Chapter 291 Extra: The Four Elements God, the Lord of Fire, ‘Kashusi’

The four elemental lords, the fire elemental lord.

The fire elemental plane has powerful divine power and is absolutely neutral.

Kashus, who speaks like a whispering flame, is the patron saint of all fire elements and those who view fire as a force of cleansing and renewal.

He is usually depicted as a huge burning pillar of fire. He represents the process of burning down the old to make way for the new, recognizing that change can be harsh and measured. He is the flame in the hearth, seemingly warm but threatening at any moment to attack its owner and set the house on fire.

He is the mystery of fire, the unknowable secret that inspires blacksmiths, and the Death that slays the madmen who set things and people on fire for fun.

Like all the elemental lords, Karshus appears to have no affection for his followers on the planet Abel-Toril. If Kashusi's reaction was logically strange, it seemed that he had thought carefully about the end result; he was moving toward a specific goal that he did not share with anyone in Faerûn.

However, he seems driven to fulfill his orders by amassing far more followers across the Realms than any other elemental lord - perhaps because he burns them so quickly. The strange, alien and uncaring attitude of Karshus and the other elemental lords left a false impression in the realms that they were weak powers and that their followers were eccentric cultists. During the Year of Troubles, Kashusi was not found in the Realms.

Kashuth gladly accepted burnt offerings in his name, but it is said that he preferred garnets, topaz, citrine, fine forges of iron or precious metals, nuts, fine oils, aromatic resins, and meats. His gift to his followers is the ability to use fire to maximum effect and to withstand heat and flames.

Karshus seems to be the only Elemental Lord who repays kindness with kindness; he rewards those who are most loyal to him, or who have made greater sacrifices, than those who are new to his faith or who have made only a token sacrifice. There must be many people offering sacrifices.

Karshus has visited the surface of Abel-Toril much more times than other elemental lords, because he is the only elemental lord who will respond to the summoning ritual, but even he has not visited The number of times is less than a dozen.

Kashusi has visited the Material Plane in response to two kinds of invocations: an extremely large bonfire built in his name; and an extremely complex summons performed by the leader of his church. Karshus is an awe-inspiring spectacle, appearing as a blazing red cylinder over 60 feet tall and 20 feet in diameter. His voice was a hissing whisper accompanied by disturbing crackles and pops that could be heard for hundreds of yards in any direction. He can cast spells from the following domains or schools: Domain: Elemental Fire, Healing; School: Elemental Fire.

Special Attack/Defense:

In any crystalline system where fire exists naturally, karshus are considered native to the Material Plane. This makes him immune to the harmful effects of spells such as Antimagic Field, Protection from Evil/Good, and Holy Word on creatures from another plane. He is also completely immune to any spell that deals damage with fire (fireball, fire arrow, pyroblast, etc.).

Each flaming tendril of Karshuth's avatar form can penetrate any magical or natural resistance to fire, including fire shields. In addition to attacking with his flaming fist, Karshuth can emit a wave of fire that deals 10d4 points of damage to all creatures within 120 feet; a successful saving throw vs. breath weapon halves this damage.

Those who look directly at Karshus must make a saving throw vs. spell each round they look directly at him or succumb to the effects of the charm fire spell.

Karshus cannot move through bodies of water or incombustible liquids wider than he is (i.e., 20 feet). Karshus can leave the battlefield or the Material Plane at any time by spending 2 rounds merging with a large body of fire.

Other appearances

Kashusi will occasionally appear in the realms, but compared to other elemental lords, it is still more frequent. His followers regard every fire as a manifestation of the Lord of Fire. Followers of the Tyrant of Fire report seeing their god in every burning building. Needless to say, these disaster-stricken homeowners have little favorable impressions of them as a result. (Many times, if any followers of Kashus are present near a burning building, the cause of the fire is already obvious.)

Sometimes Kashuth will send servant creatures (such as fire elementals, salamanders, fire snakes, elk monsters, fire bats, smoke and magma elementals, and fire dwarves) from the plane of fire to fulfill his orders or aid his followers. . Successfully igniting a fire is always considered a sign of Kashusi's favor, as is successfully forging a forged object.

church

All dedicated priests, skitarii, monks, and shamans of Karshuth receive religious knowledge (Faernian) as a non-weapon proficiency bonus.

In addition to the required proficiencies, priests of the Cult of Kashus are strongly encouraged to learn blacksmithing, blind-fighting, and brewing. In addition to their normal magical domain, all shamans of Karshuth gain the elemental domain of fire as one of their primary domains.

Before the Troubles, all elemental cults had priests in their ranks. Currently, only the exclusive priests remain. It is unclear why Kashus worked over the years to convert his clerics into specialty priests, but church teachings of the Cult of Kasshus say that this change was to allow specialty priests to focus on their Lord's element and nothing else. Task.

Since the Godswar, the Cult of Karshus has added several orders of monks and an order of skitarii to fill the gaps once filled by the more common clerics in the ranks of the priesthood.

The followers of Karshus on Abel Toril appear to be plotters and conspirators intent on completely reorganizing the world according to their own vision of perfection - by sudden and violent means if necessary. Conspirator.

Of all the elemental sects, the sect of Kashus is probably the most dangerous and unpredictable, because each church of Kasshu is ruled by a powerful leader and a strict priestly hierarchy at their feet. , there is no supreme authority that requires them to report on it - and as long as they respect themselves, Kashusi doesn't really care what they do.

Priests and members of the Cult of Kashu are always quick to resort to violence and react to the actions of others; and when it comes to violations or crimes, the "justice" of the Cult of Kashu is severe, swift, and cruel.

The temple of Kashus is led by an extremely proud, deadly, and determined man, all of whom believe that their own path is the right one. In the church absolute obedience is required—or, more accurately, commanded.

Those who went against the wishes of the ruling priests often found themselves thrown into a nearby river or lake and were effectively excommunicated. (Throwing water on a follower of Kashus is considered an insult.)

The priests of Karshuth are divided into two factions: the Tendrils of Flame and the Burning Braziers.

The Flame Tendrils are those who operate various temples across the continent of Faerûn, provide food and services to believers, and preach the words of Kashus to the people.

Fire tendrils perform most religious rituals and are responsible for officiating ceremonies and holy days. They control much of the power within the faith and become involved in the struggles between regional temples and local politics, often making them famous or infamous in the areas surrounding their temples.

The Brazier (also known as the Brazier Brigade by critics of the church) are the affiliated militia of the faith. These grievance-ridden priests are usually former members of the Flame Tendril who had a serious falling out during a political quarrel at their previous temple.

They venture into lands that have not seen the "wisdom of Karshus", often leaving burning buildings in their wake. They preached the words of the Tyrant and dug new areas ready to receive the Church of Karshus. (To be honest, most people feel they are looking for areas that are “ripe” for picking—where leaders are weak or unprotected.)

The novice monks of the Cult of Kashus are called the Lightless. When they take the Oath of Firewalking, they become official priests and are called the Promised. In ascending order, the titles commonly used by pledgers are as follows:

Torch of Faith, Flame of Righteousness, Flame of Devotion, Pyre of Zeal, Pillar of Fire, Fury of Faith, Brother/Sister of Fire, Forge of Inspiration, Transcendental Flame, Hot Fire, and the Eternity of Karshus flame.

The exclusive priest of Kashusi is called the Firewalker. The monk of Karshuth is named Flame of Faith.

The priests of Kashus are organized into temples. Each temple is led by a dedicated priest of the Eternal Flame. Under the Eternal Flame are 3 Hot Fires, and under each Hot Fire are 2 Transcendental Flames.

Under each Transcendent Flame, there is one member of each other clergy class down to the level of Consecrated Flame. A temple will have many priests, novices, and lay members dedicated to the Flame class or lower, and it will support lay members, and the breakdown of the number of each priestly class must be divided as evenly as possible among the pyres of Zeal.

Level promotion is achieved through the accumulation of experience points, but in this way, the highest level can only be promoted to the level of dedicated flames. After that, promotion can only be promoted through the recommendation of two higher-level priests when vacancies are opened. Promotions are always approved by the Eternal Flame of the temple, who may veto any promotion or promote anyone to any position at his own discretion without going through normal channels (but within the limits of the number allowed for each level of the temple) Inside).

In primitive or nomadic societies, Kashus is primarily served by shamans, who have no specific temples to which they belong, but who are greatly respected by their communities (who often fear them).

Shrines and temples to Kashuth are always constructed of hard stone, ceramics, and metal, as they can withstand the loudest natural noises and most magical noises. They are mostly quite solid and blocky, with a towering central element or column, generally giving the impression of a huge bonfire burning from the ground.

Gemstones and precious metals are often covered in most surfaces of a sanctuary, with sparse coverage elsewhere, giving the effect of reinforcing the luxury of the sanctuary.

doctrine:

The teachings of the Kashus on Toril are based on the assumption that the fit will succeed, and that the Kashus faith is inherently superior to other faiths (particularly those of the other elemental lords, especially the Istishian faith).

Fire and purity are one; smoke from fire is created by the jealous elemental air, and through the flames, impurities present in metals are purged. The driving force of the Kashus church is ambition, and the reward for success is power. Kashus doctrine also states that the transition to a higher state is necessarily accompanied by various hardships and personal suffering. "No pain, no gain" is the most unmistakable Kashus view.

Novices in the Kashus faith are commanded as follows: "The eternal Kashus sends his pure fire to purify all things and refine our souls to a greater state. Expect to be tested, and rise to the challenge no matter what hardship and pain it may bring you. Follow the commitment of those above you, for they have proven their worth and achieved a higher state - a state that you can also find in the service of Kashus.

Find the true vision, the ultimate purpose of your life, and pursue it with total commitment. Commit yourself to this cause, and it will reward you with eternal rewards. Guide the masses to the pure light of Kashus, so that he can reshape all life into its basic form, and complete order and harmony will come."

Daily Activities:

One of the jobs of the Lightless is to tend the church's fires and ensure that they never go out. Other members of the Kashus church plan ceremonies (weddings, funerals, fire-walking), guide novices, take care of the daily growth, health and wealth of the temple and its clergy, and seek promotion, promotion, and promotion.

Being the leader of a temple means that the priest can finally do whatever he wants, regardless of what his superiors say. Most priests become obsessed with the lust for power, and this atmosphere breeds and nurtures some petty tyrants with a burning desire for power, who often act recklessly and overstep their boundaries.

While this may not be the path that Kasus has prepared for his faithful followers, he has not said a word against it. Led by the power-hungry Eternal Flame, most temples pursue conquest, the acquisition of territory, wealth, and dominance, and they ally with those who are most conducive to achieving their goals, but within their ranks, they follow a strict and unique code.

Holy Days/Important Rituals:

The Fire Walk is an initiation that all priests of the faith must undergo in order to be granted first-level spells. As the priest rises in rank, his faith will continue to be tested by these fire walks.

Followers must pray to Kasus at sunrise and at high sun each day before eating, thanking him for the hidden fire of life that burns in all living things. In addition to this daily ritual, the church also conducts two personal ceremonies, and each temple holds an annual celebration.

The Fire Walk is a solemn vow taken by a novice upon becoming a priest. The strength of this pledge is tested the first time a Kashus priest walks on burning coals and each subsequent time he or she advances in rank.

With each Fire Walk, the coals become hotter and the distance required to walk on them increases. How Kashus or his senior clergy know the heart and mind of the person conducting the test is unknown, but Kashus who harbor doubts or are plotting—for example, against their temple—often suffer severe burns or die on the coals from the Fire Walk, while those who are single-minded in their purpose and loyalty come through unscathed.

The Unity of Fire is a ceremony that Kashus priests who have reached a certain level of skill undergo, allowing them to call upon fire elementals from the Elemental Plane of Fire.

The ceremony is preceded by a day of incantations and prayers, after which the fire elementals are summoned. When the elemental responds, it is given gifts of food prepared by the master of ceremonies, as well as a coffer of copper or other precious metals filled with coins, gems, and jewels, and returns to Kashus with the good wishes of the faithful.

The birthday of each temple's Eternal Flame is a festival for each temple. The Eternal Flame invites Kashus high and senior priests from other temples, local and foreign dignitaries, and others whom he believes the temple can benefit from ingratiating himself with.

These people are fed lavishly, given special gifts, and flattered to become future allies of the Eternal Flame and the temple.

Major Centers of Worship:

Kashusian churches frequently build their sacred shrines near large sources of fire (such as volcanoes) or in hot, arid areas (such as deserts), but they most often build their large-scale temples in cities and fairly large villages (to better use the temples and subsequently control the area).

The village of Lundeth in the Anauroch is a popular destination for the faithful of Kashus. Of course, the largest temple of Kashus in Faerun is the Fiery Brazier of Bezantur in Thay (home of the Red Wizards, who worship the Tyrant of Fire).

Affiliated Organizations:

The monk orders of the Cult of Kashus are called the Disciples of the Phoenix (good-aligned), the Brothers and Sisters of the Pure Flame (neutral-aligned), and the Disciples of the Salamander (evil-aligned).

They are very insular orders, maintaining monasteries that only house monks of the same order, and have very strict academic and martial traditions. Each order has specific taboos that bind its members from the time of its founding.

The military order of the Skitarii of Kashus is the Knights of the Fire Drake. Members of this order protect the faith's holy sites, lead the faith's many holy wars, and provide personal protection for the Eternal Flame.

The church of Kashus also has many Red Mages of Cyre affiliates, as many Red Mages are Kashusians. Some of the chief zulkirs also collaborate with the church in Cyre's endless power games and in preparations for conquests beyond Cyre's borders.

Priestly Vestments:

Those who follow the Fire Tyrant wear robes of vivid colors of red, crimson, and orange. Except for those of the Order of the Fire Drake, no priest may wear armor when participating in shrine or temple ceremonies.

The flame of Kashus is worn as a holy symbol, usually made of a ruddy gemstone (usually flamedance) enchanted to glow with inner fire placed in jewelry. Embroidery depicting flames of various colors is a popular decoration for ceremonial robes, and the decoration becomes more elaborate and expensive as one rises among the ranks of Kashus priests.

Adventuring Attire:

The Promises prefer red and crimson, but they wear clothing appropriate to the region at hand. In the wild priests are allowed to carry chain mail and shields, but magical protection is preferred. Most Kashus have a great fondness for magical items that make loud noises, glitter, or inflict sudden and brutal damage, and will display them ostentatiously in an offensive manner whenever they get the chance. (End of this chapter)