The History of Atris
Atris was once a fruitful, united planet. Humanesque races lived side by side in the harmony of daily life, guarded not only with the protection of the Royal House, but also with the Faith. Two moons; celestial bodies—Indigo and Titian—sat ever-present in the sky for all to see. Gods, Puteulanus and Rutilus, resided upon these ethereal crescents, keeping eyes over their followers from within their heavenly domain, shielding well their faithful from outside harm. Puteulanus and Rutilus, sat silently within their solitude, watching events below which would set in motion many changes to come. Death and chaos added a chill to the wind, and soon, many things once foretold would become the present.
During the Second Age, a rift between extremist religious sects formed, based upon theologies of ‘the Beginning’. Not only was it a war of words, but also greed and lust for power. It was through these obstinate old bishops, that chaos and maliciousness between the sects was nurtured and grew, ripping Atris’ religious and political structure apart forever.
What caused the separation is not entirely known as the primary historians follow the teachings of Indigo, having been either royal scribes, or historians for the imperial bishops. Any known histories would remain quite bias and are therefore unlikely to have much merit. In the beginning, both sides were evenly matched, and the arguments were few and far between. As discussions grew heated, verging on violence, majority of the Royal Bishops had already chosen the faith of Indigo in order to follow in line with the Royal House, leaving Rutilus’s hierarchy of religious leaders in shambles. This split caused outrage among the common peoples of Atris. The religions abruptly, and with little warning, succumbed to monotheism, which gave commoners no chose but to choose a side.
The advantage was heavily weighted in Puteulanus’s direction, and with the Royal House turning to the newly formed monotheistic religion, followers of Rutilus soon became ostracized and shunned. After having adopted the Puteulanus faith as their own, the Royal House believed that if the opposition did not convert, they were not only defying Puteulanus —the true religion in the eyes of the Royal’s—but also the political rule of Atris. Offering no alternatives, the Royal’s sent out a missive to every Baron of every land, proclaiming that they and their subjects would either believe or die as heretics. It was this missive and decision of the Royal House which prompted “The Great Division;” a religious war and inquisition that not only oppressed, but killed many followers of Rutilus. Those who were not willing to give up their beliefs, either fled to the desert in search of refugee, or fought for what they believed was right and true. Rutilus’s warriors were far outnumbered, and many paid a heavy price for not fleeing when they had the chance. Families were tortured and questioned until their bodies were too weak and frail to go on. Puteulanus’s mercenaries desecrated the bodies, provided them no proper burial, rather, they simply threw them into the abyss, leaving them to rot.
Not all of Puteulanus’s faithful served by choice. Many were diligent only out of fear, and yet many more still practiced their old ways of Rutilus in the dark of night in cellars and hillsides. Fear was like a plague, it reached into their very souls, tearing them from the right just cause, making them drones to whatever the Royal House proclaimed. Many soldiers did not wish to kill their fellows over such a pathetic division, while many others were blinded with ruthlessness and hatred, gleeful in the deaths they caused. Anyone found harbouring heretics was executed without trial along with their families. There was no longer a place for Rutilus’s faithful in the cities and mountains; the fear of execution and torture was like suffocation. The few remaining followers of Rutilus left in the cities finally fled to the desert, the harshest climate, where few of the opposition were willing to venture. Their greed and wealth kept them fat and jubilant in their castles, though their land productivity was lacking. It was this reason that the militaries were called back; many who had served were farmers and shop owners, whom without, the land would not prosper. Rutilus’s follower’s stayed in the desert or hidden in cities and mountains. Though still ostracized and persecuted should they speak their mind or make themselves known, Rutilus’s followers began to live again, hiding their beliefs from the world. The chaos of war had ended.
The theological opinions of the Royal House had succeeded in escalating an already heated conflict, which may have otherwise remained a petty squabble among scholars. The scar created by “The Great Division” may never completely heal. Beneath the Royal’s sight, a rebellion alliance has formed, offering hope for the future of Atris. Their goal? To restore peace, re-unite the peoples of Atris and right the wrongs that were made so many years ago. Its time to usurp the crown!
