Aithar; The Arcanist

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"Born of the purest essence of the Arcane, the Father of Magic would become the Anointed of Knowledge."

— High Magus Iraj Covaci

About

Aithar; The Arcanist, Father of Magic, Anointed of Knowledge   Worshiped or simply respected by those that wield the arcane, Aithar is a constant amongst the magically inclined. Known as the Father of the Iliri and the Grandmaster of the Meslasi, the Arcanist is widely regarded as both a controversial and reasonable being. His origins as the consort of Myria;. The Mother and his current relationship with the Librarian have caused many a hot debate amongst his followers.   Born of a purity only known to the primal creatures birthed from the very source of Tenegrim, the Anointed of Knowledge sides with those that respect the raw power that the world offers them through the Arcane. A teacher and scholar in one, the Arcanist weaves himself in and out of the mortal lives of his followers and those who call upon the power that he himself is made of. Though he has lifted a hand to preserve life or harmony, Aithar is an observer and guide first and a divine being second.  

Description

Mortality never graced the very essence of the Father of Magic. Shimmering locks that shift and change on the very whim of the current of the arcane, eyes of iridescence with a kaleidoscope of hues, and shifting markings that come to life across his skin; Aithar is not easily mistaken for a mortal in his true form.   Made of the purest form of magic, his image has been perceived through the eyes of mortals in different variations throughout the ages. To the Iliri, his image is much like their own with sharp features, pointed ears, and the desirable lithe figure. To the Meslasi, he is near human in his portrayal, with a more grounded interpretation of his gaze and attire. Accepting that their God is one of illusion and change, any rendition of the Arcanist is said to be both the truth and a lie.  

Origin Story

Sprung from the very heart of Tenegrim, Aithar is both divine and primal in his origin. Believed to be called into existence by the very tears of Myria; The Mother, The Arcanist began his life with the innocence of a babe and the power of a God.   Seen as the savior to her dying children, Myria would welcome Aithar amongst the Iliri as her consort and partner. Their relationship would blossom and as a gift to his beloved he would infuse her children with the very essence of magic that flowed through him.   Offering the knowledge of how to wield the arcane and utilize it for the good of Tenegrim, the Arcanist was accepted as the Father of the Iliri. His devotion to their teachings and development brought him favor and worship along with silencing any lingering love for their true father; Kane.   Upon the return of The Destroyer, Aithar would fall prey to Kane’s vengeance and dark magics. With death collecting his soul and essence to return to the heart of Tenegrim, Aithar was returned to life by Myria through the desperate swallowing of the Seeds of Life. Such an action, while restoring his life, would prove disastrous to the whole of Tenegrim and introduce mortality to the world.   Infuriated at the unnatural return of his life, Aithar would grow distance from his former beloved. Upon her banishment from the surface of the world, the Arcanist would beg favor from the merciful Keeper to allow her to remain tethered to the realm in exchange for service as the guardian of the Arcane. Accepting such a sacrifice, Aithar was ascended to Godhood and became the chosen leader and guardian of the Iliri in the absence of their Mother.  

Relationships

To say that the Father of Magic does not favor some over others would be a lie. His responsibility to the Iliri and the of the Melasi people would lead to his presence primarily being felt within their lands and influencing their cultures heavily. Though he accepts his position as a divine being, his ever-curious nature at times causes his behavior to be seen as unpredictable by the mortals that engage with him.   Though the Iliri believe that Aithar still loves and is loyal to their Mother; Myria, the truth that he has taken another in the form of the Librarian; Kirja cannot be denied. Their union has been seen as the cause for the ability of elf and human to mate and create the Half-Elf. Though he is not openly close with the other gods, he is said to have a working relationship with his daughter Naravaiya and a caring relationship with The Keeper.  

Religion

Dogma

“Understanding the Arcane is a lifelong journey.”
“The lifeblood of magic must be wielded with caution and respect.”
“Caution to those that believe themselves immune to limitations, for they shall drown in the blood of their foolishness.”
 

Clergy

The ability to wield magic is a requirement when it comes to the proper clergy of The Arcanist. Their respect for the arcane must be akin to the respect of life itself. Centered around the preservation of knowledge and the care for the delicate gift of the arts, most clergy spend their time in libraries or schools throughout Tenegrim. The traveling clergy usually few and far between. Pilgrimages are also very common amongst the lower clergy to prove their devotion before being stationed permanently somewhere to expand their knowledge and care for the populace.   Though they are devoted to The Arcanist, most of the Clergy do have their own lives and tend to partake of experiences such as marriage, family, and even holding other minor positions within their society. Save for the enforcers that have been created or called directly in different regions, the clergy can choose to live a normal life save for the reverence and protection of the Arcane itself.  

Temples

Formal temples found within the larger metropolitan areas tend to be vast in size and double as a school that offers teachings of the Arcane. The design is usually decidedly elvish in the structure and decoration with an overall influence of the Meslasi contributions of his worship. Beautiful, colorful, and grand are the words that tend to describe the temples that stand as beacons of magic.   Smaller schools of magic dot the globe and within the rural areas shrines with protective wards offer a place of worship to the traveling casters and devotees. Each of these also act as a sanctuary for those that are seeking to better society or teach themselves control of the magic within. Though there is a cost and expectation of contribution, the Temples of Aithar are welcoming to all no matter their origin.  

Worship

Yield the Arcane for the expansion of society, that is the simplest of a worship that can be offered to The Arcanist. Having been born of its very essence, the offerings that he happily accepts come in the form of spells, artifacts, knowledge, and the blood of those that have violated the sanctity of magic. Even wielding magic of an arcane type is seen as a type of worship in the eyes of the Father of Magic.   Rites and rituals differ heavily depending on the region that Aithar is worshiped in. Some would argue that the components and working of rituals to wield certain spells is within the outline of what Aithar expects in order to allow said caster to successfully cast. There is even a belief that an offering or ritual to Aithar before the use of magic has a higher impact on success. Never proven, there are rites and rituals that many do when attempting to conceive an arcane blessed babe by societies such as the Meslasi or Iliri.