Difference between revisions of "Enirra"

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(Created page with "{| align="right" style="text-align:center;" !colspan="2" style="background:#ABE"|'''Overview''' |- |'''Favored Race''' || Alatharya |- |'''Element(s)''' || N/A |- |'''Home(...")
 
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|'''Symbol(s)'''    || A triangled eye
 
|'''Symbol(s)'''    || A triangled eye
 
|-
 
|-
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|'''Portfolio'''    || Balance, equality, rebellion, obsession, monotheism, lost causes
+
|'''Portfolio'''    || Balance, stability, defiance, endurance, intervention, monotheism
 
|-
 
|-
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|'''Worshippers'''  || Alatharya, the disenfranchised, minorities, the paranoid
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|'''Worshippers'''  || Alatharya, the disenfranchised, minorities, firebrands
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
==History in Avendar==
 
==History in Avendar==
−
In the age after the [[Sundering]], the alatharya faced extinction. Their great empires obliterated and their collective intellect destroyed, the First Race was quickly reduced to living as animals. The magical storms which scoured the surface of Avendar greatly thinned their already anemic ranks, further instilling fear into the primitives. Although the precise details of their fall have been forgotten amidst feral living, the terror of divine wrath haunted them. Older alatharya who had first grown attuned to the wild formed the basis of a shaman-caste which preserved the race, living in tribes scattered throughout the wilderness. Scholars suggest that these shaman put forth the idea of a lone protector-deity that had not forsaken them. They called this deity [[Elarandan]], which is believed to be an amalgam of religious names used by their pre-Sundering forefathers.
+
In the age after the [[Sundering]], magical storms scoured the surface of Avendar and released powerful elemental entities onto the Prime. For the battered alatharya, these beings posed a greater threat than the storms themselves, as they hunted or enslaved the survivors. Desperate and alone, the alatharya cried out to the heavens for succor, and their prayers were answered by Elarandan, an entity whose name was derived from pre-Sundering religious monikers.  She became their protector, and acted in defiance of the Overgods by steeling them to endure. They enshrined the notion of ''apotechta'', Elarandan's balance between natural and supernatural, into their dogma, and in Her name, carved paths through the wild. They founded numerous enclaves under Her protection, and within a few generations, the alatharya had secured enough territory to establish their first lasting peace since the fall.
  
−
While the [[War of Fire]] ravaged the cities of the aelin, the alatharya continued to carve out a lonely existence. Centered on the southern edge of the [[Crimson Sands]] and the [[Rirro Jagka]], they played little role in the conflict. This may be in part because of their fear of again being punished by the gods, or that they were simply unable to comprehend the greater picture of the world. After the end of the War, many mortals flocked to the worship of [[Jolinn]], Father of the Seas, as He had brought victory to the aelin and humans. During the creation of the Republic, class disparity became a fact of many [[human]] lives. While it flourished, lower class adventurers set out for distant lands where they might make their own mark. Ancient texts mark the contact between humans and the sundered alatharya, enmeshing their dreams of equality and classist anger with alatharyan tribal beliefs. Elarandan became known as [[Aninsta]], and Her worship took on a decidedly more civilized flair.
+
While the [[War of Fire]] ravaged the kingdoms of [[human|humanity]] and the cities of the [[aelin]], the alatharya continued to huddle in secluded sanctuaries, scattered from the [[Brintors]], to the [[Mlejin Range]], to the [[Rirro Jagka]].  Their role in the conflict is largely unknown; however, some historians suggest that they fought [[Bayyal]]'s long tail of followers during the march across what is now the Crimson Sands. After the War, their connection to recorded history becomes far less tenuous.  With the rise of the [[Republic]], class disparity became a driving factor in the lives of human refugees.  Many poor migrants set out as explorers, settlers, and mercenaries, following the draw of the [[Lilune|moons]] to the uncharted beyond. Ancient texts describe contact between humanity and the sundered alatharya, enmeshing the former's dreams of conquest and security with the latter's belief in ''apotechta''. Elarandan became known as Aninsta, whose expression took on a decidedly more mercenary flair.
  
−
The cult of [[Kelaith]], which carried the banner of the Platinum Scales, flourished during the post-War period and continued to do so until the dark days of the [[War of Night]]. Taking inspiration from [[Thales]], Lord of Balance, the cult focused itself on the philosophy of balance and its necessity. They frequently pointed to the War of Fire as an example of what happens when balance is not maintained. For a time, their following was substantive, their famous priests known for their ceremonial darkened platinum arms and armor. With the defeat of the [[shuddeni]] and the coming of the [[ch'taren]], Kelaith's numbers rapidly and sharply diminished. In time, his following would collapse all but completely; casualties during the war, and the growing faiths of new, powerful deities such as [[Rystaia|Rystaia Lightbringer]] took a heavy toll.
+
The cult of [[Kelaith]], which carried the banner of the Platinum Scales, borrowed its fundamentals from the far-flung Aninstans. Taking inspiration from [[Thales]], Lord of Balance, the cult focused on transforming Her ''apotechta'' into a creed which carried "equal and substantive" weight within Republican theology. They cherished debate, expanding the prior definition of Aninsta's ideal to balance itself, spanning from societal to personal.  Their most influential argument was contextualizing the War of Fire as a near-apocalyptic upset of cosmic forces. At their height, they constructed a temple in [[Earendam|Earendam the Grand]], but the horrors of the [[War of Night]] put an abrupt end to their parlor intellectualism.  Conscription, cowardice, and fear caused their coalition to swiftly unravel.  With the coming of the [[ch'taren]], the cult was all but decimated, overshadowed by the growing faiths of powerful deities such as [[Rystaia|Rystaia Lightbringer]].
  
−
The modern era brought an uneasy peace to Avendar, with no magical bias left unhindered. As researchers again resumed their studies of the world that had preceded them, ideas of the Kelaitan cult again spread. However, unlike in the previous age, adventurers seeking balance in the struggle of the Great Houses championed these beliefs in the name of [[Enaerai]]. This iteration depicted Her as a goddess who appeared human and represented a permanent intersection between good, evil, law, and chaos. Many of the classist struggles of the Aninstan following resurfaced under Enaerai's banner, giving further momentum to Her rise. Additionally, the Kelaitan moralists found shelter with Her, and reinforced the philosophical underpinnings of Her fight. With the establishment of the [[Fortress of the Eye]], Enaerai has become known as Enirra, the fluid representation of all previous balance-keepers. She has, in turn, established a permanent niche for Herself within the deific pantheon.  
+
Within a few centuries, magical advancement had brought an uneasy detente between the spheres, and the rise of the Great Houses lent a similarly precarious balance to the realm. This time, it was adventurers who resurrected and synthesized Aninsta's martial legacy with the broad extrapolation of the Kelaitans.  They championed a deity called Enaerai, who acted as a permanent intersection between good, evil, law, and chaos, and sought to balance the ambitions of all who did not serve Her. They established a renowned order, the [[Knights of Enaerai]], during the [[Third Kankoran War]], operating out of the crumbling Kelaitan temple.  Within a century, they built a [[Fortress of the Eye|keep]] at the foot of the Brintors.  This fortress became their stronghold for a millennium, and from it, they waged a tireless military and philosophical campaign.  They absorbed and appropriated the artifacts and ideas of their historical forebears until their dominance over conceptual balance was all but undisputed. Over their long tenure, the pronunciation of Enaerai shifted, settling on Her current name: Enirra.
 +
 
 +
With the coming of the modern age and the end of the Fortress of the Eye, Enirra's worship has loosened, again scattered in diaspora.  Some of its ancient threads have revived, lending renewed vigor to the dissection of balance and the best path to Her enigmatic favor.
  
 
==Goals and Methods==
 
==Goals and Methods==
−
Enirra seeks equality between both mortalkind and gods alike. Some of Her followers suggest that it is because She sees intrinsic value in individuals of all walks, including those that despise each other. Skeptics assert that Enirra's focus on equality is a method by which to weaken other gods and elevate Herself as arbiter of what should and should not be. The former argument sees Her as liberator of the alatharya from their everlasting burden, while the latter sees Her actions as a power-grab rooted in the [[Compact]]. It is undeniable that many of Her more ardent followers assert Enirra as the only "true god", and is thus allowed to balance the rest of the pantheon's actions. The truth of the matter is far more difficult to discern, as Her following is as diverse as the multitude of beliefs that comprise it. Regardless, where there is an establishment to fight, Enirra's warriors fight for Her will even when they will surely be defeated.
+
Enirra seeks stability between mortals, gods, and events. She believes that maintaining a functional, predictable balance supercedes the individual concerns being weighed against one another.  Over the millennia, this has taken many forms-- it was the foundation of the alatharyan ''apotechta'', the dream of the Aninstan settlers, the spark of the Kelaitan moralists, and the motivation of Enaerai's original military order. She is positioned so securely offset from all other deities' ambitions that She considers herself an important (and perhaps the most important) consenting party to any major cosmic or societal shift.  This has fueled her followers' belief in Enirra as the only "true" god, and the core of their argument for Her necessary supremacy. However, this assertion has made both She, and Her following, anathema to the established political and religious hierarchies within Avendar's major cities.
  
−
The philosophical idea of balance as a moral code predate Enirra's modern identity. Although current scholars of Enirra would disassociate Her with previous deities and demigods (such as Thales and Kelaith), popular interpretation links the three because of the similarities of their following. It is more accurate to state that Enirra's religion has taken on aspects of these cults as Her influence has grown, empowering Her and Her chosen further within world affairs. Enirra's primary work is done through the Knights that bear Her name, and She has been known to prompt them to action if She feels balance has been disrupted too greatly.  
+
Balance has been used as shorthand for Enirra's ideals, and as such, almost all of her followers' actions are in some way tied to it.  Many mythical or historical figures have brought their own spin to the concept, including the like of Thales and Kelaith, who are far removed from the earliest devoted of Elarandan.  As modern Enirrans have consumed expressions, arguments, and legitimacy from a multitude of sources, the ways in which the faith express itself are similarly numerous. Given the historical proximity to the heyday of the Knights of Enaerai, many who serve Her adopt their artifice, be it in their manner of dress, or their preoccupation with the dire consequences of unbridled change. That said, Enirra does not require a powerful following to make Her desires known; She, on multiple occasions, has intervened in mortal affairs, prompting even those who do not venerate Her to serve Her cause.
  
 
==Organizations and Followings==
 
==Organizations and Followings==
−
Like other religions, many different groups have organized in the name of Enirra. The most prominent by far is the [[Knights of Enirra]], who have gained world-renown with their many exploits. However, other factions exist as well, who take the maintenance of balance in different directions. They are as follows:
+
Like other religions, many different groups have organized in the name of Enirra, spanning the ages. Each represents a different, and not necessarily compatible, vision of balance. They are as follows:
  
−
=====The Knights of Enirra=====
+
=====The Apotechta=====
−
''"Surrender the Stones or we will take them by force."''
+
''"Death to the false gods!"''
  
−
:The Knights of Enirra are the most well-known of Her representatives, whose stated aim is to preserve balance throughout Avendar. Knights themselves have developed a complex hierarchy, with many subdivisions internally. Their foremost concerns are the [[Stones of Power]] and the interplay of the Great Houses, as Knights tend to regard these two factors as the most dangerous to upsetting the balance of power. They often ally themselves with other of the Great Houses to oppose the strong, seeking to disperse that strength to other factions and individuals. Knights of Enirra are frequently despised and considered hypocrites for which sides they choose and why, and for turning on previous allies when the balance of power shifts. Alatharya are the race most likely to find themselves among the Knights, their physical prowess and neutral bent making them well-suited to a soldier's life.
+
:The Apotechta are descended from the oldest alatharyan Enirrans. Taking their name from Elarandan's balance between the natural and supernatural, the Apotechta are trained for battle with sapient magical creatures, including but not limited to elementals, djinn, seraphim, and demons. They are known to hunt such beings with expert proficiency, as they believe they are too dangerous to be left alive. The most radical of the Apotechta consider the branded followers of other deities to be of similar cast, touched as they are by extraplanar forces.  While they do not necessarily hate or fear magic (as it is as fundamental to mortals as death), the Apotechta are wary of arcanists who manipulate the spheres of Spirit and Void; they are, after all, the most likely to conjure the entities they are driven to kill.  Alatharya warriors and naturalists are the most common of the Apotechta, but they rarely dismiss those who are willing to fight at their side.
  
 
=====The Heralds of Rebellion=====
 
=====The Heralds of Rebellion=====
 
''"You didn't think I'd let you have your way, did you?"''
 
''"You didn't think I'd let you have your way, did you?"''
  
−
:Drawing inspiration from the class struggles prevalent in the great cities, Heralds of Rebellion are keenly attuned to the ideas of social leveling and revolution. They often seek out whatever power structure is readily available and thwart it, usually whichever hegemony is strongest. However, their scope is broader, including a manner of social justice by exclusively championing the underclass of a given region. This may also manifest itself in an obsession with finding the wealthiest of travelers and striking them down, dispersing their monies and possessions as they see fit. Balance, to a Herald, is maintained by never allowing any individual to become too powerful; in effect, imitating the aims of Enirra within the pantheon in the mortal world. Rogues often find this path to be one of the simplest, as many of them have faced poverty or injustice firsthand.
+
:Drawing inspiration from the class struggles that colored the ancient Aninstans, Heralds of Rebellion are keenly attuned to the ideas of social leveling and revolution. They often seek out whatever power structure is readily available and thwart it, usually whichever hegemony is strongest. However, their scope is broader, including a manner of social justice by exclusively championing the underclass of a given region. In the absence of an institutional structure to battle, this may manifest itself in an obsession with striking down the most threatening individuals, and dispersing their monies and possessions as they see fit. Balance, to a Herald, is maintained by never allowing any one person to become too powerful; in effect, imitating the aims of Enirra within the pantheon in the mortal world. Rogues often find this path to be one of the simplest, as many of them have faced poverty or injustice firsthand.
  
−
=====The Thalean Speakers=====
+
=====The Knights of Enaerai=====
−
''"Through balance do we live; by balance is the world sustained."''
+
''"Surrender the Stones or we will take them by force."''
  
−
:The Thalean Speakers are wandering philosophers, devoted to changing the world through the spread of Enirra's religion. Much of their inspiration is derived from the tale of Grujnah, who, after thirty years of debate, admitted the error of his beliefs and became known as Thales. They seek to change both individual and public opinion on religious matters regarding Enirra, and do so through oratory, one-on-one discussion, and when possible, public debate with believers of other faiths. A major point of religious contention is their assertion that Enirra is foremost among, and fundamental to, the greater pantheon. This ensures that personal charisma is as important, if not moreso, than actual debating prowess. The personal maintenance of balance of action is a primary motivator of a Speaker, as to not live the tenets they preach harms their goals more thoroughly than any battle. Thalean Speakers are most likely to be human, as it is they who feel most keenly the necessity of balance within and without.
+
:The Knights of Enaerai are the most well-known of Enirra's representatives, whose stated aim is to preserve balance throughout Avendar. With the loss of their stronghold, the Knights no longer cling to their traditional hierarchy; instead, they congregate in secret, and regard their fellows as equals.  Their foremost concerns are the Stones of Power and the interplay of the Great Houses, as Knights tend to regard both as highly volatile representations of the cosmic balance. They frequently will ally themselves with a weak House to oppose more dominant ones, seeking to disperse that strength to other factions or individuals. However, the ease with which those alliances end can (and do) make Knights seem hypocritical to their former compatriots. Alatharya are the race most likely to find themselves among the Knights, their physical prowess and neutral bent making them well-suited to a soldier's life.
  
 
==Individual Followers==
 
==Individual Followers==
−
The life of a follower of Enirra is often a difficult one, as their mental and physical fortitude are often tested to the limits. Many who follow more popularly tolerated religions mock followers of Enirra and proclaim them both intellectual and military pariahs. A strong heart and the ability to function with little support are vital, as is the knowledge that virtually all mortals, save other Knights, regard Enirra's soldiery as foolish pawns. Often, a follower of Enirra will imagine themselves as a lone, sane voice in an insane world, spiraling ever closer to ultimate destruction. This leads to an obsession with what others are doing and innately divisive interactions with potential allies. Regardless, Enirra requires balance within Her warriors and their actions, meaning that only those who are true neutral may receive Her blessings.
+
The life of an Enirran is often a difficult one, as their physical and emotional resolve are often tested to their limits. Their allies are few and their enemies numerous; popularly tolerated religions of every persuasion view them as anything from an annoyance to a threat. Their ability to function with little or no support is vital, as they will often act and fight alone. In their persistent struggles, they may come to imagine themselves a lone, sane voice in a world poised precariously over a final and terrible ledge. This can lead to an obsession with what others are doing, to both their advantage and detriment. Enirra requires action from Her warriors, meaning that they must be (and remain) active in pursuing Her goals to maintain Her blessings.
  
−
Enirra's worship is not conducted in any major city to any significant degree. [[Earendam]] at one time housed the Temple of Enaerai, but it was razed after the removal of the Knights' building charter. As such, Earendam in particular harbors no love for Enirra's followers, who have often sided with those attempting to destroy the city one way or another. Her acceptance is further hindered by the assertion that Her power rivals that of the Overgods, which many of their politically powerful devoted consider the direst of blasphemies.
+
Enirra's primary worship is found in rural alatharyan sanctuaries, and within the brotherhood of Her following. Major cosmopolitan cities reject Enirran values, which conflict with the natural progress of their social expansions and contractions. This is exacerbated by the animosity of politically powerful priests, who consider the assertion that Enirra has the right to weigh the actions of the Overgods the direst of blasphemies.  Between these pressures and the destruction of the Fortress of the Eye, altars venerating Her are found in hidden refuges rather than in centralized temples.
  
−
Those who find favor with the Lady of Balance are marked with the Eye of Enirra.  
+
Those who find favor with the Lady of Balance are marked with the Eye of Enirra.
  
 
==Relationships==
 
==Relationships==
−
Enirra is not well-regarded by many deities across the spectrum of the pantheon, as Her assertion of the necessity of balance disrupts virtually all of what they attempt to individually do. Her aid is fleeting and Her actions temporary, serving largely as a stumbling block for those who encounter it. [[Girikha]], in particular, finds some association with Enirra, as it was through Enirra's followers that Girikha's religion was renewed. [[Chadraln]] finds Enirra a fascinating historical curiosity, as Her following has broader historical roots than much of the pantheon. Enirra's soldiers tend to find at least some common ground with those of [[Dolgrael]], as they often share the same battlefields. However, their varied methods inevitably prevent a permanent alliance.  
+
Enirra is an outsider within the pantheon, first for Her defiance of divine edict in sheltering the alatharya, and second for the bold claim that She has authority to preserve the status quo as it stands.  Her insistence on the ineffable value of relational stability is disruptive to virtually all of what other deities attempt to individually do. That said, some of Her relationships are simply strained, rather than antagonistic. For example, [[Girikha]] may at times be stymied by the actions of Enirra or Her followers, but it is to Enirra that She owes Her release and subsequent prominence in modern kankoran religious thought. [[Chadraln]] is fascinated by the long and varied historical lineage of Her devoted, but chafes at Her aversion to the most interesting future He so desires. [[Dolgrael]] respects the martial pedigree of Enirran warriors, in that they are willing to die for their cause, sometimes countless times over. Yet, He dismays at their lack of honor and dearth of discipline.
  
−
==Shrines and Sigils==
+
Enirra's most important relationship is with [[Lielqan]], whom She views as paradoxically the greatest proponent of stability, and the most significant threat to it.  Lielqan's indiscriminate resurrection of the dead maddens Enirra, who is pleased when that halts the most dreaded of change, and angered when it prevents disruptions to the cosmic order from being neatly resolved.  Most infuriating of all, Lielqan ignores any who claim Her actions are harmful, and refuses to alter Her behavior to accommodate Enirran balance.  Ultimately, Enirra's warriors must embody Her displeasure, and frequently put those who serve the Sunset to the sword.
−
(Here is where we will put a list of shrine locations (as many deities have altars in multiple places, even if they do have a dedicated shrine).  In the case of a dedicated shrine, the area name and the vnum range should be listed.)
+
 
 +
==Shrines, Sigils, and Mobs==
  
 
=====Areas=====
 
=====Areas=====
 +
:'''The Fortress of the Eye''' (vnums 22051-22099)
  
 
=====Rooms=====
 
=====Rooms=====
−
 
+
:'''A Steam-Filled Crevice''' (vnum 10566)
−
(For sigils, if tiered, they should be divided by tier.  After the name of each sigil, the effects of that sigil in terms of stats and progs should be listed as well.  This should give a staff member considering a brand a reference as to what exactly they are giving the mortal in question.  If no available sigils are appropriate for the role of the character in question and they still meet the criteria for being part of the religion, it may also serve to highlight if a new sigil is required.)
+
  
 
=====Sigils=====
 
=====Sigils=====
−
:'''the Sigil of the Eye of Enirra''' (vnum 1211)
+
:'''the Sigil of the Eye of Enirra''' (vnum 1211) (for mobs)
−
:'''the Sigil of the Eye of Enirra''' (vnum 1214)
+
:'''the Sigil of the Eye of Enirra''' (vnum 1214) (for PCs)
 +
 
 +
=====Mobs=====
 +
:[[Gahret Mieldoon]] (vnum 17149) - Prophet of Enirra
 +
:[[Eronth Todok]] (vnum 3703) - Directs neutrals in the School of Heroes
 +
:[[Ashein]] (vnum 10322) - Enirran Water/Fire teacher
 +
:[[Chejan]] (vnum 13553) - Former Knight quartermaster in exile
 +
:[[Relqana]] (vnum 4809) - Former Knight agent in exile
 +
:[[Irionne]] (vnum 22051) - Priest of Enirra and Knight healer
 +
 
 +
=====God Mark=====
 +
:You notice triangle-shaped pupils in [his|her] eyes.
 +
:''Karma is always treated as 25% of its actual value''
  
−
==Related Logs and Other Documents==
+
==Notes, Logs, and Other Documents==
−
(This is where you list, preferably by year, any and all logs, fiction, and old help files related to Enirra.  These logs will serve as a primer for those about to fill Enirra's shoes.  For convenience, it may help to divide the logs into smaller categories, such as inductions, general roleplay, quests, and whatnot.)
+
  
 
=====Helps=====
 
=====Helps=====
−
:Original Enirra help file
+
:Original [[Enaerai website overview]] (9/21/2004)
 +
:[[Enaerai|Old Enaerai staff wiki notes]]
  
−
=====Fiction=====
+
=====Lore=====
 +
:None
  
 
=====Logs=====
 
=====Logs=====
 +
:None
  
 
[[category:Gods]]
 
[[category:Gods]]

Latest revision as of 17:27, 17 April 2019

Overview
Favored Race Alatharya
Element(s) N/A
Home(s) A White Plain (vnum 1260)
Alignment True Neutral
Symbol(s) A triangled eye
Portfolio Balance, stability, defiance, endurance, intervention, monotheism
Worshippers Alatharya, the disenfranchised, minorities, firebrands

History in Avendar

In the age after the Sundering, magical storms scoured the surface of Avendar and released powerful elemental entities onto the Prime. For the battered alatharya, these beings posed a greater threat than the storms themselves, as they hunted or enslaved the survivors. Desperate and alone, the alatharya cried out to the heavens for succor, and their prayers were answered by Elarandan, an entity whose name was derived from pre-Sundering religious monikers. She became their protector, and acted in defiance of the Overgods by steeling them to endure. They enshrined the notion of apotechta, Elarandan's balance between natural and supernatural, into their dogma, and in Her name, carved paths through the wild. They founded numerous enclaves under Her protection, and within a few generations, the alatharya had secured enough territory to establish their first lasting peace since the fall.

While the War of Fire ravaged the kingdoms of humanity and the cities of the aelin, the alatharya continued to huddle in secluded sanctuaries, scattered from the Brintors, to the Mlejin Range, to the Rirro Jagka. Their role in the conflict is largely unknown; however, some historians suggest that they fought Bayyal's long tail of followers during the march across what is now the Crimson Sands. After the War, their connection to recorded history becomes far less tenuous. With the rise of the Republic, class disparity became a driving factor in the lives of human refugees. Many poor migrants set out as explorers, settlers, and mercenaries, following the draw of the moons to the uncharted beyond. Ancient texts describe contact between humanity and the sundered alatharya, enmeshing the former's dreams of conquest and security with the latter's belief in apotechta. Elarandan became known as Aninsta, whose expression took on a decidedly more mercenary flair.

The cult of Kelaith, which carried the banner of the Platinum Scales, borrowed its fundamentals from the far-flung Aninstans. Taking inspiration from Thales, Lord of Balance, the cult focused on transforming Her apotechta into a creed which carried "equal and substantive" weight within Republican theology. They cherished debate, expanding the prior definition of Aninsta's ideal to balance itself, spanning from societal to personal. Their most influential argument was contextualizing the War of Fire as a near-apocalyptic upset of cosmic forces. At their height, they constructed a temple in Earendam the Grand, but the horrors of the War of Night put an abrupt end to their parlor intellectualism. Conscription, cowardice, and fear caused their coalition to swiftly unravel. With the coming of the ch'taren, the cult was all but decimated, overshadowed by the growing faiths of powerful deities such as Rystaia Lightbringer.

Within a few centuries, magical advancement had brought an uneasy detente between the spheres, and the rise of the Great Houses lent a similarly precarious balance to the realm. This time, it was adventurers who resurrected and synthesized Aninsta's martial legacy with the broad extrapolation of the Kelaitans. They championed a deity called Enaerai, who acted as a permanent intersection between good, evil, law, and chaos, and sought to balance the ambitions of all who did not serve Her. They established a renowned order, the Knights of Enaerai, during the Third Kankoran War, operating out of the crumbling Kelaitan temple. Within a century, they built a keep at the foot of the Brintors. This fortress became their stronghold for a millennium, and from it, they waged a tireless military and philosophical campaign. They absorbed and appropriated the artifacts and ideas of their historical forebears until their dominance over conceptual balance was all but undisputed. Over their long tenure, the pronunciation of Enaerai shifted, settling on Her current name: Enirra.

With the coming of the modern age and the end of the Fortress of the Eye, Enirra's worship has loosened, again scattered in diaspora. Some of its ancient threads have revived, lending renewed vigor to the dissection of balance and the best path to Her enigmatic favor.

Goals and Methods

Enirra seeks stability between mortals, gods, and events. She believes that maintaining a functional, predictable balance supercedes the individual concerns being weighed against one another. Over the millennia, this has taken many forms-- it was the foundation of the alatharyan apotechta, the dream of the Aninstan settlers, the spark of the Kelaitan moralists, and the motivation of Enaerai's original military order. She is positioned so securely offset from all other deities' ambitions that She considers herself an important (and perhaps the most important) consenting party to any major cosmic or societal shift. This has fueled her followers' belief in Enirra as the only "true" god, and the core of their argument for Her necessary supremacy. However, this assertion has made both She, and Her following, anathema to the established political and religious hierarchies within Avendar's major cities.

Balance has been used as shorthand for Enirra's ideals, and as such, almost all of her followers' actions are in some way tied to it. Many mythical or historical figures have brought their own spin to the concept, including the like of Thales and Kelaith, who are far removed from the earliest devoted of Elarandan. As modern Enirrans have consumed expressions, arguments, and legitimacy from a multitude of sources, the ways in which the faith express itself are similarly numerous. Given the historical proximity to the heyday of the Knights of Enaerai, many who serve Her adopt their artifice, be it in their manner of dress, or their preoccupation with the dire consequences of unbridled change. That said, Enirra does not require a powerful following to make Her desires known; She, on multiple occasions, has intervened in mortal affairs, prompting even those who do not venerate Her to serve Her cause.

Organizations and Followings

Like other religions, many different groups have organized in the name of Enirra, spanning the ages. Each represents a different, and not necessarily compatible, vision of balance. They are as follows:

The Apotechta

"Death to the false gods!"

The Apotechta are descended from the oldest alatharyan Enirrans. Taking their name from Elarandan's balance between the natural and supernatural, the Apotechta are trained for battle with sapient magical creatures, including but not limited to elementals, djinn, seraphim, and demons. They are known to hunt such beings with expert proficiency, as they believe they are too dangerous to be left alive. The most radical of the Apotechta consider the branded followers of other deities to be of similar cast, touched as they are by extraplanar forces. While they do not necessarily hate or fear magic (as it is as fundamental to mortals as death), the Apotechta are wary of arcanists who manipulate the spheres of Spirit and Void; they are, after all, the most likely to conjure the entities they are driven to kill. Alatharya warriors and naturalists are the most common of the Apotechta, but they rarely dismiss those who are willing to fight at their side.
The Heralds of Rebellion

"You didn't think I'd let you have your way, did you?"

Drawing inspiration from the class struggles that colored the ancient Aninstans, Heralds of Rebellion are keenly attuned to the ideas of social leveling and revolution. They often seek out whatever power structure is readily available and thwart it, usually whichever hegemony is strongest. However, their scope is broader, including a manner of social justice by exclusively championing the underclass of a given region. In the absence of an institutional structure to battle, this may manifest itself in an obsession with striking down the most threatening individuals, and dispersing their monies and possessions as they see fit. Balance, to a Herald, is maintained by never allowing any one person to become too powerful; in effect, imitating the aims of Enirra within the pantheon in the mortal world. Rogues often find this path to be one of the simplest, as many of them have faced poverty or injustice firsthand.
The Knights of Enaerai

"Surrender the Stones or we will take them by force."

The Knights of Enaerai are the most well-known of Enirra's representatives, whose stated aim is to preserve balance throughout Avendar. With the loss of their stronghold, the Knights no longer cling to their traditional hierarchy; instead, they congregate in secret, and regard their fellows as equals. Their foremost concerns are the Stones of Power and the interplay of the Great Houses, as Knights tend to regard both as highly volatile representations of the cosmic balance. They frequently will ally themselves with a weak House to oppose more dominant ones, seeking to disperse that strength to other factions or individuals. However, the ease with which those alliances end can (and do) make Knights seem hypocritical to their former compatriots. Alatharya are the race most likely to find themselves among the Knights, their physical prowess and neutral bent making them well-suited to a soldier's life.

Individual Followers

The life of an Enirran is often a difficult one, as their physical and emotional resolve are often tested to their limits. Their allies are few and their enemies numerous; popularly tolerated religions of every persuasion view them as anything from an annoyance to a threat. Their ability to function with little or no support is vital, as they will often act and fight alone. In their persistent struggles, they may come to imagine themselves a lone, sane voice in a world poised precariously over a final and terrible ledge. This can lead to an obsession with what others are doing, to both their advantage and detriment. Enirra requires action from Her warriors, meaning that they must be (and remain) active in pursuing Her goals to maintain Her blessings.

Enirra's primary worship is found in rural alatharyan sanctuaries, and within the brotherhood of Her following. Major cosmopolitan cities reject Enirran values, which conflict with the natural progress of their social expansions and contractions. This is exacerbated by the animosity of politically powerful priests, who consider the assertion that Enirra has the right to weigh the actions of the Overgods the direst of blasphemies. Between these pressures and the destruction of the Fortress of the Eye, altars venerating Her are found in hidden refuges rather than in centralized temples.

Those who find favor with the Lady of Balance are marked with the Eye of Enirra.

Relationships

Enirra is an outsider within the pantheon, first for Her defiance of divine edict in sheltering the alatharya, and second for the bold claim that She has authority to preserve the status quo as it stands. Her insistence on the ineffable value of relational stability is disruptive to virtually all of what other deities attempt to individually do. That said, some of Her relationships are simply strained, rather than antagonistic. For example, Girikha may at times be stymied by the actions of Enirra or Her followers, but it is to Enirra that She owes Her release and subsequent prominence in modern kankoran religious thought. Chadraln is fascinated by the long and varied historical lineage of Her devoted, but chafes at Her aversion to the most interesting future He so desires. Dolgrael respects the martial pedigree of Enirran warriors, in that they are willing to die for their cause, sometimes countless times over. Yet, He dismays at their lack of honor and dearth of discipline.

Enirra's most important relationship is with Lielqan, whom She views as paradoxically the greatest proponent of stability, and the most significant threat to it. Lielqan's indiscriminate resurrection of the dead maddens Enirra, who is pleased when that halts the most dreaded of change, and angered when it prevents disruptions to the cosmic order from being neatly resolved. Most infuriating of all, Lielqan ignores any who claim Her actions are harmful, and refuses to alter Her behavior to accommodate Enirran balance. Ultimately, Enirra's warriors must embody Her displeasure, and frequently put those who serve the Sunset to the sword.

Shrines, Sigils, and Mobs

Areas
The Fortress of the Eye (vnums 22051-22099)
Rooms
A Steam-Filled Crevice (vnum 10566)
Sigils
the Sigil of the Eye of Enirra (vnum 1211) (for mobs)
the Sigil of the Eye of Enirra (vnum 1214) (for PCs)
Mobs
Gahret Mieldoon (vnum 17149) - Prophet of Enirra
Eronth Todok (vnum 3703) - Directs neutrals in the School of Heroes
Ashein (vnum 10322) - Enirran Water/Fire teacher
Chejan (vnum 13553) - Former Knight quartermaster in exile
Relqana (vnum 4809) - Former Knight agent in exile
Irionne (vnum 22051) - Priest of Enirra and Knight healer
God Mark
You notice triangle-shaped pupils in [his|her] eyes.
Karma is always treated as 25% of its actual value

Notes, Logs, and Other Documents

Helps
Original Enaerai website overview (9/21/2004)
Old Enaerai staff wiki notes
Lore
None
Logs
None
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