Hextorian
"Our blood is for His worship. Our life is in His hands..."
Religion
The main religion, and only legal religious practice, of the Tok Empire is the Hextorian faith. Any other religion is strictly prohibited and many people across the continent are killed and burned alive for their heretical worship of other gods. There are many silent voices infuriated at the prospect but are too fearful to act on their disdain and malcontent.Mythology & Lore
Before the records of time, in the Divine Wars, Herioneous and Hextor first stepped onto the Material Plane birthing the concept of war. Their battle struck the heavens, decimating the once moon of Rybis, sundering it to the form we know today. Throughout the years, the pull between Hextor & Heironeous was an ongoing battling until The Ascended rose up and slew the God of Oppression, Hextor. Later turning on the rest of the gods, however, The Ascended one-by-one destroyed the rest of the pantheon until there was none left. Though divinity is created by faith and culmination of the faith of the people brought forth the Avatars of Divinity that allowed the Second Coming to forge into fruition. Hextor proved to be the first and strongest of the gods and grew his influence throughout the continent of Tok and turned the empire into what it is today.
Art By: Ralph Horsley
Divine Origins
The divine origins of the Tok Empire are rooted deep in the teaching of Hextor. Though many through the planet of Oryth view him as an evil deity, many residents of Tok believe that when he was reborn during the Era of the Godless, that his purview had changed, and though the teachings are brutal and strict, that He is there in the best worship of his faithful. Many believe that his ways will truly bring about world peace and spread His name far and wide in order to see this future come to fruition.Tenets of Faith
The tenets set forth by the Tok Empire state that blood is life and it is one's duty to sacrifice some of that life to those who seek to protect. During the Blooding, every man, woman, and child must give their lifeblood to their protector in exchange for His defense and tutelage. Strength in combat is revered by those wishing to impress their deity. Also during the Blooding many gather in fighting, pits to see who can shed the most blood in His honor.Ethics
Many debates whether the methods of worshipping Hextor are ethical and whether His teachings are truly for the betterment of the people. Though these discussions are not to be overheard by the prying ears of Empire, there are those who are devout worshippers who truly believe His ways will one day bring world peace. The Tok Empire shelters their homeless and feeds their hungry. They use the coin of their taxes to heal the sick and give the hopeless something to strive for.Worship
The worship of Hextor is primarily through the shedding of blood, either oneself or that of others. Self-flagellation is commonplace among the faithful and self-inflicted scarification is rightly encouraged by the Priests of Tok. Tattoos and piercings are offered by many practitioners of the Hextorian faith and are a sign of pride among many civilizations under Tok rule.Priesthood
Only those sworn into worship as a child may become a Priest of Tok. Through grueling worship and preaching, one may be chosen by the divine power and be blessed with the ability to heal or inflict pain. Once this happens, the priest is drafted into the Spellbreaker Trials, usually willingly. Even should they fail the trials, they are some of the few allowed to be sparred should they survive the process. If they do fail, however, they are affixed with a Pacification Bracer only to be removed in times of war or if a Tok sanctioned ceremony permits the divine power.Granted Divine Powers
Those blessed with the divine by Hextor specialize in different domains. The most common among the Clerics are the domains of the Grave, Life, Order, Tempest, and War with War being the most prominent. War Spellbreakers make up the majority of the Harbingers of Tok and widely feared for their terrifying power.
Your Blood for Your Peace...
Art By: Wizards of the Coast
Founding Date
Before Recorded History
Alternative Names
Hexies
Training Level
Elite
Veterancy Level
Decorated/Honored
Demonym
Hextorian
Leader
Leader Title
Permeated Organizations
Deities
Divines
Location
Related Traditions
Related Ranks & Titles
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
Hextor Reborn
Reborn in the image of his human worshipers, Hextor's new visage is now one of chiseled perfection. Though he still has his signature six arms, his sculptured form is now that of a handsome human with a menacing fierceness to his eyes.
Art By: Anakin Lee
Comments