Sar-Arukanaš (Bulwari: Devotion to the Light), commonly known as the Bulwari Sun Cult, is a henotheistic religion native to Bulwar centred on the worship of Surael, the last surviving god of the Bulwari pantheon, who sacrificed his physical body to become the Sun. The Sun Cult started as a sect of the Bulwari Pantheon religion that arose in the city of Vacyn around the 10th century BA, and slowly spreaded through the subcontinent. It became the dominant religion of Bulwar by the 5th century BA, and later it's spreaded to Rahen and Aelantir. Currently, most of the Sun Cultists in Bulwar and Rahen follow the Rite of Jaddar, but followers of the Cult of the Exemplary, the Taelarian Cult, and the several Old Sun Cult like the Cult of Purity can be found, mostly in Aelantir.
Theology[]
Universal Tenets[]
The Sun Cult has a dualistic view of the nature of good and evil. They see Surael as the ultimate source of everything good, and his opposite, the Malevolent Dark, as the ultimate source of all evil.
The Universal Council of Siyithum between the different sects of the Sun Cult established, among other things, a list of Universal Tenets common to all sects of the Sun Cult, with the Cult of Purity of Zanlib being the only sect that did not recognize the Council’s dictates. The Tenets are the following:
- Serve only Surakel, all other Gods are dead. The Struggle of Surakel is the most important struggle in the world. Everyone needs to do their part and fight their own Darkness. The old Gods are dead or have fallen to the Dark, don’t be distracted by them.
- Banish the darkness from your heart. The most important fight for the individual is the protection of their own Light. They must avoid anger, jealousy and selfishness and seek love, happiness and enthusiasm.
- Keep the light of your children. The children are the future, their Light is most pure and fragile. Shelter and encourage it, protect them from the dark of the world.
- Speak no lies, dark and false. Lies are the tools of the Darkness. They are a mask to hide its evil creatures. Speak openly and clearly, so that others may see your light and receive it.
- Don’t abandon hope, the sun will come again. The greatest blow the Darkness can deal is the abandonment of hope, that is surrender. Surakel has not surrendered and he expects you to fight as he does.
- Let shine the light of joy. Don’t let your neighbours be swallowed up by Darkness. If someone is sad, help them. Be generous, be kind. The Light of Surakel will protect us all if we share it amongst one another.
Divinity[]
Divinity (Bulwari: Ilu) refers to a force or power intrinsic to Gods. Ilu is what allows Gods to control their portfolios, and in the case of Surael’s Divinity (Order) is what allows sentient beings to create true civilization. Senior Chronicler Nuršin Gillu-gameš describes Ilu in the following way:
“Gods (Uppercase G) are born with Ilu, Divine. Ilu belongs to the Prime Material Plane, or according to some scholars, to Halann; and beings from outside of it don't hold Divinity. They can be seen as gods (lowercase g) and worshipped, but they are not Divine. An example of this are the Cannorian gods.
Divinity is an intrinsic characteristic of a God, a power. There is no single divinity, but many, each one tied to a specific God.
Divinity is a Cosmic Ordinance, the power to enforce a God’s will: Divinity gives the Gods authority over objects, actions, or forces of the Prime Material Plane, but Gods are separated from the attributes they hold power over: Kuza was the Goddess of the Moon, not the Moon itself. Surael is the only exception, as he, having stripped himself of his mortal coil, became a being of pure Divinity: The Sun. The Išizalagar are also beings of pure Divinity, but their existence was ephemeral, unless it was contained by magic means.
Through Surael, all sentient beings have Ilu inside them, his Light, and that is what allows us to think, to talk, to create, to work together on the wonders of Civilization. But Surael’s Light is not the only Ilu that still resides in some races. Harpies carry Nilšranu’s Divinity, which allows them to traverse the skies. Dwarves (and goblins according to some) hold Šadru’s Divinity, allowing them to thrive on the mountains.
On living beings, Ilu is not static, but it increases and diminishes based on one’s action. The Tenets and laws of the Sun Cult teach the better ways to engage in Civilization, allowing Surael’s Light inside of us to grow, so when we die, the Ilu returns to Surael in the heavens. Not following these rules is equal to rejecting civilization, causing Ilu to diminish and fade out, turning the being into a Ilugalu, a divineless demon.
Finally, there are some that equate Ilu with Chi, mostly those who practise the Ahu Allaktu and the Way of the Blazing Sun, schools of martial art that were inspired by Halessi teachings.”
Light[]
Light is one of the Primordial divinities, one from which all others descend. Light is the force of goodness, warmth, life, and the antithesis of Darkness. When Surael sacrificed his mortal coil, he embraced Light, which was previously held by his mother Kuza. Thus Order, Surael’s divinity, and Light became one.
For the Sun Cult, the nature of Light was seen originally in a similar way of external and internal Light. The first is associated with cosmic Order and Sunlight, a source of civilization, life, and warmth, and the second one was associated with the Ilu, a fragment of Surael’s Divinity that lies within humanity when he created it, and according to the Jadd, with all other sentient beings after his sacrifice. Internal Light is associated with good thoughts and peace of mind.
It's important to note that for the Sun Cult in general, Light refers to the Ilu of Surael, and Sunlight, not to other sources of light.
Darkness[]
Darkness is the antithesis of Light, for some is a corrupted Divinity, for others is the absence of Divinity. The Malevolent Dark is the voice in the Dark, the consciousness of Darkness, according to some sects the Malevolent Dark is the God of Darkness, while for others it's a Primal force.
Originally, Darkness was divided into external darkness and internal darkness: the first were associated with situations outside of the control of mortals, like natural disasters and plagues, while the second was associated with “diseases of the heart and mind”, like anger, jealousy and selfishness. And around the 6th century, the Cult began to focus on the individual struggle against inner Darkness. Evil is seen as the consequence to one’s actions and thoughts, rather than being inherent to race, like other religions affirm.
Order[]
Sun Cultists believe that the ideas of Order and Civilization are one and the same, as Surael was originally the god of Gardening and Civilization. Tending a garden means bringing order to chaos and exercising control over nature. The Sun Cult doesn’t see the natural world as something to be destroyed, but tamed and controlled in order to create a perfect world following Surael’s vision.
Bulwar is the Kirimahsur, the Earthly Paradise, the Garden of Surael. The Sun Cult believe that is the centre of creation and a bulwark against the Malevolent Dark. The entire region is seen as a place blessed by Light and Order, while the lands outside of Bulwar are the domain of the Malevolent Dark, who seeks to corrupt the Garden.
Bulwari cities have great public gardens, called Paradise Gardens. The paradise gardens act as the physical representation of half of the Sun Cult duality: Light and Order. The garden is a space that shows the domain of humankind over nature, while the outside of the garden represents chaos and darkness. Bulwari houses usually have small gardens that are tended by the entire family group.
Order is also associated with cleanliness, artwork and the goods of civilization, and discipline.
Surael Reborn[]
Surael Reborn is a title granted by the clergy, and while its definition is ambiguous and has traditionally varied from sect to sect of the Cult, it is commonly understanded as some sort of physical manifestation of Surael.
Often referred to by Cannorian theologians as “Avatars” of Surael, Bulwari scholars reject the comparison, as traditionally Avatars are seen to possess the power of their respective gods, something that is not the case in Surael Reborn according to most definitions. However, there is some evidence that the idea of Avatar was based, or at least inspired by, the idea of Surael Reborn that was common during the time of the Castanite Exodus, as many Bulwari also joined the early Castanites.
The Jadd and the Cult of Exemplary, the main sects of the Cult, in accordance with the Council of Siyithum, define Surael Reborn of the following way:
A being born possessing a great, pure shard of Surael’ Divinity, but not His power, that returns to Bulwar during a time of Chaos, with a primary mission of restoring Order in Surael’s Garden. This being is independent from Surael, and, despite being inspired by Surael’s will, Surael Reborn is free to interpret it.
By this definition, they recognize 3 individuals as Surael Reborn:
- Ašqarin-Aga-kar (Gigiru: [Unknown] Aga-king), commonly known as King Aga, the founder of Karqašlu and its empire. Recognized as Surael Reborn for his role in the destruction of the art of Genie-binding.
- Baji Dhirmaki, the exiled prince of Pasiragha, known as Barid-szel-Sur, founder of Suranšes, the first Bulwari empire that followed the Bulwari Sun Cult. Recognized as Surael Reborn for his role in eliminating the remnants of the Serpent-domain and its mages.
- Jaher ta’Diranhriá, the leader of the Sun Elves, founder of the Phoenix Empire. Recognized as Surael Reborn for his victory against the Red Xhaz.
The Zanlibi sect of the Cult defines it as:
A physical being, that holds the entirety of Surael's Divinity, will, and power, born to restore Order to the world, defeating Darkness, and proclaiming the Age of Light.
Surakel’s Sacrifice and the Struggle[]
According to Bulwari mythology, the Malevolent Dark was originally Kuza’s opposite, but in the early days of the world he was weaker than her. So slowly, in the span of millenia, the Malevolent Dark sought to corrupt the world, slowly making the gods fall into the dark, until he grew stronger.
And finally, in the year 8130 BA Kuza was murdered by the Malevolent Dark, starting a period of chaos known as the Thirteen Days of Darkness. In the span of those thirteen days, all gods of the Bulwari pantheon, alongside with their creations, were corrupted or killed by the Malevolent Dark, until Surael, in order to protect what remained of the world, sacrificed his mortal body to become a being of pure Divinity: the Sun.
As the Sun, Surael brought back light and life to the world, and managed to contain the Malevolent Dark, as now they were equal in strength. Since then, both Surael and the Malevolent Dark have been in a fight known as the Struggle, the war between the forces of Light and Darkness.
The role of the Sun Cultists in the Struggle has changed in the centuries since the establishment of the Cult, but in general the schools of thoughts can be classified in two main ideologies:
Exclusionists believe that the duty of the Sun Cultists is to protect the Light and Surael’s Garden, as the lands outside of Bulwar are the domain of the Malevolent Dark. They don’t seek to convert other peoples and races to the Sun Cult, but they had no problems with other peoples converting to the Sun Cult on their own. They believe that enduring the Dark and protecting the Light will result in Surael’s victory.
Proselytizers follow a younger ideology that started after Jaher was proclaimed as Surael Reborn. They believe that the fight against Darkness is an active one, and that to protect Bulwar they need to fight outside of it. The two sects of the Sun Cult in modern times, the Jadd and the Cult of Exemplary, are both Proselytising sects.
Chosenhood[]
Chosen is the most frequent translation to Common of the Bulwari word “Gumar”, that can be translated as either “chosen” or “exalted”.
The idea of Gumar is ancient, being used since the times of the Bulwari Pantheon, and has changed over time, but always implies a divine status. Is important to note that the Bulwari traditionally believe in two types of divinity: One for beings that were born Divine (Gods), and other for beings that were born mortal but obtained Divinity through some means. Chosen only refers to the latter.
When the Bulwari Pantheon was the main religion of Bulwar, Gumar was used to refer to great heroes that achieved divinity, either due to divine ancestry like demigods, or by doing a remarkable feat. In both cases, the title of chosen was given after death.
When the Bulwari Sun Cult arose around 1000 BA, and until the Council of Brasan in 1201 AA, the concept changed to refer to people who were particularly pious and followed the tenets of the Sun Cult strictly, as it was believed that this increased the Ilu, Surakel’s Light and Divinity, inside them. In this period the “exalted” aspect of Gumar is more widespread, as they believed that they were following Surakel’s path, and the title was given by the Temple. This meaning of the Gumar is still used by some sects of the Old Sun Cult.
In 1201, the Council of Brasan established the New Sun Cult, and the concept of Chosen, for centuries a very minor theological idea, became pivotal to the religion. It was applied to the Sun Elves, based on the idea that Jaher (and thus, Surael) gave the Sun Elves the mission of guiding and protecting the Bulwari. For the New Sun Cult, being a Chosen is no longer related to having more Ilu, but rather being Surael’s agent and carrying out Jaher’s mission. This separation of Chosenhood and Divinity was never fully codified by the New Sun Cult, and was left to the interpretation of the different temples and individuals, with some believing that the Sun Elves were Divine due to longer lives, their mission, or by other means.
According to scholars, this was made for several reasons. One was to give legitimacy to the Phoenix successor kingdoms, as the clergy was greatly benefited by the centralization of Bulwar as it was in their interest to avoid return to the fragmentation of previous periods. The Sun Elf kings were also very important patrons of the temple, and many were restored or built during this period. Another was to equate the Sun Elves, now completely integrated into Bulwari culture, with the Bulwari people. Humans are the children of Surael, and the Bulwari are his favourites, since they were the ones who stayed in Bulwar and were tasked to protect it. By giving Chosenhood to the Sun Elves, they gained a similar status to the Bulwari.
The New Sun Cult considered chosenhood a deeply individual duty, and was carried and perceived differently by each Sun Elf. Some believed that they were tasked with guiding the Bulwari in their daily lives, and for that reason for example, artisans usually took human children as assistants or apprentices, physicians treated human patients for free, and teachers gave basic education in the temples. Others joined the army, the administration, the exemplars or any of the holy orders. However, many Sun Elves also view their divine status as a way to force their will on the Bulwari, or to keep them out of certain power places. While not the usual view on chosenhood, it was common in places where the Elven nobility displaced or was more powerful than their human counterparts, like Sareyand or the region of Imulušes in Birzartanšes.
The Jaddari Sun Cult gave a different interpretation of Chosenhood. For the Jadd, the idea of chosen is deeply intertwined with their idea of the Struggle, as they believe that Darkness is something that can be fighted and destroyed, rather than endured. For them, Surael’s Sacrifice gave his Ilu, thus Divinity, to all sentient beings. Because of this, anyone that actively fights the Dark by following the Jadd gain Chosenhood.
Ešeral Mitellu[]
The Ešeral Mitellu (Bulwari: Thirteen Pure Dead Ones) are a group of gods of the Bulwari Pantheon that were killed by the Malevolent Dark during the Thirteen Days of Darkness. Since these gods belong to Surael’s family and died uncorrupted, they are remembered and held in high esteem by the Bulwari.
The Ešeral Mitellu fall into a category of quasi-worship, similar to ancestor worship, and they are not worshipped to the same extent or in the same way as Surael. The sons and daughters of Surael represent different aspects of civilization, and they are the only gods still present in Bulwari culture. The stance of the cult is that the Ešeral Mitellu are emanations of Surael’s Light and Divinity, and the original architects of his earthly order; for that reason, the Bulwari are bound to follow the path that the Ešeral Mitellu built before their deaths.
Each temple has a small annex building called Hall of Mourning, where small statues of the Ešeral Mitellu are kept.
- Edurunigal, God of Agriculture
- Nimenšar, Goddess of Rulership, Government, and City-states
- Ninu, Goddess of Medicine
- Suhuš, God of Craftsmanship
- Zamagur, God of War
- Dumegir, Goddess of Writing, Scribes, and Bureaucracy
- Gelšibir, God of Shepherds and Music.
- Tambora, Goddess of Trade
- Kiraši, Goddess of Brewing and Alcoholic Beverages.
- Gikud, God of Law
- Seršeru, God of Childhood
- Pinnagar, God of Cheesemaking
- Šidim, God of Art and Building
Erbatraši[]
The Erbatraši (Four Wise Ones) are a group of powerful entities that live in Bulwar. The Sun Cult believe that they carry the will of Surael and are tasked with protecting Bulwar and its people. Of the Erbatraši, only Brasan died.
- Sarnagir, the Sun’s Herald, also known as the Phoenix.
- Lahmaš, the Wise-master, the Elder of the Lamassus.
- Amašuri, the Daughter of the Deep Waters, the protector of children and the island of Annail.
The Erbatraši are also associated with the 4 Knowings, or schools, of magic, with Sarnagir being the patron of Light, Lahmaš of Inscription, Amašuri of Order, and Brasan of Binding.
Erbuturgal[]
The Erbuturgal (Bulwari: Four Great Demons) on the other hand, are 4 gods of the Bulwari Pantheon that were corrupted by the Malevolent Dark during the Thirteen Days of Darkness.
- Šaksu, also known as Xhazob, the corrupted Amaštu, the Bulwari goddess of Nature.
- Irhungal, the corrupted Ešubas, the Bulwari god of Magic, and the only son of Surael that was corrupted by the Malevolent Dark. He is also widely considered as the Malevolent Dark’s equivalent of Surael Reborn: a being tasked with spreading Darkness and chaos though the land. Irhungal has control over the Bayšigal.
- Wanamur, the corrupted Abbayad, the Bulwari god of the Divenhal Sea. A sea monster that used to dominate the waters north of Elizna until Vulzin and the Phoenix Empire fleet managed to defeat him, sending him into hiding.
- Nikšaru, the corrupted Nilšranu, the Bulwari goddess of the Wind. She used to reside in the Serpentsreach, and brought chaos to the Harpy Hills and Bahar, until a group of heroes killed her. In the Cannorian myths, Nikšaru is equal to Queen Firanya, while in Bulwari myths Firanya was one of the heroes that died fighting Nikšaru.
Practice[]
Clergy[]
The Namensar (Bulwari: Office of Priesthood of the Sun) is the clergy of the Sun Cult. Due to the traditional political, administrative, economic and military function of temples, the Namensar is made up not only of priests, but also of scribes, artisans and other non-religious specialists.
Temple[]
The Temple is the spiritual heart of the city, the house of Surael, a place of worship, but they are also massive complexes with schools, workshops, storehouses and libraries. The Kašra, or High Priest, is the religious and political leader of the temple, while the Šasig, or head administrator, is in charge of the day-to-day functioning of the temple and its institutions.
Priesthood[]
Sun Cult Priests are ritual specialists with the function of guiding the faithful in their religious duties. They conduct public rituals and sacrifices, provide counselling in regard to private sacrifices, spiritual direction, provide blessings, officiate marriages, act as representative of Surael for an oath, among other responsibilities.
There are several types of priests in the Sun Cult, each one specialised in one field of worship. There are priests tasked with guiding the faithful on how to prepare their offerings; exorcist-priests that wield the power of Light against demons; diviners who study the remains of sacrificed animals and dreams in search of signs from Surael, among others.
Rituals[]
The Sun Cult puts a great emphasis on purification and cleanliness. Physical cleanliness is considered as an expression of order and civilization, and ritual purification of buildings and cities are carried out every year. Temple-complexes have a building for self-purification, ablutions, and ritual purification of the sick and elderly.
Rituals have different purposes: Processions and festivities have the objective of reminding the faithful their role in the Struggle, while others like ablutions have a more personal objective. Prayers could be considered a form of ritual, with one famous prayer being the Litany of Jaher.
New Year Purification[]
On every New Year the temple holds a city-wide massive sacrificial offering to cleanse all people of the city of the darkness from the entire year, allowing them to enter the new year completely cleansed of darkness, bad luck, and misfortune.
Come dawn, the entire city is expected to come out of their houses and as a community clean their streets, animal pens, houses, with the clergy notably also taking part by cleaning the temples and shrines, even nobility would also take part. While this is ongoing there would be multiple processions of priests who would instead of cleaning, be sprinkling holy water onto people to ritually bathe them (this could also be a way of them cooling off the people since Bulwari New Year coincides with the Summer Solstice). This is also a way to show their loyalty and dedication to Surael, as they are working hard on the longest day of the year.
In cities with an elven population, a special incense made by senior elves and mages is added to the white fire. This incense fills the air with a sweet fragrance and causes the fire to change its colour from white to different colours of the rainbow. Alongside this, there would be a tradition of dancing and singing on this day, happening later at night where multiple fires are lit in the city, with emphasis again on there being white smoke. Dancers and singers would take place in processions starting at the edges of the city (the gates), and slowly they make their way to the centre, where everyone is encouraged to participate in the dances and songs.
Sacrifices[]
The Bulwari practise the art of offerings through burning of animals, vegetables, fruits, and flowers, with the temples having a courtyard with several altars where the faithful can deposit their offerings. While only priests can perform the sacrifice of animals, the faithful are allowed to ritually burn vegetables and fruits alongside consecrated oils, as long as the offering comes from their personal gardens. Artwork, books and other similar objects are also a valued sacrifice but instead of being ritually burned, they are consecrated and stored in special buildings that act as religious museums. The most known examples are the buildings that constitute the library of Aqatbar.
The function of the offerings is to nourish Surael and give him the strength to fight in the Struggle. He is Light, but also Order and Civilization, and for the Bulwari, the sacrifice of the goods of civilization restores Surael’s power.
If the smoke that rose from the offerings is black, it is a sign of corruption and that the darkness had embedded itself in their offerings. White smoke on the other hand would be a sign that Surael accepts the offering as pure, as well as indicating the city had little to no Darkness in the case of offerings made by the ruler. They believe the smoke is infused with the blessings of Surael who allowed the crops and flowers to grow, and by having the smoke rise, they believe it both shows Surael their devotion by showing that they reserve some to offer to him, as well believing that by returning some of Surael’s power to him through the crops he has helped them produce, it nourish him and actually gives him more power, thus allowing this cycle to continue.
Sects[]
Clasification[]
Scholars divide the main sects of the Sun Cult into three categories:
Ways: This classification is used for sects that are the more divergent from the mainstream Sun Cult.
Cults: This classification is the one most sects fall into. They are not as divergent from eachother like the ways, but they don't have the support of a great temple like the rites.
Rites: This classification is reserved for those sects that whose doctrine is determined by the great temples of Bulwar, like Eduz-Vacyn, or the Temple-library of Aqartbar.
Classical Bulwar (321 - 1001)[]
The Rite of Hammura, also known as Vacyntassi, or Surani, Orthodoxy, is one of the sects of the Sun Cult that arose early in this period, during the Surian Age. Orthodoxy is the doctrine maintained by the temples of Eduz-Vacyn and Azka-Sur, two of the most important temples of the Sun Cult in the Suran plain, and they considered it the truest form of the Sun Cult, since it traces its origin to Hammura, the first Kašra of Eduz-Vacyn and the Sun Cult itself.. When the New Sun Cult was established, its theology had a lot of influence from the Surani Orthodoxy. The rite reveres Surakel as the Green Gardener, and they consider gardening, artistry, and the maintaining of traditions and orthodoxy as values to uphold.
The Rite of Birsartan, whose doctrine was determined by Eduz-Ginakku, the Temple-library of Aqatbar, traced its origin to Birsartan the Scribe, second Kašra of the Sun Cult. For the Rite, knowledge, and particularly written knowledge is one of the hallmarks of civilization. Education, alphabetization, and the preservation of the written word, with the aim of increasing and protecting the content of the great repository of knowledge that is the Library of Aqatbar, were the main precepts of the cult.
The Rite of the Dancing Flames, whose doctrine was determined by Eduz-Rakadagš, the main temple of the city of Bulwar, traces its origin to the priestess Ninenna Bilul-Yulun, who composed the hymn from which the temple derived its name. The Rite focused on hospitality and the patronage of arts and decorum as a way to protect and spread Order.
The Rite of the Eternal Home, whose doctrine was determined by Eduz-Betdariš, the Temple of Brasan, traced its origin to Emekira, a priest from Kalib that built the temple when the city was refounded after the Onslaught. The Rite exalted the figure of Brasan the Emancipator, and put a great emphasis on cities as beacons of civilization and the lands of Bulwar as Surakel’s Garden, the Eternal Home of the Bulwari people. For the Rite, cities should be ordered and clean, and every Bulwari must have a proper home to call their own.
The Cult of the Wise Master revered Lahmaš the Wise Master, the Erbatraši who dwells in Mount Lazzaward, one of the four sacred mountains of the Sun Cult. Wisdom and magic were held in great esteem, and could be found in every corner of the Gelkar lands. For the cult, wisdom took many forms, and could come from many sources, from the most humble shepherd to the most haughty aristocrat. Everyone has a pearl of wisdom to share with their community.
The Cult of Law is the successor to the cult of Gikud, the deceased Bulwari God of Law. The Cult was centred around Azkabar, the seat of the Order of Judges, and the followers of this sect believed that the law is the foundation for order, and thus the pillar that supports civilization, and that it is of utmost importance that only one shared Law exists in the entirety of the Garden. The cult was closely tied to the Order of Judges, with many of their members being followers of this particular sect.
The Cult of the Citadel arose in western Bahar in the first centuries after the Day of Ashen Skies, and believes that during the final battle between Surakel and the Malevolent Dark a great army will descend upon Bulwar. The sect saw the restoration and maintenance of Azka-szel-Azka, the Citadel of Citadels, as a religious duty, as its walls will be the shield of Surakel’s Garden. The citadel cultists valued martial skill, with every settlement performing combat practices for the young and the adults during an assigned time of the year.
The Cult of Maqet venerates Maqet, whom they consider a Chosen of Surakel, a former slave that rebelled against the gnolls, and guided his people to a new home, the Paradise of Hope on the shores of the Gulf of Rahen. The head of the Cult was the king of Dasmazar, a direct descendant of Maqet, who worked with the Kašra of Azka-szel-Udam to establish and maintain the doctrine. For the Cult, slavery is the worst offense possible to Surakel’s Order, and they have little mercy to spare for gnolls or slave-owners.
The Cult of the Sands revered the Sand Demon of the Salahad as the one that freed the ancestors of the Mašnsih from Aakhet’s tyranny, and was centred around Ebbušubtu, one of the four sacred mountains of the Sun Cult. Followers of the Cult valued trust, hospitality, and family as the most important foundations of civilization, since it is not possible to survive among the sands of the Salahad alone.
The Cult of Mourning is the arose in the lower Suran after the defeat of the Red Xhaz at the hands of Jaher. It was a folk cult, born out of the trauma caused by the devastation in the region, for which they blame the Barkabti aristocracy, who in many cases sided with Nanaya, the Red Xhaz, before the arrival of the Sun Elves. The sect places great value on ancestor worship, remembering of the dead, ritual purity and cleansing. Their are the intellectual ancestors of the Cult of Purity of Dartaxagerdim and Zanlib.
The Way of Kings, was developed in Akalšes during the Bulwari Renaissance, when all of the Suran plain was under the House of Araš. For the Way of the Kings, the Akalunakal, the king of kings of Akalšes, is a Chosen of Surakel, tasked with the mission of uniting Bulwar under his rule. Followers of the Way profess a great devotion to the House of Araš, and they believe that any member of the house born during the Winter Solstice is a Chosen of Surakel, destined to perform great deeds, and shall receive the name of Araš, becoming the heir of the kingdom.
The Way of the Sea was the successor to the worship of Amašuri, the Erbatraši who dwells in Annail, protecting the island and its people, and centred around the temple of Mount Puhiya, one of the four sacred mountains of the Sun Cult. The Way of the Sea is one of the few Sun Cult sects that set their sights beyond the land of Bulwar, rooted in the maritime tradition of the Ayabnati people. Like their ancestors before the Onslaught, followers of the Way believed that civilization can be spread and shared with other peoples through trade and diplomacy.
The Way of the Ešeral Mitellu used to be a sect popular in Bahar and the Harpy Hills. A remnant of the ancient Bulwari Pantheon, the Ešeral Mitellu were a group of Gods that were killed by the Malevolent Dark. Since these Gods belonged to Surakel’s family and died uncorrupted, they are remembered and held in high esteem by the Bulwari. The sons and daughters of Surael represent different aspects of civilization, and the stance of the cult is that the Ešeral Mitellu are emanations of Surakel’s Light and Divinity, and the original architects of his earthly Order. For that reason, the followers of the way are bound to follow the path that the Ešeral Mitellu first traversed before their deaths.
The Way of the Moon from Kuzaram maintained the worship of Kuza, the Goddess of the Moon, who they believe is not truly dead, as is the belief of the other sects. They believed that when Surakel inherited His Light from Kuza, the Goddess fell into a deep sleep, and that when Surakel will defeat the Malevolent Dark during the Triumph of Light, Kuza will awake once more, taking the place of Her son in the Heavens, allowing Surakel to return to His Garden and His people.
The Way of the Red Flame arose during the Merchant Matriarchs period. Followed and developed by gnolls who converted to the Sun Cult, the Suncrown, this sect believed that Surael spared the gnolls, and that their duty in the Struggle is to fight the demonic hordes of the Xhazobine. The Suncrown symbol is the Red Flame, made in defiance of Xhazob’s green flame. While most of the remaining Suncrown temples joined the New Sun Cult, a minority kept many of the old traditions in the Šad Sur, until their conversion to the Jadd in the late 16th century.
Jaherian Cults[]
Main Article: Jaherian Cults
The Jaherian cults emerged after the founding of the Phoenix Empire, after many older sects adopted the belief that Jaher ta’Diranhriá was Surael Reborn, a belief adopted and spreaded by the clergy of Eduz-Rakadagš. After the defeat of the Eastern Alliance, the clergy of Eduz-Vacyn also adopted this belief.
These new cults were continuations of older sects, with only minor changes on top of the belief on Jaher’s divinity. Jaherian Cult (in singular) is also used to refer to the sect of the Sun Cult followed by the Sun Elves before the Council of Brasan of 1201.
New Sun Cult[]
Main Article: New Sun Cult
The New Sun Cult was the name given to a group of sects of the Sun Cult that shared a universal doctrine, who existed between 1201 and 1658. It was established in the Council of Brasan of 1201, when priests of of all Bulwar, spearheaded by Taelarios Irrliazuir, created the first set of universal tenets of the Sun Cult, standardising practices and belief to the point of uniting most of Bulwar under a single Sun Cult sect for the first time in history.
The Jadd[]
Main Article: The Jadd
The Rite of Jaddar, also known as the Jadd or Jaddari Sun Cult, is the dominant sect of the Sun Cult in Bulwar. Contrary to other sects of the Cult, the Jadd is a missionary, expansionist, and militaristic faith, seeking to fight the Darkness in all of Halann, and being open to the conversion of Non-Bulwari to the faith.
Cult of Exemplary[]
Main Article: Cult of Exemplary
The Cult of Exemplary is the dominant sect of the Sun Cult in Rezankand, and a minority in Bulwar. It arose from the New Sun Cult sects that were present in Rezankand in the early 1600s, resignifying the role of Chosen as an elite warrior of the faith with the mission of fighting the Darkness: The Exemplar.