call the *altavars*. These evil spirits tempt the faithful to wander from the path and threaten their ability to progress along the path to the next life in the cycle of reincarnation.

The Path of Inspiration bears some basic resemblance to the Church of the Silver Flame. However, followers of the Path believe that all foreign faiths worship *altavars*, and that these faiths are corrupted.

Most Riedrans are illiterate, and are taught the precepts of the Path of Inspiration by the sermons of the priests in the waking hours and have the lessons broadcasted from the quori monoliths into their dreams at night.

### Cycles of Reincarnation

Followers of the Path of Inspiration believe in cycles of reincarnation and spiritual evolution along this path to enlightenment. Followers of the precepts of the faith hold that should they obey the will of their Chosen representatives on Eberron, that they too can eventually be reincarnated into one of the *il-altas*. Inspiration refers to when a Chosen is inhabited by one of these great spirits.

The various tiers of this cycle to reach enlightenment are:

* The *il-altas* who cannot manifest on the Material Plane and instead must act through The Inspired;
* The Chosen (those who are guided by the *il-altas*);
* Changelings;
* Humans;
* Nonhumans (dromites, duergar, dwarves, elans, ogres, ogre mages, shifters);
* Beasts

The Path of Inspiration teaches that some creatures house *altavars* within them, such as elans, ogre mages, and the dreaded kalashtar of Adar.

## Garb

Riedrans who observe this faith dress in brown, black, and white clothing with complex embroidery on the hems. The Inspired are permitted to wear blue and red on their robes.

## Hierarchy

Members of the priesthood of the Path of Inspiration are the only citizens of Riedra permitted to use divine magic. All members of the priesthood of the Path of Inspiration belong to a single rank–that of the priest. Priests report to those who serve the Inspired lords of Riedra, who they may never encounter in person. Priests help indoctrinate the common folk of Riedra into the rule of the Inspired. They are dispatched as servants to quell dissent and contain opponents of the rule of the Inspired over Riedra. Any priests who disobey the whims of their masters are dealt with permanently.

The Inspired stand above all other members of the Path of Inspiration, and can command all followers at a whim.

## Holy Sites

The most iconic locations for worshippers of the Path of Inspiration are the quori monoliths, the *hanbalani altases*, or "sanctuaries of the soul." Citizens of Riedra believe these places house the spirits of the dead before they transition into their next life along the path.

## References

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 ***Secrets of Sarlona***.
Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Glenn McDonald, and Chris Sims (2007). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0-7869-4037-0.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 ***Faiths of Eberron***.
Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, Ari Marmell, and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3934-6.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 ***Eberron Campaign Guide***.
James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.