Andryhtism: The Religion of the High Plain

Andrytus, The High Plain

Small copses of clouds seldom overcast the golden fields of wild grasses. Rolling gently into hills and back, the High Plain is rather serene. The air, constantly in a gentle stir, parts the grass like fingers through lustrous hair. What breaks up the wide-open grass are brief thickets, winding streams and rivers, and massive limestone edifices that gesture skyward.

- Book of Bleeding, Passage 3

The Bled Mother

The Bled Mother is a mysterious figure of holy origin. It is said that it was her that brought life to what was once called "The Salt" by becoming one with the earth itself. When she died, the world itself was enlightened by her deeds, thus creating humanity in her image. Her death led to the natural eb and flow of life itself within the grasses and rivers. Where She died, the earth swallowed her and sprouted a massive oak tree. The holy sight referred to as "Ulti Requem" (or Final Rest) is now a sight that those of the faith seek answers in times of doubt.

The land, Andrytus, once spoke to the early humans that settled there. It taught them of kindness, justice, and love. It also taught humankind to love one another and to cast away hatred, especially for things they did not understand, for it is a primitive emotion that has no place on Her soil—A lesson that was seemingly lost to time.

Not much is known about the woman Herself, as it is considered improper (but not a crime) to ask about Her history. The Bled Mother simply brought life to a land that had previously died. Her ability to create life even in the most unlikely of places is inspiring enough.

The Faith & Its Consequences

Like many faiths of the world, Andrytism comes from the belief that their task is to travel to lands untouched by the Mother and to "enlighten" the people of her great deads. As such, people dying upon foreign land are expected to follow in the path of Her by transforming new lands into havens of safety and life. Whilst the Andrytes believe this to be a holy endeavor, they often bring destruction through imperialist ideals of destroying cultures that dare question the faith. Many soldiers of The Bled Mother have taken lives, destroyed entire civilizations, and forced faith upon unwilling peoples across the world.

"They believe themselves children of She and yet know nothing of peace—nothing of understanding as their tomes tell them. I am led to believe that the least faithful are the priests themselves, for they grow fat upon the indoctrination of the masses"

- Marcelet the Blasphemer of Old Kaltahg

Whilst a vast majority of the population within the High Plains believe in the Bled Mother, many quietly shun the faith as a tool for those of high clerics to grow powerful and rich all the while keeping the masses ignorant to their plots. Marcelet the Blasphemer was the most outspoken against the tragedies kindled by Andrytism. Her home, Old Kaltahg, was razed by the faith's massive military power after she became more zealous and open in her public orations. To this day, her fate is unknown despite the clerics reporting her dead. Many believe that she was a reincarnation of The Mother reborn to reprimand what had become of her child, Andrytus. The few that escaped Old Kaltahg swore to carry on Marcelet's teachings and to one day destroy the high clerics that destroyed their home.