Unified Society of the Azure Sun

The Unified Society of the Azure Sun (USAS) is one of the most prominent religious sects dedicated to the worship of the Prime God Aziel in Allion. The USAS makes up a large part of the Life's Guard army dedicated to defeating the Conquerer Army and protecting life throughout the multiverse. Members of the Lightbringers who have been associated with the USAS include Baldur "Scrollstutter" Garrick and Reed Tealeaf, the latter of which currently holds the title of War Cleric of Aziel.

Tenets
The Unified Society of the Azure Sun features three main tenets which summarize the core beliefs of the religion:

Eternal Life
For life to survive, those who wish to end it must be destroyed.

Indebted Servitude
There is a great debt owed to Aziel for her creation of mortals. This debt must be repaid by any means necessary.

Proselytism
Aziel is the one true Prime. Her teachings should be spread far and wide.

Organisation
The USAS has one main leader called the High Aethermind that is advised by a board of 4 high priests called the Council of the Living. Currently the High Aethermind position is taken by Vocrel Steelsword, a human noble and cleric from Ibera. The High Aethermind is responsible for final decisions on all matters undecided by the Council, and for religious advancement (new visions, prophecies, etc.). The Council of the Living advises the High Aethermind on war tactics, magic and scientific discoveries, the current state of the religion, and relations with other religions. The Council of the Living takes advice from the Unity committee, a committee that is made up of many chosen leaders from regions on each continent. These leaders listen to the leaders in individual towns and relay their words up the chain of command.

Founding
The Society of the Azure Sun (SAS) was one of the first documented sects founded on Ibera in worship to Aziel, likely because its aggressive expansion methods absorbed most other sects on the continent. The Society of the Azure Sun is thought to have been founded in Ascar, a region now known as The Invaded, over 1600 years ago by Theuderic mac Arailt. Theuderic was a philosopher who pondered and wrote texts on the meaning of life and its origin. After a particularly intense session, he claimed he had a vision of a tall thin creature of seemingly alien descent. This creature taught Theuderic of the existence of Aziel and pushed him to spread what he had learned with other mortals. Theuderic believed this to be Aziel herself, however he later renamed the figure to “The First Sage” in The Ascar Testament, realising that it was some form of messenger.

Growth
Theuderic spread his teachings quickly, proving the existence of Aziel scientifically through demonstrations with plants and animals. As smaller groups of Aziel worshippers were found, Theuderic let them worship as they wished. Groups that worshipped counter beliefs however got harsher treatments. These groups were marked as sordid meaning they were traitorous, immoral, and dangerous to the cause of life, and brought about one of the main tenets of the Azure Sun: For life to survive forever, those who wanted its end needed to be removed from it. Only then would eternal life be secured. The “anti-life” groups were quickly killed by Theuderic’s followers in the name of preserving the cause of life.

The Society of the Azure Sun spread quickly across Ibera and began to spread their teachings worldwide over the next few centuries. Followers of other religions that were already strongly established were discovered. The SAS did not have a powerful global presence then, and could not immediately destroy these sects, instead opting to ignore them and spread globally, working with sects that were deemed safe for life to spread their teachings. Upon discovering religions of Eldas, these groups could not be ignored and were declared sordid. Holy war was triggered, beginning the Great War.

The Beginning of War
The war did not start well, and Ibera was quickly assaulted by forces of death intent to remove the source of the Azure Sun (not knowing that the SAS did not have a main holy city). The towns worshipping the SAS were destroyed in Ibera during the invasion as part of the Extinction efforts from the Conqueror Army.

To rally against the armies of Eldas, the SAS proposed a global effort called “The Unification” in 960 A.W.. This was the offer to all Aziel worshipping sects to join under the banner of the Unified Society of the Azure Sun (USAS). Many sects all over the world chose to join the USAS to protect their own religion and belief against the feared threat of extinction. The SAS were one of the largest well-known Aziel worshipping sects, so many joined because of the safety in numbers they could provide while allowing them to worship Aziel (albeit with slightly changed beliefs to match the SAS). With this, the USAS was formed.

The USAS immediately advocated the retaliation of the forces of Aziel against the imposing forces of death, and many worshippers joined to fight for the cause. Finding the forces of Anaar also fighting death, a coalition was created with the forces of Anaar and the forces of Aziel.

Today, the USAS still remains dominant in its presence worldwide due to their culturally embedded roots across the entire globe.

The Ascar Testament
Theuderic mac Arailt penned the society’s beliefs in his self-proclaimed sacred text “The Ascar Testament” circa 100 B.W. In it, he described the sun in the vision he had as “azure, infinte, galactic”, and drew on this image for the name of the society. Followers see the sun as the ultimate symbol of rebirth and believe that once the Great War ends the suns across the planes will turn azure as a sign from Aziel to show victory, like in Theuderic’s vision.

The Parable of the Phoenix
A common teaching within the USAS is the parable of the phoenix. It tells of a small village in Usloya inhabited by devout followers of the USAS. Long ago, the village worshipped and spread the roots of Aziel as far as they could. One day, they were attacked by vicious undead rising from the sands. The villagers prayed as they were killed before defending their village valiantly from the undead. The undead came in waves, reducing the village to all but a mother and her daughter. Just before they were to be killed and eaten, a fiery bird flew from the sun to protect them, burning away the impure undead and protecting the faithful. When the sand settled, the child and her mother survived, and thanked Aziel for her help. The phoenix turned into an egg-shaped cinder that was carried by the mother which protected the pair wherever they went. The parable is told to emphasise that faith in Aziel will prevail and leave only life remaining. The phoenix serves as a metaphor for life in its purest form of fire, and the need to eradicate the threat to life so that you may live in safety. It is believed that the egg of cinder still exists and will come to the chosen of Aziel.

The Duality Codices
Anarzee Traris, a Summer Eladrin born in the Feywild but raised in a USAS temple, was eventually chosen as High Aethermind of the USAS by the Council of the Living in 400 A.W. She is known for her profound writings in “The Duality Codices”, a set of books that elaborate on the need for death to preserve life and propose methods of freeing life from its intrinsic link to death.

A Gift from Aziel
An ancient myth tells of a large handsome man that wielded a fiery whip against hordes of undead. This man was corrupted and turned into a horned beast, but some USAS scholars believe his whip to be real and lost somewhere. They believe this whip to have been a gift from Aziel long before the race of mortals existed, but this has no actual evidence to back up the claim.

Life After Death
It is commonly believed that those who die in service to Aziel will find their souls taken to Bytopia, Elysium, or the Beastlands depending on their actions in life and Aziel’s plan for them.

The Aethereans
The appearance of the Aethereans in 1267 A.W. was heralded as the end of the war for practically all denominations of Aziel. The USAS scholars were confused that it had not been the Knights of the Heart that were chosen by Aziel, however they explained it as all mortals could have been chosen as all mortals are children of Aziel. In 1270 A.W. the Aethereans were slain by the Elzahaar, and the USAS began to pray for the conversion of the Knights of the Heart into the second coming of the Aethereans, knowing now that this was possible. They still hold out hope for the second coming of the Aethereans in the form of the Knights of the Heart which will bring an end to the Great War.

Psalm for Aethereans
The Psalm is said before bed by each faithful member of the USAS:

“Prime Goddess Aziel, hear my prayer,

bestow your gifts on a worthy heir.

Entreat them power, o’er enemies and foes,

To bring our Great War, for Life, to a close.

Azure Bloom
Each year on the summer solstice, two bonfires are erected. One is burned when the sun reaches the highest point in the sky, and the other is covered in the ashes of the first bonfire. The second one is burned when the sun touches the horizon. Followers are then reborn through the drawing of a simple sun image on their hands with the ash of the second bonfire. A large celebration is then held for the followers in thanks to Aziel for both their creation and rebirth. The party features many campfires, bonfires, and torches to drive the night away as the celebrations continue.

Day of Aether
Once a year since 1267 A.W. the coming of the Aethereans is remembered and prayed for by followers of the USAS. This day involves sharpening swords in preparation for combat against Death, and the Psalm for Aethereans is said at each meal. Before bed, the Psalm for Aethereans is said once more and the followers attempt to dream of what they believe eternal life will be like during the time of the Great Peace after the return of the Aethereans.