Didanipleads

Each member is built in the vision of Didaniplead himself: ready to sacrifice anything for their cause

-Rembrandt Hisephiles of Jökulstífla

The Man Behind the Myth

The Didanipleads take their name from the hero of an Elduri founding myth; a squire turned knight and the man who turned the tide of battle when fighting against the armies of Astania. Didaniplead, squire to Sir Lothar, had been cast out of Astania’s capital along with many others of Shellbay or Fjordstrond descent. Frustration had brewed amongst the outcasts who gathered in their new land of Caripreet, alongside J'barri fire mage refugees who had discovered the same shores. Together, the two discouraged peoples vowed to reconquer Astania, providing a home for both groups to thrive in a new way of life.
Seemingly unable to learn fire magic, the humans made a pact with Anoch Athylis, the harbinger of fire. Sir Lothar took the burden of this pact, vowing to place an icon to Anoch at the highest peak of the Astanian mountains; only then would the land previously known as Astania become Eldurgrund, and only then could the power of fire magic be utilized by all denizens of Laminarum.
The pact allowed Sir Lothar to bless individuals with the power of fire magic, similar to the J'barri Epiket before him. The pact allowed the outcasts to capture Astania, but not before Sir Lothar perished on the battlefield. In the darkest hour of the Elduri heroes, Didaniplead chose to step forward when most others chose to flee. Donning Sir Lothar’s sword and shield, Didaniplead took the icon of Anoch and led a charge of survivors into the gates of Astania’s capitol at the foot of the mountains. The capture lasted a full night, but by dawn, Didaniplead reached the mountain peaks and placed the icon.
Thanks to Didaniplead’s exhaustive devotion and exceeding the expectations for a common squire, he’s revered by all of Eldurgrund. Unfortunately, the association with Anoch Athylis makes the tale unpopular within the imperial Augury, which banned its worship. Didaniplead, however, is still revered in several public rituals (one example being Didaniplead’s Climb, in which competitors attempt to climb from the Euvurcrest mountain base to its peak within a day). The organization named after the individual, however, privately worships Anoch and considers his banning a disgrace to the tale of Didaniplead.

Undying Devotion

"It is our task, in the abominable shadow of the Augury, to see that the martyrdom of Anoch Athylis shall not go forgotten. In the face of a negligent governor and passive lords, we take it upon ourselves to maintain the culture of Eldurgrund.
The god and prophet of Eldurgrund, now called a devil under the Augury, rose our nation from the ashes of Astania. The prophet blessed us with fire magic, bled at the hands of the Ancient Ithitar, and lost all that made its spirit divine. It is only through the perverse lens of the Augury that such devotion and suffering are considered unfavorable- that such devotion and suffering are punished.

— Statement from the Didanipleads

The Didanipleads are a newly developed cult (ca. 1947 NG) in devotion to Anoch Athylis, a foundational god of the Elduri Mythos yet devil in the religion of the imperial Augury. While it's increasingly common for the Elduri to privately worship Anoch, the Didanipleads have proven willing to die for their devotion.
Most members live in Euvurcrest and aim to avoid Augury correspondents at all costs. Those who are caught, however, refuse to denounce their prophet and are willing to face the sword for their beliefs. Compared to the general public, who view Anoch as extraneous in the modern era, the Didanipleads' cause is criticized as a frivolous waste of life. This complaint is typically directed at the organization's unknown leaders, who have been compared to cattle herders. The nobility avoid discussing the organization, leaving their opinions a mystery.

Martyrs for Anoch Athylis

Anoch Athylis, while a prophet in Elduri Mythos, is banned within the Augury: the empire that possesses Eldurgrund. Anoch's status as an exceptional entity is common in both religions, but the tales within the Augury paint him as an Inutherin: the greatest title a devil can hold.
the two stories don't necessarily contradict, however, as the Augury scripture describes Anoch as having endured substantial manipulation and suffering from Milin Orphi. The process took his flames and ordained him as 'devil of famine;' this ironically reflects the tales of the Elduri's Astanian rivals who starved during Eldurgrund's founding due to crop burnings. Today, the Augury recognizes that Anoch Athylis may have once been beneficial to humanity, but his current form is unworthy of reverence.
While Anoch Athylis worship has been slowly rising amongst the peasants of Eldurgrund, it tends to come with a modern perspective. For example, he is explicitly worshiped as "Anoch," which is a symbolic representation his form before being crowned as an Inutherin (the process that would have given him the second name "Athylis"). The Didanipleads have chosen to take it further, holding extreme contempt for the Augury and devotion toward Elduri national culture. The Didanipleads worship neither "Anoch" nor believe that Anoch Athylis requires redemption for his dominion over famine. That is, the Didanipleads explicitly worship Anoch Athylis, the devil of famine.

Their numbers have been steadily growing as they spread their word to the people of Euvurcrest, though they go unnoticed due to their avoidance of Augury loyalists. While most nobles and public speakers live at the top side of the plate, the Didanipleads spread their ideals to the small, cavelike town beneath it known as Unterplat.

Agenda

I must apologize on behalf of my establishment, as we haven't a clue as to the plans of the Didanipleads- save a bowshot's guess. Their devotion to Anoch Athylis is concerning, yet may provide some guidance as to where their attention is held. The allowance of Anoch's icons in the Eldursteries' cultural reserves is of particular note; though I assure you none of its members hold loyalty for the Didanipleads. What else holds interest is the original tale of Didaniplead, the squire. It is said that he placed an icon of Anoch atop our mountain's highest peak; perhaps they shall seek it out during the annual 'Didaniplead's Climb." Unlikely, of course, given the governy itself knows not where the icon could be found.

Were I to direct your attention elsewhere, I would search the deeper interiors of the nation. Travelers oft fancy ancient tales and spread them like wildfire. A locale such as the Frost Turf Inn should be of substantial interest to your people. And of course, we all whisper of the Threadweaver's secret trepidations; should you find them guilty it would be most becoming of the Augurs to save Eldurgrund from their plight.
Should I be of further need, my chamberlain can correspond on the matter.

— Governor Hellstrom to Eurund Hafmark, Augury Correspondent

The letter above is the only formal statement the Hellstrom Governy has made on the Didanipleads and its message is clear: no uninvolved individuals know the plans for the organization. Be it their steps for growth or greater plans for the nation, their goals continue to vex authorities. Such lack of information can be concerning to some while providing comfort to others. Perhaps the perceived mystery is a symptom of the likely truth: the organization is meager and lacks influence.

*All art generated by smokingbat7906 in Midjourney*