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[hider=THE SIX ELEMENTS]

There are six realms known to exist exterior to the mortal world; the four elemental planes of water, fire, air, and earth - and then the heavens and the abyss. Each of these six realms are recognized differently in various cultures and faiths though most all acknowledge that they exist. The differentiation is in who and what inhabits these otherworldly realms and to what significance they are to the world of mortals.

The elemental planes of course are realms of their respected elemental sources. The water plane is an endless existence of rolling oceans, mountainous glaciers, and rocky rapids upon fields of ice. The air plane is a groundless tumultuous void of lightning storms, cyclones, and howling winds. The fire plane is a hellscape of volcanoes, rivers of magma, and fields of scorching ground. The earth plane is an dry, lifeless wasteland of naught but rolling sand and pillars of rock like a desert.

These descriptions are mostly speculated as being accurate. Many mortals throughout the centuries have attempted to venture into the elemtal planes and few are ever seen again. There are endless accounts of the inhabitants and wonders of the planes - great castles of ice, statues of carved rock, and underwater cities. Many speculate these to be the monuments and palaces of the jinn - powerful spirits who are born unto and rule their respective “kingdoms” and territories within their planes. The alleged golems and wisps of fire and air and such their subjects or guardians. 

Many speculate as to the relationship these four elemental planes have with the mortal realm. Did these planes spill their essence into the mortal world giving the way for life? Or did the elements first come to be in the mortal world - their “birthing ground” - and the planes crafted by the gods to house the full potential of these elements, letting their unbridled potential flow endlessly. Like many of the magical and wondrous things of the world there is no all-accepted consensus.


And then there is of course the heavens and the abyss - realms of light and dark energies respectively. These two greater realms are more diverse in their essences yet more exact in their nature and impact on the universe. Fire can light the way for one lost in the dark, but it can also burn an innocent man to death. Water gives life and vitality, but it also can drown someone that has fallen into a river by accident. But light and dark are generally accepted as the sources of good and evil.

In the heavens, the plane of light, there is understanding, serenity, the warmth of a smile and the enlightened way of the calm. Holy energies of healing and sanctity flow through the heavens as does the warding of all things unholy and the bane of evil. Wielded by the right hand such energies can be instruments of just and rightness. 
The abyss is home to darkness. Negative energies, wicked secrets, seclusion, ostracism, taboos, and abominations to all normalities. Sadistic, nihilistic, and devilish religions draw their power and inspirations from the abyss. 

Most faiths relate their benevolent deities, prophets, and blessed souls to the heavens while devils, demons, and the forsaken are tied to the abyss. These two realms of light and dark have varying names of course, in some instances simply being called the heavens and the void or the abyss.
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[hider=MAGES]

Mages - or magic users, magic touched, or plane touched - is a branch all term for those with the ability to call upon the power of the realms exterior to the mortal world. These individuals have traces of one - or in some instances two - of the six elements running in their bloodline which has manifested itself in them. Or at least this is the case regarding the elements of water, fire, wind, and earth. Light and dark are more complex in nature and usually have unique circumstances regarding each person who can tap into these two greater elements.

In most cases those with magical ability - who are not Ayiralites - either had Ayiralite ancestry, thus forever branding their lineage with magic, or were directly exposed to a connection with one of the four planes. The latter of course will likewise ensure the possibility of magic henceforth in this individual’s descendants. 

Nearly all those with magic abilities can only channel a single element, even with multiple elements flowing throughout their family history. The exception to this rule is in the case of two mages of different elements having a child. Children with plane touched parents of different elemental descent can channel forth the powers inherited from both parents and often enough combine the essences of their abilities to create powerful spells. In some instances those with grandparents of different elements can also be born with this ability but the farther back one goes the less likelihood there is of this uniqueness.

Those with the ability to call upon the powers of light and dark are true enigmas even to lifelong magisters and scholars. Unlike the elemental planes - who’s magical essences are introduced into the mortal world by the seed of the jinn or exposure to the planes - the powers of light and dark are “bestowed” upon mortals. Or so it is said. Lineages that are touched by the light and dark elements have no “trail” to follow in recent history, some alleged to link back to the dawn of time. There are also tales of some who have the light and dark elemental powers granted to them by angels or devils. While many scoff at this one can find in the most remote corners of the world or deep within the underbellies of huge cities those who can summon demons and shades or open portals to the abyss with the will and enough gathered power to do so. Some throughout history claim to have entered the heavens and abyss alike. Wether this is true or not, who can say?
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[hider=SPELLCRAFTING]

The ability to channel the elements and call upon their power only gives the inexperienced mage a limited array of uses for their ability. Casting a ray of frost or hurling a ball of flame while impressive to many is seen as simplistic and easy to a wisened user of magic. Spellcrafting is the application of inherited magic ability being studied and relentlessly exercised so that the user can not only gain better control of their planar magic but also learn how to manipulate it to their will.

The experienced mage can coil tendrils of lightning around a comrades’ blade, create a towering wall of ice, or summon forth a tremor to bring down a cave or a building. While no institutions or schools of magic exist groups dedicated to the study and improvement of magical abilities are everywhere, be they the inner circles and covens of mages among the nobility of Tawr or the aged sorcerers of Esaad who pass along their wisdom to apprentices. 

Spellacrafting is something of an umbrella term that includes things such as creation of magical scrolls, weapon enchanting, and the binding of creatures and souls. Any magically capable person who conducts experiments of any nature may be referred to as a “spellcrafter”, assuming they aren’t simply called a witch or abomination. 
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[hider=SHARAQISM]
Sharaqism teaches that there is one supreme all-knowing omnipresent god that resides in a grand palace atop the highest peaks in the heavens. He is known by his name in Urkun - Arhanphast, “Great Father”. Arhanphast first created the world thousands of years ago, making all that was good and right. He molded the earth and from the same clay he shaped the Alat in His image. He created Heaven, the angels, the elemental planes, and the jinn. The angels and jinn would lord over the heavens and elemental planes respectively while the Alat walked the earth in bliss and under the father Arhanphast’s watchful eye.

The teachings of the prophet Sharaq tell of an archangel and six of his charges who left the heavens and sought dominion over the Alat over their simple lowly existences in the heavens. They did not wish to serve another but instead sought the praise and adoration of those beneath them. This archangel presented himself as the new lord over the mortal realm over the unseeable Arhanphast. The Great Father - outraged by this usurping - cast these seven angels and their scores of new followers into an infinite black void to be forever forgotten. 

Feeding on the souls and mortal essences of their followers trapped with them the seven fallen angels created the abyss and from their ill will and profane actions was the element of darkness born. The seven’s once beautiful angelic forms were twisted and defaced by their vile actions, making them into horned and winged devils. The leader took the name Stylaxaran - the creator and father of all things dark and vile and his six companions became his six archdevils.

Sharaqa teaches that in the end times Stylaxaran and his six archdevils - Hevedes, Folgolphat, Narvug, Threpidesh, Yaranagug, and Lahastas - will burst forth into the world with an army of shades, undead, demons, and lost souls at their back to consume the world and then march on the heavens after.

To the faithful of Sharaqa a proper life is one of wisdom, kindness, devotion to integrity, and to follow the seven virtues of Arhanphast. Those who accept the Great Father into their lives and follow his teachings and sew his will shall reap the fruits of their devotion and enjoy an eternity of bliss and serenity in his kingdom and best witness to the second and final fall of Stylaxaran and his forsaken legions.

The teachings of Sharaqism are centered on the seven virtues of life denying and combatting the influence of darkness. Sharaqa teaches that all intelligent and knowing beings can feel the warmth of Arhanphast’s grace - including the Ayiralites and Duraalat. 

Sharaqism first originated far to the north beyond the lands of Tawr, the prophet Sharaqa beginning a long pilgrimage southward back into the lands of his people after journeying north years before. Guided by the stars he amassed thousands of dedicated followers as he marched south and spread the teachings bestowed unto him by the angel sent in his dreams. His joining with the young King Madhi helped spread the faith across Esaad and soon after beyond. 
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[hider=AAROTHISM]

Originating in the mountainous region of southern Esaad this polytheistic religion was the centuries old faith of Esaad aside from the lingering tribal beliefs prior to the arrival of the teachings of Sharaq. It is a slowly fading away religion as the teachings of Sharaq are taken in far and wide. It consisted of nine gods - Faroas (God of kings and law.), Ynia (Reason and intellect.), Olinna (Motherhood and matriarchy.), Hashanna (Harvest and spring fertility, birth.), Duella (Beauty, lavishness, sex, and eroticism.), Shevora (Messengers, couriers, and mercantilism.), Vetch (Punishment and torment.), Zalatross (The sea and sailing.), Kaszho (War and bloodshed.), Meshiasa (Home, hearth, and hunting.)

Named for originating from the long forgotten kingdom of Aarot that rose up from the mountains, this pagan polytheistic religion spread across the lands and - after Aarot fell - remained. Amid the rise of Esaad and the spread of Sharaqism the gods of Aarot became less popular and soon all but forgotten. Only a few scattered sanctuaries and small temples to the gods of Aarot remain and their followings are mostly secluded villages and small scattered cults along the southern borders.
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[hider=NEKHISM]

The teachings of Nekhi can be traced back to the earliest days of recorded civilization in Baneghora. The legendary mute guru journeyed across the realm with his disciples who acted as his mouth, relating his teachings.

Unlike the religions of the surrounding regions Nekhists people in a cycle of life and the concept of cause and effect in actions and decisions made. Every action has a reaction - be that reaction immediate or in the next life. Nekhists believe that the powers of good always triumphs over evil and that all evildoers will be punished by the universes’ superior tendency of moral good.

Nekhists do not believe in a single or multiple gods but rather that the universe is maintained and justice ensured by what they refer to as Dhumar, a grand “tribunal” of sorts of good spirits and those who have ascended after many lifetimes to a status as those who can act as keepers of the great cycle of existence. These paragons of life have been absorbed into the greater aura of light and their influence and virtue maintains that judgements are fair and that good continues to triumph over evil.

One could supposedly say that the pantheon of Nekhism consists of thousands of “deities”, those who have ascended unto the Dhumar. While not directly worshipped these paragons of life are celebrated and the Dhumar itself honored and recognized for it’s role in maintaining universal harmony and continuation. Great festivals are often held to uplift positive energies into the heavens to encourage and give added sustenance to the Dhumar.
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[hider=TAWRISH PANTHEON]

In Tawr the Maatrho is recognized as being a living deity, a god king of all the land. In death his spirit ascends to join the court of Dhahit - the creator of all life and king of the heavens. After the death of a Maatrho his divine-born son ascends to the throne of Tawr and takes up the mantle as new divine ruler of Tawr. This new Maatrho’s life dedication to spread the glory of the true gods and honor the godly lineage of the Maatrho’s before him and those to come after. 

It is prophesied that when the court of Dhahit is filled that the last living Maatrho will be deposed by Dhahit himself as he then merges the heavens and earth. All those in his court will be scattered across the horizon to rule as his vassals as that order and balance will be brought to the entire world at last as the gods bring their glory to the mortal world.

Aside from Dhahit and his chosen bloodline the Tawran pantheon houses eight other major gods. They are Kiya, Bhet, Teft, Anaya, Kenua, Ghab, Jhator, and Qesat. Each of these various gods each have sons and daughters of their own acting as lords over their own minor realms and virtues. Aside from the eight major gods that stand beside Dhahit there are twenty other deities the Tawrish veneer.
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[hider=CULTS OF THE SIX DEVILS]

Various cults of the six devils mentioned by Sharaqa exist across the lands, and while originating from Sharaqism the worship of these wicked beings isn’t restricted to the people of Esaad. The six devils are Hevedes (Pride and disregard for law.), Folgolphat (Sloth and gluttony.), Narvug (Wrath and sadism.), Threpidesh (Greed and coveting of others’ possessions.), Yaranagug (Envy and hatred.) and Lahastas (Lust and rape.)
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More TBA/expanded on later.
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