The Creed

“We know much from their followers, for they are as twisted and alien as the deities they worship. They bring only calamity and vice in their wake, but among them it is said they are fulfilled by it. I have my doubts.” - A Church Scribe describing the Creed

Introduction

The Creed of the Four Realms is a pantheon faith first and foremost, describing a broad unity of deities that number eight in total. Some unknown and forgotten, while others potently remembered, its adherents find common ground in their devotion to the one called the Lord of the Many, also known now as Valthour.

Key Beliefs

Adherents of the Creed are called Valthan Cultists, and their core commitment is to a belief that their obedience and service will one day bring all the realms under the control of the Lord of Many. Valthan Cultists understand the end times, as they have sometimes called it, as a storm before the great calm. A great war against the other faiths will be required before the ushering of paradise. Only once their power has been stripped from them, and their worldly representatives divested of their thrones, do the Valthan Cultists believe their plan will see fruition.

While the Valthan Cultists do not have specific moral dictates, they tend to believe in altered or twisted versions of common moral practices in other faiths. For example, a Valthan Cultist might believe in freedom, but the notion of freedom is far removed from that of a Heartlander Triumite. In this case, a Valthan Cultist might believe that freedom constitutes the ability to do whatever one wants, without restraint. Where a Triumite believes in the sacrament of marriage, a Valthan Cultist believes in polygamy. The relativist agreement that morality is not governed by a set code often leads to feuds between the different cults. The common theme of most cults is the pursuit of power, personal or political. It is their defining feature in the absence of code or custom.

Deities and Cults

Deities in the Creed are complex, often capricious in their behaviors toward even their most ardent of servants. Stories tell of Valthan Cultists turned into mindless thralls by archmages, or mass sacrifices have long plagued membership. The allure of these cults is what they offer the marginalized and oppressed of society. While the Valthan Cults engage in what many would consider evil practices, there are many who merely deviate from the moral norms of polite society. There are minor, less violent cults that preach freedom, revolution, and a life away from the chains of what they see as an oppressive church. Below are several of the most famous cults, actively hunted and anathema to the Reveian Empire.

Valthour, the Lord of the Many

All Valthan Cultists show some reverence to Valthour, but the Cults that dedicate themselves to the Lord of the Many are notable primarily for their demonic conquests, and their desire for war. They are the militants of the Creed, and attract worshipers from humandom in particular. Apostates, greedy nobles, and ambitious soldiers turn to Valthour for strength, tempted away from their prior virtue. He is the Lord of the Four Realms, the King of the Demontide, and the resurgent Dark Lord. Valthour is depicted in his conquesting armor, wielding a large mace that serves as a manifestation of his material power.

Laedra, the Lady of the Free

The Cult of Laedra is the least violent of the Creed’s cults. Laedra is portrayed as a beautiful woman who represents the pursuit of freedom, often seen as the freedom from all oppression or even custom. Cults range from revolutionary movements to socialite clubs hidden beneath the veneer of aristocracy. She is elusive as she is dangerous, said to foster thoughts of rebellion and radicalism in her followers. Still, she is a symbol to those under the boot of authority, and is hailed as a representation of progressive causes.

Fedryn, the Blood Prince

Fedryn is the god of vemic and vampire alike, christening blood mages as his devoted following. He is a protective deity, and many of his followers see him as a fatherly guide, conjuring visions through divination to discover his commands. To the Church, Fedryn is the embodiment of evil, a being they have been hunting for hundreds of years. Many believe that Fedryn has manifested physically in Reveia, as the shadowy leader of Vemlyin itself, but those rumors have remained rumors. Still, Fedryn represents the darker side of the Creed, an icon for the witches and the blood magicians.

Olheldir, The Weaver

Olheldir is an old Kremiyan name for an ancient deity of the Creed. Adherents to the Cult of Olheldir believe in the power of fate, and believe Olheldir to be its guiding agent. Olheldir is depicted is a great amalgamation of creatures, including in its gross concoction a spider, a raven, and a troll. Followers of Olheldir believe that time moves in a great cyclical motion, and that calamity is commanded of them to keep the cycle going. They are the most sporadic and bold of the Creed's followers, and will often commit acts of violence where it is imprudent to do so. They have company among the criminals, tribesmen, and Khudaks of the world.

Alunwe, the Mediator

Alunwe is the mediator between the Four Realms and Reveia. Throughout recorded history, Alunwe has been said to appear before Reveian lords as Valthour's agent, promising them various gifts and boons in exchange for service. Whether Alunwe is a rebel against Valthour himself, or a deceiver, many look upon him and his cultists with the gravest disdain. Still, Alunwe's followers believe wholeheartedly that the Creed can be syncretized and integrated into polite society. They believe that they alone are capable of ushering in this unity, and that only through their domination will the unity come to pass. Alunwe's cultists are often trusted even among the others on this list, welcome in the most violent of Olheldir's followers or even among Laedra's more freedom-loving crowds.