Khoras - Religion - Gods of the Baenites

The World Of Khoras - Religion - Gods of the Baenites

Inkrest

Other Names	The Sand God, The Dune Rider
Area Of Control	Water, Survival, Life
Ethos
Pantheon	Baenite
Worshipers	Many baenites offer up a prayer to Inkrest before beginning a long journey. In general, those that worship tend to be baenite warriors, scouts and any others that travel the Deep Desert.
Appearance	Sand God tree. A large male baenite warrior. A shimmer of light on the horizon.
Symbol	The Inkrest tree or silhouette of that tree.

Description

Inkrest, the Dune Rider, appears as a large male baenite dressed in tightly wrapped sand colored shirt and leggings. The traditional fighting outfit of a baenite warrior. The desert strider he rides appears to be an old creature, but still strong. On his belt, he wears a broken knife. Packed behind his saddle is a large water skin and around his neck, a satchel.

History

According to legend, a baenite warrior whose name is lost to history, was the only survivor of a long forgotten battle. Though wounded, he mounted his desert strider and began journeying back to his village with prizes from his slain enemies. Warrior and steed wanderered for days, lost in the desert, until the strider finally collapses from exhaustion. Delirious from thirst and unable to go on, the warrior lay down with his steed and quietly waited for death.

It was during this time that he was visited by visions. And in these visions it is said that he saw the truth of all things. In the hours that he lay looking up into the perfect sky, he found enlightenment and peace. He was awakened from his visions by a drop of water falling on upon his lips. He opened his eyes and saw standing above him a huge, bloated tree with ugly thin branches. One branch was broken and bent down toward him. Water had seeped from the branch and dripped down.The warrior took his broekn knife and cut into the tree with his last bit of strength and from the tree drew water. In this way did he and his steed cheat death.

The next day, the villagers spotted the warrior coming over the dunes toward the village. The water surrendered the prizes of battle to the village elders, but did not speak a word. Many of the villagers felt that something was different about him and none dared approach him. Shortly thereafter, he packed a few belongings, mounted his steed and returned to the desert. He did not return to the village and was never seen again.

All of this was long ago. But since then, there have been many tales of travelers lost and dying in the desert who are saved by a single baenite warrior. The warrior rides a desert strider and leads them to a single tree, an inkrest tree that stands alone in the desert. Caravans sometimes report seeing a lone rider on a distant dune whose steed moves with remarkable steed.

Religion

Inkrest is the patron deity of those traveling in the desert, especially those travelers in need. It is said that Inkrest watches over all those in the Baen Desert. He cares for all living things, regardless of species, race or gender. Baenites who travel between villages often utter a prayer to Inkrest before beginning their journey.

Priests of this god are few. Those who do serve this god live alone in the desert, far from the villages, with only a desert strider for company. Their days are filled with endless travels throughout the desert seeking the truth that Inkrest found. On occasion, a priest will lose faith, but this is rare. Often a priest that has lost his way will leave the desert to find his fortune in the outer world.

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