The Etched
Governed, and lorded over, by Fusa Grilla, the Etched are the religious arm of the government of The Thearchy of Rhô. Essentially the only political party in the country, the Etched take on a culture of their own, including religious practices wherein they ritually scar themselves with fire. Branding is the most common marking, usually of an X inside a circle, depicting Ignazz's crossed swords and signet ring.
The Etched respect strength; whether that is physical, magical, or political matters not. Only that strength is had, and occasionally displayed.
Structure
Fusa Grilla→The Flame Council→The Etched Order→The Singed→The Molten Tongues→The Hollowed
Culture
The culture is one of strength and raw power. Power can take many forms; political, for instance. This is as well regarded as a gladiator's skill in arms.
Public Agenda
To bring the entire Sunrathe Wastes under the control of The Thearchy of Rhô, and hence under the control of Ignazz the Efreeti.
Demography and Population
The population of this cult like political party is almost entirely human, with one or two half elves making up the rest. It is a very homogenous group of people.
Foreign Relations
Their foreign relations are guided and informed by their religion, which dictates that they must bring all of the Sunrathe Wastes under the control of the efreeti Ignazz.
Laws
Speak Truth, or Be Silenced
Let your words be clear as firelight. Lies choke the city with smoke. Those who speak falsely burn themselves and others.Swear Your Flame Each Year
Every citizen must declare loyalty to the Flame that warms and feeds us. Without the oath, you are cold ash — no fire, no protection.Only the Marked May Lead
To lead others, you must first bear the scar of service. The Brand proves your will is tempered and true.Blasphemy Endangers All
The Flame is sacred. Speak against it, and you draw ruin down upon us. Keep your tongue holy, for words can ignite cities.Give Purpose, or Give Tribute
If you cannot build, fight, or teach — offer your strength in other ways. All lives are fuel. Burn brightly, or be made useful.Theft Dims the Flame
What is forged in fire belongs first to the Flame. Steal from the forge, and you rob the whole of Rhô.Wear Your Brand with Pride
Your scar is your honor. Let it be seen, so all may know your devotion. To hide it is to shame the Flame.Tribute Sustains Us All
Burn a piece of every gain — a meal, a coin, a harvest. The Flame gives much. Give back, so it continues to shine.The Fire Rests for No One
Work is sacred. Strive daily, for the Flame does not flicker for the idle. Let your sweat join your prayers.In Death, Become Fire
The body must rise as smoke and ash — no part of us must return to the cold earth. The Flame welcomes all who return to it in fullness.Mythology & Lore
The mythology of Ignazz paints him as a benevolent and magnanimous godling, who loves his followers and works to support them. The Etched believe every word of these stories, many of which Ignazz himself made up out of whole cloth.
Divine Origins
When Fusa Grilla started recruiting members into the cult, he did it in many ways. But keeping members in the cult was a different story entirely. For that, one needs strength of arms, and willpower of cold-iron.
Cosmological Views
The Seven Furnaces of Existence
- Ashwake
- The First Furnace-The primordial void. Fire without fuel. It is said Ignazz sparked here, a thought in the dark. Ashwake is both womb and tomb.
- Associated with pure potential, dreams before shape, and forgotten gods.
- The Ember Sea
- The Second Furnace-A roiling sea of molten light. The gods swam in it and shaped themselves from flame. It is where the First Covenant was signed in smoke.
- Symbolizes divine birth, initiation, pain as creation.
- Glazeworld
- The Third Furnace-Our world, where sand and spirit were fused by heat into flesh. Rhôni believe mortals are hardened glass, transparent yet brittle.
- Reflects mortality, reverence for the desert, endurance.
- The Bellows Deep
- The Fourth Furnace-Realm of spirits, tempests, and voices. The wind howls here eternally, stoking the other furnaces. Souls pass through on their way to judgment.
- Interpreted as the afterlife, the spirit realm, or purgatory.
- The Crucible Above
- The Fifth Furnace-The sky-furnace, where stars are seen as divine cinders. The pious ascend here if deemed worthy, to burn forever in divine purpose.
- Represents salvation, service, and immolation as holiness.
- The Forge of Tyrants
- The Sixth Furnace-A twisted echo of the Crucible, where false gods and corrupt souls are reforged through agony or shattered. Ignazz is said to sit here in majesty.
- Represents temptation, punishment, power earned or stolen.
- The Crucible Beyond
- The Final Furnace-Outside all others, where fate is struck into being. It is unknown, unknowable, but all roads end here.
- Symbol of mystery, destiny, apocalypse.
Tenets of Faith
Called, by the faithful, "temperings", these tenets inform all aspects of cult life in Rhô.
- Endure Without Complaint
- Submit to the Flames
- Reject Concealment
- Embrace Holy Scarification
- Offer Heat to the Dead
- Refine Others as You are Refiined
- Burn Bright Before the Final Furnace
Ethics
Sins
Thou shalt not commit the Blasphemy of Dampness, cleansing with water what Fire could purify. Thou shalt not Rebel Against the Flame, by questioning clergy or other church elders. Thou shalt not use the Masked Light of illusion to perform miracles or feats in Ignazz' name. Thou shalt not use a Cold Tongue, speaking unkind truths or hurtful untruths, or reciting doctrine without permission. Living in comfort, unmarked by labor, fire, or purpose, is the Unscarred Path, which will take you down the road to destruction. Additionally, Ignazz despises False Heat, which is dessembling about faith and passion. Hypocrisy is deeply feared. And finally, Extinguishing the Flame is anathema, both figuratively and literally. Always leave a spark.Minor Sins
- Shade-Seeking – Spending excessive time in shadow or cool places.
- Name-Smothering – Refusing to speak your family’s or patron’s name in public.
- Idle Breath – Gossip, laughter during fasts, or speech during sacred silence.
- Soft Consumption – Eating chilled or unheated food.
- Moisture-Taking – Drinking water before a heat ritual, or hoarding it in secret.
- Soot-Hoarding – Taking the ashes of sacred fire for personal use (especially as pigment or medicine).
- Palm-Warding – Covering your hands during work, denying the labor of the flame.
- Unburnt Farewells – Failing to cremate a loved one or refusing fire rites at death.
Priesthood
The priesthood uses their own nomenclature for identifying ranking members of the clergy. They start as Emberlings; these are novices in training, often quite young. Then they are promoted to Flamecallers, who are the ordained clergy of the religion. Searmarked are senior priests, who oversee the younger clergy and keep the word of Ignazz alive. Pyromnarchs are the High Clergy; those who lead services on high holy days and for special sacrifices. Finally, there is the High Theurgist, who oversees all according to Fusa's instructions.
Purified through fire
Founding Date
791
Type
Religious, Primacy
Alternative Names
The Marked, The Party, The Bullseyes (derogatory)
Demonym
The Etched
Leader
Ruling Organization
Leader Title
Founders
Head of State
Government System
Theocracy
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Command/Planned economy
Gazetteer
The Sunrathe Wastes are the stomping grounds and whisper halls of the Etched.
Currency
Gold Orychs, silver Shims, and copper Talans. All are stamped with the face of Ignazz on the front, and the efreeti's symbol on the back. They are each secretly marked, and are very difficult to counterfeit. Punishment for counterfeiting is public beheading.
Legislative Body
The Flame Council.
Judicial Body
The Etched Order.
Executive Body
The Flame Council.
Subsidiary Organizations
Permeated Organizations
Deities
Divines
Location
Controlled Territories
Related Species
Comments