The World Of Khoras - Religion - Gods of the Avarians

Setharus

Description

Avarians cower in fear at the name of Setharus. It is often his form that stalks the nightmares of this race. He stalks the avarian race, waiting for vengeance against each and every one... for he is the one who claims the souls of an avarian upon their death. Legends hold that Setharus carries the soul of an avarian to a place of pain and darkness where the avarian must atone for all his mortal sins before he is released.

History

According to legend, Setharus was the first bat aberrant of the avarians (born during the World Storm) and it is for him that the setharin aberrations are named. At a young age, he was ridiculed and beaten, Before reaching full maturity, he was accused of witchcraft and driven from his village. Later, when a young avarian's body was found with Setharus living in a cave not far away, Setharus was captured and publicly tortured to death. At the moment of his death, a terrible apparition arose from the body, a huge skeletal bat-like thing made of mist and cold that resembled Setharus. It spread its wings and attacked the executioner, tearing his soul from his body. Setharus then flew up into the mountains and vanished. Ever since that horrific day, avarians claim that an avarian who is about to die will see a shadowy bat form swooping down on them to claim their soul. It is probably because of this deity that avarians dislike bats or anything resembling those flying mammals.

Religion

On occasion, an avarian egg laid will be unlike the others - grey and leathery rather than a white shell. It is known that such an egg will always produce a setharin. Traditionally, when such an egg is laid, the parents must deliver it to the Temple of Setharus. This is always done late at night under cover of darkness so that the other avarian gods will not be angered. The parents will take the egg to the courtyard of the temple, sound the great copper bell which hangs outside the main door and leave hastily before the priests come. The egg is taken into the inner chambers by the priest and cared for until the young setharin hatches. The setharin is then raised by the priests as one of them. Upon reaching adulthood, the setharin is initiated into the ranks of the brotherhood. Very few setharin choose to leave.

Some non-setharin avarians will join the ranks as worshipers and disciples. They wear black robes, pluck the feathers from their bodies and starve themselves until they too appear gaunt and skeletal. They believe that in so doing they are atoning for the sins of their ancestors and will not face Setharus' wrath when he comes for them.

This religion is secretive and little is known of their ceremonies and rites. Setharin priests rarely appear in public. When they do, they are left alone out of fear, for priests of the Bat Lord are shrouded in secrecy, pain and horror. An almost palpable sense of dread clings to them. These priests rarely speak and when they do, it is always in a slow, soft whisper. When one looks into the eyes of a Setharin priest, one shudders to think what horrors he has witnessed.

This page last updated Monday, October 08, 2007. Copyright 1990-2008 David M. Roomes.

Contact Webmaster