Introduction

“And so 'twere 'i those days of doubt and fear, torment and brooding over the fate of the world did yet one man step forth and announce his claim to justice. There stood ere the hysteric crowd the one known as Kalvelius.” - First Book of Kalvelius, pg 2.
Introduction Kalvely is a religion of many names, none of which can claim to be official. Kalvely, the Kalvelian Faith, Lyrianism, Grigor, ‘the book’, the Principles, the Path, and many more are all colloquialisms spread throughout the world that invariably lead to one source: the Grigor Lyra. Such is a tome that has been reproduced dozens of times, changed, edited, annotated, misinterpreted, and reinterpreted. It is not one coherent text, but rather a bound collection of ancient lores, tales, poetry, songs, written oral histories, and philosophical musings by the great philosophers and warriors of otherwise barely remembered times. To those who lack faith, the book is nothing more than a valuable glimpse into times long past - but to those who believe, the book is a text that provides an alternative view of the world, a perspective that diverts significantly from the more consolidated and refined temperaments of modern religion.
The Kalvelian does not typically worship a God. Instead, he pays passive respect to all of them, for while recognizing their existence and contributions, he does not recognize them as the ones that truly are behind the greatest mortal achievements. Indeed, the Kalvelian’s worship is directed towards the kings and heroes of ages both long forgotten and in recent memory. The world is shaped by great actors, nations are guided to prosperity and wisdom by great kings of prodigious knowledge and reason. Threats to civilization are brought down by glorious heroes and their noble companions. Wars are fought and won by decisive figures on the battlefield, guided by commanders who have dedicated their lives to the study and advancement of military science. Advancements in science and metallurgy are brought by the scholar and the blacksmith who spent months and years perfecting their craft and experimenting with new methods. Nations are destroyed by the will of great people and rebuilt stronger by the next generation of heroes. Indeed, the Gods may help these men along their way by providing a revelation from the divine font of knowledge, or by providing a prodigious harvest that allows for continuing prosperity - but these contributions would be nothing if there was nobody to receive them. The Kalvelian is at their heart one trying to emulate the great warriors, leaders, thinkers, and scholars of the past. Those who are remembered through the ages as warriors of great skill or as uniters who brought a people together, those who made their mark onto Azura through force of will and purpose. Kalvely is not an organized faith, it cannot be. There is no priest that requires a contribution to please the ancient emperors, there are only tomes, recollections, and songs about their great deeds that one may reflect on to understand and emulate the thought processes and actions of those who built the foundations of the world we walk in today.