Eisna

Eisna (from Rassenic Eysna; "Divine"), known in ancient times as the Cult of the Veiled One or the Alpanites, is a monotheistic religion prominent throughout the continent of Argestes, as well as parts of Caecia and Notius.

Origins

The original followers of Eisna were adherents of the Ancient Rassenic religion, which worshipped a broad pantheon of major and minor gods, but believed also in a small, mysterious group of deities known as the "Veiled Ones", who were never addressed or worshipped directly but were thought to be the ultimate, omnipotent arbiters of fate. However, a prominent Rassenic priest, known as Alpan Aska Capre, claimed to have received a prophetic vision from the Veiled One (which he described as a single entity), commanding him to preach the Veiled One's "true gospel".

Ancient History

The original Alpanites were persecuted by the Rassenic Empire, which viewed their singleminded devotion to Alpan Aska Capre as a threat to national unity. This led the Alpanites to develop a discreet, cell-based social model, in which devotees would meet in private to conduct modest religious services. The cult remained relatively obscure until the Purthne (secular autocrat) of the Rassenic Empire, Pulena Velthur Thucte, became embroiled in a power structure with the Truthur (chief priest), leading him to declare the abandonment of the Ancient Rassenic religion. Seeking a new, more docile national church, he eventually settled upon the Alpanites, modifying their name to its more modern form, Eysna.

Era of Lead and Schisms

After the fall of the Rassenic Empire, Eisna was deprived of a centralised authority, leading almost immediately to the First Schism. In the aftermath of the Empire's fall, Eisna was still nominally led by the deposed emperor's Truthur, Sutliri Calius Chosfer; however, ethnic Adan disciples in the southern reaches of the former empire (in what is today northern Notius) began to resent Sutliri's leadership, blaming the religion's decline in prestige on his luxurious lifestyle and disregard for religious mores. Hence, an assembly of southern priests met to declare Sutliri's leadership invalid, appointing an Adan priest, Mukhil al-Haqiqiun, as the new Truthur, forming what would later be known as the Southern Eisnic Church. Meanwhile, Sutliri's influence was limited to Argestes, where what would become known as the Northern Eisnic Church still held significant sway over the new, fragmented kingdoms that had sprung up in the aftermath of the Rassenic Empire's fall. Sutliri's successor, the Rhinnish cleric Grimald Astulf, managed to leverage this influence to establish an independent city-state governed by the Northern Eisnic Church, the Divine Principality of Sudten. Suceeding Truthurs would continue to exert great influence over the various feudal states during the Era of Lead, with Eisna being the sole reliable institution during the tumultuous era.