Reformation of the Sixteen

Reformation of the Sixteen is a book discovered among the treasure looted by the Legion of the Black Hand.

## Description

Detailing a variation on the traditional arrangement of the Ahlusian Pantheon, the Reformation of the Sixteen is a modest but heavy-going religious tome set with a slither of rose-red glass.

## Research

### Completed by Ronan

The Ahlusian Pantheon has enjoyed extraordinary stability in terms of unwavering worship, support and consistency. The very framing of the passage of time is defined by their presence in the lands, and avatars and exarchs alike of these celestial beings upon high are well-documented throughout the histories since. Guidance from Divinus granted to mages within the Ten Guilds, support from Buwello to farmers in far-spun fields, directions from Veth to those having wandered too far astray or wrapped in a fearsome gale. This immediate and irrefutable presence stands strong against even the most stalwart naysayer spouting heresy atop a borrowed crate in city-corners, and so few feel themselves compelled to do so. In truth, who can truly question the nature or existance of the gods if near all that declare themselves in their name hear their words, wishes and wisdom in the wind and will of the world around them? It is of course important to note that this reality carries in both directions - both as the Principal Sixteen are incontrovertible, as are the Malign.

But such certain matters stir further questions, and so have prompted deeper theological study and assessment. This tome focuses on the proposed restructuring of both the Sixteen and the Malign into a single extended Pantheon, mirrored and antagonistic but harmonious and even in reality. Such a thing has drawn great controversy amongst certain ecclesiastic circles, but largely has been dismissed, ignored and otherwise given little thought by most - save for those of the very same race that stirred such discussions into life. The origins of the genasi upon the continent of Ahlus are not as clear as those of races often considered less exotic, all of whom are clearly documented to have been created by the High-Mother Aita with the aid of many others amongst the Sixteen. Genasi of any kind do not feature in such origins, or at least superficially seem to do so. It is thus proposed that as well as definitions of alignment considering Good, Evil, Lawful and Chaotic, all deities also find attunement to at least one of the four elemental states of Air, Earth, Fire and Water. Much debate and argument has been generated by the parallels this generates, for it suggests that beings such as the evil-aligned Ophidian and good-natured Buwello, both associated with Earth and Water, are more closely related than the link between the Mulberry Prince and the Air-Fire grouping of Taranis, despite both Buwello and Taranis being held in equally high regard by farmers and other labourers. In summary, instead of the Sixteen and the Malign, there are four clusters defined in alignment with the four elemental planes. Offerings of praise to any deity tend to reflect this fact, with titles such as "Wind Matron" and "One Aflame" common through sermons and prayers.

Nonetheless, reformationists therefore believe that this new extended categorisation reveals the secrets to their origin. Genasi are known to seemingly appear from bloodlines otherwise uniform in their racial ancestry, and so it is proposed that that an individual or group of individuals particularly faithful and zealous might, in garnering the boon of one of the Sixteen - or the bane of one of the Malign - also find their lineage modified by manner of divine proximity and so increase the likelihood of a genasi child or grandchild. A family that holds Vyra close in their prayers may find a granddaughter with pale blue-white skin, hair and eyes, the babe prone to calm passages and wild storm-like tantrums. Perhaps the most famous example of this is that of the Gawylthlian Paladin Cedric Farrowbrew, a devotee of Kroai. When his wife gave birth to a fire-touched genasi it was initially seen as a gift from Kroai, the Battlemistress. Come adulthood, Anghus Farrowbrew was involved in a failed plot to assassinate the King upon the Rose Throne and summarily imprisoned and later executed. Rumours started that instead the child had been tainted by any number of the Malign - for the Battle Chief, the Black Hand, the Elder Elemental Eye, the Lord of Nessus and the Undying Queen all had reason to sow disdain and dishonour on the family of Sir Cedric. Regardless, with time Genasi have only grown increasingly common with further pairings between the race bringing forth elemental-touched offspring more consistently. Naturally, in accordance with this theory it would be expected that areas of increased zealotry would have larger native populations of genasi, and this appears true beyond one glaring exemption. The Duchies of Tynd hold themselves in high esteem for their unwavering faith and yet genasi are largely unseen in the region. Some further theories point to an underlying prejudice against more exotic races in this Realm as the primary reason for this rather than disproof of Reformationist beliefs, but counter-arguments rarely fail to cover this particular finding.