Arakan Pantheon
The Arakan Pantheon is the collective name for the Star Cults of Arakos. Some of the individual cults will be outlined here, along with what they change from the "baseline" of Arakos. A few will be listed here.
The Blighted Star is so large that it has several dozen militant orders and at least five major sects. The three main philosophies are that of curing the sick. The adherents to this thought process claim the Blighted Star is dedicated to curing the sick and healing the unwell, to purify them for the afterlife. The direct opposites to them believe that those who die to plague are automatically given to the Blighted Star's blessing after death, so do their best to infect as many as possible. Many adherents to this philosophy go so far as to work with groups like the Necrocyte Cliques and certain Wych Covens to create diseases. The middle ground is the third main philosophy. They believe that all should undergo a "rebirth through disease", where being infected and then recovering will prove their worth.
Due to their martial fervor, Zealousness is a virtue, while Cynysism and a refusal to fight for the Holy is a sin.
The Blighted Star is one of the most responsive divines in Diyu, regularly granting visions and altering nature for their followers to communicate with them. The magic they grant is never visually appealing, however, it both cures the sick and infects the healthy, depending on how it is used.
The Royal Star responds to aristocrats and those with "Great Destinies" when called. A rite of passage, especially among the common folk who worship this star, is to try to commune with it in a grand ceremony. Those who are replied to are shot forward in life, as it is confirmed that they have the Star's blessing and will do great things.
The Cult gains its name for two reasons. First, is their belief that the Sun was a sleeping star, like the rest, until it awoke before the others. It awoke, because a Daemon in the sky, named the Dark Heart, had found the vulnerable gods and sought to destroy them all. The Sun died defeating the Daemon, but its will was too great, so was reborn in the form it has now. The second reason stems from this myth. Every cultist must undergo a near-death experience so they can be Reborn like their god.
The powers granted to the Cultists Reborn are all about fire and light, channeling the power of the sun. While the Star has never responded when prayed to, this has not discouraged the cultists one bit, as they have the Sun's physical incarnation in their temples, who they can consult for important spiritual matters.
The Cult of the Blighted Star
The Cult of the Blighted Star worships the "Daemon" of the Arakeen. While not an actual Daemon, nor is the Star's message evil, its association with plague and death has earned it a bad reputation with the rest of the pantheon, so much so that despite being the largest, most powerful, and most influential cult, it does not have a temple at the Holy City. The Blighted Star is instead honored at Nazzerath, an ironic contrast, considering they want a temple at the highest city, and instead are worshipped at the lowest. The Gi of the Blighted Star are called the Edvoras Legy.The Blighted Star is so large that it has several dozen militant orders and at least five major sects. The three main philosophies are that of curing the sick. The adherents to this thought process claim the Blighted Star is dedicated to curing the sick and healing the unwell, to purify them for the afterlife. The direct opposites to them believe that those who die to plague are automatically given to the Blighted Star's blessing after death, so do their best to infect as many as possible. Many adherents to this philosophy go so far as to work with groups like the Necrocyte Cliques and certain Wych Covens to create diseases. The middle ground is the third main philosophy. They believe that all should undergo a "rebirth through disease", where being infected and then recovering will prove their worth.
Armed Pilgrimages
The Blighted Star is responsible for most of the Holy Wars that go on in Diyu. Most of them are directed at their fellow Star Gods, as the Star's followers try to force the others into building them a temple at Arakos. There have been 9 Crusades with that purpose, all of which have failed. Nonetheless, they are still very fervent and very militant.Communal Identity
The Blighted Star's followers are very community focussed. Most of the traditions that arise from this are to be expected, but a curious one is that if someone in the community gets sick, everyone tries to catch that sickness. It's a way of bonding, and with the Blighted Star's access to healing magic, very little of it is actually fatal. it strengthens their bond both with each other and with their god.Due to their martial fervor, Zealousness is a virtue, while Cynysism and a refusal to fight for the Holy is a sin.
The Blighted Star is one of the most responsive divines in Diyu, regularly granting visions and altering nature for their followers to communicate with them. The magic they grant is never visually appealing, however, it both cures the sick and infects the healthy, depending on how it is used.
The Cult of the Royal Star
The Cult of the Royal Star is the largest of the "mainstream" Star Cults. They are very popular among royals and aristocrats, and anyone who subscribes to a feudal way of thinking. Their magic is of the esoteric variety, as the Royal Star also prioritizes the hunt for knowledge. More niche evocation spells, transfiguration, the like. Their largest militant order is a group called the "Tome Seekers", who serve as a mercenary band when not called upon. The Gi of the Royal Star are called the Crowned.Esotericism
The quest for knowledge kills many, and prunes the rest into wise mystics. The intelligent also make for the best politicians, leading many aristocrats to embark on a pilgrimage to Arakos in the hopes of returning a wiser person. Often do they not return at all.The Royal Star responds to aristocrats and those with "Great Destinies" when called. A rite of passage, especially among the common folk who worship this star, is to try to commune with it in a grand ceremony. Those who are replied to are shot forward in life, as it is confirmed that they have the Star's blessing and will do great things.
The Cult of the Star Reborn
The Star Reborn, unlike the two listed above, is a fairly niche Cult. They are seen as outcasts, not as much as the Blighted Star, but enough that a Reborn Cultist is not welcome at most Pantheon gatherings. The Reborn Cultists believe that the Sun is a Star, so worship it as the greatest of the Star Gods. They have an attachment to the fire and light it produces, and take the Fear the Dark tenet of the Arakeen to extreme levels, often refusing to go underground or away from the Sun's gaze. Religious law states, whenever the Sun is out, one must be under its gaze. The Cult is near entirely found in a collection of cities along the surface of the Low Peaks of ZhatarThe Cult gains its name for two reasons. First, is their belief that the Sun was a sleeping star, like the rest, until it awoke before the others. It awoke, because a Daemon in the sky, named the Dark Heart, had found the vulnerable gods and sought to destroy them all. The Sun died defeating the Daemon, but its will was too great, so was reborn in the form it has now. The second reason stems from this myth. Every cultist must undergo a near-death experience so they can be Reborn like their god.
Monasticism (Replaces Syncretic Folk Traditions)
The isolated location of the Cult Reborn into a few temple cities along the surface of the low peaks represents their deprivation of material luxuries in favour of enlightenment. These remote monasteries also provide an easy way for them to go through their rebirth experience, as death by exposure is a real threat that high up.Sacred Childbirth (Replaces Mendicant Preachers)
Children are all seen as possible reincarnations of the Sun, and some parts of the Cult Reborn believe that every adherent is secretly a fragment of the sun, unleashed with the rebirth of the person in question. As such, the process of birthing children is one treated with the utmost holiness and dignity. The small populations of the temple cities, combined with low birth rates, allow every childbirth to be accompanied by rituals and celebrations. The irony is, the monasteries will have to see their own rebirth soon, lest they fall into the pages of history.Reincarnation
As with Sacred Childbirth, every baby born to the Cult Reborn is a possible reincarnation of the Sun. Every generation there is one who is confirmed to be the Sun incarnated, a baby born the second the current incarnation dies, who glows when exiting the womb. This baby is raised to be the head of the Cult Reborn, a spiritual liege for all to look towards.The powers granted to the Cultists Reborn are all about fire and light, channeling the power of the sun. While the Star has never responded when prayed to, this has not discouraged the cultists one bit, as they have the Sun's physical incarnation in their temples, who they can consult for important spiritual matters.
Structure
The Star Cults are fairly decentralized. Even from specific Cult to Cult, there is no real unified structure. The only sort of commanding body is the Holy Council at Arakos, where every Cult with a temple in the city sends a delegation and a representative. The Council doesn't do much other than discussing theological problems between the cults, so can be counted as a central command authority in nothing but name.
The only official title is the Gi. Gi is the general term for a priest of the Arakan Pantheon, and their duties vary from cult to cult, as are how they are appointed. Some appoint themselves, some cults have a council to appoint Gi, some have a special type of Gi who can appoint other Gi, its all very loose. Even the name is inconsistent. The Blighted Star refers to their Gi as an Edvoras Legy, roughly translating to Plague Lord.
The only official title is the Gi. Gi is the general term for a priest of the Arakan Pantheon, and their duties vary from cult to cult, as are how they are appointed. Some appoint themselves, some cults have a council to appoint Gi, some have a special type of Gi who can appoint other Gi, its all very loose. Even the name is inconsistent. The Blighted Star refers to their Gi as an Edvoras Legy, roughly translating to Plague Lord.
Mythology & Lore
The Arakeen believe that the world started as nothing but night and the stars. The stars emitted no light, they may as well have not existed. Eventually, they, for some reason, just started to shine. The shine revealed sleeping gods inside, beings beyond mortal comprehension. The gods dreamed, and the dreams created the world. The gods dreamed, and they formed life and matter from the endless night.
This is the story behind the Arakeen belief that souls started as night, and once they die they will return to the night sky. It is only how one conducts themselves in life, that will determine if they earn a place in and with their god and their star, or if they get reabsorbed by the endless night, to lose their consciousness and maybe get remade into a soul once more.
This is the story behind the Arakeen belief that souls started as night, and once they die they will return to the night sky. It is only how one conducts themselves in life, that will determine if they earn a place in and with their god and their star, or if they get reabsorbed by the endless night, to lose their consciousness and maybe get remade into a soul once more.
Divine Origins
The Arakan Pantheon started as a small group in the pre-Zamain High Peaks of Zhattar. Due to the flexibility of the religion, and the countless stars in the sky, many found the idea of a religion where one could worship their own gods while being a part of the larger collective appealing. They quickly eclipsed the dying old gods in popularity and fervor. Most of the Drow sunk even further into religion after the World Wound, creating the theology we know today.
Cosmological Views
The Arakan Pantheon teaches that every star in the sky is a god, one that has control over one aspect of the world. Most control things as small as one specific particle of dirt, the ones worth worshipping, however, control aspects of nature itself. The more a Staris worshipped, the more powerful it becomes.
The Arakeen believe that the world was dreamt into being by the sleeping gods in the stars. The first Drow were created by the forgotten "Star of Hosts", the Humans by the "Royal Star", the Makassi by "Blood Star", the Dawasi by the "Stone Star", and all other sentient life was made by the cursed "Blighted Star". Only the worship of the sentient beings awoke the gods from their slumber, and when their dreams ended so did creation.
In practical terms, the Unnumbered Stars--the collective name used for every star--are technically featured in every different cult, but in practice, cults will only pay heed to their Stars. They exist within the same pantheon, but few people care about any beyond their own. Stars and cults with opposing theologies are often against each other yet still exist within the same divine framework. The biggest cults do have scripture regarding the other influential stars and how they connect to their own pantheon, leading to differing interpretations. This leads to politics shaping religion and vice versa. When the need for a new cult arises--a rare, momentous occasion--the designers will often consider the theologies of their allies and followers before adapting their new pantheon into being.
The Arakeen believe that the world was dreamt into being by the sleeping gods in the stars. The first Drow were created by the forgotten "Star of Hosts", the Humans by the "Royal Star", the Makassi by "Blood Star", the Dawasi by the "Stone Star", and all other sentient life was made by the cursed "Blighted Star". Only the worship of the sentient beings awoke the gods from their slumber, and when their dreams ended so did creation.
In practical terms, the Unnumbered Stars--the collective name used for every star--are technically featured in every different cult, but in practice, cults will only pay heed to their Stars. They exist within the same pantheon, but few people care about any beyond their own. Stars and cults with opposing theologies are often against each other yet still exist within the same divine framework. The biggest cults do have scripture regarding the other influential stars and how they connect to their own pantheon, leading to differing interpretations. This leads to politics shaping religion and vice versa. When the need for a new cult arises--a rare, momentous occasion--the designers will often consider the theologies of their allies and followers before adapting their new pantheon into being.
Tenets of Faith
The Arakan Pantheon has its base tenets, and each individual Star Cult will add or replace one or two.
Syncretic Folk Traditions
The Arakan Pantheon's major strength is its ability to syncretize with local religions, so long as they don't have one supreme god. It is fairly easy for Arakeen missionaries to make comparisons between local pantheons and the Pantheon, and a great many communities have been converted in such a manner.Star Worship (Fear the Dark)
Darkness is the Daemon cast out by the Stars. The Star Cults demonize the dark, as the place where assassins and dark things lurk. Light is holy, especially natural light, so moonlight and starlight become the primary way of driving back the dark. This tenet is more a cultural norm than any unique feature of the religion.Mendicant Preachers
If there is one thing the star cults like to do, it's proselytize. They seek out converts from those they consider "pagan" (not a follower of the Arakeen Pantheon) or the followers of other Star Cults. A tradition of missionaries makes their efforts to convert others far easier. and more accepted.Astrology
Being a religion based around stars and the sky, Astrology is a given part of this religion. The ever-shifting constellations tell tales of battles between the Gods and their manifestations.Ethics
Temperance in the eyes of the gods is a virtue. One should not take too much, for it all belongs to the stars. Gluttony, in turn, is a sin. This was likely developed by the missionary's need to conserve resources. To lie to the gods is to dishonor them. Honesty is a virtue and will earn you a place by their side upon death. Humility, knowing your accomplishments will never be as great as creation itself, is also a virtue. The Arrogant, who believe they can create and achieve more than their creator, is sinful.
Worship
The rituals of the Arakan pantheon vary Cult to Cult, however, a common thread is some sort of prayer in the mornings, some sort of prayer at high noon, and prayer before sleep. Newborns must be blessed by a Gi, otherwise are doomed to fall into the hands of damnation.
Granted Divine Powers
The theme of divine powers changes based on the gods involved. The Blighted Star's followers wield plagues and medicine, the Flooded Star grants water power, the Mountainous Star the ability to Mold Earth, things of that nature. The more a Star is worshipped, the more often their followers will receive Omens and Answers to their prayers.
Political Influence & Intrigue
The Star Cults are a fundemental part of nearly every Drow state, and each Cult represented at Arakos and then some has an emissary in the Akroni Confederacy senate.
Stars Shine Bright
Religious Rivalry
While the Imperialis is not the mortal enemy of the Arakeen in the same way the Siobkun are, they still don't exactly get along, as most Imperialis are quite disdainful of any heretic religion, as are the Arakeen of the pagans.
Religious Rivalry
When the Saviour of the Siobkun tried to rid the world of the Arakeen, it does not produce a happy atmosphere.
Comments