Athra

This article is about Athra, a sort of meta-religion that has been a source of several story lines, plot devices, and even one other religion in BattleMaster. The loose collection of notes and tidbits that "are" Athra have been scattered across hard drives, email accounts, and notebooks going back seven years. Athra was (and is) an attempt to construct a religion that is intellectually consistent with the elements that make up BattleMaster like classes, continental expansions, and invasions. This article will expand considerably as I find time to organize and record everything, and it is my intent to make Athra my singular contribution to the BattleMaster community. Athra is a prospective religion at this point. Please, be gentle.

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The Chess Analogy

Successful mythologies and traditions associate their more esoteric concepts--like gods and goddess--with something people interact with every day. Landforms, seasons, animals, even objects. Because BattleMaster is a medieval period "low fantasy" setting, the game of Chess was considered to be especially apt as a teaching device. The cosmology, elements of the afterlife, and especially the pantheon are all analogous to Chess.

If the pieces on the board represent the relationships between gods, goddesses, and humanity (pawns, if you will), then it follows that the gods of Athra are not omnipotent. They should be considered "weak" gods because their influence and power is limited by rules that they themselves may be unaware of. Kings are leaders and the most important pieces on a chess board, but they are not necessarily the most powerful. Queens are the "powers behind the throne", and this is reflected in their ability to exercise a great deal of control and influence over the entire board. Rooks are the trusted and stalwart confidants of Kings, shielding them in times of crisis. Again, the analogy to the game is evident.

The Chess analogy is a powerful explanatory device for a religion in which gods can "play games" with mortals, but with restrictions. This potent but limited power over humanity means that mortals can (and do) influence the outcome of the game. In risking their lives to cross the board, pawns are rewarded through elevation to immortality. But the Chess analogy cannot explain everything. At the start of a game of Chess, there are two diametrically opposed forces: black and white. The board is orderly, and goals and objectives seem clear. But what happens when the game has been played for a length of time? The board becomes a chaotic mess, with multiple angles of attack. It takes an increasing amount of concentration to understand the chaos. Now, picture a chess board with pieces in shades of grey. At the start of the game, the only thing that allows you to clearly identify your enemy is the distance between each of you. As the game progresses, how confident are you that this cosmic duality can be maintained? What if your knights, bishops, and rooks began to think for themselves? What if your pawns, believing that the path to eternity lies at the other end of the board, were proven disastrously wrong on occasion?

Beliefs

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Deity

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Morality

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Creation

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Purpose

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Afterlife and Eschaton

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Pantheon

Adaghar

Lawgiver, Lord of Kings

Scrupulous and proud, Adaghar is a god of firm justice and austere morals. The god of kings, generals, and enterprising dukes with a taste for power, he is a god of rulers--not the ruled. Adaghar is militant in the defense of law and order; his knights, Omaron and Rigal, are legendary for their ascetic discipline and for possessing an air of supremacy bordering on contempt. His priests are often drawn from the courtly ranks, as their extensive knowledge and understanding of law makes them formidable clerics.

• Colors: Gold, white
• Domains: Justice, Valor
• Symbols: A crown set with a jewel resembling an all-seeing eye
• Analogy: King

Veren

Betrayer, Walker in Shadows

Veren is the patron of the unscrupulous, the vengeful, intriguers and assassins. His patience is legendary, with schemes hatched at the dawn of time that are still unfolding today. As such, Veren has a considerable following among even the most devoted of Adaghar's disciples. Assassins in particular are drawn to Veren, and he to them. Intelligence, cunning, and ruthless precision are virtues prized above all else. This affinity for intrigue has made him the unofficial patron of more than a few conspirators.

• Colors: Gold, black
• Domains: Wickedness, Deception
• Symbols: None. None whatsoever. Move along.
• Analogy: King

Rhia

Lady of Light, Blade of Dawn

Rhia is at once a strict and merciful deity. There are two sects devoted to Rhia, reflecting the dual nature of the sun as the provider of life and a scourging flame. As the warm light of learning, she dispels the fog of ignorance. This aspect of Rhia draws many scholars, healers, and others working to enrich the lives of others into her service. Warriors are equally drawn to the goddess as a symbol of righteous and purifying light which strikes out at the evil of darkness. Warriors devoted to Rhia are noted for their ferocity in fighting monsters and the undead, which hide in the shadows of darkness. This specific enmity for such creatures suggests a holy duty for Rhia's followers to pursue and destroy such creatures.

• Colors: Yellow, white, and gold
• Domains: Purity, Valor, and Knowledge
• Symbols: A golden disc, or a radiant sun
• Analogy: Queen

Fiore

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Clervorn

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Calena

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Faol

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Mora

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Omaron

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Rigal

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Naldis

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Taur

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Cerog

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Ceron

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Arzal

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Fell

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Pawns

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