Symbol of the Old Sun Cult
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The Old Sun Cult is a subgroup of the Bulwari Sun Cult. Its teachings are centered on a dualistic view of good and evil, and the eternal fight between light and darkness. The Sun Cult believe that all gods are dead, with the last god, Surakel, sacrificing himself to become the sun in order to keep the Malevolent Dark at bay. Surakel is prophesied to be one day return in a physical body and dispel the darkness once and for all.
In modern times much of the Old Sun Cult's teachings have been displaced by what is known as the New Sun Cult, which see Jaher and his sun elven people as Surakel's (now known as Surael) successors.
Less a unified religion and more a collection of varying local traditions, united mainly by their rejection of Jaher and the Sun Elves as Surakel's chosen, the Old Sun Cult survives in remote locations, away from persecution and practiced by a small number of people scattered across Bulwar. The few remaining places of worship, concealed from outsiders, are guarded by an order of warriors known as the Eduz-Nabari, the Temple Guards.
The Old Sun Cult rose once again to prominence when Dartaxes szel-Forramaz rebelled against the Sun Elven Akalate of Birsartanšes, establishing the Akalate of Dartaxâgerdim. Dartaxes would adopt the Old Sun Cult following the rebellion, as he became the first human king in Bahar since the fall of the Kingdom of Bahar during the Cinder Wars. Though many historians would argue that this conversion was politically motivated, this event has led to a degree of standardization of Old Sun Cult beliefs, centralizing them into a unified religion, rather than a scattered collection of divergent beliefs.
Tenets of the Old Sun Cult[]
- Shelter the remaining Light
- Prepare the return of Surakel
1. “The Light has diminished greatly since ancient times. The Shadow of the Gnolls nearly extinguished the remaining rays of the sun, with many letting the darkness into their hearts. The coming of the Sun Elves initially heralded an age of rekindling and virtue, but they showed their true colours. These deceivers are not chosen by Surakel, but have usurped his holy temples and defiled his creed. We must retain and shelter the true remaining Light, that one day it might shine bright again.” -Aqeela szel-Akal-Uak, Priestess of Surakel in Zanlib, in Radient Bulwar, 1561 AA
2. “One day Surakel will return to save us from the darkness. We must be ready for that day. Stay strong in arm and save our coin, we will need all the advantages that we can get, for the darkness has infiltrated everywhere.” -Aqeela szel-Akal-Uak, Priestess of Surakel in Zanlib, in Radient Bulwar, 1561 AA
The Old Sun Cult is a minority group in Bulwar that refused to follow Jaher and his successors as he was proclaimed the reincarnation of Surakel. Many of them went into hiding or worshiped in secret. There were numerous hidden temples throughout all of Bulwar. Between 1350 and 1360 the Exemplars cleared 22 locations of Old Sun Cult worship in Brasan alone. But despite the crack down, the faith persisted and gained official recognition when the Akalate of Dartaxagerdim converted to the Old Cult in 1448, in clear defiance of the Sun Elven rulers of Bulwar. While the name is the “Old” Sun Cult, time has undoubtedly warped their beliefs compared to those that existed in Pre-Jaherian times.