Cult of Bashir
A short journey along the Edward Barrows leads you to the stronghold Cult of Bashir
Shades of Truth Era History
Cult of Bashir, as described by Canis Aird'righ, with backstory.
"We'z a'ouse 'at worships Bashir, a god o' love, gen'rosity, 'n fergiveness. We'z a peaceful 'ouse, 'cept where it comes ter defendin' ourselves 'r fightin' 'e Echt. 'oo are Bashir eternal enemy" - "Well 'iss true, we'z 'ad a bad reputation, but 'iss completely unnerstandable. See, I acshally'ave unique perspective on'e whole matter. I was on the side 'at 'elped ter banish Bashir." - " I was a member o' 'e Emancipators o' Men."
"When Bashir first appeared, we 'ad a 'ard time figgering' out what ter do. 'E didna look like a dreamer, 'n we mistook 'im fer a demon. So we, 'e emancipators, attacked." "A'course, 'e Cult did what any'un would do.. 'ey fought back." " It esculated, 'n turned inner an all-out war.." "I remember 'earn' a couple folks tell me 'at. 'e next part o' me story is where i realized ye was right..." " See, we, 'e enemies o' 'e Cult, 'as finally cornered Bashir 'n banished 'im, temporarily, from 'e dream, but ye know what bashir's last action was? Exackly what ye'd expect o' him, if ye e'er lissened ter what 'e Cult ac'shully said Bashir was like... 'E blessed 'iz enemies wit' spheres. 'Ats when I realized... mebbe 'ey easna lyin'... and suddenly, Bashir whispered in my ear. wit' no'un around. I was confused at first, but figgered out it was Bashir quickly, 'n 'e tol' me 'e needed me.
I tol' 'im I b'lieve in a dreamers right ter freedom, 'n wunt agree if'e house is gonner try'n force folks ter foller 'im, but Bashir assured me 'at wouldna be 'e case. So 'e called me... ter create fer 'im an army. An army ter be used ter fight 'e Eccht, 'n 'e darkness they support. Since 'en... Our old ruler, Ra'as, died. 'E was a good, misunnerstood man 'at was too quick ter fight, but wit' our new ruler, Anyasha, in power, 'n me at 'er side, we'z convinced 'e dream 'at our intentions are truly peaceful. In fact 'iss in our sciptures 'at we are ter try'n bring Bashir back, 'n 'at Bashir will save all dreamers, ev'n those 'at tried ter kill 'im."
Beliefs
The cult was a religious organisation focused on the worship and glorification of the self-styled deity Bashir. Followers were rewarded in many tangible ways for their zealous loyalty, while non-believers were persecuted. The newest incarnation of the Cult calls themselves The Chosen.
Central Figures
- Bashir - An ancient dreamer(?) of immense power, worshiped as a deity by modern dreamers.
- Ra'as - Founding member and first chosen.
- Anyasha - Founding member and second chosen.
- Sala Erosa - Founding member and later co-leader of The Triad.
- Terelius Ignium - Founding member and later co-leader of The Triad.
- Gromnir - Co-leader of The Triad.
Members of the House
Past Rulers:
Triad: Sala Erosa, Terelius Ignium, Gromnir
Guardians: Canis Aird'righ, Sevlen
Initiates: Jade, Grey, Raein, Mercury, Hans, Dashia, Gosu, Perunda, Lost Soul
Diplomacy
Fiercely opposed to the Sect of the Prudent and Emancipators of Men (but less so). Disapproving of but neutral towards the Emergence Academy.
Rise & Fall
The cult rose to immense power when Bashir was given form. Followers were also granted the "perfect form" (an avatar similar to a Hotai, or Horron). The faction struggled constantly with the Sect and the Emancipators, resulting in many different wars, subterfuge, murders, arguments, etc. Once the Cult's ancient rival, the Coven of the Echt, re-emerged in the city, the Cult focused primarily on the eradication of this faction.
The Cult lost its power base largely due to the absence of key figures and then was not able to make it through the variant shifts. Bashir's avatar was shattered in Idoaclesia - spawning the city's nightmares and ushering in a new age of uncertainty for the Cult, who only recently emerged again under the banner of The Chosen.
The Cult of Bashir was established by Ra'as, first Chosen of Bashir, in Edgeward Stronghold.
One day while traveling the City, Ra’as heard a voice speaking to him. It promised him things beyond his wildest dreams in extreme for simple service and supplication. He followed the voice to Edgeward Stronghold, and there it was given a name: Bashir.
Ra’as was an incredible orator, able to stir up emotion and garner support with a few words. Dreamers flocked to support this new power, most enticed by Bashir’s ability to grant spheres and powers to those that served him. The Emancipators of Men and the Sect of the Prudent stood by on the sidelines, suspicious of this entity calling itself and god and demanding its followers to engage in ritualistic bloodletting to empower it.
Bashir was known to recruit in whispers similar to how Ra’as was recruited, using this tactic to gain key members to further his goals. Sala Erosa, Sevlen, and later Anyasha were known to be recruited by this method… each saying that the voice compelled them more powerfully than anything they have ever known.
Notable members: Ra’as (first Chosen), Anyasha (second Chosen), Sala Erosa (Voice of Bashir), Sevlen (Sword of Bashir), Gromnir (Sword of Bashir), Terelius Ignium, Canis Aird’righ, Jade, Grey, Raein, Mercury, Hans, Dashia, Gosu, Perunda.
After charades as appearing as a woman and occasionally a man, Bashir eventually appeared as its true form: a horron. On the evening Bashir appeared as a horron, all of his faithful were expelled from the City, and when they returned they, too, were beasts of varying strength. The evening was spent on the offensive, terrorizing the Emancipators of Men and the Sect of the Prudent who had engaged in their slaughter for weeks without mercy. This form became known as “The Perfect Form,” and was a principle goal of many of the ritualistic bloodletting that followed. Once the faithful achieved this form they did everything in their power to appease Bashir to grant it again, and in that way Bashir kept them hooked.
The Variant Walkers: Soraya and the Death of A’kmar Ralnora
It is important to note that Bashir’s greatest strength was his ability to wield Dreamstrike, and grant it to his Chosen. One day early in the struggle against Bashir, two members of The Sect of the Prudent materialized, claiming to have traveled from another variant (that is, another version of the City) in pursuit of Bashir. Their names were Soraya and A’kmar Ralnora, and they called themselves Variant Walkers.
Armed with two skilled fighters, I led (still as Master Templar) A’kmar Ralnora, Soraya, and the rest of the Sect to the Barrows to confront Bashir and Ra’as. Unbeknownst to us, Bashir had empowered Ra’as with a talisman capable of slaying dreamers with Dreamstrike. We were facing a slaughter, the Sect of the Prudent being turned back by Bashir’s power to attack with arts we had never heard of.
Sensing our demise, A’kmar Ralnora pushed further, shouting for us to flee. I told the same to the Templars of the Sect, who retreated. Facing Ra’as and Bashir, A’kmar Ralnora charged with his spear, aiming to finally slay Ra’as. Ra’as prevailed, murdering A’kmar Ralnora in the small path preceding the Edgeward Stronghold. I scooped up his soul essence and fled, determined to honor his sacrifice by giving his remains to Soraya.
Upon hearing the news, Soraya became enraged, and would have hurried off to a similar fate unless the Sect had interceded to stop her. She was never the same after A’kmar’s death. She never recovered her love of life, and replaced it with an intense hatred for anyone not of the Sect.
The Death of Ra’as
We learned during those times that Bashir was an ancient entity locked in an eternal struggle against the Yissen Knights, whose sole purpose was to vanquish the being. Their own lifespan was tied to Bashir’s, making their age incomprehensible, with Kal’lankissa, Elder Dreamseer Teacher, referenced as being more than 40,000 years old, and Prayenth, Elder Soulmaster Teacher, a similar age.
In an effort to combat Bashir, the leaders of the houses were enlisted to obtain Dreamstrike in order to slay Bashir by the Etchen. The leaders were warned that with great power comes great vulnerability, as obtaining Dreamstrike requires a dreamer to expose their soul essence, which, if destroyed, causes the death of the dreamer.
While I do not entirely remember the circumstances for acquiring the soul essence of Ra’as, I obtained it, and was effectively in control of whether Ra’as lived or died. It occurred to me, briefly, that I could have him do my bidding until I lose control of the essence, but instead I made my decision brief: I sentenced him to death, and crushed his soul essence underneath my boot.
Instantly, a wail emanated from within Ra’as, and he was sucked as if through a portal out of our City and ceased to dream.
While we found out later that his demise was temporary, without his dreaming to guide the Cult, they lost a substantial amount of their power and influence, or for months lingered a hair’s breadth from closure. When Bashir was ultimately defeated by the Yissen Knights and dreamers, and the thousands of fragments scattered throughout the City to become what we know as the lesser beasts, the Cult was finally abolished. ~Cuero/Sevlen
The Cult of Bashir
I first began dreaming a day or two after the Great Awakening. I was young, vulnerable and confused. I couldn't find a soul as I aimlessly searched...until one dream, a soft reassuring voice carried over the Barrows sands and whispered in my ear. I followed the soothing words all the way up to the stronghold at the end of the path, but no one was to be seen. I decided to wait and return another dream. When I did, I was met with a group of dreamers. I explained my feeling of being drawn to the fortress. They were delighted to enlighten me and give a name for the voice.
I was told that long ago there was a pantheon of gods – thirteen in total. When dreamers started to flood the City, those of the gods turned and left. Bashir was the only one that took interest in our existence and decided to stay to watch over us. Life in the dream began to flourish, but then came a great Darkness. Being of the dream itself and in his kindness, Bashir fought it. So great was the battle, that scars remained above the Evernight sky and stained the Edgeward bloody. The battle raged on, until finally, in his incredibly weakened state, Bashir managed to cast out this wretched Darkness. So weakened, he went to rest, and was then without a body. As time moved forward, dreamers came and went; the City was now in ruins.
Then came the Great Awakening, which was a flood of dreamers breathing life back into the dream. Bashir began to stir, reaching out for assistance to his first Chosen, Ra'as, through whispers. Ra'as rose to the occasion and began to preach of the “God” Bashir and his peaceful wishes to bring protection and happiness to us all. He formed a following, and they soon aided Bashir in his restoration.
Us Faithful were met with firm resistance in carrying out our endeavors from opposing houses; namely, the Sect of the Prudent and the Emancipators of Men. We fought back, using Bashir's blessings of the Perfect Form (among other things) to even the playing field. The Perfect Form was an avatar similar to a Horron. We believed we were fighting for love and peace...hoping that one day everyone would realize the Great One's true intentions and that we would all be under one banner.
All he asked for in return for his protection and magnificent blessings was servitude and blood sacrifice. My naive self thought that was reasonable, when it came to the wonderful path he set before us.
Eventually, the Cult lost its power base largely due to the absence of key figures, and then was not able to make it through the variant shifts. Bashir was supposedly 'defeated' despite his god-status, driving the final nail into this faction's coffin.
Paramount figures:
Ra’as – First Chosen
Anyasha – Second Chosen
Terelius Ignium – Heart
Sala Erosa – Voice
Gromnir – Sword
Jade – Compassion
Xyn Rhade – Will
by Jade
Demonic Blight
The 20th day of the 12th cycle, Year of Revelations
Bashir and the Cult were close to victory with only the Yissen and the remaining Echten Knights standing in their path to complete domination of the City of Dreams. Remulus and Zar'tenya had aligned with the Yissen for reasons unknown. The two factions battled on through the night, more dreamers fell in the final battle of the Great Clash.
A weakened Kal'lankissa looked battered and nearly beaten from Ra'as' onslaught. She took a deep breath and formed another energy barrier around her avatar, her voice began to resonate in the mind of dreamers and beasts alike, "Knights of the Coven, fulfill your sworn pledge and you shall be released from the chains that bind you. Do not concern yourselves with the Shards, focus on the demon god himself."
The remaining Echten Knights suddenly became oblivious to the advances of the Shards and began to concentrate their fire against Bashir who stumbled back as pieces of his avatar broke off under the barrage of projectiles. Suddenly, tendrils shot forth from his avatar in every direction and as they coiled themselves around the avatars of the Shards and Faithful alike, he pulled them into his person.
Bashir's form began to mutate, another tendril shot forward and wrapped itself around the spectral form of Ra'as and merged the figure with the demonic creature, his form distorting and warping. In his newest manifestation, Bashir has become a Revenant, a creature of brute strength and many enchantments. Far stronger then any of the Shards or Knights combined.
Iolanta and Prayenth's avatar were torn asunder under the powerful blasts from the Revenant's mighty projectiles. Their soulspheres were quickly consumed as a series of tendrils erupted from Bashir's new form. Kal'lankissa felt the loss of her apprentices in her mind, so she summoned her most powerful champion, the Echten Thrall. She lowered her energy barrier and cast it upon the Thrall.
The Thrall charged at Bashir with cunning speed. The two massive beasts collided in battle once more, but with Bashir's new form and Kal'lankissa's barrier around the Thrall, neither could fell the other. Bashir quickly fetched his halberd and aimed it at the Thrall. A powerful discharge erupted from its tip but did not strike the shard. The energy barrier had reflected the blast and sent it back at its source.
Bashir roared in pain as his form shifted from the powerful Revenant and into a considerably weaker form known as the Wyrm, a snake-like creature with wings attached to its serpentine body. The halberd fell onto the ground as Bashir was unable to wield it again, limited by his Wyrm form. The Thrall struck a series of quick projectiles at Bashir, the demon god weakened further. The Thrall quickly gathered the halberd and rammed its base into the serpentine body of Bashir.
Bashir unleashed a deafening roar of agony as the Temple grounds shook all throughout the Edgeward Barrows. Bashir's avatar shifted through many forms, of different beasts and dreamers, beams of light began to shine through from within the demon's avatar as it cracked and began to crumble into small shards.
Suddenly, in a blinding flash of light followed by the sound of a loud explosion, Bashir's shards were hurled all throughout the City of Dreams, thousands upon thousands of fragments were scattered in places unknown.
The shock-waves of the blast had severely weakened the Thrall considerably. Kal'lankissa collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion. The Echten Thrall's hideous avatar began to transform into the shape of a dreamer's avatar. A beautiful male stood before the dreamers who looked on surprised and in awe. The male's body remained in a tattered cloak that left little to the imagination. The other surviving Echten Knights began to transform into dreamer form as well. Kal'lankissa glanced up and spoke in a weak voice, "Knights of the Echten, you are freed from your oaths. No longer are you among the Immortals." Her head tilted backwards, she had fainted.
Suddenly, the dreamer, Amaymon leaped forward and pulled out a blade, the Sabre of All, and plunged it within the heart of the Thrall's mortal form. The Thrall let out a human cry as his eyes widen momentarily before they shift towards Amaymon.
Amaymon held his grip upon the hilt of the Sabre of All, his voice faltered as he spoke, "That was for Geiru! For the fallen Emancipators! For Freedom! For the City of Dreams! FOR UNDERLIGHT!" The human Thrall's eyes rolled to the back of their head as he fell into the arms of Amaymon, limp and without motion, the blood staining Amaymon's garments. The human Thrall's avatar crumbled revealing a pale soulsphere, soon after, it dissipated.
One of the former Echten Knights, a rough looking woman looked in confusion, she wore a multi-colored halo upon her head, her eyes were moist as she held back tears. "Jarelek, nooo!" Another unfamiliar dreamer held her back, the two embraced and sob openly. Zar'tenya and Remulus glanced at each other looking confounded at the events.
Another human Echten looked at his hands with a look of revolt upon his face, "No! This cannot be! Why have I returned to this weak form! I did not want to be released from my oath. NO!" he shouted as a glazed look overcame his eyes. Cedryk Orgoth observed from the distance with a bushy eyebrow raised in intrigue.
- The Chronicler
See Also
Gallery
References
Codii as inscribed by Anyasha, available in the Archives of the Planes.
https://forums.underlight.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=7587&p=23002&hilit=idoaclesia#p23002
