Kossuth
Kossuth, whispered like a flickering flame, reigns over fire elementals and fire worshippers, embodying both the purifying and destructive aspects of fire. He represents the cycle of renewal through fiery transformation, inspiring artisans while instilling fear in those who misuse fire's power.
Similar to the other elemental lords, Kossuth displays little fondness for his adherents. His responses appear methodical in their outcomes, though inscrutable in their reasoning; he moves towards a particular objective, yet keeps his intentions veiled from the inhabitants of Theras. Nevertheless, he appears driven to amass more devotees to execute his will—perhaps due to the fleeting nature of their allegiance, swiftly consumed by his fiery influence.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Clergy, Temples and Worshippers
In Theras, Kossuth stands as the most revered of the Elemental Lords, boasting an active and hierarchical church focused on acquiring land, power, and wealth. Sofel has long been a stronghold for the Kossuthan faith. Followers of Kossuth in Theras are depicted as schemers, driven by a desire to "cleanse" and reshape the world according to the Firelord's will. Known for their dangerous and unpredictable nature, Kossuth's individual churches are led by powerful figures with strict hierarchies but little oversight from the deity himself. Justice within the faith is swift and severe, often resorting to violence for perceived offenses. Kossuthan temples are overseen by proud and determined leaders who demand strict obedience. Those who disobey risk expulsion, marked by rituals involving water, considered an insult to the fire deity. Lower-ranking clerics are often used as expendable pawns in the pursuit of advancement, leading to high turnover rates among them. All Kossuthan clerics share a fiery temperament, prone to quick offense and resorting to violence to maintain the church's rigid lifestyle. Their primary objectives revolve around acquiring land, wealth, influence, and power, with little room for activities unrelated to these goals.Factions and Roles
Clerics dedicated to Kossuth align themselves into two factions: the Tendrils and the Burning Braziers. The Tendrils, comprising the majority of the order, wield significant ecclesiastical authority, overseeing temple affairs, conducting ceremonies, and delivering sermons to local Kossuthan communities. Contrastingly, the Burning Braziers, also dubbed the Brazier Brigade by critics, serve as the church's exploratory and proselytizing force. They venture into untamed territories, spreading Kossuth's fiery doctrine to new lands, often leaving scorched trails behind. Advocates for the Firelord, they seek out regions ripe for conversion, typically targeting areas with vulnerable leadership or limited defenses.Priestly Vestments
Followers of the Tyrant Among Fire attire themselves in light robes adorned with hues of red, crimson, and orange. Within shrines or temples, priests are prohibited from wearing armor during ceremonies, with the exception of members of the Order of the Fire Drake. The symbol of Kossuth, represented by a fiery gem often crafted from flamedance, is worn as a sacred emblem, typically set into jewelry to radiate an inner flame. Ceremonial robes often feature embroidered flames of varying shades, growing increasingly intricate and costly as a Kossuthan priest ascends in rank. During expeditions, adherents favor attire in shades of red, adapting their clothing to suit the surroundings. While permitted to don chain mail and a shield, priests often prefer magical defenses. They possess a strong affinity for magical items capable of producing loud, flashy, and forceful damage, openly displaying them in an aggressive stance when necessary.Hierarachy
Novice followers of Kossuth, called the Lightless, advance to become full priests known as the Promised after taking the Oath of Firewalking. Their titles ascend from Torch of the Faith to the Eternal Flame of Kossuth, all subservient to the local Eternal Flame. Specialty priests are firewalkers, and monks are called Faithful Flames. Adherents start on the lowest terrace, forsaking worldly goods, and progress through terraces by enduring difficult tests of faith. As they advance, more rights and pleasures are granted. Kossuth's priests are organized into temples led by an Eternal Flame, followed by Most Fervid Fires, Numinous Blazes, and other ranks. Promotions require experience and recommendations, ultimately confirmed by the temple's Eternal Flame. In primitive societies, shamans serve Kossuth with great respect from their communities.Temples
Kossuth's shrines and temples are constructed from durable materials like hard stone, lava-carved stone, ceramic, and metal to withstand intense heat, both natural and magical. They often have a solid and blocky appearance, with towering central elements or columns resembling blazing bonfires. The interiors are brightly lit with burning braziers and bonfires, tended by numerous adherents to keep the holy flame alive. Precious gems and metals adorn the sanctuary, adding to its sumptuous ambiance, while being sparingly used elsewhere.Tenets of Faith
Success is the testament to one's deserving nature, as those who are fit to ascend will inevitably do so, for Kossuth's doctrine stands as the pinnacle above all other faiths, particularly that of Istishia, where fire embodies both purity and strength, contrasting with the envy of air that manifests as smoke. Through trials and personal growth, advancement is attained, with each challenge serving as a stepping stone towards higher states of being, as Kossuth's purifying flames cleanse and temper the soul, preparing it for enlightenment. Upholding the value of service to those who have proven their worth, adherents are tasked with guiding others towards Kossuth's radiant truth, where all life may be reforged into its essential form.
Physical Description
Identifying Characteristics
Kossuth appears as a red-hot column of awesome flame more than 60 feet (18 meters) high and 20 feet (6.1 meters) in diameter. His voice can be heard for hundreds of yards in every direction, a hissing whisper mixed with disturbing crackling and popping.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
While many elemental lords wielded dominion over multiple realms, Kossuth's authority was confined solely to fire. Surtur intervened to rescue the Fire Elemental Lord from a rebellion, his formidable forces striking fear into all beings across the planes. The conflict ensued, with Surtur vying for ultimate control over fire, yet unable to subdue the primordial essence. Amidst their internal strife, Ervenius emerged as the mediator, ultimately securing the primordial's supremacy.
In truth, Ervenius had merged the two weakened being from their endless fight and like fire, the two of them shape the plane of fire in two different ways, while the primal lord, Kossuth, is more powerful and always seem to have his way, Surtur is sometimes able to take the holds on the rein, bringing the plane of fire to Ysgard, with industry and purpose.
Social
Contacts & Relations
An immensely potent elemental entity named Kossuth has reigned over fire since the earliest epochs of the multiverse. However, whether the present Kossuth is the original primordial being or a successor remains a subject of much speculation.
Kossuth's ideology of elemental supremacy inevitably leads to clashes with other elemental lords, particularly Istishia, whom he regards with disdain and sees as feeble. In retaliation, the Water Lord urges his adherents to thwart Kossuth's schemes at every opportunity, resulting in widespread conflict between their followers. The Firelord maintains minimal interaction with other deities of Theras, receiving acknowledgment from Moradin and Flandal Steelskin for his association with the forge, albeit with little reciprocation.
Titles:
The Lord of Flames;The Fire Lord;
Lord of the Plane of Fire;
Blaze Emperor;
Divine Classification
Realm
Children
Other Affiliations
Ruled Locations
| LG | NG | CG |
| LN | N | CN |
| LE | NE | CE |
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