al Mustaba
The al Mustaba is a religious order founded during the settlement of the desert land known as Seven Cities. This land was settled in by common travellers coming from West Velaria and the Dragonborn people that remained after the migration of the Dragon people to Kurvald Dehlaine. These two groups of people found peace quickly within the desert, most likely due to the inhospitable conditions and reliance on working together for survival, and quickly established a community there. At the same time that the Seven Cities Domain was established as a geopolitical country, al Mustaba was created as the official state religion. al Mustaba is intertwined with Seven Cities and is extremely important for the people living there, creating a very religious and sometimes zealous country.
al Mustaba worships the Draconic heritage of Seven Cities, but mainly the Gem Dragons that left a mark there. The River Lifeline is a magical river that cuts directly through the desert of Seven Cities. This river is a religious landmark for the al Mustaba religion because it instantly purifies anything that submerges in its waters. When the people who would later settle in Seven Cities were making there way through the desert, they found themselves in a very dire situation. There was no food or water in sight, and the blistering heat of the land was eating away at them. They pushed forward however, and finally found the mystical river, which they then named Lifeline for how it had saved their lives. This water produces clean drinking water and somehow nourishes appetite as well. It saved those explorers, and provided enough sustenance for them to establish several settlements along its bank, but out of fear for irreplaceably damaging the water and their source of life, al Mustaba was born. This order's main religion revolves around the River Lifeline, who created it and why, and preserving its magic.
Over the years, al Mustaba has become a staple for life in Seven Cities, where you would be an extreme outlier if you did not partake in the religion. The al Mustaba controls the river entirely, with many followers throughout the cities that sit on the riverbank enforcing the strict rules around the river. These al Mustaba enforcers are exempt from regular law, able to punish and apprehend whoever they see fit to ensure the protection of the holy landmark.
Mythology & Lore
The al Mustaba believe that during the great rule of Dragons, long before the common races arrived to Velaria and the Illithids and Sorok fought for power, there were several different types of Dragons. This has also been confirmed by many archaeological sites throughout the desert discovering fossils. The Chromatic Dragons ruled over by the evil Dragon Goddess Tiamat, the Metallic Dragons ruled over the righteous Dragon God Bahamut, but also a small collection of powerful and very rare dragons known as Gem Dragons. There was only one such Dragon of each of the known gems, and below is a list of the Divine Host that the al Mustaba worship as a Pantheon.
- Fruldrae, the Magnificent - Emerald Dragon. To the al Mustab, Fruldrae was the embodiment of all things beautiful. She was powerful, but chose to use her powers for creation, leaving magnificent underground structures of emerald crystals that could make even the oldest and most cynical man weep a tear in joy.
- Durrulunth, the Scary - Amethyst Dragon. Durrulunth was a frightening and vicious Amethyst Dragon, feared by many Dragons during his life. However, through his memories, the al Mustaba learned that he did all of the vicious and ruthless acts for the greater good of the Dragons he cared about, his family. He took others pain on himself and weathered the hatred so that it wouldn't be put on anyone else. He lived a sad and lonely life compared to the other Gem Dragons, so the al Mustaba feel great sorrow for Durrulunth, but are constantly thankful for all he did.
- Dazza, the Strong - Ruby Dragon. Dazza was the second Gem Dragon to exist, after Pyrdarryt, but was the first to try and associate with the Dragon society prominent at the time. The other dragons feared him, for all his power, and they tried to murder him for centuries. Dazza only survived through defending himself, gaining and discovering the great powers that came from being a rare Gem Dragon and the powerful crystals that grew on their bodies. There are many tales of how Dazza fought dozens of Ancient Dragons in the skies above Seven Cities by himself, so fearsome and strong was he. Dazza is thought of and loved when someone needs a boost to their mental strength or hope for a worthy cause.
- Pyrdarryt, the Life Giver - Sapphire Dragon. The oldest and largest of the Gem Dragons, Pyrdarryt was long and thin unlike the other Dragons. She preferred to isolate, believing she was cursed, and hibernate for years on end. However, the Dragonborn and Kobolds befriended Pyrdarryt, becoming fast friends with each other where Pyrdarryt learned the beauty of life and that it was worth living. She lived a long life full of love, protecting and aiding the mortals, and when the Sapphire Dragon finally died, she lay across the desert, creating a deep stretch of land, and empowered her psionic crystals with life. As her body decayed and the ditch filled with water, the crystals remained, purifying the water. In her last act, Pyrdarryt did something incredible and managed to create a natural wonder of the world, continuing to give life to her cherished mortals through the River Lifeline, purified by her psionic powers long after her death.
- Mavnaronth, the Death Bringer - Obsidian Dragon. Mavnaronth, like the other Gem Dragons, was a powerful and majestic creature. She found herself infatuated with the dead and what happens after life ends. Through the wisdom gained through centuries of living, the Obsidian Dragon learned of what happens to souls and determined that she did not like it. She took it upon herself to make a better afterlife, and settled in a large mound of sand within the desert. She enveloped herself with her psionic powers and transformed herself into an astral projection, one that existed between realms, to aid souls leaving their bodies. However, of the centuries, Mavnaronth has had to deal with such tragedies and witness so many deaths that she has started to go insane. She has lost her way and is trying to find her way her back but cannot do it alone. This is why the al Mustaba worship her as much as possible and use the Obsidian Gems for their dead.
Ethics
The most notable tradition of the al Mustaba is the clothing that is enforced throughout the lands. All followers completely cover themselves with black veils of cloth, covering all of their skin except their hands and eyes. This is the same for both men and women. They cover their skin with black cloth to show that they are a blank slate for the holy Gem Dragons to do with as they will. It shows that the al Mustaba followers are willing to learn and grow from the past, worshipping old mistakes instead of ignoring them. But most importantly, it shows their commitment to the religion, and the Pantheon that allows them to live in the Seven Cities desert. The clothing is very uncomfortable in the extreme weather of the desert, and it requires a lot of mental strength to don anytime someone wants to step outside of their house. Anyone that does not don the traditional 'hijabs'/veils of the al Mustaba is outcast from the cities, not allowed to go anywhere near the River Lifeline and forgotten by all their loved ones, as if they never existed. It also highlights the sacred gems that denote the different ranks within the al Mustaba society. There is one gem desginated to different types of people within the al Mustaba, and once a member becomes an adult, they are given a sacred gem about the size of a fist. This gem is as important as the black veils and must not be damaged or lost. If it is, the person is deemed unworthy of following in the Pantheon's footsteps and is likewise outcast.
- Ruby (Dazza) - Given to any military units within al Mustaba, includes soldiers, guards and any other martial professions. Emphasises the strength of the Ruby Dragon and his followers.
- Emerald (Fruldrae) - The most common gem, given to any profession that does not fall into the others categories but still adds to society in a positive way. Includes builders, authors, merchants, etc. Shows the beauty of peoples working together, like the magnificence of Fruldrae.
- Sapphire (Pyrdarryt) - Given to professions relating to saving, preserving or creating life. Includes doctors, midwives, etc. Also given to those deemed worthy enough to safekeep the River Lifeline, for it was Pyrdarryt's given life that created the holy river and allowed the al Mustaba to live.
- Amethyst (Durrulunth) - A much rarer gem to see, the amethyst is given to the covert and unsightly jobs that are required to keep a country running, but the general population would do better not knowing anything about. It is given to holy assassins, psionic spies, and torturers. Durrulunth is considered the 'dark horse' of the pantheon and was seen as a renegade, committing seemingly evil, and sacrificial acts for the greater good of others.
- Obsidian (Mavnaronth) - A cursed gem that frightens any al Mustaba member that sees it. If a follower dies a faithful death, they are given an Obsidian Gem as they are buried, to try and gain favour from the fearsome Obsidian Dragon. Mavnaronth is lost, grown insane from having to deal with the death of countless mortals as the Death Bringer. The al Mustaba feel sorry for him, and try to aid him in his process by telling him which dead are worthy and which are not, through the Obsidian gem.
Worship
Other than following the strict ethical rules around clothing and gems, an al Mustaba follower worships the River Lifeline created by Pyrdarryt. The River is the main source of water and food for the people of Seven Cities, and is regulated to ensure everyone gets the same amount, depending on their sect. Everyone flocks to the small taps that access the rivers waters along its banks everyday to get their daily drop. Regular citizens and followers receive one drop a day because it is the minimum required for sustenance. The only people who are given more, are those higher up within the al Mustaba, for they are the ones who religiously watch over the river itself. The higher rank you possess within the religion, the more drops of lifeline water you are permitted to drink a day, and the healthier you get because of it. The Lifeline water is often given as rewards as well, for committing a specific act inn the name of one of the Gem Dragons for example, creating a strong incentive for the citizens to follow the al Mustaba. Since the religion is so prominent within all of Seven Cities, all the citizens there are raised with a reverence of the river and would never think about forsaking its holy liquid, choosing to starve to death instead of they cannot get their fair share for whatever reason. Even so, the riverbanks are the most securely guarded areas in the entire Seven Cities Domain, making sure the al Mustaba control all of the holy waters distribution (to ensure no one forsakes the water of course).
Priesthood
The Maazin are a select group of Dragonborn within the al Mustaba that are blessed with a psionic connection to the ancient Gem Dragons worshipped by the religion. They are treated specially compared to the rest of the followers, as the Maazin are the lasting connection to the Divine Host they worship. Other than that specific sect, the Priests, named Drakes within the al Mustaba, are all handpicked by the Archdrake. The Archdrake is the appointed leader of all of the al Mustaba, they are the true embodiment of all of the Gem Dragons ideals and tenets. The Archdrake is seen as the holiest person in all of the al Mustaba, and their word is law. To ensure the religion remains focused on the Gem Dragon pantheon, the Archdrake selects all Drake priests themself.
I thank Pyrdarryt for my life, and Dazza for my strength. Now please prepare yourself Mavnaronth for I bring death to our enemies!
Founding Date
1020BU
Type
Religious, Divine Host
Capital
Alternative Names
The Maaz
Demonym
Maazinian
Leader
Leader Title
Parent Organization
Deities
Location
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Related Ethnicities
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