ATUR—The High Priest of Atur, Malevanor, has publicly condemned the actions of the Karrnathi extremist group, the Order of the Emerald Claw.
For many in Khorvaire, the Emerald Claw is synonymous with the Blood of Vol and Karrnath. The High Priest of Atur, who helms the largest temple of the Blood of Vol on Khorvaire, has stated in a press release today that he wants to challenge this association.
The Order of the Emerald Claw were a knighthood order in Karrnath during the war, and were widely feared for their extreme actions. They were discharged in 976 YK, and many of its members were tried for war crimes. The order refused to stand down, however, and continues to operate across Khorvaire. They are officially classified as a terrorist organisation by the Karrnathi government.
Malevanor has publicly described the order as "abhorrent", and claims that their actions, both in Karrnath and elsewhere, are unconscionable and not at all in line with the faith that the group claims to adhere to. In an effort to educate about the Blood of Vol and the seeking of the divinity within, Malevanor had the following to say.
"Life is pain. It's a ceaseless struggle against the ravages of hunger and disease. Every day we live, we get one step closer to the grave. When we finally do die, all that waits for us is Dollurh and the gradual fading of our souls. What just god would create such a world? What Sovereign, under the guise of benevolence, would condemn their followers to such misery?" he states.
"But what if mortality is something that could be overcome? Perhaps all of us have a spark of the divine within us, a spark that could become a flame to rival the Sovereigns themselves. This is the core of our faith, we hope to one day end this cycle of death and suffering, to achieve a state wherein all may live long enough to find their divine spark. Until that point, however, the best we can do is keep our friends and family close. Care for our communities. We take care of people, and every death is an irreparable tragedy."
The High Priest then goes on to condemn the actions of the Emerald Claw, stating that any group committing acts of terror and violence against the populace are not of the faith, they cannot truly be Seekers of the Divinity Within. If they were, they would not kill so easily, striking against people who are not their enemy.
Seekers of the Divinity Within believe that we all have a spark of divinity within us, but that it is tied to our soul and our blood. As an extension of this, undead do not have this divine spark, even intelligent undead. This means that anyone of the faith who becomes undead, including the High Priest himself, are giving up their own chance at divinity. It's not a goal, states Malevanor, but a sacrifice. That so many within the Emerald Claw resort to such practices is further indication of their straying from the faith.
Many across Khorvaire have had negative experiences with the Blood of Vol, especially those who fought against Karrnath in the war and came up against their fearsome undead. It remains to be seen if these attempts to communicate the faith changes public opinion.
