The Ember Light
“Since the beginning The Flame has guided us out of the Darkness.
I will tell you now as it was told to me. When I came of age, the Elder Adelle had brought me alone to the Hearth fire to tell me as it was told to her. At the heart of our lives, burn the fires of our passions, we use this fire to create and build and thus like fire we spread out light and our warmth. We make our towns where there were none before. We create our wares and our art out of the mundane so others can share in our passions. In the spring we honor new light with new fires in the festival of the Flame.
The Maypole dance signifies the three aspects of our god and our fire and we twine them to remind us that they are one in the same. We bring our Art and our wares to share our passions and in the night we walk a vigil with new fires and bring them together as one to show the flame of our unity. What we kindle will be ever burning in the lives of our children and their children after that, so if you kindle the flames of war and destruction that is what will spread.
Be mindful of your flame for the flame brings us warmth and sustains us, so easily can those flames become unchecked. Like during the summer Solstice when we lit the bonfire with the brush and dried growth to build it high. It reminds us how the hearth fire must be fed and tended and so with all things in life take this to heart. When we love or hate too hard or are given over to obsessions the flames will over take us and though we may burn bright there is no fuel that can sustain us forever.
Fire is dangerous but it is also necessary to our way of life. Without it we would be lost in the darkness and would likely freeze in the winter. Which is why we celebrate it with our great feast in the fall. The fires we use to cook our food reminds us of our relationships with each other and how the flames provide for us when we provide for ourselves.”
Description
“Even deep within coldest caverns, or high up in the most frostbitten peaks, the everburning flames of the Ember Light are always bright, and one need not fear the cold when embraced by the light.”
The Ember Light, one of the pre-eminent religions of the realm, counts innumerable adherents across both Summum and Solum; these faithful are commonly referred to as Embers. Their leadership, the priests, also known as Sparks, lead the three primary rituals across the seasons, tending a bonfire in each town that remains lit for the entirety of the year.
Each of these festivals centers around the worship of the Triune Flame: One deity that has three aspects, represented by Hyrun, the Spark of Ambition; Phirio the Everburning Ember; and Yaziri, the Blazing Inferno.
Structure
“As the fire spreads throughout the woods, so too must knowledge. Let each traveler carry the words of their home to their destination.”
The Ember Light is primarily a decentralized religion of local congregations and limited hierarchy. There is no singular leader of the religion, though there are Sparks, priests of a sort, who are recognized as having a particularly wide range of influence. Sparks who lead larger cities are seen as representatives of the faith as a whole, they are called The First Spark of their city, and will often have sparks of suburbs or surrounding towns work with them. Every three years, a call will come from a First Spark from one of the major cities, and sparks and followers will come from all over the world.
This celebration is called The Grand Conflagration, and while there are often large parties that happen, it is also a time where sparks will convene to share information, and discuss the nature of faith. At each Grand Conflagration they will decide where the next one will be held. News is spread by pilgrimages between settlements, followers will often carry letters from one town to another. Local councils usually opt for leading-groups of three, though larger settlements may instead opt for nine.
History
The First Fire
It has been told as a story from Spark to Spark for as long as stories were told around the fire of the first flame. It is said that the people were suffering in a winter like none had ever seen before when Hyrun stepped from the heavens and placed a beautiful red gem upon the ground. The gem burst into a flame that emanated a consistent warm glow.
It is said that no matter what happened this fire would not go out, and that people learned to borrow the fire from it to take to their own villages, or while hunting. In time, it was called The Ember Light, and it is the supposed origin of the faith. It is said that during the Cataclysm, the Ember Light was lost, but it is believed to still be burning to this day, buried in some ancient ruin. There are still many an Ember Light adventurer who seek to recover this mystical gem. Sometimes sparks will claim to receive visions of the first flame that warns them of some coming calamity.
The Purging of Elyra
In the years following the Sundering there were some who came into power who blamed The Ember Light as an organization for the burning catastrophe that came from the Smokestacks. Over time The Ember Light was completely pushed from Elyra, and very few adherents will go to Elyra, even to this day.
The Muse's Frenzy
In the year 163 BEC in Thetlin, over the course of a month, it was said that Hyrun, having grown briefly dispassionate, decided to on a mortal form. They looked down upon the lands of Thetlin and decided that the people lived too plain of lives. Many households would suddenly find half finished projects completed in the most ostentatious of manners. Even to this day there are a number of family heirlooms that are from the frenzy, pieces that started as a plain tool being built, but turned into a gorgeous work of art.
The One Flame
In 369 EC there was a push from The First Spark of Helecanth in Edos to centralize the religion under the leadership of a trio of “High Paragons”, with the First Spark of Helecanth putting themselves forward as the High Paragon of Phirio. The Movement was gaining significant momentum and it appeared as though Helecanth’s First Spark would get their wish. However, all movement towards the goal stopped once Summum was discovered and many adherents ventured out into the new land and The Ember Light decentralized even further.
The Night of Ashes
In 518 EC, at the stroke of midnight after Flame’s Triumph, every Ember Light bonfire in Arcanorum went out at once. The fires were relit as soon as possible, but for even one bonfire to go out for any length of time, especially after Flame’s Triumph, is considered an unholy thing.
There are many theories on what may have brought about the Night of Ashes, some more outlandish than others – the death of a member of the Triune, a plot by Sodron, or a heretical ritual by the Cult of Yaziri spurned by Phirio and Hyrun – but if anyone has reliable information on why the Night of Ashes occurred, it has not been spread. The event is spoken of by the faithful in hushed, suspicious whispers, and to even mention the Night of Ashes is thought to bring ill luck.
Mythology & Lore
The Three Aspects
Hyrun
Within the Ember Light, Hyrun is regarded as the ignition that lights the fire. They are the inspiration for those who seek guidance. Sparks will often speak of Hyrun in a positive light as an example for people to live their day to day. Some claim that Hyrun is the original Ember Light, and that Phirio and Yaziri are just aspects of Hyrun, this is a fringe belief and not commonly held.
Fires lit in honor of Hyrun are generally well decorated and controlled flames. Oftentimes lanterns are intricately detailed, and a prayer to ask Hyrun for “their guiding light through the dark night” is often given. Hyrun’s guidance comes from the many muses we will meet in our life. Embers often pay tribute at their shrines when engaging in new businesses, adventures, or making significant changes in their lives, such as childbirth, marriage, and new professions.
Phirio
Phirio is the member of the Triune that typically represents fire’s warmth and aspect as a tool, but also its capriciousness. Fires lit in honor of Phirio are the flames of utility and active use. Fires lit for the forge, fires lit to read by, fires to cook by. The prayers to these flames are often based on the task at hand that the flame is serving., with an emphasis on keeping the fire under control for this task.
Phirio is a reminder that all things must be done with intention, lest they run out of control. Phirio’s guidance often comes in mysterious ways, and is usually the most subject to interpretation. They have occasionally been known to give intentionally misleading advice, “for their own amusement.” The Summer Solstice festival, the forge fire, and the campfire of the night are their domain - flames of utility that must be tended lest they grow out of control, or dampen into nothingness.
Yaziri
Fires lit in honor of Yaziri are more often than not arson, though sometimes they are campfires needed to survive a cold night, or to cook food while starving. The prayers in these times are often based on a primal need to survive. Yaziri will give aid to those who do work themselves, but will punish those who ask for something without giving of themselves.
When the faithful of the Ember Light must march to war, it is Yaziri’s blessing that they ask. Shadier people who follow the Ember Light will often give a prayer to Yaziri when murdering someone, or committing a crime to ask for the evidence to be burnt to nothing. Heroes who ask for the blessing of Yaziri will often ask to burn brightly and briefly so that they may accomplish their goal. However, in their more positive aspect, Yaziri’s domain includes the drastic but necessary actions of heroes and martyrs - those that burn brightly, but often not long.
Tenets of Faith
Worship
Practices & Ceremonies
Fire Tending
Tending the fire is considered a high honor in the Ember Light and comes with significant responsibility. There must be someone tending a fire at all times to keep vigil in case the gods send a message through the flame, they are called the Fire Attendant of that flame and may pass that duty to another.
For flames to run through the night, it will often involve them sleeping next to the fire. Typical practice involves praying to Hyrun when lighting the fire, Yaziri as it burns, and Phirio when it comes time to extinguish its flames. "Fireside Delights" are a commonly enjoyed practice, usually in the form of a delicious treat roasted over the flames.
Cooking
Placing food directly over flame is considered a way to infuse the food with divinity from the Triune, the fats dripping into the flames an offering to the gods. Prayers to Yaziri to purge poisons from the foods, Phirio to bring flaovr, and Hyrun in thanks for the meal.
Funeral Rites
Funeral pyres are constructed in a triangle to represent the Triune, each corner adorned with representations of one of the gods and lit in order by preference of the departed. Funerals are typically framed as a celebration of life, not mourning the death.
Paragons
It is considered to be of the highest honor to become a Paragon of one of the Triune and acting as a physical embodiment of their will. This process typically requires the support from multiple Sparks and another Paragon. They are typically expected to act as a role model of their aspect within their community, and serve the Ember Light and the Triune. They will often place a brand of their aspect upon their forearm, indicating their status.
Prayers and Curses
“By the light of the Spark, may my passion burn bright. By the life of the Ember, may I be renewed. By the heat of the Inferno, may my ails be cleansed.”
Prayers tend to be more about seeking guidance from the flame, or for blessings.
- “May I be cleansed in light, May it attune my limbs and spirits and may I be blessed in the radiance of three.”
- “May the light of Three guide my hand.”
- “Bless my spark, and guide my healing hands.”
Curses tend more around the diminishment of another's inner flame, or their misguiding from the darkness.
- “You find yourself diminished.”
- “Did your light perish or were you struck by a falling branch at birth?”
- "You are forsaken and dulled”
- “Luster and shine aren’t words you’re familiar with, are they?”
Holidays
Darkest Night, Brightest Light
A bonfire burns through the Winter Solstice and each member of the Ember Light keeps a light of some variety with them “lit” from this flame. Celebration goes from sundown to sunup. Not everyone stays up all night, many older folks will stay up until midnight and then go to bed. A time of enrichment and joy and calling to the triune with wishes for the new year.
Practitioners will wear a dark cloak over their bright, glitter or gaudy outfits, and upon striking midnight, they will cast off their cloaks to reveal the brightness within. Other religions are welcome to join as it is a time of joy and celebration once we make it to morning into the light
Enkindling
The Spring Equinox festival centers around showings of beauty, art, and crafted wares while a days long maypole dance in which each Ember participates, cycling in and out such that the dance continues unabated for the entire festival, morning, noon and night. Pieces of charcoal given out during the Banking of the Blaze will be brought back to the bonfire to be reignited.
As the charcoals are reignited, the Spark / Fire Attendant gives a blessing of good luck to the faithful who kept them through the winter. The theme of the holiday is resurgence and charity, and it leans heavily into the tenet of beauty. Many followers will give small and simple gifts to those in need within their community. Emphasis on the health of the community – Sparks will often establish and/or lead community wellness projects as part of Enkindling (for example, raising a new barn).
Flame's Triumph
The Summer Solstice is heralded by a celebration of cleansing fire, where the Embers and Sparks gather and clear brush from near and far, sacrificing it to the central bonfire. The bonfire often grows to immense proportions, reaching its zenith on the Solstice Night, when each Ember receives special blessings from the local sparks, that they may carry the Ember Light with them throughout the declining sunlight.
Flame’s Triumph also involves sacrifices to the Triune, burnt upon the engorged bonfire. Sacrifices are meant as a way to give up certain aspects of one's life. For positive intents, many will light a candle and pray upon it for their wishes.
Banking of the Blaze
The Ember Lights version of a harvest festival and preparation for winter. Animals are slaughtered before winter, cooked, dried and generally prepared for the cold to come. The Spark of the settlement will give out pieces of charcoal from the main bonfire to each follower. Community oriented festival, where all celebrations take place in public buildings, and in larger groups. There are normally extra fires lit during this to have more space for people to congregate, and for there to be more charcoal for followers to take home.
Ritual of Banking
The Spark or Fire Attendant will give a prayer upon either lighting the fire, or if it has been continuously running, at first light:
“We keep this flame as a beacon for all those who seek the light. We keep this flame as inspiration for all those who seek joy. We keep this flame as a ward to turn away those who seek us harm.”
As adherents will come to take their charcoal, the Spark or Fire Attendant will offer a simple prayer of: “Seek your own light” and hand over the piece. At first light of the following morning or if the flame needs to be banked early, it will end with a prayer of:
“Thank you Hyrun for your wisdom and guidance. Thank you Phirio for keeping us warm. Thank you Yaziri for keeping the darkness at bay.”
Priesthood
The First Spark (Deceased)
The first First Spark came to be in ancient Elyra before the Sundering when it was still a warm and prosperous paradise. It was a human named Kitzig Fumus. He was a kind man who preached the wonders of Hyrun and the warmth of the Ember Light and drew quite a following among the giant tiered cities in Elyra.
While many communities of the Ember Light were good with a single spark, his community grew so large that he had to delegate to nine followers to help him run. As they continued to grow his disciplines named him The First Spark, originally meant to be an homage to him being the first among them to be recognized as a spark. However, the tradition of naming the leader of a large town or group of sparks The First Spark spread to other cities across Solum.
Hyrun’s Muse (Status Unknown)
A Thrylossi woman who became renowned in Vedea for being the muse to a number of famous artists. Her likeness can be found in many paintings and sculptures throughout the country. She was said to be blessed by Hyrun himself, and was named a Paragon of Hyrun, as any artist she met would be able to create works beyond their skills and not suffer from any artist's block. She eventually began to wander all of Solum, and works of art of her appear now and again, though people are not sure if this is to honor what she has done, or if they have crossed paths with her.
Cult of Yaziri - Alenia Kaeris (Alive)
An Aelthen woman from Copoa who failed to enkindle and grew bitter from it. It boiled over when her lover was killed in a pirate raid upon the isles in 470 EC. She swore vengeance and gave everything she had to Yaziri to obtain it. It is said she laid waste to many pirates, bandits, and cutthroats across Vedea until she killed the pirates that wronged her.
After she had her vengeance, she swore that no one else should have to suffer as she has suffered and has begun a crusade against any who commit crimes. It is believed that Yaziri’s influence has corrupted her so that she and her followers no longer seek justice, but purely violence and destruction against those they view as evil. They will not offer trials, and they have killed many innocent people who were wrongly accused of crimes.
Spark of Crowne Point - Hafnir Flame-Blessed (Alive)
The Spark of Crowne Pointe is a kindly, older human man by the name of Hafnir Flame-Blessed. A Paragon of Phirio, Hafnir is of Hjalmorian descent but has lived in Thera and Crowne Pointe specifically for many years. He, like many others, has been overwhelmed by the recent influx of adventurers and population explosion in Crowne Pointe, and the surge in his congregation that he has felt wildly unprepared for. Hafnir is unusually stoic for a Spark, but during religious gatherings or celebrations is quick to let his flame burn hot in true Hjalmoric fashion.
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
~ Dylan Thomas