The Chosen of Ashes

The Chosen of Ashes are religious devotees that have spread widely across Wresnet. Modestly dressed and generally stern, the "Ashers" worship both The Lord of Smoke and their messiah, The Lady of Fire, whom they believe to be The Lord of Smoke's wife. Some cross the street when they see them coming; others listen, and sometimes find meaning in their words. The Ashers are feared by many because of their extreme actions regarding magic. Their use of the Ashborn is also a topic of concern. But the worries of the heathens matter not to the Ashers. For all will come together to worship The Lord and Lady of Smoke and Fire in time.

Divine Origins

After the fall of the tyrant-mages, the world slowly began to suffer because of the outlawing of magic. Wresnet was vast, and its original rulers had maintained its infrastructure through magical means. As the last remnants of that magic faded, technology did not develop fast enough to efficiently maintain order. This resulted in a great deal of civil unrest and dissatisfaction. Out of this, a messiah arose. She said that The Lord of Smoke had come to her in dreams to show her the way to true salvation. Many people seeking a better life followed her, much to the chagrin of the established Order of Smoke. This figure, referred to by her followers as The Lady of Fire, led her people into the uninhabited frontiers of the East. For a century, few heard anything from them. It was not until their missionaries returned to spread the word of Ash to every town they passed through that Wresnet truly began to know The Chosen of Ash.

Cosmological Views

The Chosen of Ash believe that, after her death, The Lady of Fire ascended and became the wife of The Lord of Smoke. From there, the two of them judge the world and punish it for its sins.

Tenets of Faith

The most important deviation of The Chosen of Ash's belief from other followers of The Lord of Smoke is this: they take the tenet, "Thou shalt not suffer a wizard to live," to the extreme. No magic that comes from any source other than The Lord and Lady of Smoke and Fire is heretical and must be swiftly dealt with through torture and death. Dream-touched, Song-touched, and even those that draw their power from nature find themselves facing lynchings and burnings upon encountering Ashers. Their other major tenet is to convert the unbelievers. They see the Order of Smoke as misguided and corrupt, leading their flocks astray from the path of salvation. The Ashers do have strict rules about free will, however, and will not forcibly convert someone.

Priesthood

The religious leaders of the Chosen of Ash refer to themselves as Prophets. A Prophet will commonly lead a community of Ashers and acts relatively autonomously from other Prophets. They do answer to some central figure, but the identity of that figure, their location, and their means of communication are unclear.

Granted Divine Powers

Prophets have similar abilities to the priests of the Order of Smoke, lending to their claims of legitimacy. There is one ability associated with the Prophets that is unique: the creation of Ashborn. When a magic user is executed, a ceremony can be performed by the Prophet or Prophets in attendance, which causes the ashes to animate and become servants for the Asher community. This process is a closely-guarded secret, and any Prophet who tries to share the secrets faces excommunication and execution.

Deities

Divines