Nathani Reiss

Although few sure records survive, Nathani Reiss was born around TN 1460 as a simple farm boy, yet grew to become the founder of the Sorrento Revisionist Church. He was the first to recognize the destiny of Mamoud Khodaverti, doing so well before the Gentle Prophet himself ever did. By the time he became of age in the TN 1470s. he was dedicated to protecting Mamoud, whom he loved like a twin. Nathani protected Mamoud, as Mamoud advanced on his path toward enlightenment, and when the young Prophet was tempted to reject his destiny, Nathani was always there to guide him back to the path. When Mamoud acquired true comprehension of his own role in the TN 1480s Nathani never hesitated to accompany him into the desert. All through these journeys, he learned from the Prophet and their bond grew ever stronger. When they arrived in Massada, Nathani helped to build their first temple with his own hands and watched with pride as the gentle Word spread through the city-state.

The schism that occurred between Nathani and Jakob Khodaverti after the Prophet’s death is a matter for great contention. Some claim that Nathani had grown jealous of the bond between Mamoud and Jakob’s mother, Galen: others say Nathani felt slighted by the Prophet‘s choice of Jakob to lead the church. Most Northerners believe that Mamoud knew that the land of their birth needed Nathani’s return and made his choice in consequence. Regardless of the truth, Nathani and a large contingent of his followers returned to Sorrento to join the Revisionist commune which had been founded while he was in Massada. From there his teachings and faith would spread across the hemisphere.

Except for his Third Peregrination to Valeria which created the NLC, Nathani spent the remaining cycles of his life in Sorrento where he guided the course of his church. Many of the most important figures in the church’s early history learned at the knees of the Second Follower and his personal influence remains strong even today. Like Mamoud, Nathani had little confidence in recording devices and always preferred spoken communication. Several of his disciples took extensive notes of his remembrances, however, and they were compiled into a final form in the TN 1550s. This text became the second book of the Sorrento church‘s Khodaverdia.