The Path of Embers

Creation With the Path of Embers being a dragon-based faith, most subscribe to draconic myths of creation, the likes of which share most of it's thoughts and explanations with Quintessism. The belief mainly stems on the principles of the gates forming the world's terrain and physical elements. Draconic doctrine states that dragons are amongst the oldest sapient species in the world, and the hordes that began to form did so around a cabal of mighty proto-dragons. These first dragonhorde broodmasters are described as truly epic in scale and mighty beings that collectivley grew so large and mighty in scale, so ravenous, that in order to satiate their hunger, they left into the void surrounding the Realm, feasting on star matter and other objects out in space.

The Original Dragons

The first dragons, sometimes referred to classically as the Drekai, were believed to be supreme in their power and capabilities. It was a long-standing facet of the draconic culture that dragons are at odds or neutral to spirits. The draconic philosophy notably decried spirits, unwavered by the various powers spirits held and untrusting to the power and percieved ego that many of the powerful spirits held. Dragonkin culture in general is one of the more openly apathetic to spirits in general and much of that is carried over from the legacy of the Earth Guardian's confronttion with dragonkind. As such, the Drekai are touted as fill-ins for many draconic tellings of the older legends in the world. The Drekai are believed to have laid a clutch of eggs before leaving off into the void outside of the Realm's atmosphere, so mighty and voracious that they had to move on to new frontiers to feast of star remnants and celestial objects out in the void to sustain themselves, unable to feast on the surface. In classic draconic astrology, it was believed that the observable planets and other celestial bodies were actually the Drekai sailing the void. In present day, the planets themselves have popularly inherited the names of the Drekai within the astronomy community.

The Path of Embers is a relativley new faith, coming into existence within the last 900 or so years. The Great Burning would come to an end in the year 1000. Eldra and her dragonhorde would be stopped in their tracks after the Earth Guardian herself would show her physical form before the conquesting dragon and speak to them an ancient spell the likes of which would afflict the draconic species with a hereditary curse. This curse, the "Ember Rage," "Ember Mania," or "Dragon Sickness," would change the nature of draconic life forever. The nature of the curse saw dragonkin and their bodies slowly heat up and devolve overtime. Left untreated, this affliction caused symptons such as irritability, higher body tempuratures, confusion, and impulsive and self destructive behavior. This could quickly develop into more severe symptoms, and, in the worst cases, led to feverish symptoms and a blind, manic rage, mixed with amnesia and unadulterated capability for violence. The state of the dragonkin had been changed forever after the Ember Rage set in. Most dragonkin even stopped being able to unleash their true draconic forms and were delegated to their humanoid forms. The legacy and sheer shock and contemplation this event and its following symptoms lead to changed the psychosocial air of the draconic community. Whilst rage and hatred was of course paramount towards the Earth Guardian, over the course of a couple years, so too did people begin to let the words of the Guardian sink in, those detailing a need to cease their destruction and find a new path not as a voracious horde. Others simply began to adapt to the new way of life and adapted mentalities and philosophies that helped them remain stalwart. As generations were born after the fall, younger generations grew up with new outlooks on the draconic lifestyle, and the Path of Embers developed as a forumlized explorations of the incredibly complex and potent experience of the dragonkin and the curse of which they carry.

The tenets of faith within the Embers vary notably, especially between age and social status demographics. In general, the tenets are built around respect, veneration for one's hereditary achievements, and prizing personal achievement and growth above most other virtues.

Your family's history is the mantle on which your own story must be built. To spurn your family is to willingly step away from the tapestry your family has crafted and start afresh with nothing. Whilst you double your toil, you shall only watch those around you atop their growing spires rising to try and get that much closer to the skies of the Drekai.

Respect your family, whether they be family by blood, clan, household, or found. Your relationships are strong golden chains that help you bear the weight of your ideals and ambitions. To acknowledge their place in your life good or bad is to understand how they help you grow stronger. To spurn them is to snap the chain and lose your hold.

Pride is both a way to find strength and a shroud that covers weakness. Pride is both a motivation in your dark times and the crushing weight that shades you from the path forward. Pride is our burden; pride is our power. It is a fierce dragon within your core. Strive to fly with it, not chasing it nor being chased by it.

Crush those who seek to end you. Plant your claw upon the neck of those who seek to decry your effort. Life is defined and bolstered by the challenges overcome and the burdens shouldered with pride. Do not allow your dragon to become shackled by false, black nets.

Some were bestowed with wings so that they may soar. These wings may be physical, they may be mental. Regardless of which is which, let others look up to you or share a level glance as euals. Never settle for being looked down upon.

Your pain is your burden and as you live with it you shall conquer it. The only reason you will fail to is by your own hubris and negligence.

Worship typically consists of houeshold rituals and mass gatherings of worship held regularly once a week. Whilst the administration of Ember Root has many practicaly ways and times with which it can find use, it is common for dragonkin to imbibe their ember root in front of specially kept small household shrines consisting of a golden bowl surrounded by 5 black candles, one for each of the Sulon Lineage. (Eldra, Darum, Leelah, Shynday, Felin) This number of candles is supposed to increase as each new Sulon is born. Others keep 6 candles, a Black and a white representing the two Drekai believed to have laid the original eggs that birthed the dragons in the realm.

Once a week, those members of the Ember that wish to will congregate at any number of catherdrals, temples or even shrines built within their neighborhoods engaging in singing, music, recitals of scripture, and donations of food that are dispursed among the congregation.