Sect Obscura

Not much is known about the Sect Obscura, as it is now widely considered a dead religion with the majority of general population having never heard of it. Those who have know of the sect as an order that was highly religious and secretive and most uncommonly comprised of multiple races. Those mostly of the sect were of the Elves Or Humans/ Kith in origin, although membership among Orcs is not impossible. The religion sprung up sometime around the aftermath of the battles fought between both the kith and the elves, after Marcestra De Deir brokered peace between the races. She ascended to a saint-like status in the eyes of many and inspired members of the community to continue working towards allyship between the races. It was a spiritual practice as much as it was a political one with its members mostly coming from high standing in society with social or political sway. These members worshipped not the Marcestra directly but what she stood for.

Small alters began to pop up around major settlements, and these soon grew into full-fledged temples, which were created from elven magic and ingenuity. These temples, which were as much a meeting place as a place of worship became the cornerstone of the practice where dealings could be discusssed away from prying eyes. Temples would appear in the elven city Thestle Dorei, Brossom And Lull.

They channeled this though the unexplainable miracles that she encountered, where she believed they came from Tarn, the Cosmic Weaver but the sect believed it was actually the land of Gand- namely its water that was sacred. They point to the Scallop shell of Lull- a religious artefact as proof of this- having come from the ocean. As well as the rainfall that fell upon the elvish migrants blocking the sun and keeping them safe from too much light. They hung upon this notion that water was sacred and water sources needed to be protected and fortified. This could mean ensuring the drinking water was safe and accessible to all it also that they should have control over how it should be used and how much. Under their care they helped in influence a large agricultural boom, aiding beyond the scenes or constructing terrace farms, supplying water to the mountainous regions like the Meridian Spine and coalescing underground water sources for The Elven Undercity. Under their acts they did control a lot of power which led to the eradication of entire towns starved for water and ultimately would play a role in the ending of Lull itself.

The members of the sect were sworn to secrecy and so little is known about who the members were, how they lived and how they worshipped, temples have been uncovered in the wake of their disbanding to provide clues but much is speculation. What is known is that the sect would meet under the cover of night in large underground temples. There temples ha ornate stone motifs and the flor of the temple would be floored with members wading though ankle-deep water when in the temple. Members would wash themselves and would wear specific robes when inside the temple.

Both weddings and funerals were held in the temple, weddings would consist of fastening hands together and pouring blessed water over the hands of the wedded. When a member died all members of the sect would appear to pry and those closest to the deceased would engage with rituals of washing the body thoroughly and fully submerging it in a stone coffin filled with water. They would then return the body to their loved ones to be treated in accordance with their faith.

Although overruled the sect was sort-lived and very abruptly ended in the wake of The Elven Plague And the civil unrest that followed. With the death of several elven members and the threat of the plague spreading the sect prompt shut its doors to each other. This was further dammed by the inception of Brotherhood of Tarn which called for retribution of magical sin and sought to cleanse Gand of its false gods. At this time the

Brotherhood was not as powerful being a young religion but they were vicious. Roving gangs of men broke into the temples defacing them and looting them. In a number of instances several members were killed who were revealed to be known to their communities as well-standing. Following the killings the members mostly returned to their lives and their temples were left in disarray to crumble to time.