Gata-Akay, the Forsaken
The "Prime" Pantheon
Far out of sight of the Church, sages discuss the times before the Blood War Truce, a time before Akayun and Their Children were signed into the prime domains of the Worlds. But where did this pantheon come from? Before They became the object of worship across ancestries, in what temple, on what altar, under whose hands were these gods sculpted?
Gata-Akay, the Prophets
The Gata-Akay were a people who lived on the island now called Kesti, outward from Veseost. The altars, temples, and etchings within their walls date all the way back to 4,000 years BBT. From the earliest of their recordings, prophecy of a world's end was predicted. Interpretation suggests the Sundering was divined with frightening accuracy. But more importantly, a promise of paradise is given in their texts, and by gods whose names we recognize. Rahenzi, Chanete, Altani, Faseles, Dohral, Urana, and Akayun; gods of the heavens, the seasons, the stars, the seas, the earth, the deep, and of the Home. They are shown as warm and caring gods, watching over their people through their constant storms that came each year, allowing them to survive through harsh climate with piety.
Very little is known about this people and its culture during its time before the blood war. Interaction with other cultures was minimal if not non-existent. Few records survive, fading and crumbling from the neglect of time.
Gata-Akay, the Apostles
As the Blood War draws close, records from other cultures begin to show apostles of the Gata-Akay, spreading their gods to cultures beyond their land. Altars and shrines to the pantheon of the Gata-Akay begin to appear all across the planes, venerating Akayun and Their Children as creators. But curiously, the Gata-Akay did not spread themselves. They remained on their home, whethering storm each year. It was as they had been commanded. Spread the name of Akayun, make clerics and priests turn toward Them, so that Their Paraidise could be created. And as they had been promised, the gift of prophecy remained only with them.
The Sunderring happened as it was said it would happen. The Blood War raged, every god of every realm fighting over control over their domains of worship and power. And through their efforts through centuries of the War, the conflict began to tip towards the side of their Pantheon, as Their followers increased and Their domain grew. Large churches to Them were formed, even without the envolvement of the Gata-Akay. Almost a millenium after the Sunderring, the end to the Blood War seemed in sight.
Gata-Akay, the Forsaken
Akayun favors no people, no gods inside Their embrace above another.
Akayun favors all the Worlds as they were created by Them.
They are the Worlds, as they are, and as they have been.
And so Their Children shall be.
As the Blood War ended, Akayun opened the promised land to their people. A realm of paradise, where flowers bloom without storm, as the visions they gave had shown. But on the Blood War Truce, this realm's name was not written, given no god. Once the Truce was signed, the myriad realms were now Akayun's Worlds, but the paradise of the Gata-Akay was not among them.
Paradise collapsed, only seven of the Gata-Akay who remained in what had become Dohralun on their island home survived. They fled the island to Iketra and Limiore, Veseost and other lands, and their stories spread with them. As time passed, the new Churches of Dohral and Altani grew in followers, the tale of the great gods' betrayal faded away, never to spoken of. Even now, only in the shadows are the names of the Gata-Akay spoken.
The traditions of what was once the Gata-Akay have morphed to fit between the light. No longer are they the Beloved of Akay, but the Orphans of the Worlds. As the gods of their own image became the gods of all, the true form of their bodies were erased from memory. Now, the Orphans shift from form to form between the denizens of the Worlds, with not a god to watch over them.
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