Al'Akbar (ahl AHK-bar)

(High Cleric, Restorer of Righteousness), LG demigod of Guardianship, Faithfulness, Dignity, and Duty

Al'Akbar (ahl AHK-bar) first came to prominence in the days following the Invoked Devastation, when he was called by the gods of the Paynims to restore the Baklunish people to the path of righteousness and dignity. In earnest of this mission, he was given the fabled Cup and star-shaped Talisman that now bear his name. He taught that true religion must include proper devotion to the gods, protection of the community, and guidance of the faithful. Eventu ally, he caused his own mosque to be constructed and allowed his followers to call upon his name in their prayers, soon thereafter ascending to take his place among the gods, although he remains a demigod out of respect for the rest of the pantheon. His symbol is an image of the Cup and Talisman artifacts.

Be as a vessel of kindness and emblem of devotion, for the righteous man is both steadfast and merciful. Be not as the untutored infidel, but rather heed your superiors, and submit to their wisdom and guidance. Let the faithful strive always to nurture the seed of Good in the soil of Law, that by doing so they are received into the Garden of Al'Akbar. The faith of Al'Akbar dominates the Baklunish culture with its sense of community and propriety. They teach Ancient Baklunish as the language of poetry and learning; they are generally well disposed toward other faiths that use the classical language in their liturgy. Two historical branches of this faith exist. The followers of the Exalted Faith recognize the supremacy of the holy caliph (the ruler of Ekbir they are masters of rhetoric and diplomacy, with high regard for academic achievement. Followers of the True Faith defer to the authority of the grand mufti of the Yatils, taking a more fundamental approach to religion that emphasizes hard work, plain speech, and obedience. More obscure divisions exist among Paynim dervishes.

Clerics of the Exalted Faith usually bear the title of qadi, and tend toward lawful good or neutral good. Clerics of the True Faith are called mullahs, and strongly favor lawful neutral. Both types hold office as ministers, judges, scholars and teachers in civil government, while also serving as healers, advisers and guardians for the military. Adventuring clerics are tolerant of infidels, though they are still expected to uphold the ideals of the faith. The wandering clergy may travel to any land in search of the Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar. Ritual prayers may be made at dawn and dusk.

Domains Good, Healing, Law, Protection; Weapons falchion(m)

Al'Akbar is the Baklunish demigod of dignity, duty, faithfulness, and guardianship. His symbol is a cup and eight-pointed star, images of the legendary Cup and Talisman that now bear his name.

Al'Akbar is a golden-skinned Baklunish man. He is lawful good. His favored weapon is the falchion.

Al'Akbar is subordinate to the other Baklunish gods, remaining a mere demigod out of respect for them. Despite this fact, the nations of Ekbir and Tusmit seem to place him before other gods. His faithful oppose the sadistic elemental cults of Ull.

Al'Akbar is allied with Heironeous.

Al'Akbar has no realm of his own. He dwells in Mount Celestia's fifth layer, Mertion, in Soqed Hezi, the City of Swords. The ruler of Soqed Hezi is the sword archon Bahram, known as the Conquering and Triumphant Fire, who answers only to the tome archon Raziel.

Al'Akbar's priests use the Cup and Talisman as metaphors for the good life, urging their flocks to be vessels of kindness and emblems of devotion. They use Al'Akbar's relationship to his pantheon as a model for their own relationships to their superiors, urging obedience and respect for the wisdom of those of higher station. Followers of Al'Akbar are expected to be both steadfast and merciful. The priests of Al'Akbar are opposed to the slave trade. Ancient Baklunish is the language of Al'Akbar's faith.

Al'Akbar's faith is divided into two major sects, though smaller, more obscure sects exist among the Paynims. The Exalted Faith, based in Ekbir, is led by Caliph Xargun, while the True Faith, based in the Yatil Mountains and most popular in Ket, is headed by the Grand Mufti of the Yatils. The two sects split after the Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar was stolen from its traditional place in Ekbir. The grand mufti was held responsible and exiled, where he started a rival faith, claiming the caliph was no longer the rightful spiritual leader.

The True Faith has a harsher, lawful neutral interpretation of Al'Akbar's dogma, emphasizing hard work, plain speech, and obedience, while the Exalted Faith is lawful good or neutral good, stressing rhetoric, diplomacy, and academic achievement.

Clerics of the Exalted Faith are known as qadi. Clerics of the True Faith are called mullahs. Both act as judges, ministers, scholars, teachers, healers, advisers, and guardians in their respective societies. Some are intolerant of the "infidels" who belong to non-Baklunish faiths. Wandering clerics of Al'Akbar search for the lost Cup and Talisman.

Paladins of Al'Akbar, known as Exalted Ones, work to lead by example, demonstrating by their words and deeds that faithfulness to and guardianship of the old traditions are the only correct path to revelation. They wear billowing tunics that obscure their armor and conceal their faces. Their clothing is white or tan, often with gold or purple trim. Members of the True Faith wear only white, with no decoration. Males wear turbans, while females wear only simple white gold circlets. They oppose the forces of darkness, seek to defend Baklunish traditions and people, and search for the Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar.

The farises are an order of Ekbiri knights in the service of Al'Akbar.

Al'Akbar is revered primarily in Ekbir, Ket, the Plains of the Paynims, Tusmit, and Zeif. The Mosque of Al'Akbar, in the city of Ekbir, is a popular destination for pilgrims of the Exalted Faith.

A ceremony known as the Procession of Blessing used to be performed using the Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar, but this ended when the relics were stolen by elven raiders in 219 CY. Ritual prayers may be made at dawn or dusk.

Al'Akbar is associated with the Cup and Talisman named for him.

Al'Akbar was the most exalted high priest in what are now the lands of the Paynims. After the Invoked Devastation, during that time of misery and suffering, he was given the Cup and Talisman by Al'Asran to help heal his people's ills and return them to the traditional Baklunish faith.

Al'Akbar founded the city of Ekbir and, for the last decade of his mortal life, ruled the nation of Ekbir as the first of its caliphs. Eventually he had a mosque to himself built and allowed his followers to call on his name in their prayers. Soon after, he ascended to the heavens to take his place among the gods.

The Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar were created by Neal Healey for The Strategic Review #7, where they were associated with Allah.

It was not clear if Al'Akbar was the name of the priest who received the Cup and Talisman, or the god who granted it, until 1998 when the Player's Guide made Al'Akbar the name of the priest and established that he was now a Baklunish demigod. The Book of Artifacts (1993) had suggested that the god who granted the artifacts was Pelor, and early Oerth Journals used "Al'Akbar" as Pelor's Baklunish name. Gary Holian's 2003 "Paladins of Greyhawk" article introduced the name Al'Asran, "a being bathed in sunlight," for Al'Akbar's patron.

The 1986 adventure module Day of Al'Akbar is not explicitly connected with Greyhawk, and is not part of the World of Greyhawk continuity. It takes place in a desert kingdom called Arir on no particular world. It is included in the bibliography for the sake of completeness.

The Anna B Myers expanded map of the Flanaess places the Sultanate of Arir at the eastern end of the Dry Steppes, at the foot of the Crystalmist Mountains, west of Sterich.

Al'Akbar is subordinate to the other Baklunish gods, remaining a mere demigod out of respect for them. Despite this fact, the nations of Ekbir and Tusmit seem to place him before other gods.