Albalesta, the Bridgekeeper

Albalesta (pronounced “al-buh-LESS-tuh”) is a lawful-good-aligned god of planar knowledge, thaumaturgy, and purification. A gatekeeper of planar travel, He is dedicated to expanding the minds of mortals through the experiences afforded through interplanar discovery, whether that’s through personal travel, encountering people, creatures, and objects from them, or simply learning more about the world beyond the eyes. Rigorous effort in learning, magic through faith, and a gratitude related to these new experiences are all expected from disciples of Albalesta, called “Seekers.”  

Worldview

Albalesta and His scriptures discuss the elevation of the mundane to interplanar importance, that all creatures, great and small, have the potential and, at least in His mind, should have the desire to become greater than the plane of their birth, to do something worthy of extraplanar praise, whether it’s a scientific discovery, an intellectual epiphany, or exceptional display of magic, or a complete victory in battle.   He believes that all life is capable of elevation, and that it should be a person’s primary task to seek out opportunities to achieve that elevation, where they can use their natural talents, hard work, and piety to attain a new level of self-actualization.   Luckily for Seekers, many of their goals align with worldly development, too, whether it to be acquiring earthly power, wealth, and influence or being devoid of these as an effort to pursue life and knowledge on other worlds entirely.  

Alignment

Albalesta is a god of great intellect, but ultimately the discipline of self and attention to the methods laid out by Seekers’ forebears is the most concise and effective way to become elevated. Thus, Albalesta Himself is not so clearly tied down to alignment as some deities, but His followers, His material manifestations, and the beliefs reinforced by both Seekers directly and the methods to achieve elevation, are undoubtedly ordered.   Albalesta believes that knowledge and good deeds reflect the value of sentient life, and one should always be moving towards those goals through their own efforts and through the support of their peers. While somewhat self-focused, Albalesta’s heart is pure as a means of aligning as much of sentience with himself, an interplanar being, as possible. Because this elevation often comes with good things both spiritually and physically, Albalesta’s intentions and manifestations are predominantly good.   Albalesta’s lawful neutral Seekers are rigorous and relentless in the pursuit of methodology, history, and discipline that drives themselves and their colleagues towards elevation. More stubborn and methodical, these Seekers make excellent teachers, judges, and people in place of power where emotion and personal attachment can detract from one’s ability to see the importance of Albalesta’s message.   Neutral good Seekers focus on the more altruistic side of Albalesta’s doctrines, using their means, influence and efforts to elevate those to whom they are closest or to those with “unrealized potential.” They are driven more by their hearts than their practices, and they are often generous and compassionate, but potentially weak-willed. They make excellent ambassadors for Albalesta’s way of life and method of personal development because of their approachability and relatability to the masses.  

Followers

Amongst all gods, Albalesta is one of the most likely to be held in esteem by kings and princes, queens and duchesses. The writ of Albalesta praises those who seek elevation in their worldly institutions, believing that a better position here can propel you to new knowledges only held by the highest echelons of corporal society. Albalesta’s message appeals to many, and it is frequently held both by a town’s lord and the pauper who begs on his doorstep.   Regardless of social or economic station, Albalesta’s followers can practice in their own way through their vocation, ecclesiastical or otherwise, and you will find Seekers in positions throughout civilized society. They are often in places of relative importance, but the precepts of Albalesta can be observed by all who wish to genuinely seek it. Albalesta and His philosophies have spread to the ends of the earth, and it is one of the most popular and powerful faiths in Marafel.   Organization: Albalesta’s power, and the power of His church, is centralized in the sacred capitol of Stronn, situated at the confluence of two historic planar gates in the moorlands of Khess. It is here where sympathies for Albalesta run strongest, and where they meet their most existential foe, Throght. It’s here where the divine will of Albalesta is most closely heard, and from here that His will spreads to the world.   Albalesta’s church, officially the Celestine Church of Albalesta, is ruled by a council of Serene Speakers who, as it implies, voice the will of Albalesta directly. The council has historically been comprised of between four and twelve Speakers, electing from amongst themselves a Most Serene Speaker as their leader once each year. The Speakers appoint members from amongst the Church’s congregation based, at least ostensibly, on merit, piety, and leadership.   This council also directly elects local representatives of the church, called Proctors. Proctors are regional authorities on issues of faith, interpretation, and administration of the Church’s activities. Proctors can cover entire countries, smaller subdivisions or, in the case of large metropolis regions, just one city or even a part of one city. Stronn, for example, has two Proctors. At the time of the campaign, there are forty-seven Proctors throughout Marafel.   Each Proctor manages a collection of congregations in their local chapters, and some maintain congregations themselves. Most clerics of Albalesta answer to a Proctor directly or indirectly.  

Religious Rites, Objects, and Texts

The Celestine Church has consecrated three texts.   The first, the Secrasta, is a book written by seven ancient Speakers over the course of a century, discussing rules for worship, dress, chastity, study, and evangelism. The Secrasta is not generally read verbatim by laypeople, but its instructions and their interpretations are the basis of religious study and practice. Today, it’s mostly used by Proctors and ecclesiastical personnel for the maintenance of Church property, ceremony, and activities.   The second text is the Traforma, a book of quotations, stories, and anecdotes from elevated individuals within the Church, dating back twelve centuries, with occasional additions from contemporary elevated individuals.   The third book, the Elucida, is a fourteen-volume collection of history, combining secular and religious accounts of Albalesta’s actions in the world either directly or indirectly, and educational material on a variety of mental disciplines, from science and economics to mathematics and language. Although technically a sacred text, it is frequently used by secular organizations as a basis of multidisciplinary education.   Albalesta’s religious icon is a pair of eyes, overlapped and perpendicular to one another, with the iris and pupil formed in a cloverleaf shape. Historically, this has been traditionally how Albalesta’s own divine eyes appear, but no being currently living has seen it and returned or lived to tell the tale.   Clerical foci most often manifest either as a multi-winged glass rod or a simple icon or cypher of Albalesta’s eyes.  

Diet, Hygiene, and Sexuality

Seekers hold certain parts of the body to be sacred and the remainder to be, as the Secrasta calls them, “necessary implements” of existence in the world. These sacred organs are the eyes, ears, and mouth, as well as the brain and lungs. While since disproven by improvements in medical scholarship, it was once believed that, at least for humans, the lungs were the source of words, not the mechanisms within the mouth and throat.   These five organs contain the essence of a person, and through these five organs, a person may achieve elevation and experience the planes’ knowledge. Protection of these organs is paramount, and a sentient creature that lacks one or those organs (or the function of one, such as a blind person) is at a disadvantage. Some Proctors and Speakers would argue that, in fact, no creature without the faculty of these five organs can become elevated, which has both officially and unofficially led to severe discrimination against both the mentally and physically disabled.   It is forbidden for a Seeker to consume these organs. Some interpretations also apply this broadly, saying that even in combat or self-defense, a Seeker should never strike at these organs. All other organs are considered “necessary implements,” and are fair game for consumption or, as needed, destruction in defense of oneself or the faith. For example, beheading and drowning are outlawed forms of execution in many jurisdictions under the church’s influence. Instead, the arguably more violent drawing and quartering is common, as is paralytic poison, exsanguination, or even starvation.   Albalesta dictates little regarding personal hygiene or cleansing, but only as a means to an end to improve one’s station and ability to achieve.   Sexual relationships within the Church are not often discussed; frankly speaking, they are not considered terribly important, even for the purposes of procreation. Many Proctors, and subsequently their congregations, interpret this omission to mean that sexual relationships, family life, and rearing children is a distraction from one’s personal goal of achievement.