Aperion
The rumoured governing body of the [Ohr Shefa], all that is known about them, is referred to as "Light of Ain Soph" and takes after the [Nine Choirs of Sandalphon]. They do not often interfere with the daily politics of Alestia and only show themselves in dire situations, typically of the apocalyptic sort. Nobody knows what they look like, nor do most believe they exist. The only known person with a link to them is Alina, the current [Queen] of Luria and the last of her bloodline.
It is suspected that [GOETIA] knew this, and it was the main reason for the extermination of the Royal Families. Said [Chapter] of the [Lesser Key] has disguised itself as the central church of their religion for a time, attempting a coup to usurp the throne but ultimately failing. Despite this, there is still widespread worship and reverence of their power, though the fanatical extremes of its doctrine have mostly diminished. The religion and church of its following is called Ma'areket Elahut, commonly referred to as simply The Empyrean Church.
[Aperion] itself revolves around the concept of the three threes resembling the [Nine Spheres of Heaven] in Dantes Paradiso; however, it does not follow the same taxonomy and refers to the [Reshit Chochmah's] levels of angels within Isaac Luria's Cosmogony. The [Nine Spheres] are also divided into the [Ninety Houses] of the [Sandalphon]. They are usually referred to as the [Nine Choirs]; the tenth is considered to be "The Source of All" and resides in [Pleroma]. This is not to be mixed up with the [Shem HaMephorash], the taxonomy of 72 Angelic Names and corresponding Magicks and their [Aeons]
They believed [Aperion] was divided into three "Palaces" of which three of their angels reside, the lowest of which is the [Hekhalot Zutartey] or "Lesser Palaces", the [Hekhalot Rabbati] or "Greater Palaces", and finally, the [Shi'ur Qomah] or "Divine Dimensions" which they believed the "One True God" resides as well as the three highest ranks of [Aperion].
[Aperion] was seen as the one true all-power, and the sacrality of its commune was to the Royal Family - The [Elmyas Familia] is only a name that was created as a mask to conceal the true nature of their lineage, which was said to be direct descendants of the "Ones Above". Their proper name is unknown, but they were often called [Bənē hāʾĔlōhīm], "The Sons of God".
The [Elmyas Familia] was often coined as [Prophets] or as [Shaliyakh], The Messengers. Among the familia, there was only the one who possessed the [Re'uyyot Yehezqel], "The Visions of Ezekiel", which was the chosen [Prophet] and was often the head of the familia. Moreover, there were also the [Ăsereṯ hāRūgē Malḵūṯ], "The Ten Royal Martyrs", who acted as counsel to the church.
The familia was said to have the [Massekhet Hekhalot] "The Tractate of the Palaces", which allowed them to commune with the higher planes and thus [Aperion] itself. This was often done in complete secrecy and only by the [Prophet] and their [Ten Martyrs].
Not much else is known about [Aperion] other than they reside within the kingdom of [Shenkina]. They are known to have a power known as [Elyon Berachot] "The Blessing of God", which takes the form of the [Nine Choirs]. The only current known one is [Hear no Evil]. Another notable power of theirs is the [Ohrot Kelium] "Light Vessels" - the entities they use to commune with the lower worlds.
Type
Secret, Religious sect
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Location
Neighboring Nations
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