The Seven Celestials of the Imprisoned
All races must come to Varda in some form, and many were created by powerful beings that reside in realms beyond The Material Plane. But not all of these beings are equal, and some are not as old as others. Seeing the creations of others, seven of these otherworldly creatures sought to make their own mark upon the world. Combining their powers, they created the race known as Tieflings. This race naturally worshipped the Seven beings, and referred to them as the Seven Celestials of the Imprisoned.
It is thought that these Celestials are from another plane of existence, known as the Otherworld. At the centre of this Plane lies a darkness that seeps in to all mortal hearts, known as The Imprisoned. This ancient evil lies slumbering in the darkness of the Otherworld, its dreams and thoughts manifesting in The Material Plane as dark thoughts, evil creatures, plagues and all the terrors of the world. The Seven Celestials draw their power from The Imprisoned, but they do so in order to keep it at bay. With their combined might, the great evil of the world is kept to its dreaming, forever bound in place.
The Seven Celestials of the Imprisoned are worshipped by the Tieflings to this day, and it is the primary religion of the country Therrezia. Great churches and sects have arisen across Therrezia, each with their own rituals and methods of worship.
Dirzomali, Mistress of Wealth
It is said Dirzomali appears as a female humanoid form with snow white skin. Six arms extend from her form, with each hand ending in six long fingers. Her face is a blank canvas, with no features or eyes, and long black hair falls across her shoulders. She is often depicted in silks and regal clothing, with jewellery of all sorts found about her.
She is the Mistress of Wealth, the one that brings all that is precious to the world and bestows gifts on those that follow her. Aside from this, she also whispers thoughts of greed, manipulating mortals in to taking more than they need.
Baralla, The Whisperer
Very little is known of Baralla, and her symbol is often represented by a snake with three heads. It is thought that she has the upper body of a woman and the lower of a snake, with eyes of fierce red and black lips.
She is the one that speaks to mortals the most, being a comfort in dark times. Many of those that are dying claim it is Baralla that speaks to them in their last days, being a constant companion to ease them in to the next life. Others also state that she is responsible for all envious thoughts, and that it was she who first came to the other Celestials with jealousy of the other deities and their creations.
Krostel, Lord of the Abyss
With dark, grey skin and white eyes, Krostel appears the most mortal of all the Celestials. Dressed in formal attire, a cunning smile often crosses his face, which lies beneath 2 curved horns of black. Many have claimed to meet him directly, although none can ever verify this as he is often met alone.
Krostel is the self-titled Lord of the Abyss, and holds a great deal of power in the Otherworld. He is the one that will strike deals with mortals, with promises of power or a simple favour. In exchange for this, the mortal will promise Krostel their soul, which the Celestial takes with pleasure when the mortal dies. The Tieflings believe that Krostel uses these souls to maintain his power, and he is the prime-Celestial that can keep The Imprisoned at bay with these souls.
Ernozidia, Temptress of Fate
Appearing as a humanoid bird, black feathers cover a body of off-white skin. Instead of arms, Ernozidia has wings, and instead of a mouth, a twisted beak. Her power of flight allows her to roam far and wide, and she uses this to tempt others to follow her.
Those that follow Ernozidia usually take a form of abstinence, refraining themselves from a particular luxury. It is she who tempts mortals in to such things, and in refraining from such pleasures, her followers resist all urges she presents. Eventually, after a set time, the abstinence is stopped, and all indulgence and temptation is welcomed as to grant Ernozidia more power.
Charon, The Golden
With skin of pure white and golden armour, Charon strides with a boastfulness befit his might. A face that is defined by perfection and long golden-blonde hair are how his followers describe him. With four arms outstretched, Charon inspires those who he bestows his gifts on, paying particular care to find artists and inventors to will in to fanciful flights of creation.
Inspiration is all well and good, but Charon has been known to twist this to pride and vanity. Those bestowed with his grace often boast of their favour. Many a great work of art in Therrezia is said to have come from Charon's influence, but those that created it are not always so modest, proclaiming to all that theirs is the greatest the world has seen.
Dagon, Keeper of Secrets
Lurking amongst the shadows, some may glimpse a hooded figure, with long, distorted fingers coming from deep sleeves. A rasping voice ushers out from the darkness of the hood, and all manor of knowledge is ushered. None know what Dagon really looks like beneath the perpetual blackness of his hood, and his followers mimic his attire.
Knowledge is the domain of Dagon, and he has ventured far and wide and collected it. It is said in the Otherworld he has a vast library that holds all the tomes, scripture and books he has collected and collated over the year. He is the one that tells of secrets unknown to the world, and spills forbidden knowledge to those that are willing to pay the price for it.
Lillieth, Queen of Maidens
Beneath a spiked, golden crown studded with green jewels lies a face that is masked - half of it white, half of it black. It is sculpted with the perfection one would expect of a Celestial. Soft skin, the colour of dark stone lays beneath a delicate, silken dress, which reveals a curved form slightly more than it should. Lillieth is an image of beauty made manifest.
Earthly pleasures, lust and seduction all define the domain of Lillieth. Her followers all follow suite, and days of excess and debauchery are arranged in her honour. With this, Lillieth harnesses their power to keep The Imprisoned at bay.
The Seven Apostles - at the very top of the Church are the Seven Apostles. Chosen from the ranks of the Cardinals, these seven individuals are chosen to represent each of the Seven Celestials. Only the most pious of the Cardinals are chosen, and when a new Apostle is needed due to the previous dying, they will be granted the same number as their predecessor. It is the duty of the Seven Apostles to decide the ways of the Church, setting rules and regulations for its followers. When spoken to directly, the Seven Apostles are referred to by their number. Eg. "The First", "The Second" etc.
Cardinal - 343 Cardinals are always present within the great Cathedral of the Seven found within Therrezia's Capitol City. Living a life devoted to the Seven Celestials, these Cardinals assist the Seven Apostles in governing the Church. Selection for becoming a Cardinal is done from the Chaplains of the land, and there is a complex political landscape within the Church as to who is selected when required. Cardinals are referred to as "Your Eminence".
Chaplain - Most Settlements within Therrezia will have their own Churches, and each of these will be headed by an individual Chaplain. Responsible for the religious services of local followers, along with other duties that may be required of the settlement, Chaplains are specially trained after being selected by the clergy of the Church. They are referred to as "The Exalted" when spoken to.
Disciple of the Seven - Those that have dedicated themselves to the Church are known as Disciples of the Seven. They will assist an individual Chaplain in religious services and maintaining the Churches buildings they are assigned to. They are referred to as "Revered", followed by their name.
Acolyte of the Seven - Not all in Therrezia take regular part in the religion, and there is no particular expectation to attend any service. Faith alone is enough, and a rigid structure of praise is never required. However, some individuals do regularly attend religious services and seek out Churches for blessings. Those that are known to attend a Church often are known as Acolytes of the Seven, and it is typically these individuals that are selected to join the ranks of the Church as Disciples.
To assist the Knights in their duties, each will have their own personal attendants in the form of squires and pages. These will often be selected from the Noble Houses own servants, but a Knight may select anyone they deem worthy to serve them from the general populace.
Some of the more well-known Divine Orders go by the following titles:
It is thought that these Celestials are from another plane of existence, known as the Otherworld. At the centre of this Plane lies a darkness that seeps in to all mortal hearts, known as The Imprisoned. This ancient evil lies slumbering in the darkness of the Otherworld, its dreams and thoughts manifesting in The Material Plane as dark thoughts, evil creatures, plagues and all the terrors of the world. The Seven Celestials draw their power from The Imprisoned, but they do so in order to keep it at bay. With their combined might, the great evil of the world is kept to its dreaming, forever bound in place.
The Seven Celestials of the Imprisoned are worshipped by the Tieflings to this day, and it is the primary religion of the country Therrezia. Great churches and sects have arisen across Therrezia, each with their own rituals and methods of worship.
The Seven Celestials
Great and powerful beings from beyond the veil, the Seven Celestials all draw great power from The Imprisoned. Although they do this to prevent its escape, the corrupting influence has had an effect on each of the Celestials in unique ways. Where they still have qualities that can be seen as good, these have been twisted and perverted, and they have become avatars for other more debauched behaviours. The followers of the Celestials know this, and where most practice the good nature and teachings of them, there is also a mimicry of the more abhorred behaviours in certain rituals. It is thought that both of these forms of worship grant power to the Celestial, so that they can continue to guard the world from The Imprisoned.Dirzomali, Mistress of Wealth
It is said Dirzomali appears as a female humanoid form with snow white skin. Six arms extend from her form, with each hand ending in six long fingers. Her face is a blank canvas, with no features or eyes, and long black hair falls across her shoulders. She is often depicted in silks and regal clothing, with jewellery of all sorts found about her.
She is the Mistress of Wealth, the one that brings all that is precious to the world and bestows gifts on those that follow her. Aside from this, she also whispers thoughts of greed, manipulating mortals in to taking more than they need.
Baralla, The Whisperer
Very little is known of Baralla, and her symbol is often represented by a snake with three heads. It is thought that she has the upper body of a woman and the lower of a snake, with eyes of fierce red and black lips.
She is the one that speaks to mortals the most, being a comfort in dark times. Many of those that are dying claim it is Baralla that speaks to them in their last days, being a constant companion to ease them in to the next life. Others also state that she is responsible for all envious thoughts, and that it was she who first came to the other Celestials with jealousy of the other deities and their creations.
Krostel, Lord of the Abyss
With dark, grey skin and white eyes, Krostel appears the most mortal of all the Celestials. Dressed in formal attire, a cunning smile often crosses his face, which lies beneath 2 curved horns of black. Many have claimed to meet him directly, although none can ever verify this as he is often met alone.
Krostel is the self-titled Lord of the Abyss, and holds a great deal of power in the Otherworld. He is the one that will strike deals with mortals, with promises of power or a simple favour. In exchange for this, the mortal will promise Krostel their soul, which the Celestial takes with pleasure when the mortal dies. The Tieflings believe that Krostel uses these souls to maintain his power, and he is the prime-Celestial that can keep The Imprisoned at bay with these souls.
Ernozidia, Temptress of Fate
Appearing as a humanoid bird, black feathers cover a body of off-white skin. Instead of arms, Ernozidia has wings, and instead of a mouth, a twisted beak. Her power of flight allows her to roam far and wide, and she uses this to tempt others to follow her.
Those that follow Ernozidia usually take a form of abstinence, refraining themselves from a particular luxury. It is she who tempts mortals in to such things, and in refraining from such pleasures, her followers resist all urges she presents. Eventually, after a set time, the abstinence is stopped, and all indulgence and temptation is welcomed as to grant Ernozidia more power.
Charon, The Golden
With skin of pure white and golden armour, Charon strides with a boastfulness befit his might. A face that is defined by perfection and long golden-blonde hair are how his followers describe him. With four arms outstretched, Charon inspires those who he bestows his gifts on, paying particular care to find artists and inventors to will in to fanciful flights of creation.
Inspiration is all well and good, but Charon has been known to twist this to pride and vanity. Those bestowed with his grace often boast of their favour. Many a great work of art in Therrezia is said to have come from Charon's influence, but those that created it are not always so modest, proclaiming to all that theirs is the greatest the world has seen.
Dagon, Keeper of Secrets
Lurking amongst the shadows, some may glimpse a hooded figure, with long, distorted fingers coming from deep sleeves. A rasping voice ushers out from the darkness of the hood, and all manor of knowledge is ushered. None know what Dagon really looks like beneath the perpetual blackness of his hood, and his followers mimic his attire.
Knowledge is the domain of Dagon, and he has ventured far and wide and collected it. It is said in the Otherworld he has a vast library that holds all the tomes, scripture and books he has collected and collated over the year. He is the one that tells of secrets unknown to the world, and spills forbidden knowledge to those that are willing to pay the price for it.
Lillieth, Queen of Maidens
Beneath a spiked, golden crown studded with green jewels lies a face that is masked - half of it white, half of it black. It is sculpted with the perfection one would expect of a Celestial. Soft skin, the colour of dark stone lays beneath a delicate, silken dress, which reveals a curved form slightly more than it should. Lillieth is an image of beauty made manifest.
Earthly pleasures, lust and seduction all define the domain of Lillieth. Her followers all follow suite, and days of excess and debauchery are arranged in her honour. With this, Lillieth harnesses their power to keep The Imprisoned at bay.
Church of the Septennial Gods
Therrezia has openly declared that the The Seven Celestials of the Imprisoned is the official religion, and with this they have the Church of the Septennial Gods. Each settlement typically has a number of churches and shrines to each of the Seven Celestials, although it is also known for smaller towns and villages to have the Celestials share a single building. These buildings all host members of the Church, who has a very rigid structure:The Seven Apostles - at the very top of the Church are the Seven Apostles. Chosen from the ranks of the Cardinals, these seven individuals are chosen to represent each of the Seven Celestials. Only the most pious of the Cardinals are chosen, and when a new Apostle is needed due to the previous dying, they will be granted the same number as their predecessor. It is the duty of the Seven Apostles to decide the ways of the Church, setting rules and regulations for its followers. When spoken to directly, the Seven Apostles are referred to by their number. Eg. "The First", "The Second" etc.
Cardinal - 343 Cardinals are always present within the great Cathedral of the Seven found within Therrezia's Capitol City. Living a life devoted to the Seven Celestials, these Cardinals assist the Seven Apostles in governing the Church. Selection for becoming a Cardinal is done from the Chaplains of the land, and there is a complex political landscape within the Church as to who is selected when required. Cardinals are referred to as "Your Eminence".
Chaplain - Most Settlements within Therrezia will have their own Churches, and each of these will be headed by an individual Chaplain. Responsible for the religious services of local followers, along with other duties that may be required of the settlement, Chaplains are specially trained after being selected by the clergy of the Church. They are referred to as "The Exalted" when spoken to.
Disciple of the Seven - Those that have dedicated themselves to the Church are known as Disciples of the Seven. They will assist an individual Chaplain in religious services and maintaining the Churches buildings they are assigned to. They are referred to as "Revered", followed by their name.
Acolyte of the Seven - Not all in Therrezia take regular part in the religion, and there is no particular expectation to attend any service. Faith alone is enough, and a rigid structure of praise is never required. However, some individuals do regularly attend religious services and seek out Churches for blessings. Those that are known to attend a Church often are known as Acolytes of the Seven, and it is typically these individuals that are selected to join the ranks of the Church as Disciples.
The Divine Orders
Alongside the Church of the Septennial Gods are the Divine Orders. Made up of Knights of the land, these crusaders seldom stay in a single place, often travelling throughout Therrezia and often times beyond, bringing their own form enlightenment to others in the ways of the Seven Celestials. Each Order has its own structure and customs, but all share a few common traits. The Knights of the Order will be selected from Therrezian Nobility, and are made up of fierce warriors clad in shining armour and wielding weapons of war. Each will also have their own mount in the form of a horse, and the Orders make up some of the best cavalry found throughout the lands. Typically, an individual Order will have anywhere between ten and fifty Knights at any one time.To assist the Knights in their duties, each will have their own personal attendants in the form of squires and pages. These will often be selected from the Noble Houses own servants, but a Knight may select anyone they deem worthy to serve them from the general populace.
Some of the more well-known Divine Orders go by the following titles:
- Order of the Crescent
- Order of the Ebony Band
- Order of the Favoured Knot
- Order of the Golden Chalice
- Order of the Tower
- Order of the Twenty-One Swords
- Order of Our Revered Lady
- Order of the Knights of Therrezia
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Permeated Organizations
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