Illendrith
Before the The Church of Irath and Church of Rathias took their shape, the Illendriths were the only ones helping the people in Agia, when the goddesses could not. The Illendriths are believed to be the very first religious organisation in Agia, settling in all places to guide and help the First Species. Some did it through miracles, others helped interpret the goddesses' meanings when the Goddesses were busy elsewhere. The deeds of the Illendriths are long, and many have later become Hailan, who are still worshipped. But the end of this organisation and its members ends in tragedy, which later has transpired into myths and provided question of what the church's narrative and ambition are.
In the beginning, they were revered men and women who got recognised for performing what people call miracles. Some were known to cure the sick, some were calming the storms, and some were driving away plague and madness. Today, there are still discussions on whether these miracles were divine blessings or the fruit of profound devotion. Yet whenever such wonder happened, those responsible were given the title of the illendriths - the Miracles Makers.
The Illendriths is believe to have begun with a humble wish to serve the goddesses. It is difficult to know their nature with the goddesses, as some were followers of Irath, and some of Rathias, and these two doctrines have always conflicted. A known story of the three kings' dreams is the first mention of a leader in the Illendriths. Here, three candidates became known through their wisdom to interpret the dreams the goddesses had given to the kings, though the one named Oleanna was chosen as the leader by the Kings' Assembly. It is also here that the two religious scriptures tell that they made Oleanna the founder of the Illendriths and the goddesses bestowed her insight to guide the species towards the goddesses' wishes. They also trained Oleanna to understand both goddesses' messages to make sure she could train others to become Illendriths. She was also bestowed the Light from Irath and the Dark from Rathias, which some believe to be the source of these miracles. Therefore, the Illendriths have been impartial to either side of the religious conflict, always trying to maintain an understanding between the species and the different religious paths that existed.
The line between service and imitation became blurred, and soon after, whispers spread that a few Illendriths sought not only to serve the divine, but also to become divine. This caused a division within the illendriths;, those no longer having the sacred powers of miracles wanted to still guide the people while serving the goddesses. Believing this was yet another trial, they wanted to distance themselves from those they felt were drifting away from the purpose placed upon the Illendriths. They became scattered and called themselves priests. Other Illendriths, still with the abilities of miracles, were far more concerned to take the organisation back to its roots and make sure to contain those whose ambitions would lead the organisation astray.
Those remaining in the Illendriths started an internal strife, but those in favour of taking the organisation back to its roots were the losing side and fled across Agia, swearing they would never use their abilities again against another person. This, however, would not protect them in the future.
After fifty years of silence, the goddesses returned to the mayhem that had happened in Agia and the schism within the Illendriths. They gathered the straggling priests, those who were previously Illendriths, together and saw no redemption, for the faith in the goddesses had been weakening after the Illendriths had tried to usurp. In the end, they ordered each species to eradicate the false illendriths, but none could distinguish those with the godhood ambition and those with the ambition to do good. In the end, all was believed to be purged, and the priest founded a new organisation to lead the two religions.
Over time, more clergy members came to the church, and they believed the few who survived the purge should be hunted down to ensure none of these actions would happen again. The churches issued edicts, dictating that the last remaining Illendriths had committed sacrilege, stealing the reverence meant for the goddesses, and heretical actions for trying to achieve divinity. The hunts for the Illendriths began, sometimes taking in simple herbalists or other wise persons who dealt with healing. Other times, the common folk could have become angry at one person, believing they were the cause for their cows not producing milk, the harvest went wrong, or that the farmer's dog had suddenly died, and brought the person they believed had caused the misfortune, to the priest for the trials. And so, trials were held, and the Illendriths and innocent people were convicted to death. Over time, the order was proscribed, and the last remaining members were hunted or driven into exile.
Many stories still tell of wandering hermits, healers, or blessed madmen, any of whom might secretly carry the Illendrith's blood or spirit. The churches teaches that such stories are cautionary, proof that even faith can lead astray when touched by pride. Yet among the common folk, the name Illendrith lingers on the tongue as both a curse and a prayer, a reminder that holiness, once sought with pure intent, can too easily burn those who reach too high.
Some nobles claim to have Illendrith blood, and some people still manage to create miracles, however small, but the time between each miracle has dwindled in number over the years, and now, there has not been one seen for the last two hundred years.
Official sermons often warns that even good intentions can curdle into vanity. The clergy teach that the Illendriths began as guides and interpreters, but grew to crave reverence from the people whom they served. Their miracles in the end, had turned from blessings to suspect actions, as people gathered to worship them instead of the two Goddesses.
The two churches current positions is clear: the Illendriths were neither good nor bad, they were simply mortals overcome by pride. Their eradication is described not as persecution, but as purification of the faith.
But the churches also love to mention the Hailan in the Illendriths, since they are the ones who had the most merit of them all, even in the eyes of the goddesses, and so, their deeds should not be forgotten, despite their organisation's demise. The list of Hailan is long, but has been branched out depending on which deeds they have been known for, and one can therefore gain an understanding of whom of the Illendriths and the Hailan they think are of most importance. Those closest to the goddesses are the ones that have more importance.
Mothers tells stories of wandering healers who could still the blood of a wound, foretell the storms, or lift curses with a touch. Old farmers claim their ancestors saw one disappear in a flash of light after blessing an old oak. In remote places, the Illendrith's symbol still hangs over old ruined doorways, and even some wells in town may have this symbol hidden. Even in barns' lintel might there be carved this symbol for protection.
Folk tales often frame the Illendriths not as rebels, but as martyrs of faith misunderstood. In some versions, they too, might return when the goddesses have been reincarnated. Other tells of a remote island that still has a strong presence of Illendriths, and they either work in the dark, or await a time to do either good or evil.
Because of these many myths, legends, folk tales and documents, the Illendriths have become a symbol of dangerous curiosity. Scholars seeking their remnants risk both their careers and their heads should their findings contradict the truth that the churches have established. Yet the rumours persist of hidden manuscripts and unnamed Hailan whose portraits once bore the Illendrith symbol.
Some historians believe the Daughters of Ptlomethia are a secret organisation made by a few illendriths who managed to escape the purge.
I have wondered after doing the research, the two religious scriptures mention the Illendriths travelled across Agia to help guide the people. Does this mean the Southern Islands might have a different version of this very organisation still existing? This is a subject I might return to at another date.
In the beginning, they were revered men and women who got recognised for performing what people call miracles. Some were known to cure the sick, some were calming the storms, and some were driving away plague and madness. Today, there are still discussions on whether these miracles were divine blessings or the fruit of profound devotion. Yet whenever such wonder happened, those responsible were given the title of the illendriths - the Miracles Makers.
Origin and Purpose
"You have to remember the importance of guiding the people on the path we told you. Only those who proves themselves can be worthy to be Illendrih, and must follow our words in their hearts. Power is a dangerous thing, and can cause great harm should the unworthy and wrong person receive it." - Rathias
The Ambition, the schism, and the Fall
Over time, the miracles were in abundance and all seemed well with the Illendriths, but then the goddesses made a bet that caused mayhem for over fifty years. Silence caused the Illendriths to be more sought after, wanting to know the silent goddesses' wishes, but they too were not able to hear anything. It was during this silent period that the illendriths' ambition took root, and some began to question whether holiness was a gift from the goddesses or something one could earn through purity, conviction, or some type of mastery of the arts.The line between service and imitation became blurred, and soon after, whispers spread that a few Illendriths sought not only to serve the divine, but also to become divine. This caused a division within the illendriths;, those no longer having the sacred powers of miracles wanted to still guide the people while serving the goddesses. Believing this was yet another trial, they wanted to distance themselves from those they felt were drifting away from the purpose placed upon the Illendriths. They became scattered and called themselves priests. Other Illendriths, still with the abilities of miracles, were far more concerned to take the organisation back to its roots and make sure to contain those whose ambitions would lead the organisation astray.
Those remaining in the Illendriths started an internal strife, but those in favour of taking the organisation back to its roots were the losing side and fled across Agia, swearing they would never use their abilities again against another person. This, however, would not protect them in the future.
After fifty years of silence, the goddesses returned to the mayhem that had happened in Agia and the schism within the Illendriths. They gathered the straggling priests, those who were previously Illendriths, together and saw no redemption, for the faith in the goddesses had been weakening after the Illendriths had tried to usurp. In the end, they ordered each species to eradicate the false illendriths, but none could distinguish those with the godhood ambition and those with the ambition to do good. In the end, all was believed to be purged, and the priest founded a new organisation to lead the two religions.
Over time, more clergy members came to the church, and they believed the few who survived the purge should be hunted down to ensure none of these actions would happen again. The churches issued edicts, dictating that the last remaining Illendriths had committed sacrilege, stealing the reverence meant for the goddesses, and heretical actions for trying to achieve divinity. The hunts for the Illendriths began, sometimes taking in simple herbalists or other wise persons who dealt with healing. Other times, the common folk could have become angry at one person, believing they were the cause for their cows not producing milk, the harvest went wrong, or that the farmer's dog had suddenly died, and brought the person they believed had caused the misfortune, to the priest for the trials. And so, trials were held, and the Illendriths and innocent people were convicted to death. Over time, the order was proscribed, and the last remaining members were hunted or driven into exile.
Legacy and Memory
In modern times, the Illendriths exist mainly in legend. To some believers, they were heretics who dared to claim what belonged to the divine. To others, they were holy persons who made the world better when they still held faith.Many stories still tell of wandering hermits, healers, or blessed madmen, any of whom might secretly carry the Illendrith's blood or spirit. The churches teaches that such stories are cautionary, proof that even faith can lead astray when touched by pride. Yet among the common folk, the name Illendrith lingers on the tongue as both a curse and a prayer, a reminder that holiness, once sought with pure intent, can too easily burn those who reach too high.
Some nobles claim to have Illendrith blood, and some people still manage to create miracles, however small, but the time between each miracle has dwindled in number over the years, and now, there has not been one seen for the last two hundred years.
The Illendriths in Church Records
According to the Church's sanctioned history, the Illendriths were a misguided flock of believers, who, in the beginning was blessed by the goddesses, yet threw that blessing in their faces. Thus, many clergy describe the Illendriths as earnest but dangerous, that lacked oversight, and confused the ideas of divine favour with personal holiness.Official sermons often warns that even good intentions can curdle into vanity. The clergy teach that the Illendriths began as guides and interpreters, but grew to crave reverence from the people whom they served. Their miracles in the end, had turned from blessings to suspect actions, as people gathered to worship them instead of the two Goddesses.
The two churches current positions is clear: the Illendriths were neither good nor bad, they were simply mortals overcome by pride. Their eradication is described not as persecution, but as purification of the faith.
But the churches also love to mention the Hailan in the Illendriths, since they are the ones who had the most merit of them all, even in the eyes of the goddesses, and so, their deeds should not be forgotten, despite their organisation's demise. The list of Hailan is long, but has been branched out depending on which deeds they have been known for, and one can therefore gain an understanding of whom of the Illendriths and the Hailan they think are of most importance. Those closest to the goddesses are the ones that have more importance.
The Illendriths in Folk Memory
Among the common folk, the story has a different flavour. In villages, ballads and winter tales speak of the Illendriths as the lost Hailan, men and women so beloved by the goddesses that even the church turned against them out of jealousy.Mothers tells stories of wandering healers who could still the blood of a wound, foretell the storms, or lift curses with a touch. Old farmers claim their ancestors saw one disappear in a flash of light after blessing an old oak. In remote places, the Illendrith's symbol still hangs over old ruined doorways, and even some wells in town may have this symbol hidden. Even in barns' lintel might there be carved this symbol for protection.
Folk tales often frame the Illendriths not as rebels, but as martyrs of faith misunderstood. In some versions, they too, might return when the goddesses have been reincarnated. Other tells of a remote island that still has a strong presence of Illendriths, and they either work in the dark, or await a time to do either good or evil.
Historians
Some historians and scholars, like myself, often debate the Illendriths quietly, often at our peril. There are some who suggest the churches rewrote the events to erase rivals, and others argue that the legend glorified mere charlatans. Few agree on which is closer to the truth, and most archives contain deliberate gaps, destroyed letters, censored hymns, missing parish records from the period of their purging, and some records have been lost to time. After all, the purge did happen about two thousand years ago.Because of these many myths, legends, folk tales and documents, the Illendriths have become a symbol of dangerous curiosity. Scholars seeking their remnants risk both their careers and their heads should their findings contradict the truth that the churches have established. Yet the rumours persist of hidden manuscripts and unnamed Hailan whose portraits once bore the Illendrith symbol.
Some historians believe the Daughters of Ptlomethia are a secret organisation made by a few illendriths who managed to escape the purge.
I have wondered after doing the research, the two religious scriptures mention the Illendriths travelled across Agia to help guide the people. Does this mean the Southern Islands might have a different version of this very organisation still existing? This is a subject I might return to at another date.
Many thousand years ago, but date is unknown. - -1557
Type
Religious, Holy Order
Successor Organizations
Founders
Subsidiary Organizations
Deities
I like how the organization has developed and how the religion has changed over time. It's a shame they were declared heretics by the two goddesses and almost wiped out. I wonder if they'll ever rise again?
Blue's Worlds - Elaqitan - Naharin