The Stormlord

Talos

During the reign of Maliece the God-King, Talos remained his right hand and most active agent, crushing rebellion and upstart godlings whenever the chance arose. He was violent, angry, short-tempered, impulsive, and frequently motivated by his fury. The smallest offense could rouse him to raging anger, holding onto a grudge for centuries after the slight. His actions often seemed petty and vengeful, and indeed they were- Talos reveled in chaos and exulted in unrestrained devastation, causing ruin for the pure joy of it. When he appeared, he always took on an avatar of battle, emerging as a thundering face from the stormclouds he sent in preparation for his arrival.   To list the atrocities committed not only by Talos, but also those by his followers while uttering his name, would take more paper than could be made from every tree on Thelekar. One such atrocity, however, was the destruction of a small village in the Dratarian Empire, too unimportant for its name to have been preserved across the passage of time.  

The King and the Usurper

One of Talos's favorite commands for his followers was to spread destruction in his name, declaring that those who prayed for his mercy would be spared. This wasn't always a lie; some did manage to survive the arrival of a Talos Cult in the region. For most, including a young Khora and his family, this was nothing but theater. Left as the only survivor among a hundred murdered villagers, Khora was taken in by a passing caravan of pilgrims on their way to the Sunfire Shrine, an ancient temple to the Pyrelord that had been become the center of the growing resistance group against not only the Imperial Patriarchs, but the divine pantheon itself. Surrounded by rebels and fueled by his grief, Khora began to train under some of the best and brightest warriors and mages in the world, developing a reputation on the battlefield as the Earthshaker, thanks to the destructive nature of his particular magics. Eventually, Khora was chosen to be the messenger to the Pantheon Floor to warn them of the incoming threat from the Far Realm, where he first met Talos in person. His stormcloud avatar might have been intimidating to most, but to Khora, it was simply a reminder of how powerful he had to become to get justice for his family.   Years passed before Khora would return to the Pantheon Floor, this time dragging the remains of an Outer Will behind him to prove their invasion was imminent. Rather than listen, once again, the young warrior was sent away, dismissed from Mount Celestia without permission to return. It was during this second visit that Khora openly insulted Talos with words so unflattering that Talos and his followers killed any who heard them to spare the Stormlord the embarrassment. Enraged, Talos sought the aid of the Wavemother Tiandi, and the two began to scheme.   Khora the Earthshaker's power only grew during the Dratarian Wars, and with the Sunfire Legion at his back, he could not be stopped on the field of battle. City after city fell to his blade, a swordspear known as Cataclysm, and his infamy grew to not only his enemies, but also the old gods that he defied. After a victorious battle with Zmaj, Bahamut's right hand and general of his armies, Khora brought the metallic dragon armies under his rule, forming an army of men, dragons, and giants that could not be matched. A mortal becoming as feared as the gods themselves was a slight the old divinity could not ignore, and it had to be dealt with promptly. Maliece allowed Talos and Tiandi to enact their plan, confident that a mere mortal and his dragon mount would prove little challenge for two divines.   The two forces of nature ambushed Khora and Zmaj as they flew across the continent of Suumaj, gathering more forces for their growing army. The young man's spirit proved indomitable, however, and he never doubted for a moment that he would soon have justice for his murdered family. Thelekar shook from the raw power of the combatants, from the Grey Wastes to the Girdellan Peaks, and despite Khora's attempts to protect the land below, the continent of Suumaj was utterly destroyed, sinking below the ocean's surface. With nothing nearby to protect, however, the young usurper was free to use every tool at his disposal, including his legendary artifact Cataclysm, a sword that cut down an Outer Will. Talos and Tiandi fell victim to its edge, and with the guidance of Zmaj, Khora claimed their Divine Mantles for himself, becoming both the Stormlord and the Seabreaker.   Only Maliece the God-King could even attempt to stop Khora's Conquest. The two were a near perfect match, the God-King and the Usurper, but with Zmaj at his side, Khora could not be stopped. The new god threw Maliece's bisected corpse to the mountain range beneath him, accidently causing the first volcanoes of Thelekar to form: Ruby Mountain and the Ashen Throne. He brought the heavens to heel and took his place as the new King of the divine realm, laying claim to the domains of War, the Tempest, and Nature as a beacon of total neutrality. He has not attempted to rebuild Maliece's divine hierarchy with himself in the throne, but the rest of the divines were present to see Khora's powers firsthand, and none are eager to see them again.  

Tenets of the Stormstar

During a secret rite of passage from clergy to priesthood in the Church of Storms, The 5 Words are recorded in Celestial upon the new priest's back. These words remain until death, unless the Pontiff takes back Khora's blessing.   Unburdened. Be as unrooted as the clouds, casting aside attachments to material possessions.   Unyielding. Be as relentless as a hurricane, letting your loyalty to your convictions define you.   Unconquered. Be as undefeatable as a storm, suffering no master nor tolerate a tyrant as long as you shall live.   Unmuted. Be as boisterous as the thunder, letting your voice ring out and be heard, empowering others to do the same.   Unhesitating. Be as unforgiving as lightning, casting aside doubt and letting your heart guide your actions.  

Holidays

Ascension Day was founded upon the divine ascension of Khora, when he mantled the Stormlord and fought to save the people of Thelekar from annihilation. On the 17th of Star's Arrival, men and women across Arith join together to celebrate the holy day with dancing, singing, feasting, and battling. Many impromptu arenas open up in alleyways, outside town walls, and within taverns in order to prove who is the greatest follower of the God of War. Once night falls, the celebrants wait for midnight to come so they can catch a glimpse of Khora's glory. A comet originating from the Vengeful Land streaks across the Arith sky every year, a cosmic event that did not occur until Khora's ascension. The next day is an ordained day of rest, in which citizens are to stay home and enjoy the company of friends and family while eating and drinking their fill before returning to work the following morning.