Alsham

The Shining One, the Sun Father, the Light of All, God of the Sun and Skies. These are among Alsham's titles. He is a popular deity, much-beloved by the commonfolk of many peoples. Ever since the heartland of Alshamic worship, Nioba, fell to the blight of Hephsut long ago, the faith has spread far and wide across the far eastern continent of Maitreya. Because of this, he is known by many names. To his most faithful worshippers who once called Nioba their home, he was known as Amnut, his original name. To those of the Kiteshi Empire he is known as Alsham. To reformist sects of Angelicism, he is known as Vandriel.
During the founding of the Kiteshi Empire, legends say that its founder, Kitesh, received visions from the Sun Father. Kitesh was bid to ascend the tallest mountain in the world, Mount Duniaji. There, he claims to have spoken to the Sun Father through a tree bathed in sunlight. He was urged to create an empire that would surround the territories of the devious Lich, Hephsut, and prevent the spread of his evil influence. He was given the Sunspear, a divine weapon crafted by Alsham's hands to spearhead his conquest. Throughout the next few decades, he roamed the land as a warrior prophet and crusader, cutting back Hephsut's forces and creating a front of united city-states against the lich. This became the united Kiteshi Empire.
Since then, Mount Duniaji has become the most sacred place of all alshamic faithfuls. Many temples and sanctuaries have been built across its cliffs and plateaus for weary travelers and faithful pilgrims seeking to ascend its slopes in their efforts to reach its summit for prayer and reflection.

Depiction

His origins are unknown, as is his appearance. His presence is heralded by a bright glare of sunlight, but he exudes a presence some describe as that of a fatherly parental figure. His symbology is more easily recognized as a radiant, golden sun with twelve spokes.

Tenents of Faith

Life is born from the sun. Its light offers strength to the weak and cares for the wounded while annihilating darkness and Evil. Do not be afraid to challenge the forces of corruption, but remember that if the brightness of the sun can blind the eyes, the relentless fight waged against evil forces sometimes blinds the heart to essential virtues: kindness, mercy and compassion.
Alleviate suffering wherever you find it. As a god, Alsham has no need for or interest in wealth, power, or offerings from mortals. The only sincere and proper way to serve Alsham is to provide aid and comfort to mortals. He calls upon his clerics to feed the starving, bring water to those dying of thirst, cure the sick, and heal the wounded. As opposed to evil and corruption as Alsham may be, he places the needs of the innocent first and foremost. Alleviating suffering must come first; there will always be time to smite evil later.
Bring Alsham's light into places of darkness, showing kindness, mercy, and compassion. Clerics of Alsham often pass where others refuse to enter. They are called by their faith to bring Alsham's radiant light everywhere. They illuminate the darkness with his light, giving hope to the good and bringing fear to the wicked. Bringing Alsham's light thus serves two purposes.
Be watchful against evil. Alsham calls upon his clerics to be vigilant and watchful against the spread of evil, deceit, and lies, seeking it out and opposing it wherever it arises. Although Alshamic faith is not as zealous in the pursuit and destruction of evil compared to that of the Angelic Pantheon, the Radiant Lord nonetheless demands his servants share the burden of the eternal conflict. At times, direct confrontation becomes necessary. Often, however, opposing evil has more to do with healing and aiding the needy and the helpless, and correcting the lies and misinformation that has been spread than it has to do with warfare or violence. The best way to resist evil is to prevent it, usually by removing the conditions that permit evil to spread unchecked. Discontent, loss, fear, and anger serve as the breeding ground for corruption and evil.

Church of Alsham

Alsham is the creator of many good things, a supporter of those in need, and an adversary of all that is evil. Alsham is wrathful against the forces of evil, and is especially opposed to the undead. However, Alsham urges his followers to remember that excessive attention to things of evil can blind one to the truly important things: compassion and goodness. These are what must be emphasized above all. Alshamic dogma has it that the energy and power of life originate in the sun. He is the most commonly worshiped deity among ordinary humans to the far east, and his priests are well received wherever they go. Rangers and bards are also found among his worshipers.
Alsham's' clergy heal the sick, bless crops, help the needy, and destroy evil and the undead. They are caring and nurturing, with backbones of steel. The Alshamic priesthood attracts many naive youths to their service, but training is rigorous enough to send many of them back to their farms. Alsham's elite priests are called the Sun-Ward. Alsham's favored weapon is the sword, though the morning star, a weapon named in honor of the Sunfather himself, is also an oft-used weapon. Vestments worn by Alshamic clergy are typically white, red, yellow, or gold.
Alshamic worshippers believe that the life-giving sun is the best cure for all the world's ills. Justice and freedom are brought about through charity, modesty, perseverance, and self-sacrifice. Alsham's priests teach that the truly strong need not prove their power. His faithful strive to perform so many good acts that evil has no room in which to exist, though they will fight if necessary.
Although Alsham's churches and mosques have a few heresies and schisms, the head priests of his powerful temples are in contact with one another and with the religion’s overall leadership. If the secular leaders of one nation place an onerous tax on Alsham’s temples, word will spread through Alsham’s hierarchy. Other nations might be persuaded by their Ashamic faithfuls to apply diplomatic pressure to get the tax repealed. Alsham is served by a small number of druids, who behave in ways similar to his clerics, but with a greater emphasis on the care of plants and animals. They usually associate themselves with settlements rather than living as hermits, aiding the community with their hands, spells, and animal companions wherever they can. They are considered to have priest status within the Alshamic church, though they have a separate hierarchy. To them, Alsham is considered a god of summer.
Alshamic paladins, known as Crusaders, are rare, having appeared in large numbers only since the The Alshamic Crusades. Alsham's paladins see themselves as the burning light of the sun which scours away darkness and evil and brings strength and comfort to the innocent.
When not in formal dress, Crusaders favor attire featuring royal reds, pale whites, and golds. Some dress in commoner's clothing, especially when serving as community healers or in disguise. On formal occasions, they wear a black cloak emblazoned with the symbol of the sun. They blend into the darkness, only the shining symbols visible to their foes.
Alsham's services involve communal prayer, the singing of hymns, and the distribution of alms, typically accompanied by praying once in the morning towards the rising sun in the east, and once again in the evening towards the setting sun in the west. Prayers to Alsham are often affirmations in the first person, for example, "I am merciful, just as the Sun of Mercy shines on me."
Weddings and rites of passage often take place at the beginning of a new season. Farmers often request a ritual known as the Blessing of the Sun-Kissed Field.

Sunsworn Alshamism

In the times since the fall of Nioba, the Alshamic faith has seen the rise of its own firebrand sect called Sunsworn Alshamism, most commonly practiced by the Kiteshi Empire. Though practiced by lawful sun worshippers, the Sunsworn tend towards neutrality, rather than good, believing utterly in the supremacy of their faith above all others. To a Sunsworn, heresy is deserving of the most severe punishments. Many criticize the Sunsworn for eschewing the core tenants of Alshamic faith in favor of their own prejudices, though others would argue that Sunsworn Alshamism is the purest form of Alshamic faith.

Portfolio
Light, Dawn, Strength, The Sun, Summer, Harvests, Healing, Agriculture, Compassion, Mercy, Renewal
Holy Days
Sun's Dance

Divine Classification

God

Religions

• Sunsworn Alshamism

Alignment

Lawful Good

Gender

Male

Related Historical Events

• C. -2,300 → C. -2,250
  Sun-Worship, and The Founding of the Kiteshi Empire