Host

“	The Host are the creators of this world and everything in it. They are unified and eternal. They protect us, their children.	„
	~ Josh

Host Inextinguishable is a triune deity, revered in Aldor and many peoples beyond its borders. It is known that the Host has shown miracles through its Shrines and clergy, but this is a matter of the distant past.

The entity of the Host

The Host is a composite entity chiefly consisting of the three Hands. They are known under different names in different lands. In Aldor, they are known as the Guiding Hand, that lights and leads on one's Path, the Warding Hand, that shields from harm, and the Judging Hand, that grants strength against adversity. The elves give the Hands proper names.

In addition to the Hands, the Host includes the righteous dead, who merge into a single whole with the Host in the afterlife. The Order of the Triune Hand was especially concerned with this, and so they built impressive crypts for entombing the honored dead – only to have the grave sites exploited by malicious cults in present day.

Worship of the Host is opposed by yet another malicious cult which revere an entity known as the Court. Little is known about it.

Religious Teachings

As noted above, different countries believe in the Host differently. The following religious teachings are known:

• Gnostic Hieronism - "Path of Knowledge"
• Nistrian Hieronism - "Path of Tradition"
• Northern Hieronism - "Path of Stoicism"
• Orient Hieronism - "Path of Purity"
• Eraffa - "Path of Divination"
• Alrayi - "Path of the Seers"
• Cara - "Path of Improvement"
• Zhixu - "Path of Purpose"

Those who do not believe in the Host profess one of the following:

• Dwarven Paganism - Ancestors Worship
• Paganism - Spirits / Nature Worship

Gnostic Hieronism

Gnostic Hieronism is the most widespread in Aldor, but not in the rest of the world. This teaching was held by the High Hieron, and after its schism, the newly formed churches of Brynn, Aldwynn, and Maen. It's hierarchy is described in detail in the corresponding Folio.

For centuries, the Hieron had been led by Archtheurgists, the miracle workers, the most diligent and persevering that become close to the Host in all Their Benevolent Glory. Bestowed with a fraction of the Host's grace, they could reshaping the world in accordance with the divine will. But they lost their power not long before the war, and no one knows why that happened. The only reminders of their power are the few Artifacts, the clergy staffs and the templar swords that bear the marks of the Host's Blessing.

Deserving special mention are the Tanats, also known as the First Martyrs, who are revered by Hieronites almost as much as the Host itself. A long time ago, they sacrificed their lives to hasten the coming of the Day of Truth.

Notable Aldorian saints:

• Almot the Unerring who was engaged in missionary activity in Fjall and died there;
• St Wald, one of the first Aldorian saints, left his mark in history as a great preacher and his quest to bring the Truth to Sentian heathens;
• Saint Theona, known for the story of her healing the dying and the wounded with a single sprig of Spider Vine;

Pertain artifacts:

• Casket with St Wald Relics
• Blessed Aquamanile
• Cleansing Chalice
• Codex of the Triple Hand Order
• Tanat's Skull

Pertain texts:

• The Keys of the Tetractys
• The Golden Truths
• The Aspects
• The Apocrypha
• A Sermon for a Good Hieronite
• Advice for Pilgrim

Ritual Candles, Ornate Mirrors, Liturgical Chalices, Golden Plates, Aspergillums, Censers and Altar Bells play an important role in the rituals of the Hieronites.

Nistrian Hieronism

All that is known about Nistrian Hieronism is that it draws heavily on Axonian traditions to strengthen the power of the Great Despot and the country's dominant Ksifits. The same teaching seems to be professed in the Hieroprincipality of Aeos, but it is unknown whether this mythical country actually exists.

Orient Hieronism

Orient Hieronicism is practiced in the Theocracy of Barcia and the High Kingdom of Yohara. The very foundation of Barcia is faith in the Host Indivisible, and even though the dogmas of their Hieron have some notable differences from the Aldorian tradition, the people of Barcia have the most common ground when compared to the rest of the Easterners. The nobility and the clergy of Barcia are one and the same - many cities and most of the land belong to sarcavags, the Kingdom's priests.

Eraffa

Little is known about Eraffa. The elves call the Host Dair, the Circle of Existence, but they also have a name for each Hand. They prefer meditation to prayer, and use Ruby Beads and Incense in their rites.

Dwarven Paganism

The dwarves also believed in the Host in the past, or at least they think so. Now they have rejected this teaching and gone into Dwarven Paganism. They try to attract the attention of the spirits of their ancestors by proving themselves in battle.

Nothing is known about the rest of the teachings at this time.

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