Alkoshian

Deities

Gods:

The All Father: The one and only god, the maker of all things.

Alkosh: Son of The All Father, Savior of the mortal races.

The gods teachings:

The All Father and Alkosh teach the truth of the world. Where the mortals go when they die, the purpose of life and how to improve ones self. They teach how to keep balance in ones life and how to strife for true happiness. Alkosh has blessed the mortal races with The Script of Truth. As long as one studies this, the words of the All Father and follows the hymn of truth and The Script of Truth you will stand by the All Father's side.

While Alkosh walked the earth he never fought, he would not solve the mortals problems and trials for them. They had to do it themselves with the All Father's teachings, only then could they grow. He did help to encourage, to give wisdom, to intimidate, and to heal. He has taught the people that we must solve our own trials and only go to the All Father for counsel, wisdom, and guidance.

The gods description:

The All Father: He is said to be a massive gold and white dragon, he is so large that he cannot enter this world or it would be destroyed. However he appears as a star formation within the sky so his people can always see him. At night he is a constellation of golden stars, he is the only constellation of golden stars, it is a sign that he is the one and only god.

Alkosh was blue, gold, and white. He appeared mostly human, only he had pale blue skin, golden wings and horns and white robes. His wings were feathery with a draconic aspect to them. He had a celestial form, something beyond description, it resembled that of a dragon. But he mostly appeared within his human form.

Rituals:

Endowment Ceremony:

This ceremony allows recruits to become paladins. The ceremony starts with the recruit kneeling upon the ground and a Tide Captain resting the blade of his Sword spear upon his shoulder. The ceremony will be witnessed and recorded by a scribe and shaldor. The tide captain will speak an oath that the recruit must repeat and accept. Once they do they will be blessed by the shaldor and given their weapon, shield, and cuffs.

Tempered Ceremony:

This ceremony allows an apprentice to become a cleric. This ritual only has a 10% survival rate. Before taking part in this ritual the apprentice will celebrate their own funeral among their friends and family members. In performing this ritual weather or not the apprentice dies their families will be given coin, and be given benefits within the order. The ritual begins with a Shaldor pouring the draconis potion within an elaborate bowl. The potion with then be blessed by the shaldor. The apprentice will then drink it. The Alkosh order has found ways to increase the survival rate, normal its 5% but they've boosted it to 10% by finding cleaver ways to help people survive. Some of these ways include, having other Clerics heal them as they drink, during training having apprentices increase their immune system by increasing their immunity to poisons, and a few other tricks. The apprentice must drink this solution and survive, after ingestion they almost always fall to the ground entering a feverous state. If they survive they will be bathed and clothed in their cleric robes.

The Ritual of The Daruuk:

When a new Daruuk needs to be chosen, All of the Grand Dalkani lock themselves into the temple of water. They will only emerge once they have chosen by vote who among them becomes The Daruuk. Once chosen all the Grand Dalkani will endow him with his crown and staff of office, and entrust him or her with Ganadra and Shalmor. The weapons of the ancient high king, holding them until a new high king if founded and able to take them.

The Joining Ceremony:

This ceremony officially makes someone part of the order an Alkoshian. To join the order a person is scheduled to meet a Shaldor at a local chapel, there they will be blessed and given a small wooden box. The new member must pledge on oath, Then this box is then placed into the joining furnace. it burns the box and reveals a metallic necklace within the ashes. This symbolizes the members rebirth, they are then given the necklace that bears the symbol of the order, the members name, and their rank.

(The Necklace is a golden chain with a large circle of metal hanging from it. on the outside is a stylized symbol of the church. Opening it are the first hymns of truth, one's rank, and name.

Cleansing Ritual:

The church believes that you cannot dwell with the All Father if you have sin. So a ritual and a processes have been designed by Him so that the people can dwell with him when they die. When one has sinned and they wish to be cleansed they must approach a Shaldor. Anything anyone says to a shaldor will always be kept confidential. The shaldor will take charge of their repenting process. Usually the repenting process involves asking the repentant to help the community, to give some of what they own, help with activities of the church and so on. Once the Shaldor is satisfied with their penitence they will take them to the room of cleansing. In this circular room are two smaller hollow circular structures. One has its walls of gold and red stained glass in the style of the sun, holy water on its floor with marble in its center to meditate upon. The other room within its walls are three sun furnaces, and another marble circle to meditate upon.

First they are taken to the Purifying curricle there they sit naked while the Shaldor pours holy water upon them cleansing them of their sins. Then they are taken to the circle of rebirth where incense is lit, and the furnaces lit to dry them. When they step out of that room they are reborn, made a different and better person. One who can better dwell with the All Father.

The Sending Ceremony:

When someone dies thier body is taken to a local church there a shaldor will take the body to the farwell chamber. There a prayer of farwell is given and loved ones of that person aldo give prayers of thanks to the All Father in thanks of thier friends life. The shaldor then burns the body in the sun furnace. Once ashes the ashes are put into two vases, one small and one big. The bigger and more ornate jar will be sent to Archador and there the dead will rest and be granted access to the All Father. The smaller vase is given to the loved ones as a reminder for thier loved one and to be done with as they wish.

The Big Vases are called Sun vases, they are taken to the heart of the church, to Archador a grand temple where all the dead are layn to rest. There a tempest will use thier magic to turn the ashes into sunstone dimonds and placed back into the vase and put accordingly within the grand temple. This proccess is necessary in order for the dead to be allowed access to be judged by the All Father and be allowed to dwell with Him.

The Passing:

Once a week people attend mass, at the start of mass priests will walk to each person and pass an ornate silver and gold burning lanturn, with two bowls shapped like sun syle dragon wings attatched to its sides. Within the winged bowls are small round balls of parchment. These are to be pucked up and tossed into the hungry flames of the lanturn. This represents burning away your small sins, and recomitting your vows to the All Father and his church.

After the burning, they will pass the water. The water referes to an ornate silver bowl full of holy water. The priests dip thier fingers into the water and place the water above the members brows in a circuler motion. This is to remind the people of Alkosh's sacrafice and to remind them of the All Father's healing and rightious powers.

Ranks / Structure:

Initiate:

This is a new recruit to the military force of The Alkosh.

Paladin:

This is a fully trained soldier or knight of the Alkosh. They are part of the military and act as guards or investigators. Finally they also hunt down magic users who cause trouble.

Tide Captain:

This is a Paladin Captain, he or she leads a small group of paladins.

Tide Commander:

This is a Paladin commander, they are the local leaders of paladins within expansive regions.

Grand Paladin:

The Grand Paladin takes his or her orders directly from the Daruuk. And helps to command the entire army.

Apprentice:

This is a student learning how to use magic.

Cleric:

Clerics are magic users who have passed the tempered ceremony. They can perform magic and have some healing and teaching duties. But are still students for the most part.

Tempest:

This is a fully trained cleric, a healer, a magical user able to fight for The Alkosh Order, and a teacher of the Script of Truth.

Elder Tempest:

This rank is the local leader of clerics within a large region.

Grand Tempest:

This is the leader of all Clerics, he or she takes direct orders from the Daruuk.

Sakosh:

These are missionaries, they go out and teach the script of truth.

Shaldor:

Like the former rank they also are here to teach, however they can do more than that. They can request and direct clerics and Sakosh. They go out and give blessings upon families, children, and more. They give blessing of the soul and healing of the soul. They are the ones that perform rituals along side the clerics. They also have an understanding of medicine and perform surgeries and medicines when Clerics are not able to come to their direction.

Drakuni:

These are the elite knights of the Alkosh. They protect the Daruuk and the grand Dalkani. These are paladins with the powers of clerics.

Prospective:

This is a person learning about the Alkosh, and is someone who may or may not join the order.

Postulant:

This is a new member of the Alkosh.

Alko:

This is a regular member of the Alkosh.

Alakan:

This is a member who has been a member for at least 5 years, members of this rank may obtain greater ranks within the order should they be chosen.

Tarland:

These are members with leadership roles such as a scribe director, the librarian, a Organizer of events etc.

Taladi:

These are councilmen for Dalkani's, and help share their load.

Dalkani:

These are political members, bureaucrat's, and leaders of local temples, they also act as judges to those who break the faith.

Grand Dalkani:

These are council members of the Daruuk, they help sort out the Dalkani and they help to choose the next Daruuk when the current one dies.

The Daruuk:

The Daruuk is the supreme leader of the Alkosh faith. He sits upon the Tide Truth Throne to direct the faith.

Scribe:

These are scribes who are by the sides of Sakosh and Shaldors, they also pretty much are by almost anyone's side. They document nearly everything and store it within the Alkosh archives.

Taladi Scribe:

These Scribes help direct the lesser scribes and have reasonability's for pulling up documents and act as secretaries.

Grand Scribe:

These scribes are trusted with high level secrets, and special documents of the order, and they act as ambassadors.

Daily Life:

Twice a day in the morning and at night most people of the church pray to The All Father by singing any one of his hymns to him. This god loves music it is one of the best ways to reach him.

Many people of the order study the script of truth and the hymns of truth daily or weekly.

Once a week people will attend their local chapel. However people are encouraged to go to their chapels whenever their in need of physical or emotional aid.

Once a year people will attend the chapel to re-bless their holy necklace. They do this upon their joining day, they re-bless their necklace by submerging it into blessed water and then putting it back on. They do this to renew their blessing and commitment to The All Father.

The order requires it's members to pay 15% of what they earn and give it to the church every time they are paid. It is taught that they receive great blessings in doing this, and that the funds are used in helping the poor, building chapels and temples, and in keeping the people safe using their military and paladins.

When attending any chapel or temple they must wear their holy garments. They wear clothing of white and gold, with patterns of waving water. The church hands these out for free for those who qualify as desperately in need and cant afford their own. Otherwise they sell them to the populace. The clothing are robes, some of the more higher priced ones are line in a gold colored metal, or made of silk. A special scarf like cloth is put around their neck and another one tied around the waist then thrown over the shoulder trailing long behind their back. Finally the outfit is completed with a white and gold hat with two short stubby horn structures sticking from the back pointing up. Some more elaborate hates have the horns made of metal and painted gold.

Every member will recive two to three pairs of sacred garments they wear when attending mass, or whenever they attend anything to do with the church. These cloths must remain clean, and prestine. The church offers services to clean the clothing should they be soild. The clothing are in colors of white and gold, with some blue patterns. For men they wear long tail coats with silk blue scarffes around thier necks down the front into the suit. The left shoulder bears the mark of the golden sun, with a dragon. The symbol of the All Father. The right shoulder bears the mark of the blue sea, with the script of truth. The mark of Alkosh.

Women are given many forms of dresses in colors of white and gold, with patterns of blue. Like the men they bear the marks of the church upon thier shoulders. For differnt regions the church offers many differnt styles of the garb.

Note hats are not allowed in the church spaces.

Professions:

Paladins:

Job:

Paladins are the military force of the order, but they also act as investigators and a police force. They help counters patrol their borders for magic users. All land that belongs to the order is also protected and secured by the paladins. All temples also have paladins guarding their grounds. When the paladins find a magic user that is not certified by the order for magical use they are taken to a local temple. Maldanite handcuffs are placed upon their hands preventing them from using magic. They have three options. Banishment, Death, Or joining the order gaining a certificate and using their magic to serve the order and the people.

Training:

People wanting to train to become paladins are trained young, they are sent to the Alk Isles or to any grand Temple. They train for about 4 to 6 years to become a paladin.

Gear / Clothing:

Paladins wear metallic armor with padding underneath to protect them against the cold. Their armor are in colors of white, gold, blue, and silver. They often have tabards with the crest of the order and their rank upon them. Adorned upon their armor are symbols of the sun and of water. Their helmets are metallically horned, with the horns pointed backwards, a blue line swirls around the golden horns symbolizing water.

Paladins carry spear swords, shields, handcuffs, battle hammer, and a crossbow. The shield is strapped to their arm while they usually carry their spear sword. The bolts and one handed hammer are carried upon their belts. The hammer for fighting undead should they encounter any. The crossbow is strapped to their back.

Clerics / Tempests:

Job:

Clerics have much the same job as Shaldors only they have magic, But they also provide magical services and healing services. Both of those magical services may or may not need to be paid for. A Dalkani will determine if the service will be charged or a matter of real faithful urgency. Someone on deaths door will require no payment of the healing service. Clerics also act as war clerics upon ships should the need arise, because of clerics who control the very waters, the ships of the order are not to be trifled with.

Training:

All people who wish to become clerics must train at the Alk isles There they will train for roughly 4 to 6 years.

Gear / Clothing:

Clerics wear robes of blue, white, and gold. They have a metallic metal that is gold and takes the shape of the sun, painted and engraved upon it are symbols of water. The higher their rank the more elaborate their robes. The biggest eye catcher of their outfit are their hats. They wear hats that look like elaborate horns, the higher the rank the more elaborate and bigger the horns. They carry a great book that is the script of magic and contains the script of truth, a sword upon their hip, and a staff of office. The staff is elaborately ornate with symbols and styles of the sun and water. The top of the staff has a decoration that will show their rank.

Sakosh:

Job:

Sakosh are paid missionaries who travel the land converting people and teaching those who are in need of more faith.

Training:

People wanting to be Sakosh attend a year of training at any grand temple

Gear / Clothing:

They wear simple blue, gold, and white, travel clothing. They do have a tabard and a horned cap of the order upon them, anything else they carry or wear will be of their own purchase. They are also given simple wooden shields and stone hammers, to ensure their safety. Their shields are also pained with the crest of the order. They also carry copies of the Script of truth.

Shaldor:

Job:

They have much the same job as Sakosh only they stay in local areas rather than travel across the land. They hep direct the clerics, and they give many blessings to the people.

Training:

People who wish to become a Shaldor must attend schooling at a grand temple for 4 years.

Gear / Clothing:

They wear robes of the order, blue, white, and gold. Their robes are ornate with symbols, gilding, and embriodment of water and the sun. They also wear cloth hats with a horns upon them. They carry a great books and hymns of the truth and have a staff of office. They carry an ornate gold and blue tea pot full of blessed water.

Drakuni:

Job:

These are elite warriors similar to paladins but who have the magic of a cleric. They protect the Daruuk and the grand Dalkani.

Training:

They are Trained only upon the Alk isles and only within the First Temple.

Gear / Clothing:

They wear the best of armor and weaponry. Their amor and weaponry are very ornate but still lethal.

Dalkani:

Job:

The Dalkani lead the temples individually. The Grand Dalkani Are the ones who council the Daruuk and choose the next one from among themselves when he or she dies.

Gear / Clothing:

They wear some of the most fine and ornate robe, staffs, and head pieces of the order. Their horned head pieces are very distinctive.

Scribe:

Scribes record new members, events, documentations, and much more.

Training:

To become a scribe most attend schooling for up to 2 years. If they gain more influence and attend longer schooling they can become secretaries.

Gear / Clothing:

Scribes wear simple clothing of gold, white, and blue, their clothing follows a style that marks them as a scribe. They also carry nots, a board of paper with an ink well and pen.

Daruuk:

Job:

The Daruuk leads the order, and manages all the land under his rule, He also advises countries upon their political matters.

Clothing:

The Daruuk wears only the finniest and ornate robes, his hat is more of a large crest with long horns pointing backwards. His clothing are in the colors of blue, gold, and white. And he always carried the Daruuk Staff passed down from all former Daruuk's.

Church Store keeper:

Every church has a store keeper, this person sells order goods such as Scripts, hymns, necklaces, flags, decerations of the order and more.

Architecture:

Chapels:

Chapels or church's are holy structures that can hold up to at least 500 or more people. They are local buildings built in sections of a city, a towns, and villages. Temples are circular building made of stone and marble and sometimes fine lumber, the circular building have high slopping roofs to stave off snow and rain. Within the circle is a fine court yard and garden, within the center is the chapel building, with a tower within the very center. The circular building is used for classes, study, libraires, rituals housing paladins and more. The chapel is used for the holy day of the week for cerimans and public announcements, the tower are where the shaldors, clerics, and leaders of the temple reside. or in other words the clergy.

Upon the temple gardens and courtyards are always built fountains and waterways. These temples are usually built near water. All temples are in colors of gold, white, blue and red. Mostly they have white walls lined with gold with water and sun symbolizations and with blue wooden roofs lined in gold, and red drappery and red and gold stained glass windows in the style of the sun.

Temples:

The grand temples are far larger the mere temples, these have multiple towers as part of the circular buildings structure, these building had two circular building encircling a large cathedral, a rectangle building with four massive towers, as the corners of the building. This structure is elaborately ornate and houses colleges for the order, they also have magnificent water gardens, and blue-gold stained glass windows. Grand temples are only built within capital cities, capital cities that are by the sea the grand temples will always be built right next to the ocean as a part of the temples will have massive holy parts for their hollowed ships.

Ships:

The church has powerful and large ornate ships. Each ship has at least one or two clerics abord it. These ships are in colors of blue, white, and gold, with red and golden sun like sails. They are made from wood and have exceptional carvings upon them.

Archador:

Archador is the most sacred building. This massive structer is locared at the heart of the church, it is in a curciler shape with massive towers reaching to the heavens. It is here were the dead are layed to rest and the dead are given access to the All Father. All are welcome within its walls for worship, guidance, and to visit dead family and to learn about thier liniage.

Administration:

Each church is run by a clergy. E leader of each rank who makes the church in any local area run smoothly. Each church has a camp of Torox who guard the church. A group of paladins are also on the grounds of each church, they perform portals and ensure that the commands of the church are upheld.

Mythology / History:

About two thousand years ago lay Alkosh washed up upon the beach. He looked mostly human, he had some scales scattered upon his body, and two horns jutted from his head. He was very weak, a small family took him in, they clothed, bathed, and fed him nursing him to health. In exchange he created wells for them, healed their sick and wounded, and taught them the script of truth. one of the sons in the family grew very fond of Alkosh, his name was Ranthus. Finally Alkosh spoke to the family about how the All Father had sent him here to teach his doctrine as he was The All Father's son, a Demy God. He told them how he was also on the search to find and train the high king who would slay the demons of Dread and unite the mortals of the world under The All Father's teachings and bring prosperity and peace. And that future high king was to be Ranthus. The family gladly gave him to Alkosh for his kingly training and to study the script of truth.

Alkosh warned the first prince that when he turned 18 he could no longer battle to protect him. As he is to not lift a finger to harm, he can only do so if the princes life is endangered and only when he is under 18 years of age. After that he can only give consul, guidance, and healing aid, as he needs to teach the people with his tongue and with example and not by power nor strength.

As they traveled the land they helped people in need and taught the script of truth to all who would listen. Ranthus learn many valuable lessons, lessons that were written down and passed threw generations up to today.

During Ranthus's early teen years they met up with a young man, his name was Arundel. Arundel firmly took hold of the script of truth and desired greatly to wield magic but in the proper way. Alkosh gave him magic and Arundel become the first mortal to wield magic as it was intended to be used. To serve the mortals, and not to be overcome by it. Finally once Ranthus came of age Alkosh crafted for him a magical shield and sword spear. These would come to be known as Ganadra and Shalmor the weapons of the high king. Ranthus, Arundel, and Alkosh ventured forth to slay the demons of horror, They first they slew the witches of GlenWood within Glenmore. These three witches raised the dead and created plagues. Ranthus be headed them and Arundel purified the land with his magic of water, All three of them helped to heal and to teach the people of Glenmore once the witches were slain.

They then ventured East to Thalsage, there they slew Dalagron the great dragon. He was a dragon whoes breath was fire, claws of poison and words of venom. He regularly Burnt villages to the ground if they offered him insufficient gold and gems, and those who entered his layer to steal his wealth he killed in the slowest and most painful ways. Together Arundel and Ranthus slew the great drake by stabbing it through the heart, they took its head to prove to the people of Thalsage that it was dead. They gave him a portion of the dragons wealth, and made him armor out of the dragons hide.

Finally they headed north to Nordane, there they took on the The Beast of Dane. This massive beast that resembled a mix of a wolf and bear ran about destroying any village in its path and eating anything in its way. They slew the great beast, filled it's body full of stones and threw it into the Kalthor sea so that he could not rise again.

Once the demons were all slain, they began to teach the script of truth more and to found an organization for it with Arundel at it's head and Alkosh to help guide it's path and growth. Finally Alkosh taught that the time had come for the high king to take his place, to gather the mortals and create peace and prosperity, to let the truth prevail. Ranthus traveled across the land many joined under his banner to become one nation, one empire. Glenmore joined first, then Thalsage, and finally Nordane. They all joined willingly as many of them were converted into the faith and were fervently grateful for High King Ranthus's aid in freeing their people from the demons grasps. The High King ruled over the Alanor Empire for 10 years when the empire decided they wanted the Crimson mountain range. The people of Alanor beilived it was rightfully there's and they were tired of relaying upon the dwarves for metals. But the dwarves were far too well defended to be able to combat them, until a massive war broke out amongst the dwarves giving the empire the ability to fight a bloody war to take the mountains. The mountain range held 5 dwarven holds, these became the capital of the empire. (Today these holds are capitals of 5 different nations and the dwarven holds have been remodeled to look as much of the nation they belong to as possible while keeping the defensive structure of the dwarves.)

Ranthus ruled for 40 more years, all was peaceful and plenty. But then the people of Trad'jada grew to despise and hate their religion because of its power and influence, and by association the Alanor Empire. A Holy war started when the people of Trad'jada kidnapped Alkosh and spread stories of how they burned him at the stake.

Ranthus called for a holy war a crusade. From this point on all holy wars are called Dracede. The largest navy in history sailed to Trad'jada a very bloody war ensued. Ranthus found the charred remains of Alkosh and took them and his army back home after they crippled their enemies naval power. Upon his return home he and Arundel build one of the most holy structures over the grave of Alkosh. This structure is a large shrine, its the symbol of the religious order with a massive statue of Alkosh built next to it. Once construction finished Ranthus died of grief and of overworking himself to help build the structure. He lived to be 103 years old. Arundel took the weapons of Ranthus and held onto them until a new high king could be chosen and followed by the empire. However the empire fell into in fighting as Ranthus's sons fought for the throne and tor the country apart. To this day there are many who claim to be Ranthus's descendants and many have been proven to be legitimate, but none have been supported to become the next high king. Eventually the religion was named after Alkosh.

The Golden Treaty

When the Akanor Empire collapsed the Church proposed a treaty for all the nations to sign. The Church would respect everyone's sovereignty, and independence and would not encroach upon their lands. They asked the nations to allow the church to recruit, occupy, and administer the faith. In exchange the nations would gain protection by the church, get their nations policed from magic and necromancy and foreigners. And their laws enforced and trade protected. But their magic users and other men recruited. And their nations drawn to war should a Dracede be called.

Traditions / Bielef

Paladins are referred to as Paladin (NAME) or Sir (NAME)

Shaldors are referred to as your grace.

Clerics are referred to as Mother (Name) or Father (Name)

The Daruuk is referred to as Your holiness.

It's believed that the All Father Grants everyone a talent, but becoming a member grants a new talent one must discover and then use in his service.

Holy water: This water is sea water blessed by a Tempest. They will pray over sea water during a sunrise and infusing it with their magical energy causing it to glow making holy water. Or so they believe. Once the ritual is over the water stops glowing but is believed to be holy water. Holy water is used in many rituals.

(The hymns of truth refence the songs and prays of the religion but they also refer to the first commandments of the church, these are called the first hymns.)

Nordane Sadan Uses

All those who have wild magic are conscripted into the church work force, and are sent out to serve. This can range from being on the police force or giving carriage rides as your animal form, local jobs basically. The church may rotate your job, they will put you where you are needed most, but they provide good holidays, vacations, pensions, and are reasonable. They will place you close to your home if you wish. Sadan wild magic users are divided into two main categories. Civilian work and church work.
Civilian workers act as healers, carriage drivers, and are sent out to help the nations who believe in the religion. However as for church work their are six major sadan groups the church uses the most. The wolven are a nation of Sadans that incorporate the wolf hugely in their culture. Many of them are used on the police force and in court rooms, they help to track criminals, act as lie detectors, and help to hunt down necromancy and other magic users. The Tagoni are a nation of Sadans that incorporate the Tagbin a large cat hugely in their culture. They are used as spies, scouts, assassins, and for stealth missions. The Arkala are a nation of Sadans that incorporate the eagle hugely in their culture. These are used as scouts, mail service, communication, and an aerial force. Some are also used as spies or assassins. The Torox are a Clan of Sadans that incorporate the Ox hugely in their culture. They live in herds that travel from church to church, they protect the lands that the church owns. Their leader is called the bray king.

The Sharkuun are a clan of Sadans that incorporate the shark hugely in their culture. They are used as part of the naval force, and as protectors upon the isles of the eastern seas.

The Yanisin are a clan of Sadans that incorporate the orca hugely in their culture. they are used in the exact way as the sharks, only in the northern part of the sea.