The Great Doubt

Ácolitus’ dire scheme to annihilate the Eshan, Zarthum’s coming, the deaths of Aebaster and Corgastor, and the collapse of barriers between Qadal and Voryndal evoked terrible dread in the spirits of those who survived. Among the Eshan the blows were worst. Wars were common, and murders known, but no series of terrors ever questioned the fundamental assumptions of Eshanic life so directly. Why would Ácolitus, the arbiter of existence, now desire to shatter all celestial order? Would Kovûkal stand without the enforcement of the Alor’eshan? Was the reign of the Eshan a malignity rather than blessing? Other questions of broad importance assailed the worried minds of the highest race. No answers revealed themselves, and dire despondency in uncertainty became the lot of all.
In response to Eshanic uncertainty came the concept of Eshanic religion. This was the novel idea that the Eshan, though the supreme entities of power in Esha, were not the proper masters of its future. They were themselves subject to whims or tides greater than themselves, and through their ignorance of these forces were destined to undo themselves.