Elturel, the Hellriders, and the Companion: a written discourse

Mentions of Elturel date back to the turn of the milennium, with an unsolved debate concerning whom the first temple built upon the hills East of Baldur's Gate was dedicated to. Often attributed to Helm or Chauntea, the worhsipers of both Torm and Tyr will tell you it was actually their temple that first basked in the sunrise across the Greenfield where the kingdom of Elturgard now sits. A sprawling city-state that accumulated many other nearby cities into its domain, Elturel has historically been known as a Holy City, a theocratic state with a council of high priests and rectors of the various faiths. This discussion piece is aimed at documenting the changes in Elturel's leadership, starting at the founding of the first temple and leading up to the current-day situation. 
The discourse around Elturel's founding is centered around two religious cults; the former being followers of Helm who to this day make up a grand portion of Elturel's citizenry, and the latter being worshipers of Chauntea, who have since mostly disappeared from Elturgard. The oldest, still standing structures in the city are part of a temple complex that has indeed been attributed to the goddess of the harvest. Up until the late 1300s DR, the High Harvest Home was exactly that to Chauntea's faithful in the city, although their numbers had already been decreasing for some time. The last of the Harvestmasters (the High Priests of Chauntea) was Raulauvin Oregh, who commanded a following of no more than fifty individuals before the temple closed in 1367 DR. 
Constant renovation of the High Hall, which was a temple solely attributed to Helm up until the 1400s DR, makes it difficult to give an exact estimate of its founding, though scholars and followers of his faith relate that the first stone placed upon the High Hill was carried by a paladin of Helm. It is a compelling substantiation, for surely the first to arrive would place their temple up on the highest hilltop for everyone to see? The faithful of Chauntea debunk this argument, however, by stating that temples dedicated to her glory are very rarely placed in a position of direct and constant sunlight, as all things that grow must know shadow as well as light, and this proves true. Not one temple attributed to the harvest queen in the Forgotten Realms is placed in such a way. 
It is important to note that Elturel has always been governed by a council of High Priests, each representing the faithful of their clergy. Historically speaking, the council has known various major and lesser religions, with prominent spots for the four aforementioned: Helm, Chauntea, Torm, and Tyr. Their representatives in the council were known respectively as the High Rider, the Harvestmaster, the High Observer, and the Grand Justiciar. Among others with a significant following that have had a seat on the council are the faithful of Waukeen, Tymora, Lathander, Amaunator, and, in times of conflict, Tempus. The names of prominent members of the clergy will be introduced as they come up in this discourse. Any that are missing from this document are listed in Elturel's registry and archive , and are available on request. 
The council of High Priests was always presided by one of its members, appointed for life by means of a unanimous vote amongst their peers. Should the vote be divided, then the council session would continue until such a vote could be achieved. The council's president would be known as the High Rider, though they held no power over their peers other than breaking the difference when a vote was called at a tied result. 
The most prominent of the High Riders throughout Elturel's history must be Lord Dhelt, who assumed the mantle in 1356 DR. It was under his rule that the city's thieves guild was disbanded, and laws were put in place that allowed the city's Justiciars to dispense tougher punishments. It is said that Dhelt was also present for the Hellriders' Charge into Avernus, though to this day no evidence has been found to confirm that statement. Dhelt was known to be a righteous ruler, though some might argue that his iron fist brought Elturel more than its fair share of trouble, risking a war with Luskan by grouping with other Lords' Alliance members by sending troops to garrison at Port Llast, putting the neutral relationship between the Heartlands and Luskan at odds. 
Another High Rider who earned his name in the history books was Klav Ikaia, who rose to the title from a background as Grand Justiciar, and led several successful expeditions into the Reaching Woods to push back tribed of gnolls and goblins who were causing harm to Elturgard's countryside. A stern and strategic leader, it was also under Ikaia's rule that Scornubel and Iriaebor were both recruited into the kingdom. However, disaster struck when the High Rider was on one of his raids to combat a powerful vampire lord in the Reaching Woods. The vampire was vanquished, but Ikaia was infected with vampirism. Slowly, Elturel turned into a nightmare kingdom ruled by the undead as the new vampire High Rider enthralled most of his court. In the span of two weeks, the ruling vampire elite engorged themselves on their population that was caught behind closed gates. 
That all ended with the coming of the Companion. Elturel's second sun incinerated most if not all of the undead within the kingdom's borders, and with most of the court and clergy dead, a humble priest of Helm named Naja Bellandi was put in charge of the rebuilding effort - the highest ranking member of any clergy remaining, she took the title of High Overseer but not that of High Rider, and started her tenure that lasted from 1442 DR until 1446 DR, when she was killed in a raid on Fort Tamal. Luckily, somewhat of the old orders had been restored, and founding member of the new Order of the Companion, Cathasach Restat, could take her place. He also took the title of High Overseer. 
Restat penned the original Creed Resolute, the book where all Hellriders swear their oath to uphold Elturel's guard when they take the title of Hellrider. The oath has been expanded and rewritten several times since its beginning, and the Order of the Companion keeps the tome of more than six thousand signatures safe within the High Hall. Restat also instated several of the Unity laws, meaning that the light of the Companion should not be attributed to any single god, since its origins cannot be confirmed. Instead, prayers to the light of the Companion should be dedicated to the Companion itself. 
Restat was the first High Overseer in history who retired, handing the mantle to another member of the Order of the Companion in 1475, a priest of Torm in his late thirties calles Thavius Kreeg. Under Kreeg, the Unity laws were expanded further, and the Order of the Companion published a book of Unity Prayers, favoring those over the more divisive versions of the individual gods. Thavius Kreeg also led several expeditions into the Reaching Woods, eventually opting to have several barricades put in place that were to be guarded indefinitely, keeping the gnolls, goblins, and other denizens of the forest from the countryside of Elturgard. More recently, Kreeg has started working towards a more neutral relationship with the city-state of Baldur's Gate, exchanging favors and state visits every now and again. 
Several conclusions may be drawn from the evolution of Elturel's body of government. First and foremost, the history of Elturel shows that a theocracy cannot function on religion alone - eventually, the creed of different gods alone is not enough to provide for a city of thousands. Instead, a city favors a certain pragmatism and unity over division - Elturel under the Companion is a thriving kingdom that has seen the expansion of its territories that would have never been possible under Klav Ikaia. Where the High Riders were martially skilled, they lacked the appeal to those inhabitants of Scornubel and Iriaebor. Restat and Kreeg brought with them a different kind of charisma, and a mindset of rebuilding and expansion. Where the city-state of Elturel has stood unchanged for nearly half a milennium, it has only been the last few decades where the kingdom can truly grow. 
Second, while dismissing religion as a sole actor in delivering the promises of a great nation, it must be said that faith plays a pivotal role in unifying the citizens of Elturgard, both in the original composition of Elturgard's pantheon as well as the role of the Companion itself - as a matter of fact, the mythology of the Companion goes above and beyond to prove that religion has a means to unify a people after an event of crisis. 
With these conclusions follows a recommendation to dive into the historical archives of Elturgard, and gather more first-hand knowledge about the tribulations of this old theocratic kingdom. Sources consulted include entries from the Great Archive of Elturgard in Elturel, A firsthand retelling of the history of the Sword Coast by Laerlon Elatris, consulted while at the Great Library of Candlekeep, A Short history of the Western Heartlands penned by Asadhana the Sphinx, and redacted by Kettlegrim Ashforge, the scholar of Scornubel at the Silver Harp Inn in SIlverymoon, and Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast by Volothamp Geddarm.