Faith Of The Flame

“By his light our ways are preserved, and the forces of darkness crushed under heel.” - Proverb of the Sadafeian Codex

Introduction

The Faith of the Flame dominates the sands of the south, and the savannas found deeper therein. A creed that commands virtue, measured brutality, and an evangelist spirit thrives where the cold cannot touch.

Key Beliefs

The Sadafi who believe in the faith generally hold to one of two conceptions of their god, Alnaari. Those of the mainline sect, or the Akramists, believe Alnaari to be a supreme deity who preceded all others. In this view, Alnaari is supremely powerful, all knowledgeable, and benevolent. Akramists dominate in the former holdings of the Hashid Family, and across the sea in the Kingdom of Girolusia. In the south, the Fahmid Sultanate holds to a flavor of Akramism, but differs in that they possess their own concept of Walliahah, a process by which key defenders of the faith are afforded special status in paradise. This small difference in belief rarely leads to violence, though the schism that brought about this difference resulted in the rebellion of the Fahmid family and their eventual independence.

The second of these conceptions is far more radical, and more dependent on the devotion of Alnaari’s followers. The Black Sun Sect, also known as the Muthanna Sahl, believe Alnaari is capable of death. They believe that Alnaari was once a mage of great power, manifesting his soul into the sun to light the path of his people the Sadafi. They hold that Alnaari requires daily acts of devotion from his followers in order to maintain his power. This has led to the creation of a violent creed known to the prophets as the Muthanna Kitabat. The Muthanna Kitabat decrees that to kill a heathen who threatens the faith is justified, and the very act of doing so will empower Alnaari to protect his people and the world at large from darkness. Daily prayer, sacrifices of wealth or possessions, and acts of service to fellow believers are said to empower Alnaari directly.

The Akramists and the Muthanna Sahl differ on another fundamental issue, the allowance of slavery. Akramists allow it, relying on an old tradition alleged to have begun with the first Sadafi tribespeople of enslaving captives during war. The Muthanna Sahl dispute this, asserting to the contrary that slavery restrains the ability of individuals to accept the light of Alnaari. They believe Alnaari laid out these tenets in the first age, when he lived among the Sadafi as a prophet. This issue has led to several wars and raids. The followers of the Black Sun Sect are known to engage in savage attacks on Akramist polities, targeting slave caravans and freeing slaves to join their faith.

The Almasaa, or the tragedy, was the holy war that defined this difference of belief in its most bloody flashpoint, a massive holy war between the Sultanates and the desert tribes. This war led to the uniting of the Sultanates behind the Hashid family, and the routing of the desert militias. The militias were never truly defeated, and their presence in Sadafeia would continue to haunt Sultans up until the collapse.

Creation Story

The Sadafi generally align on one fundamental premise, believing that Alnaari is the shield that protects the world from darkness. Unlike the Reveians however, the Sadafi believe that threats derive from all who are not followers of Alnaari. The Mother, Valthour, and even the druid spirits are seen as manifestations of this darkness. “Malthhambra” is the name they gave to describe this darkness, an all-malevolent being capable of great power, stronger than Alnaari before his ascension. The Akramist tale of creation believes that Alnaari is and will always reign supreme over Malthhambra, and that there was no moment of ascension.

Prior to the beginning of the world, it is believed among the Akramists that Alnaari ruled in the void. To the Muthanna Sect, Alnaari was a human prophet of unfathomable power who exists simultaneously as creator and created. The theology of the Muthanna rely on the belief that Alnaari is a temporally restrained being, mortal yet endowed with power from creation itself. It is believed that he created Aethoris and spent his power to do so, as a gift to his people. That great act of sacrifice separates the Muthanna from the Akramists, the latter believing Alnaari to be detached and supremely omnipotent. These differences in belief have often led to violence, and even religious conflicts.