God Binder
God Binders are leaders of the the Suracity religion in Brek. They are so called because they are believed to be able to summon Calistian gods to Nideon. Contrary to the name, however, no one has been known to bind a Calistian god, though many have died trying.
History
The concept of summoning Calistian gods began in 1443, when Agripa Pilipo took over leadership of the Suracity organization from its founder, Rotita Tyinagra. Pilipo's writing's also led to the title god binder, as Pilipo hoped to literally bind a god to do his bidding. He did not succeed in this, though he died trying. Since this time, however, a new group of leaders has sprung up each year claiming to have summoned a Calistian god to Nideon. Though many of these people have witnesses who say they have seen these deeds performed, the claims still remain overall unsubstantiated. Most people outside of Suracity believe them to be, at best, hallucinations, and at worst, illusions and lies. Nevertheless, it is clear that some well known god binders engaged in incredibly magically powerful phenomena.
Famous God Binders
In 1570, Magdelina Ermanten successfully summoned Mikal, the Calistian god of luck when she was falsely accused of murder. A young Mermish boy washed up on shore, wrapped in magical binding rope, and apparently having drowned. Ermanten had been seen earlier getting directions from the boy, and she was a known advocate for binding young wizards so that all people would learn magic the same way. There was no evidence indicating anyone else. Ermanten spent an entire night in prison chanting in the Calistian language for the Mikal to come to her rescue. As she had nothing to offer Mikal, she offered him her own voice. The next morning, as Ermanten had chanted herself hoarse, the weight which had been previously tied to the dead boy washed up on shore with several leg scales stuck to it. The local police tracked the scales to the boy's brother--the true killer--and Ermanten was let go. She never spoke again.
by Eugen Sacali
In 1621, Bindin Pretorius summoned Ferreir, the god of stone. Pretorious and his friend were hiking and took a rest inside a cave when a sudden rock slide blocked them in. While the friend looked on, Pretorius used magic to light a fire into which he burned strips of his shirt and clippings from his own hair, calling to Ferreir to help them. After several hours, Pretorius opened his eyes and began to speak in an unfamiliar voice, saying that he was Ferreir, using Pretorius's body. Then he magically shifted the rocks blocking the path, creating a new formation that still stands.
By 1821, Norm Engberg was said to have summoned the gods of love, faith, and fabric. As such he was one highest ever ranked male clergy of Suracity, and he used his position to promote the religion. In 1840, he tried to summon the gods of languages and expressions to better help him communicate and spread the message. According to others present at the time, a bright light filled the room, and when it dissipated, a young woman stood in front of them. She shook Engberg's hand, and before he spoke more than one sentence of his request, he dropped to the ground. Without a word, the woman disappeared and Engberg was paralyzed neck down for the rest of his life. This event led to the belief that Melody, the god of expressions has very little patience.
Leaving Suracity
Strangely, many god binders, after summoning gods, have since left the Suracity religion, often citing their conversation with the god as part of their rationale.
Bioleta Parr was attracted to Suracity as a young woman because she hoped to learn magic despite having no natural gift. After joining, she quickly expanded her magical abilities and rose to the position of clergy even before she successfully summoned a god because she showed such great magical promise. Nevertheless, Parr continued to doubt the truth of the religion she followed. Because Tollak, the god of truth, is said to be fond of music, Parr sang a song to her in order to summon her. In 1670, she claimed that a young woman promptly arrived at her door and praised her dedication to truth. The woman then answered her questions about Suracity, and the next day, Parr left the group.
Bette Tyankobik had a similar experience more than two hundred years later. Unlike Parr, Tyankobik was born to members of the Suracity religion and raised in a community with increasingly radical beliefs. As an adult, Tyankobik wondered more and more about the world beyond Suracity and what it was about that world her family feared. She grew more and more interested in the stories of those who had left the group, though she was continually told that she would be Judged poorly for her actions. Finally, in 1896, she stumbled upon the story of Parr summoning the god of truth. She sought out the song Parr used to summon Tollak and used the same, hoping for the same result. Tyankobik claims that immediately after finishing the song, Tollak appeared before her in the form of a young man who told her Suracity was on the wrong path. Tyankobik took Tollak's advice and left the organization, though she did get Tollak's symbol tattooed on her shoulder as a sign that she had successfully summoned the god. Tyankobik continues to speak out against Suracity today.
In 1570, Magdelina Ermanten successfully summoned Mikal, the Calistian god of luck when she was falsely accused of murder. A young Mermish boy washed up on shore, wrapped in magical binding rope, and apparently having drowned. Ermanten had been seen earlier getting directions from the boy, and she was a known advocate for binding young wizards so that all people would learn magic the same way. There was no evidence indicating anyone else. Ermanten spent an entire night in prison chanting in the Calistian language for the Mikal to come to her rescue. As she had nothing to offer Mikal, she offered him her own voice. The next morning, as Ermanten had chanted herself hoarse, the weight which had been previously tied to the dead boy washed up on shore with several leg scales stuck to it. The local police tracked the scales to the boy's brother--the true killer--and Ermanten was let go. She never spoke again.
by Eugen Sacali
In 1621, Bindin Pretorius summoned Ferreir, the god of stone. Pretorious and his friend were hiking and took a rest inside a cave when a sudden rock slide blocked them in. While the friend looked on, Pretorius used magic to light a fire into which he burned strips of his shirt and clippings from his own hair, calling to Ferreir to help them. After several hours, Pretorius opened his eyes and began to speak in an unfamiliar voice, saying that he was Ferreir, using Pretorius's body. Then he magically shifted the rocks blocking the path, creating a new formation that still stands.
By 1821, Norm Engberg was said to have summoned the gods of love, faith, and fabric. As such he was one highest ever ranked male clergy of Suracity, and he used his position to promote the religion. In 1840, he tried to summon the gods of languages and expressions to better help him communicate and spread the message. According to others present at the time, a bright light filled the room, and when it dissipated, a young woman stood in front of them. She shook Engberg's hand, and before he spoke more than one sentence of his request, he dropped to the ground. Without a word, the woman disappeared and Engberg was paralyzed neck down for the rest of his life. This event led to the belief that Melody, the god of expressions has very little patience.
Leaving Suracity
Strangely, many god binders, after summoning gods, have since left the Suracity religion, often citing their conversation with the god as part of their rationale.
Bioleta Parr was attracted to Suracity as a young woman because she hoped to learn magic despite having no natural gift. After joining, she quickly expanded her magical abilities and rose to the position of clergy even before she successfully summoned a god because she showed such great magical promise. Nevertheless, Parr continued to doubt the truth of the religion she followed. Because Tollak, the god of truth, is said to be fond of music, Parr sang a song to her in order to summon her. In 1670, she claimed that a young woman promptly arrived at her door and praised her dedication to truth. The woman then answered her questions about Suracity, and the next day, Parr left the group.
Bette Tyankobik had a similar experience more than two hundred years later. Unlike Parr, Tyankobik was born to members of the Suracity religion and raised in a community with increasingly radical beliefs. As an adult, Tyankobik wondered more and more about the world beyond Suracity and what it was about that world her family feared. She grew more and more interested in the stories of those who had left the group, though she was continually told that she would be Judged poorly for her actions. Finally, in 1896, she stumbled upon the story of Parr summoning the god of truth. She sought out the song Parr used to summon Tollak and used the same, hoping for the same result. Tyankobik claims that immediately after finishing the song, Tollak appeared before her in the form of a young man who told her Suracity was on the wrong path. Tyankobik took Tollak's advice and left the organization, though she did get Tollak's symbol tattooed on her shoulder as a sign that she had successfully summoned the god. Tyankobik continues to speak out against Suracity today.
Content Warning: murder, severe injury
I really like your sidebar describing the different gods and your Famous God Binders section. Very interesting read
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.