Keepers of the Old Ways

Historical Response to the Abandonment 

by Iphis

Many like to believe that when the gods abandoned us that we abandoned them right back. Historical documentation shows that we clung to hope of their return for centuries after. Nowadays any worship left to give is based in superstition. Fishermen leave a fish at the statue of Nereus, not out of true belief that he would protect their ship from the seas, but out of a sense of 'What if?'. What if they didn't and their ship sank, in their last moments would they be thinking of the fish they had for dinner instead?
What of the past? How did people handle their abandonment? The majority of people slowly let their beliefs fade into quiet ideals. Small statues still given care, prayers when faced with difficulties. Others turned away from the gods, breaking their effigies and spitting their names in anger.
The most fervor response was of the Keepers of The Old Ways. At their peak in the second century the Keepers were known for their merciless pursuit of anyone they deemed the cause of our Abandonment. A nomadic cult that swarmed their way across Atherus and taught their ways of fearful worship to people by any means necessary. For awhile, perhaps having sense to not anger the Kingdom, they only deemed small villages, away from Kingdom's major trade routes and any major cities with Derresi trained guards, in need of their teachings.
Their main lesson was sacrifice. A quote from the journal of an unknown man, dated 221, gives brief insight in the terror they brought villages.

They came near sundown, cloaked in gray cloth. Any fight left us early. They tested my neighbors while I watched and begged my own absolution. They were gone before sunrise. Leaving those of us left to witness those who failed their tests of fire and blood.

Type

Religious, Cult

Deities

• The Gods