Category:Church of Rahkzan

Rahkzan's Place in the Pantheon
You may have noticed Rahkzan's absence from the pantheon. That was not an oversight. Rahkzan requires his own question, because his Church is one of the -- if not the -- most openly antagonistic force in the world.

Rahkzan is venerated as the god of justice and light. His symbol is the Labyrinthine Sun, a ring of gold with a maze of crooked rays spreading outward. The merciless heat of the sun -- and the way it blinds eyes that dare stare into it directly -- are evidence of the gods power and purity. The maze-like interpretation of the sun's rays are meant to illustrate the confounding and complex nature of approaching Rahkzan's perfection.

How can one possible navigate such a labyrinth toward such blinding truth? Only with the aid of those who have dedicated every drop of their lifeblood to his worship. This is the Church of Rahkzan.

The Rahkzanite Church is by far Mavarin's foremost faith, and has even managed to penetrate Vezuna -- though the Land of the Merchant-Princes has less use for piety than most. The Church's influence is spread primarily by its Priesthood. These Priests are what you would expect, though sometimes even contain genuinely gifted Clerics or Paladins.

It is important to note that while a Cleric or Paladin might be a Priest, a Priest is not necessarily someone with supernatural gifts. Those which such abilities typically rise higher in the hierarchy, but even that is not assured.

After the Walk of the Child and the disappearance of the Immortal King, the Church of Rahkzan took advantage of the disintegration of the Mavarin to seize power. Offering security in exchange for piety, the Church assembled a massive military force. The descendants of the former petty kingdoms of Mavarin, sworn as Barons beneath the crown of King Epheldan, were coerced into allegiance to Rahkzan by a united horde of zealots in the midst of apocalypse.

In culmination, the Church of Rahkzan employed heretofore unknown rites -- their origin still shrouded in mystery -- to call upon their god's power in the construction of the Scouring Light, more commonly referred to as the Chain.

At the same time -- whether effected by the rites themselves, or merely by the drawn attention of their god -- the sun was transformed. It appears now as a ring in the sky, and every ray of its light shines crooked. The sun is... no more. What remains is Maze, and all suffer beneath the Mazelight.

The Chain, essentially a demiplanar concentration camp, housed all of the Church's enemies in forced slavery for years, before it was shattered by the rumored appearance of a monstrous creature only whispered: A Dragon, god-like executor of Vakasi's terrible fury.