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Description

Only linked to the faiths of the Empty Throne by coincidence, the ancient faith of the Arsxasci is a sputtering flame now that once was a raging firestorm; although the embers keep stirring.

Now upheld only by the Behnam Shahs who claim descent from the Marenids (a provable lie, but one they seem to believe so firmly it may as well be true), it is a faith whose adherents have largely faded over the years from the lands beyond their strongholds along the southern coast of the Fire Mountains, although some say there are still practitioners in Gan.

To those who follow the Arsxascid faith, this world is a struggle between the true and the false, the darkness and the light. The Maker crafted them both, then set them loose to see which will win. It is our duty as men to uphold the light and the truth, and burn away the falsehood.

One of the rituals of their faith, the eating of fire, is what gave them their name of 'fire-eaters'. In this ritual, a man or woman who wishes to purify herself will, through the power of the word and will, indeed devour a ball of flame. This is to demonstrate their purity of intent.

And if your word and will is not equal to the challenge, you will of course die screaming. This does not happen often among those willing to perform the ritual, which is the proper way to do it.

In the dark ages of their second empire, they often subjected those who did not follow their faith (and those of their faith who did not agree with whatever official doctrine was at the time) to the ritual unwillingly and unprepared, almost in acts of self-parody. There are rumors, though only rumors, that the Behnamids have resumed this dire and dismal practice, but rumor darkens everything; what is certain is that they are zealous, but it feels like everyone is zealous in these days, and atrocities multiply in the telling.

Description

Only linked to the faiths of the Empty Throne by coincidence, the ancient faith of the Arsxasci is a sputtering flame now that once was a raging firestorm; although the embers keep stirring.

Now upheld only by the Behnam Shahs who claim descent from the Marenids (a provable lie, but one they seem to believe so firmly it may as well be true), it is a faith whose adherents have largely faded over the years from the lands beyond their strongholds along the southern coast of the Fire Mountains, although some say there are still practitioners in Gan.

To those who follow the Arsxascid faith, this world is a struggle between the true and the false, the darkness and the light. The Maker crafted them both, then set them loose to see which will win. It is our duty as men to uphold the light and the truth, and burn away the falsehood.

One of the rituals of their faith, the eating of fire, is what gave them their name of 'fire-eaters'. In this ritual, a man or woman who wishes to purify herself will, through the power of the word and will, indeed devour a ball of flame. This is to demonstrate their purity of intent.

And if your word and will is not equal to the challenge, you will of course die screaming. This does not happen often among those willing to perform the ritual, which is the proper way to do it.

In the dark ages of their second empire, they often subjected those who did not follow their faith (and those of their faith who did not agree with whatever official doctrine was at the time) to the ritual unwillingly and unprepared, almost in acts of self-parody. There are rumors, though only rumors, that the Behnamids have resumed this dire and dismal practice, but rumor darkens everything; what is certain is that they are zealous, but it feels like everyone is zealous in these days, and atrocities multiply in the telling.