Eshara - Manifest Will of the Eshan

The world of Qadal was built of soil and mountains, forests and water by the Eshan during the earliest epochs of time. It was a world of physical materials, a canvas upon which the Eshan could create a world of their dreams and immeasurable design. Once formed, they fought the edicts of Ácolitus to create mortal life to occupy that vastness. The First Feud, as it was known, ravaged this newly created world, but in the end the rebellious Eshan were victorious against their creator and father. The strongest among them, the Alor'eshan of the first generation, established their chosen people in Qadal. The Ebal'eshan, being the lesser spirits of later generations, were forced to settled in Voryndal, the vast expanse that encompasses Qadal by sea. That being said, the Ebal’eshan were not exiled from Qadal. Kovûnkal only barred them from initially establishing their own realms in the land of the Alor'eshan. Nothing was spoken of thereafter. Once the Alor'eshan brought life to their chosen people, a unique dynamic of power became evident. Aebaster, Mesian, the Ezontach, and all other Alor’eshan except Atûn returned to the Void of Ácolitus once their work was complete. The Ebal'eshan quite universally chose to remain in Voryndal. The power of the former was offset by the physical presence of the latter in the mortal realm. Determined to maintain their control over Qadal from their jealous siblings, the Alor'eshan bestowed their power upon chosen individuals among their races. Eshara, known colloquially as Eshanic power, is that divine energy which is manifested within mortals. All manners of Eshan possess it as an extension of their own spirits and existence and are therefore the only entities capable of bestowing it upon others. Simply, consider it as potent energy transferred from one being upon another, shared from essence to essence.
One might be confused with the wisdom of bestowing the literal ingredients of creation upon mortals. Could this not lead to hideous abuses and the warping of Esha’s formative fabric. The answer is no. Mortals are weak beings, and can only withstand certain amounts of Eshanic energy, which is discussed later. No single mortal could cleave the world in two, remove the air which is breathed, or otherwise destroy existence. Instead, consider Eshanic capabilities to exist on a scale of power. The absolute maximum which mortals are able to achieve with the power bestowed upon them is significantly less than what Eshan themselves might do with their nigh unlimited reserves.
The array and strength of powers granted by Eshara are difficult to enumerate, for it is subject to the capricious nature of the Alor'eshan and Ebal'eshan. It is unlike the Gift of Atûn or Áckesh, which exist in the world without divine restrictions but stymied by mortal boundaries. The power of Eshara only exists in the world so long as the Eshan will it and is derived from the finite power which they possess as celestial children. Mortals themselves cannot access it because the energy is inexorably bound within the framework of their being. Without it, mortals are merely the water, earth, stone, fire, air, or similar material used to bring them into sentient existence according to the designs of ancient Qazun. It is what makes them- nothing else must be said about it. Drawing forth that energy, were it even possible, would foremost shorten their lifespan which is determined by this power within them. Beyond the closing noose of death, utilizing this energy would weaken the body in moments as age might over half a dozen decades or more, leading to inevitable death. It can only be in the artificial expansion of this energy to superfluous levels that mortals can call it forth as power. Consider the metaphor of a bucket, perhaps. The bucket cannot be voluntarily drained once filled. However, additional liquid which causes it to overflow might be directed for a voluntary purpose rather than being wasted.
One might, however, draw forth power when granted a reserve by an Eshanic master, and thus experience the properties associated with it. At heart, Eshara is energy, and thus it can be manifested in light, fire, life, smoke, lightening, or whatever else might be found in the mundane world. The benefit for mortals is that Eshara remains manifested within or upon something until that energy is dispersed or burned away. If an object is empowered with Eshara, for example, the raw energy will remain completely silent and dormant until manipulated, even covering the span of centuries. Lights or fire, however, are swiftly expended.
Eshara can be understood in a general sense, but the limits remain unknown. Corgastor may grant powers of healing, destroying Áckeshi husks, and limited control over fire to the Velhronis he blesses; the Ezontach grant powers of wisdom and knowledge to their faithful, allowing them to create great halls and winding walls through the balding Everosi hills and craft weapons of supreme quality; and Atûn bestowed mastery of his gift to his chosen people. However, these things are general tends dictated by the Eshan bestowing them rather than steadfast castes or spheres of control. Anything one Eshan can do can be replicated by the others. Additionally, the sheer power of these blessings is greater or lesser depending on the temperament and raw strength of the Eshan concerned. For example, the Ezontach might grant a select Daorhu paltry energy to place upon his weapon like an enchantment, while Aebaster channeled vast amounts of energy into Corgastor during the Etayen war, allowing him to defeat the ascendant children of Atûn. However, the capability of mortals to possess Eshara is limited, being that Eshanic entities occupy a higher, more power tier of existence. If an Eshan offered more Eshara than the mortal frame could support, the overburdened energy could sunder the individual completely. This prevents mortals from ascending to the ranks of Eshan upon their own volition but relegating such matters to Eshanic judgement after death. This said, Eshara was still coveted and valuable among ambitious and faithful mortals. Farther back, in the early history of Qadal, mastery over Eshara was the greatest power a mortal could hope to possess. No other unnatural power existed readily. This strengthened the bonds between the Eshan and their followers, who could readily see the fruits of their faith rather than idolists and spiritualists who gained nothing. That dynamic remains in modern times and the power of Eshara is still potent, but the release of Vojûnic energy and uncovering of Áckesh has put power in the hands of unworthy mortals and strained old relationships.
This reality ushers in concepts often misunderstood about the Eshan- whether they are conscious, active actors in world affairs or merely disconnected beings impossibly separated from the mortal ilk which they created upon their own whim. Eshara is significant and powerful force in Qadal, perhaps the strongest of all energies accessible to mortals. The stories of Eshara manifesting itself among mortals proves the fact, from the epochs of creation to modern times- whether Euboa, Corgastor, Elix, or Eino. Yet, the reader must understand that the powers aforementioned are not the hallmark of Eshanic dominion. What makes Eshara significant is the perfectly calculated and personal nature of that energy commonly elicited through temple worship. One might practice the faith of Corgastor and receive great boons of mind and body, but the neighbor beside receives nothing but possibly protection by the former. This in turn illustrates the continued importance of temples, holy people, and regular faith in the maintenance of a nation. The first houses the worldly essence of the Eshan, whether Alor’eshan or Ebal’eshan, and displays for them the respect which mortals hold. Otherwise, why would the Eshan waste their finite powers on the ignorant and undeserving? The second communicates with the Eshan with their minds, souls, and ears, conducting discourse which is possible with all peoples but most convenient when reserved to a small cadre of notable figures. For example, the vaunted Eino of Komussra was never a holy authority among the Daorhu but achieved the personal attention of the Ezontach in his struggles against the Razag. No others matched his zeal, so the Eshan overstepped the temples and spoke directly to the individual, and this can be witnessed many times otherwise. It can be seen, then, that the opinions of the Eshan can make or undo the machinations of mortals and their fellow deities. Third, the continued and stalwart attention of the faithful, falls in line with the necessity of temples that transcends mere edification. While stories of select individuals such Corgastor or Eino highlight the special powers the Eshan can grant, the protection of the nation requires a collective faith for both ostentatious displays of pride, but also for distinctly pragmatic reasons relating to the nature of Eshanic power. This of course, requires its own explanation.
It was previously mentioned that Eshanic power is finite and cautiously distributed by those who wield it. This check on divine power originates from the inceptor of all existence- Ácolitus. The Void, Eshor, and mortal worlds of Qadal and Voryndal are direct extensions of the creator, and therefore share within his power. However, each manifestation of matter saps potency from the power of the whole. The Eshan whose conscious is situated in the Eshor of the Void passively gather the residue of this wayward energy in larger quantities than the Eshan dwelling in the mortal world, though the latter does indeed grow. This stockpile of energy, if an accurate description, is accessed and lessened when the Eshan grant Eshara upon mortals or themselves use unnatural power. Anything act beyond the most mundane, such as communing with the distant faithful, creating material objects, and others, drain the Eshan. This is a significant dilemma for those enterprising deities who sought to asSert influence across Qadal, such as the eternal rivals Atûn and Aebaster. The latter exuded such vast energy in creating the limitless numbers of Aemarda that his role as protector of those people was significantly hindered. Indeed, events such as the Eshalasharn in Othos, or rebellion of the faithful against Aebaster, were directly caused by the involuntarily distant role that Eshan was forced to play by expending Eshara. Atûn himself fared little better, and during the Etayen war withered away to nothing after hurling desperate waves of Eshara upon his retreating people. The bolstered power of Corgastor and alliance with Nathrovas made the effort futile and ultimately fatal. For others, the power of Eshara is expended more gradually on less extraordinary circumstances. However, the faithful mortals tie into this celestial play in a manner which solidifies the continuity of religion- the souls of the deceased faithful reunite and replenish the proverbial resevoir in short order, providing energy in amounts which might otherwise take centuries to achieve. This means that conversion and the steady acceptance of souls through Kovûl define the hierarchy and power of Eshan through ancient and modern history. This is the underlying impetus of Eshara.
Comprehending Eshara in both competitive and mundane terms, through the manner of its use and the machinations of its masters, elicits yet another important question. How does Eshara differ between the Alor’eshan and Ebal’eshan, and in what way does the aforementioned hierarchy of Eshanic power wrought by devoted souls manifest itself in the realm of celestial deities? Without significant exception, the disparity may be understood as follows: the power of the Ebal'eshan to grant Eshara is weak compared to the Alor'eshan, but it is still present. The Eshara of the Ebal’eshan is most often used as a tool to influence affairs in Qadal rather than fundamentally alter mortal lives or the world itself. For example, Zelai and her daughters infused a magnificent stone from Voryndal with their Eshara and placed it unto the hands of Lysander Pyrgos, who himself was a figure of little note who drifted upon their island and was preserved for many centuries. The Pyrgosian Stone coursed with energy, the jagged edges and brilliant colors of its surface giving it an air of elegant danger. In that regard, it reflected Zelai herself, being one of the Ebal'eshan to survive the First Feud and survive in Voryndal. She had patiently waited for centuries for an opportunity to strike at the Alor'eshan that had ruined the Serenity of the Eshan's creation, and particularly against Aebaster who bore innumerable transgressions against her and the daughters. Lysander became an unsuspecting pawn in that devious game. He had merely been a wayward sailor, lost in the vast Sea of Zolrassus, only to wash up upon their shore. Upon returning to Othos with the stone of Zelai's manifested and preServed Eshara, he mistook it as a gift from Euboa, Mother Eurobia. That suited Zelai well enough, for deception was her long-term intention. The foundation of the Eurobian Empire by Lysander in 1503, with assistance from the Eshanic stone, was an extraordinary success. It operated in a manner similar to the Eshara of Aebaster granted upon Corgastor but was accured and saved in material form because Zelai lacked the power herself to offer such immense power at once. By the time of his death in 1523, Eurobians were worshipping Lysander as a god, offering away their souls to him. For Zelai this was an opportunity to sap away power and regain with interest the Eshara she had expended in creating the Pyrgosian Stone. This development allowed her to gain Eshanic energy in a manner similar to the Alor’eshan while abridging the tedious work of temples and mortal appeasement.
While the nature of Eshara and the role of the Eshan themselves has been discussed, apt time must be offered to the mortal institutions which make divinity their business. These institutions and methods used to bridge the gap between the Eshan and mortals are varied between realms. Among the realms of men, the dominant philosophy is that of monumentalism and carefully orchestrated, statrified hierarchy. First came the Ehronis or Wolesians of Aebaster, representing the first wave of organized faith begun during the middle to late Awakening era. These figures, both men and women, utilized Eshara to protect the sanctity of holy places and temples, but also reach out to the disparate masses. Miracles of healing and spiritual vitality were conducted upon rocky hillocks or acenter great fields. Aebaster watched over his people and guided them as best as his condition allowed, but the abilities of the Ehronis and Wolesans of Everos, Othos, eastern Nevan islands, and other localities were weaker and sparser than believed. Their creatior was severely weakened by the creation of the Aemar in such astounding numbers, eclipsing all other races in proliferation and settlement. This meant that while his people evolved, Aebaster was rather powerless to assist them save in small and rather insignificant displays of individual salvation.
The short-term impact of this inadequacy was minor, but cultures of the Aemar began to drift away from Aebaster and his Ehronis over the following centuries. By the coming of the Etayen ascension, some two dozen Eshan and other idols were worshipped by Aemarda. Among them were Euboa and Karthuul, the first woman and man respectively, the spirits Artem and Marasi, Torva, the Apprentices of Qazun, and others. Divisions in theology weakened Aebaster’s ability to regain Eshara, and thus he continued to linger while Atûn’s ilk burst forth upon the world and colonized vast swathes of it. Aebaster waited and schemed. Finally, around the lifetime of Corgastor, roughly -25 to 35, Aebaster was prepared to reenter the great competition of the Eshan. He bolstered Corgastor greatly with Eshara, allowing him to defeat the Etayen and vicariously destroy Atûn. Afterward, Aebaster imparted further powers upon Corgastor, bestowing such magnificence upon him that Aebaster was once again exhausted and compelled to officiate the ascension of Corgastor to the tank of the Eshan themselves. This has never been done thereafter, since the expenditure veritably ended Aebaster’s active role in mortal affairs in favor of Corgastor. His rivalry with Atûn was passed and the time to retire had arrived.
Legends surrounding the Alor’eshan and the rivalry between Atûn and Aebaster effectively capture the essence of Eshara’s impact on Qadal, but other actors were vigerously active. Five entities will be discussed who have otherwise remained unacknowledged or mere footnotes: The Apprentices of Qazunari, known as the Qazunari, Ácolitus, Ebisadra of the Nith’eshan, Atûn, and the Naarstor of Vestidia and the Karthuulite tribes. Understanding the methods and motives of each regarding Eshara casts critical light on the lesser known aspects of that power, separate from the previously discussed religious and personal relationships between temples, holy figures, and the Eshan they venerate. First among them come the Qazunari, who were themselves worshippers of the great crafter Qazun during Olûn. They followed his example and bred extraordinary creatures and forged beautiful marvels of nature, content to remain above the turmoil of Eshanic rivalries and politics. However, they and their master were drawn into the mire when Ácolitus discovered the Viscari, sentient mortal beings whom Qazun created from Eshara as an experiment. The other Eshan, particularly Aebaster, coveted this knowledge, and initiated was with Ácolitus to secure the rights to manifest such beings. Qazun died in the ensuing fight, but the Qazunari carried on his creations. However, the temperament of the successors was less compassionate than the master. Eager for revenge against the Alor’eshan who goaded Qazun into fatal conflict, the three surviving Qazunari of the First Feud exiled themselves first to Voryndal, then after a short foray among the Ebal’eshan relocated to Qadal. Passing under the watchful gaze of Aebaster, Atûn, and the other Alor’eshan, the Qazunari established themselves in Nevan. It was there that they plied the same Eshanic power mastered under Qazun for malicious purposes in the tropical wildlands of the mainland. They used Eshara to construct great monsters of scales and leathery hide, among other beasts of sea and air which defy description in their dark manners and hideous features. The Aemar population of the mainland was destroyed in a matter of years, gaining great ire of Aebaster who was then unable to halt them. Using Eshara further, they bolstered these beasts and prepared to devastate all the works of the Alor’eshan, but we checked among those islands by ferocious Aemar chiefdoms who were in good favor with Aebaster and considered him creator and guardian of the waters. This Eshanic duel in the west continued in varying bursts of immense violence until the 1400s, when the Axodraharik arrived from Yor’shagon and drove away the vengeful Apprentices.
Plotting ambitious machinations of revenge and restoration contemporaneously to the Apprentices during the Awakening was Ácolitus, creator of the Eshan, Void, and all existence. Like the Eshan whom he created from himself, Ácolitus is bound to the same laws regarding Eshara. One might ask how, for is he not everything and everything he? This is truth, yet the ‘laws’ of Eshara regarding the recycling of spirits are facts of energy transfer rather than preconsidered barriers of strange formality. However, the creator does have an unrivaled advantage in accruing vast reServes of Eshanic power for himself. As the gatekeeper of Kovûl, souls of mortals unaligned to other Eshan or forsaken by them forfeit themselves to him. Thousands of the deceased pass through his jurisdiction in this manner, waxing his power to incredible degree wherein all others were weaklings before him. This extraordinary and unassailable ascendency was managed judiciously, and Ácolitus devoted his Eshara upon the light of Éshabal, granting powers upon the realms of his followers, though they were mercilessly sieged by the spawn of his children. Nations such as Semeria and Tyria, for example, defended themselves honorable and destroyed numerous tribes of Aemar in Othos and Everos, respectively, before being worn down by attricious warfare. Yet, two sustained creations robbed Ácolitus’s attention and Eshara during the centuries following Atûn’s demise and the reviled Weeping Era. The first and most clandestine of them was Zarthum, a being bred from the vastness of the Void for the purpose of undoing the works of the Eshan and humiliation of the First Feud.
It was a concept inspired by Atûn’s creation of Vojûn, gathering large quantities of energy before unleashing some hitherto unknown creation upon the world. Ácolitus began the embryotic stasis of Zarthum deep within the Void, far beyond the perception of mortals or Eshan, and devoted great amounts of Eshara to make him powerful over the millennia. By 2400, the proto-typical iteration of Zarthum was prepared, but Ácolitus’s plan to unleash him was stymied by the Great Conflict. It took until 3451 for the proper conditions to arrive. When Zarthum was unleashed the devastation was immense, and both mortals and Eshan suffered. Aebaster was slain, as were two of the Ezontach, and other Ebal’eshan who dwelled in the Void in peace. A new age was thus usherd into existence, the Wandering Era of shattered order, with the old arbiters of peace being shifted or destroyed. This was but one manifestation. Alongside Zarthum, Ácolitus devoted Eshara to enigmatic beings known as the Judges of Ácolitus, being those agents who could secretly execute the creator’s will. The most famous of them is Typhon, who Served faithfully until his devastating rebellion which laid southern Othos to waste in 1385. He was succeeded by Xhaldarus, who in turned trained others to operates as Judges. These individuals have indefinite natural lifespans, as Ácolitus expends great Eshara to maintain their life past normal bounds. Additionally, they command great power in the Eshanic energy they can called upon for combat and medicinal purposes. After all these centuries, the Judges, Zarthum, and other creations of Ácolitus’s Eshara have became known and feared aspects of folklore, history, and Qadayen legend.
While the Apprentices and Ácolitus devised their strategies in secret to preserve their shocking power, another, more enigmatic, breed of Eshan cautiously pried their powers while remaining on the fringes of mortal and Eshanic existence. They are the Nith’eshan, or those Ebal’eshan born of other Eshan following the First Feud, and thus excempt from the tenets of --. Historical examples of such individuals are fleeting yet established enough to confidently proclaim their existence. Karnast and Gledgast, along with the archives of Amikiras all contain written works of apparently mortals who defy normalcy with abnormal lifespans and incredible powers. They are despised by Ácolitus as agents of disorder and celestial chaos, and thus he and his Judges hunt them mercilessly when discovered. For this reason, the Nith’eshan typically recluse themselves to Voryndal, where the prying eyes of Ácolitus are less keen, but others travel to Qadal for its opportunities and bring Eshara with them. The tragedy of Ebisadra is a well-known legend of the Nith’eshan penned by the lauded Eurobian author Suvar Mostis in the 3400s. Drawn from written memories of the event from the 2100s, Suvar told the story of a Nith’eshan living in secret among the Aemar peoples of Othos. She lived during a period of chaos proceeding the ascension of Traebor’s dynasty and its subsequent stability. For years Ebisadra kept herself guised as a moderate successful weaver in Amastris, but the suffering of Othos reminded her of the First Feud and horrors held within those distant eons. It haunted her with immense disquiet and seething anger. Did mortal not understand what suffering was wrought to create this world? Ebisadra progressively mired herself deeper within the mortal machinations of Othos, using her Eshara to bolster herself and a cadre of allies she accrued over the course of her steady ascend through Eurobian politics. It was never in vast quantities, for this would have weakened her, but enough to strengthen hands in battle and sharpen minds in debate. Her intention was to alleviate suffering, but the utilization of Eshara for this end revealed her identity to maleficent forces on the outside. Ácolitus perceived her power and sought to destroy Ebisadra, as her activities threatened the balance between Eshan and mortals created by the Divine Mandates. The oldest and greatest of the Judges, Xhaldarus, was sent after her along with other lesSer judges. Over the course of months Ebisadra was hounded and pursued across Othos and her allies were destroyed. The affair culminated in a vicious battle within Viod Gohendras, steep in the frigid Gondomon mountains. Ebisadra called upon the Eshara that remained within her and fought them, killing two of the Judges before being slain by Xhaldarus. Other Nith’eshan that have and currently dwell in Qadal have suffered similar fates and pressures, relegating their existence to that of a criminal, albeit of celestial caliber.
Not all Eshan worked from the shadows, as might be believed from these previous examples. Atûn, the youngest and most deviously cunning of the Eshan, lived amonst mortals in Qadal and worked with galling transparency which put shame to all others who hid their faces. Unlike the other Eshan mentioned, Atûn utilized Eshara in a manner specially tailored to his personal machinations, thus differentiating himself from all others. The most striking reality was Atûn’s decision to intrinsically bind Eshara to the souls of his chosen people, more than in mere essence. While the other Eshan were independent bodies who imparted Eshara upon crafted yet thereafter independent mortals was typical- however, the Etayen lived and breathed Eshanic power, and were thus bound to their master and their master bound to them. The more they populated Etal, the greater in power Atûn grew in turn. In the days of the Awakening, the Youngest creating great jungles and churning waves of brine to protect the borders of Etal from exploration by other races. For his dreams of global colonization to succeed, the location and inhabitants of his realm could not be discovered and tainted by other peoples. Additionally, Atûn kept the Etayen themselves from departing Etal by crafting the Ethûl with Eshara, being ethereal defenders of that carefully lain jungle. Those who attempted to escape and venture across the swirling sea were forced back into the interior or slain outright by these spirits.
All the while, Atûn remained strangely aloof within Qasladur, descending upon his children only as he pleased and reveling among them before departing to that sacred tower once more. The Etayen bid their indefinite time by perfecting mundane trades such as masonry, tailoring, poetry, and others with the assistance of Atûn’s continually expanding reServoir of Eshanic power. Finally, in the year -1500 Atûn unleashed his Eshara and that of his people in an event known as the Binding, wherein Vojûnic nemeshir was created and permanently bound to the world. The cost was that the souls of the Etayen would never pass before Kovûl but be swallowed by the earth to fuel Vojûnic power. For the next 1500 years Atûn existed in peace, no longer having to manage the Eshara of his people with Vojûn having taken its place. What reServes of Eshara that remained bound Vojûn to Etal and the underground, thus ensuring its continued use by the Etayen rather than other, less worthy races. This proceeded well until the Etayen war, when Aebaster rose from self-imposing silence to impart Eshara upon Corgastor and strike a blow against his ancient rival. Atûn foresaw no significant hardship until the Voletal of Nathrovas betrayed Étunas for Corgastor, compelling the Youngest to call upon Eshara to bolster the Etûletal. As the conflict bade darker tidings, the Eshara of Atûn was exhausted continually until that Eshan could no longer withstand it. As the key port of Sedar fell to siege in the 13th year, Atûn himself was broken and withered away until death.
Finally, there is Eshara that exists outside of the bounds of the Eshan themselves, but into the hands of other spiritual entities. Foremost and greatest among these is the Naarstor of the ancestors, housing the spirits of those desirous to remain halfway between the Void and mortal world. It was a product of the Eshalasharn of the Awakening era, when the faithful of Aebaster rejected him and wished to honor their own deceased kinsmen. The presence of Aebaster had been lacking or nonexistence, unbeknownst to them the result of Eshanic exertion, and the masses believed they had been abandoned. Violent hordes of heretics living primarily in Othos murdered Ehronis and Wolesans while destroying the ancient shrines of Aebasterian worship. The Eldest of the Alor’eshan was infuriated by this transgression and threatened to violate – to protect those loyal to him. Ácolitus feared the stirrings of a Second Feud shortly after the first and compelled Aebaster to relent, which in favor of the creator weakened the grasp of Aebaster in the mortal world. For these spiritual rebels Ácolitus created the Naarstor, as it is known to Vestidians, which allows the spirits of the dead to collectively impart Eshara upon those worthy in a manner like the Eshan themselves. However, the entities of the Naarstor lack the singular voice and power of the Eshan. Notably, the Naarstor carries the souls of many mortals from many lands, whether Vestidian, Karthuulite, or some sects of Daorhu faiths. These spirits much operate with some level of coordination for the manifested Eshara to carry any significant power, which is made difficult by the myriad voices clamoring and debating over every matter. The holy figures of Naarstorian faiths, known by names such as baeldors in Vestidia, must be individuals of uniquely power mind, able to discern guidance and power from the clashing spirits. When successful, the ancestors can grant Eshanic powers of healing and war upon their chosen people in quantities varying widely between individuals. The most prominent such as Mauger the Mighty, Konin Achemal, and others have received extraordinary abilities while others might only receive the most mundane of boons. In modern times, the relationship between the Naarstor and mortals has remained unassailed and enduring, placing unprecedented ascendency into the hands of those not embroiled within the tumults of Zarthum and coming of the Wandering era.
With the fundamentals of religious origins and Eshanic rituals and power understood, there should be fair time dedicated to select societies specializing in the esoteric and often dangerous pursuit of Eshanic power. The importance of such organizations is the limited abundance of Eshanic energy and the sheer power which it can possess. Simply, the Eshan would be fools to waste precious power upon those who cannot probably wield it. Eshanic polities exist across Qadal, but a select few will be discussed. In Everos, the Order of the Holy Sons and Brotherhood of the Blessed Word are two Corgastorian societies, the former being more militant than the latter. The Holy Sons, being the closest Corgastorian equivalent of Holy Warriors, was founded after the Great Conflict to stem further abuses of Vojûnic and otherwise unnatural powers which might threaten Everos. They train for years to weaponize Eshara and are unsurpassed in that capacity. The Brotherhood of the Blessed word proselytizes with Eshara, performing acts of goodwill and healing for those in need. They are an older entity than the Holy Sons, and no less capable than their militant fellows. In Norvarrot, the Daorhu… The Voletal have their own orders as well. The Atysvala, or the Chosen of Atûn, were the disciples of Bal'gorod the Risen before and during his reign as Sutasghal. The order broke up after the destruction of Nathrovas at the end of the Great Conflict, but not all members were present when the land was obliterated. Did any of them survive? Historical records fail to say. There are other examples beyond those listed, from among the Daorhu, Elivas, and Eurobians. However, all that need be said is that the manifestations of Eshara are strongest among these holy societies.
The Sanctuary of Corgastor is different from other institutions found in Qadal. It is the only organization or society in the Empire of Corgastor permitted to dabble in nemeshir, being the Eshara of Corgastor. It was first formed in 2320 after the Great Conflict but expanded in 2352 when Velhronunbast Farrien built the spire that bears his name. The purpose of the Sanctuary is two-fold: training new Velhronis in the art of Eshara and repressing other forms of nemeshir within Everos. The Gift of Atûn, or Vojûn, is judged to be too chaotic for Velhronis to use. The only individuals allowed to practice the Gift of Atûn are those who have mastered the art of Eshara, thus tempering the chaos of Vojûnic power with the will of Corgastor. The Sanctuary thus seeks to regulate other nemeshirs where they are found and eliminate any rogue Velhronis who use it for malign purposes. The greatest achievement of the Sanctuary may be its most recent. In 3451, three of the five artifacts of Typhon were delivered into the hands of the Scarlet Hand by Ravyn Minavl, a Voletal from the Fringe region, and the Elmore brothers of Vestidia, Ralof and Rodgyr. Confined to the Ebon Vault, these tools of destruction were purified and utter destroyed by the power of Eshara. After centuries of conflict, the threat of Typhon was finally disspelled. Two artifacts remained, but never again would the threat of Typhon loom over Qadal. Unsafe as the world might be in truth, the work of the Sanctuary and those heroes rendered it a fair measure more tolerable.
For all that has been mentioned regarding Eshara, there is one domain of its power yet undisclosed. It possesses a consistent physical form as well. The most common and best undersood aspect is Esheryne. It is a special manifestation of Eshara in the realm of mortals which bears outstanding and long lingering powers. It is exceedingly rare, and broadly the product of dying Eshor crashing into Qadal from the Void. Within the short lifespan of physical existence, around 11,000 years according to modern estimates, there is poor possibility for the Eshor to burn themselves out. They were composed from immense quantities of Eshanic power, far more potent than Ácolitus understood in the times of their creation. Unlike the Eshan who were born from them, however, those Eshor that remained inanimate celestial bodies do not grow. They shed energy over the millenia without the chance of recovery beyond Eshanic intervention. The weakest among them, being the Eshor too impotent in raw energy to birth said Eshan, expend all power in time and die. Upon death, they fizzle to near nothing and rapidly descend onto the Qadayen surface. These unique relics of the heavens typically plummet into the ocean or distant places far from civilization and are thus never uncovered. When luck has it, however, the remnant Eshor crash into Qadal proper, near civilization and those who could make use of its minerals. The Salt Spines in northern Everos is one such place. In that sparse collection of barren rocks and snowcaps, a single fallen Eshor known as – carrened into the area around the 2000s. The Daorhu maintained a steady and immensely profitable operation for centuries thereafter. Governments and private individuals purchased the material in great quantities, completely shifting the balance of power in northern Everos.
While the fortuitous death and descent of Eshor is the most common method of harvesting Esheryne, there exists another potent expression of Eshanic power. If placed into the proper environment of heat and pressure, raw Eshara has the capability of hardening into Esheryne, though of lesser quantity than the vast reserves left within the craters of Eshor. This has occurred on a number of occasions. First, during the Great Conflict of the 2304s, significant scatterings of Esheryne populated the Fringe after the detonation of Zarthum’s egg which decimated old Nathrovas. The majority of the energy was lost, but the ground around the pillar of Shar’kova, upon which Vulred and Bal’gorod fought, was littered with small fragments of remnant Esheryne. Brigands, explorers, and other strange rogues who lurked about the islands managed to exhaust the limited reserve within decades. Later in history, Esheryne was created with the death of Zarthum, known as the dread beast crafted by Ácolitus. Corgastor descended from the Void and took mortal form to combat him, emerging victorious after a hideous mortal struggle. The death blow was struck when Corgastor plunged his spear into Zarthum’s heart. It carried great Eshanic potency, causing the energy within the beast to coalesce inward rather than dispersing outward. The result was a veritable statue of pure Esheryne which was later transported through hard labors and ocean travel to Ghethemas. Trident guards were compelled to protect this monument to Corgastor’s victory from vagabonds and rascals who attempted to break fragments of Esheryne from it with picks and hammers. Religious and political authorities made an ostentatious show of the relic. On the anniversary of Corgastor’s death in 3451, the Esheryne statue of Zarthum is set alight and left to burn for weeks as a symbolic gesture of their Eshanic master’s sacrifice against the machinations of Ácolitus.
While outstanding and noteworthy, such events as mentioned are irregular occurances. Centuries passed between them with little to speak about in the meantime. For merchants, sovereigns, and warriors alike, the tantalizing encounters with smaller reserves of Esheryne served to bolster their hunger for the material. A hunt for knowledge regarding the artificial creation of Esheryne began alongside the first mentions of Esheryne itself, around the middle Awakening when the endurance of the weaker Eshor failed. Etayen scholars and Aemar craftsmen labored contemporaneously with Odyrzid wanderers, Elivas mystics, and Daorhu riders to scour Qadal for information regarding the art. Yet, centuries of history and meager results prove the difficulty of the matter. No natural crucible possesses the intense heat, pressure, nor materials to forge ephemeral Eshanic energy into solid form.
After expending time to discuss the proliferation and creation of Esheryne, one might possess pointed questions about the purpose of such study. What are the properties of Esheryne; what can it accomplish? Foremost, it is the closest a weaponsmith or armorer might come to uniting the realms of mundane and Eshanic warfare. When forged into an object, that piece might maintain the powers of Eshara or Vojûn for long periods of time and with great potency. As an example, a warrior with Eshanic blessing might desire to apply celestial fire to his weapon. In previous times, the most he could accomplish is blasting the blade with energy, catching it alight for mere moments and weakening the steel. What purpose might that serve when direct attack with Eshara is possible? With the wide introduction of Esheryne, however, the warrior might apply Eshanic energy to a blade, neither harming it nor wasting it within mere moments. This was an incredible change, especially for the aristocracy who could purchase such exotic goods for themselves. Over the years, the methodology improved as well, which highlighted an extraordinary shortcoming of Esheryne- its hard exterior. Indeed, it is a difficult material to forge, and specimens of Esheryne ground straight and clean sell for thousands compared to their rough-hewn brethren that pass on market-streets for mere hundreds. When applied to weapons, armor, and jewelry, then, the fashioning of Esheryne is worse than steel. However, the product possesses an unrivaled strength, beauty, and Eshanic potency.
In the Wandering era world conjured by Zarthum’s rampage, the meaning and utilization of Eshara has changed since the earliest epochs of Qadayen time. No longer is the intervention of the Eshan viewed with an unquestioned acceptance. Religion is no longer the benign font from which a nation’s power is drawn. After the deaths of Corgastor, Aebaster, and other major figures, other Eshan from Voryndal flooded forth to unscrupulously plug the proverbial gap. Chaos reigned as these new arrivals, such as Zelai and her daughters, Yaalon, and the dynasty of Amilus attempted to gain control over mortal lives. Eshara in the new era became the symbol of this unprecedented anarchy.