Apira Horizos
Lord of the Sun
Light of Eternity
It is important to remember the sun is bright and gives us warmth, and yet it can be harsh and unrelenting. Welcome the light, but respect its power lest you be burned by it.The Twelve are said to be a circle of equals, with no single one above the others. However, the Lord of the Sun and the Light of Eternity often is seen by many of Rhyliss' citizens to be "first among equals". The importance of the sun for life and safety, and a connection to the inner nobility of humanity, contributes in this idea. This has led, inevitably, to the idea of the Imperium being blessed by Apira without any actual effort being made to make the connection. (In fact, various Emperors have made efforts to align with other members of the Twelve. Each of these deities have been represented at one point by an Emperor who publicly showed favor and piety.) Naturally, many noble families leaned into this interpretation and incorporated the iconography into their coat of arms, and fragments of Apira-worship into their family traditions.
Because of this major focus on the Lord of the Sun, many major settlements have - at minimal - a large shrine devoted to Apira. The largest known temple resides on the Exalted Isle, built of white stone with gold-leaf decorating any wood on the exterior. Inside the borders of the Empire, however, the House of the Eternal Sun in Eva Valoria is more frequented by those who are not connected to the divine orders.
Divine Domains
Sun: With one of the central tenets of Apira being about the life-giving properties of the sun, there is no surprise His domains also include it. Those who choose to invoke solar influences through Apira often find there to be manifestations of white fire to enemies or a soothing glow to allies.
Creation: It is written the Light of Eternity shines on all things which will ever be, and the time when the first gleam is witnessed is the moment when something truly begins. Yet He is not credited with the creation of Erisdaire, rather He is held as giving inspiration for creativity and leading others into putting forth their best efforts.
Hope: As with the domains of Sun and Creation, Apira is associated with the idea of Hope strongly. The ideal of 'Hope' forms a domain all its own, the essence of that which drives an individual to stand in the face of impossible odds or unstoppable forces. Followers of the Light of Eternity take it as a virtue as the greatest motivator to persevere in the face of adversity, and as such it has given rise to the Domain of Hope amidst divine followers.
Creation: It is written the Light of Eternity shines on all things which will ever be, and the time when the first gleam is witnessed is the moment when something truly begins. Yet He is not credited with the creation of Erisdaire, rather He is held as giving inspiration for creativity and leading others into putting forth their best efforts.
Hope: As with the domains of Sun and Creation, Apira is associated with the idea of Hope strongly. The ideal of 'Hope' forms a domain all its own, the essence of that which drives an individual to stand in the face of impossible odds or unstoppable forces. Followers of the Light of Eternity take it as a virtue as the greatest motivator to persevere in the face of adversity, and as such it has given rise to the Domain of Hope amidst divine followers.
Holy Books & Codes
Those devoted to the Light of Eternity adhere to teachings compiled in a book known as "The Testament of Dawn". The full text is only kept at the major temples, and most priests keep an abridged copy as a personal luxury. According to the higher ranking members of the Order of the Sun, only the Zenith Priest on Exalted Island has a complete version, and the 'full texts' elsewhere are still missing portions. Those who speak of such a full text refer to this form of the text as "The Unshadowed Testament", but its existence is still quite debatable. The only official source of copies remain the Order of Sun, through partnership with the Order of Letters, yet there is some difficulty acquiring the texts. Priests of Apira are often loathe to simply allow the texts to be 'loose' in the world, as it is considered disrespectful for those who are not true believers to own a copy. Despite this, collectors often have one version of it in their keeping - and do not freely admit to having it, due to this particular restriction.
The contents of the text are widely known to be hymns, prayers, and selected portions of "The Book of the Twelve" which refer to things the Lord of the Sun has done. Each inclusion exists to support the idea of people possessing an inner nobility which only needs to be nurtured to develop into "a true good". Thus, it is often turned to when needing an optimistic look on the world despite whatever hardships and temptations get in the way. Those who are more familiar with the book are also aware of several portions centered instead on notable followers who distinguished themselves in some fashion. One of the tales known to priests is of Hylden Brightan, a man who rose to prominence in the Order of Sun and then disappeared trying to search for relics of his God in what is now Helenic. The accuracy of the story is debated, as the Order of Sun is not known to have fully existed in that era, but despite the debate there are many devout followers who name their children after Hylden.
One notable thing missing from the text is the account of how the Twelve were responsible for creating the world. Apira Horizos is given the domain of "Creation", yet there is precious little of Him actually creating anything within the book's contents. Some adherents assume such things were left out of the abridged portions in order to sharpen the intended message, but those who dive into other versions of the Testament have not uncovered any such pieces which were cut. The various people who held the title of 'Zenith Priest' have never spoken definitively about whether or not such alterations have happened. A few individuals convinced these excerpts are real have "discovered" various portions of text and compiled them into "The Lost Testament", but this book is specifically held to be outside of the Orders' acceptable beliefs.
The contents of the text are widely known to be hymns, prayers, and selected portions of "The Book of the Twelve" which refer to things the Lord of the Sun has done. Each inclusion exists to support the idea of people possessing an inner nobility which only needs to be nurtured to develop into "a true good". Thus, it is often turned to when needing an optimistic look on the world despite whatever hardships and temptations get in the way. Those who are more familiar with the book are also aware of several portions centered instead on notable followers who distinguished themselves in some fashion. One of the tales known to priests is of Hylden Brightan, a man who rose to prominence in the Order of Sun and then disappeared trying to search for relics of his God in what is now Helenic. The accuracy of the story is debated, as the Order of Sun is not known to have fully existed in that era, but despite the debate there are many devout followers who name their children after Hylden.
One notable thing missing from the text is the account of how the Twelve were responsible for creating the world. Apira Horizos is given the domain of "Creation", yet there is precious little of Him actually creating anything within the book's contents. Some adherents assume such things were left out of the abridged portions in order to sharpen the intended message, but those who dive into other versions of the Testament have not uncovered any such pieces which were cut. The various people who held the title of 'Zenith Priest' have never spoken definitively about whether or not such alterations have happened. A few individuals convinced these excerpts are real have "discovered" various portions of text and compiled them into "The Lost Testament", but this book is specifically held to be outside of the Orders' acceptable beliefs.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
The Light of Eternity is represented primarily with a sunburst, with the number of radiated arms being varied from six to thirteen depending on the artist. This sunburst is usually gilded over, or left in a bright yellow-orange color if such is not feasible. Other symbols associated with Apira are derived from the sun, such as a sunbeam through clouds or the sun disc rising over the horizon; these are less commonly used by Rhyliss temples or priests in favor of the simpler and more-direct image of the sunburst. Some ancient versions of the sunburst have a male face, eyes closed, embedded within the center. Noble families who want to emphasize their faith in Apira incorporate the sunburst or 'rising sun' in their coat of arms, in some fashion. Many cases have this being a case of choosing a secondary sigil to inscribe below the 'rising sun' icon or to be positioned centered beneath a sunburst. Humorously, a lesser noble house adopted the icon but an error in mixing paint caused what should have been gold leaf to be copper leaf instead - thus House Pordello is derisively known as the 'House of the Green Sun' to others.
Offerings to Apira are made, invariably, in one of three forms: gold, and specific colors of rubies or diamonds. The gold can be assumed to be without further elaboration, yet it is interesting as not all families can afford to make regular offerings of gold coin. Instead, they can purchase tokens made by some within the Order of the Sun for this specific purpose for mere copper. This is done by simply applying a thin layer of gold to a round 'coin', stamped with the symbol of Apira on one side. Some regions may use iron unsuitable for other uses to create these 'Apiran coins', but more rural areas will instead stain oaken rounds to match the color of gold, cut out a small hole in the middle, then fill the hole with gold so the offering remains true. When discussing the gemstones, there is a preference towards rubies which have a color and hue which is similar to a morning sky, or diamonds which likewise evoke colors of the sun instead of simply being a clear white. One of the most-valued offerings to the House of the Eternal Sun consisted of a fist-sized diamond which had a bright yellow color, and was set in gold filligree which formed a sunburst pattern if looked at it from above. This became known as 'the Heart of Light', and was adopted as a relic to be enshrined at the Exalted Isle.
Offerings to Apira are made, invariably, in one of three forms: gold, and specific colors of rubies or diamonds. The gold can be assumed to be without further elaboration, yet it is interesting as not all families can afford to make regular offerings of gold coin. Instead, they can purchase tokens made by some within the Order of the Sun for this specific purpose for mere copper. This is done by simply applying a thin layer of gold to a round 'coin', stamped with the symbol of Apira on one side. Some regions may use iron unsuitable for other uses to create these 'Apiran coins', but more rural areas will instead stain oaken rounds to match the color of gold, cut out a small hole in the middle, then fill the hole with gold so the offering remains true. When discussing the gemstones, there is a preference towards rubies which have a color and hue which is similar to a morning sky, or diamonds which likewise evoke colors of the sun instead of simply being a clear white. One of the most-valued offerings to the House of the Eternal Sun consisted of a fist-sized diamond which had a bright yellow color, and was set in gold filligree which formed a sunburst pattern if looked at it from above. This became known as 'the Heart of Light', and was adopted as a relic to be enshrined at the Exalted Isle.
Tenets of Faith
"The sun gives life and light. Respect its presence."
While this is a central focus of Apira's worship, a filter through which all their trappings and observations are drawn, it is deceptively not the most important of the three tenets. Regular services are often held just after sunrise and last for a couple hours, in places where the population can support such; in more rural areas, the regular service is usually held just before sunrise at the start of the week and lasts for a much shorter period. Memorial services held under the auspices of the the Lord of the Sun are arranged to happen during dusk, and always are concluded after the sun has set beyond the western horizon. The symbolism is obvious, to celebrate life under the light of the sun, and use the fading light to reflect on what has passed from this world.
Most temples are built so the altar and windows behind it face the rising sun, though not in a way to be difficult for the people to see, as part of this tenet. Furthermore, most houses are built with windows to hopefully catch the light of the rising sun, and often have multiple windows intended to keep the home lit well during the daylight hours. More affluent homes often wind up exempt from this design choice, since they have more complex interior architecture, though any rooms with an external wall will have windows to catch the light. Manors of the truly rich, or devoted, sometimes have a dedicated room called a 'solarium' where a larger window of stained glass catches the light and mutes it to a soothing glow for self-reflection. In smaller ways, this trickles down to clothing choices, as hats to cover the head and prevent sunburns of the face are usually only worn by those who must wear them for outdoor labor. This is, interestingly enough, a more modern interpretation within the last few generations, having been presented carefully to avoid offending the older generations. "To keep the sun from harming you is not disrespecting it."
"Place your trust in those you keep at your side."
According to the general focus of this tenet, it is important for communities to trust each other so they may flourish. To this end, it is important to show trust to those you choose to associate with - be it by choice or necessity. Similarly, it is expected for an individual to live up to the trust placed in them by doing their best to assist their friends and associates in the course of their life. For younger children left to be taught by followers of Apira, this is often one of the earliest lessons to be imparted to them. Over the years of development, it is further encouraged and bolstered through lessons, tests of character, and other means so a child grows up to be primed to join the community as a worthy and productive part of the whole.
"Honor is not a word, it is a way of life."
This is often the most important tenet for those who follow the Lord of the Sun, as it solidifies the other two into a firm blueprint for how to live your life. The ideal is simple, to keep promises when given and to willingly help when it is within one's power. It is seen as a sin to stand idly by and do nothing for another, when you could have helped them. (It does not, as detractors often say, compel a person to act selflessly or forego payment. The tenet only suggests acting when help is needed rather than allowing misfortune to befall others. Self-sacrifice may be seen as a noble act, but it is not often required - only if all other options have been exhausted.) This is held to be part of the ideal 'honor' which drives the world inside the Imperium. Furthermore, it is not enough to offer apologies for a broken promise - one must make amends to the injured party through any reasonable means available. This means a lesser slight cannot have a demand for 'a life-time of servitude', or other such nonsense. However, it also means such an apology brushed aside with "it's fine" when it's not necessarily meant has been settled and cannot be addressed again in polite society.
While this is a central focus of Apira's worship, a filter through which all their trappings and observations are drawn, it is deceptively not the most important of the three tenets. Regular services are often held just after sunrise and last for a couple hours, in places where the population can support such; in more rural areas, the regular service is usually held just before sunrise at the start of the week and lasts for a much shorter period. Memorial services held under the auspices of the the Lord of the Sun are arranged to happen during dusk, and always are concluded after the sun has set beyond the western horizon. The symbolism is obvious, to celebrate life under the light of the sun, and use the fading light to reflect on what has passed from this world.
Most temples are built so the altar and windows behind it face the rising sun, though not in a way to be difficult for the people to see, as part of this tenet. Furthermore, most houses are built with windows to hopefully catch the light of the rising sun, and often have multiple windows intended to keep the home lit well during the daylight hours. More affluent homes often wind up exempt from this design choice, since they have more complex interior architecture, though any rooms with an external wall will have windows to catch the light. Manors of the truly rich, or devoted, sometimes have a dedicated room called a 'solarium' where a larger window of stained glass catches the light and mutes it to a soothing glow for self-reflection. In smaller ways, this trickles down to clothing choices, as hats to cover the head and prevent sunburns of the face are usually only worn by those who must wear them for outdoor labor. This is, interestingly enough, a more modern interpretation within the last few generations, having been presented carefully to avoid offending the older generations. "To keep the sun from harming you is not disrespecting it."
"Place your trust in those you keep at your side."
According to the general focus of this tenet, it is important for communities to trust each other so they may flourish. To this end, it is important to show trust to those you choose to associate with - be it by choice or necessity. Similarly, it is expected for an individual to live up to the trust placed in them by doing their best to assist their friends and associates in the course of their life. For younger children left to be taught by followers of Apira, this is often one of the earliest lessons to be imparted to them. Over the years of development, it is further encouraged and bolstered through lessons, tests of character, and other means so a child grows up to be primed to join the community as a worthy and productive part of the whole.
"Honor is not a word, it is a way of life."
This is often the most important tenet for those who follow the Lord of the Sun, as it solidifies the other two into a firm blueprint for how to live your life. The ideal is simple, to keep promises when given and to willingly help when it is within one's power. It is seen as a sin to stand idly by and do nothing for another, when you could have helped them. (It does not, as detractors often say, compel a person to act selflessly or forego payment. The tenet only suggests acting when help is needed rather than allowing misfortune to befall others. Self-sacrifice may be seen as a noble act, but it is not often required - only if all other options have been exhausted.) This is held to be part of the ideal 'honor' which drives the world inside the Imperium. Furthermore, it is not enough to offer apologies for a broken promise - one must make amends to the injured party through any reasonable means available. This means a lesser slight cannot have a demand for 'a life-time of servitude', or other such nonsense. However, it also means such an apology brushed aside with "it's fine" when it's not necessarily meant has been settled and cannot be addressed again in polite society.
Physical Description
Identifying Characteristics
When manifesting physically and openly, Apira tends to be fairly consistent with His chosen form. However, when attempting to conceal His nature, there are still tell-tale signs of the Lord of the Sun's true nature. He will always appear as a male with a dignified air, and lacking any notable flaws. Such manifestations are not kept for a particularly long time, and once the divine nature is revealed there is a radiant aura which is cited as either "blindingly bright" or "soothingly warm" among writings. Interpretations of the writings suggest this is dependent on how the viewer reacts to His presence, perhaps unintentional. One other detail which is not always understood immediately, is how animals react to His presence - they will almost always behave submissively and avoid even looking at Him directly.
Divine Classification
God of Rhyliss
Church/Cult
Children
Aligned Organization
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