JOL'KOAR EMPIRE
"The Ancestors"
Modern JolKoar practice a form of ancestor and folk hero worship. Each of the Ancestors is said to be focused on one or two aspects of life, and homage is paid to them in the hope of gaining further boons related to that aspect. Worship of a given Ancestor is said to have four steps:
- Following
- On the Path
- Undergoing the Journey
- Devoted
A'Il'Ith - The Wordbringer, The One Who Speaks What Must Be Spoken
Focused on freedom of expression and diversity of thought
A member of the leadership body of the ancient JolKoar Empire during the final days of the Golden Age of the JolKoar, A'Il'Ith was a representative of House A'Il, and paid the ultimate price for speaking up to criticize the Warlord for his plan to attack the home of the JolKoar's benefactors. Her body was dismembered and launched into the void following her execution for sedition.
- Follower of the Wordbringer
- Path of The One Who Speaks Must Be Spoken
- Journey of Words
- Devotion of A'Il'Ith
Bo'Lur'Zed - The Knowledgebringer, The One Who Sleeps Within The Library
Focused on non-biological scientific knowledge
Bo'Lur'Zed was a famed pre-Exile scientist who's exact contributions to physics have been lost over the millenia. Legends attribute the Dweller's computer systems to innovations developed by Bo'Lur'Zed before the Exile.
- Follower of the Knowledgebringer
- Path of The One Who Does Not Sleep
- Journey of Inspiration
- Devotion of Bo'Lur'Zed
G'Atog'Saq - The Timebringer, The One Who Sleeps Outside Of Time
Focused on historical knowledge and philosophy
G'Atog'Saq was a famed pre-Exile historian and philosopher. His teachings still form the basis of modern Jol'Koar philosophy and ethics.
- Follower of the Timebringer
- Path of The One Who Sleeps Outside Of Time
- Journey of Remembrance
- Devotion of G'Atog'Saq
Ka'Jol - The Loyal, The First
Focused on Duty, honor, and loyalty
Shipmaster Ka'Jol was (supposedly) the first Jol'Koar'Hul created, and served as a pilot and bodyguard to a Pureblood whose name has since been forgotten. The legend goes that Ka'Jol and his master eventually set off on a journey to find the lost Jol'Koar homeworld and vanished shortly after leaving the Empire.
- Follower of the Loyal
- Path of The First
- Journey of Duty
- Devotion of Ka'Jol
Li'Lia'Ith - The Renegade, She Who Does Not Sleep
Focused on personal freedom, questioning of authority
A pre-exile legendary figure, Li'Lia'Ith was supposedly a crown princess of the Jol'Koar Empire who fled the Empire to escape an unwanted arranged marriage. According to legend, she has occasionally reappears to aid explorers who are in danger, before vanishing once again. Since the rise of Warlord A'De'Mask, overt devotion to The Renegade has been banned. While there has not yet been persecution of covert devotion, this "Don't Do This" action has probably only increased devotion to The Renegade in recent time. During the 5th Cycle, renowned prophet Chi'Atog'Ai prophesized that Li'Lia'Ith would return in a time of great darkness to save the JolKoar people.
- Follower of the Renegade
- Path of She Who Does Not Sleep
- Journey of Freedom
- Devotion of Li'Lia'Ith
Mu'Lun'Cui - The Lifebringer, The Mother of the High
Focused on Medical/Biological knowledge, fertility, good harvests
Mu'Lun'Cui was a geneticist in the 4th Cycle who is viewed as the 'mother' of the High Dweller offshoot. She is the one who stabilized the Jol'Koar genome, allowing for the development of the offshoot in the first place.
- Follower of the Lifebringer
- Path of The Mother of the High
- Journey of Life
- Devotion of Mu'Lun'Cui
Naq'D'Das - The One Who Knocks, The Harbinger of the Beyond
Focused on exploration and revenge
Probably more folk antihero than actual historical figure, legend states that Naq'D'Das was a famed explorer who returned home from a long journey to find that his entire family had been killed. Using the skills, artifacts, and magic he had found on his journey, he waged a bloody war of terror against those who had killed his family.
- Follower of the One Who Knocks
- Path of the Harbinger of the Beyond
- Journey of Terror
- Devotion of Naq'D'Das
Ril'Fong'Nar - The Great Reformer, Harbinger of Change
Focused on change, political theory
Ril'Fong'Nar was a Pureblood member of house Ril'Ro who was one of the driving forces behind the push to give Jol'Koar'Hul more power inside the empire.
- Follower of the Great Reformer
- Path of the Harbinger of Change
- Journey of Transition
- Devotion of Ril'Fong'Nar
Ujo'Epoh'Vorl - The Ender of Things, The Unknowable Destroyer
Focused on destruction, chaos, and war
Ujo'Epoh'Vorl was the leader of the Jol'Koar Empire when they made war upon the Tau Ceti system, leading to his exile. More specifically, it is the identity that evolved from his true identity, a twisted, hyper-focused view on his warlike tendencies and the quest for vengeance that led to the Jol'Koar's exile.
- Follower of the Ender of Things
- Path of the Unknowable Destroyer
- Journey of Destruction
- Devotion of Ujo'Eph'Vorl
Name Unknown - The Forgotten, The Hidden Master
Focused on manipulation, stealth
With their name forgotten - or perhaps intentionally expunged, The Forgotten is the Ancestor remembered for creating an empire-wide network of information brokers and assassins who sought to control the politics of the Empire during the Fourth Cycle.
- Follower of the Forgotten
- Path of the Hidden Master
- Journey of Darkness
- Devotion of the Forgotten Ancestor