Ehosian ReligionEhosia is unique in that its religion espouses a single, all-powerful god, Eho, responsible for all life and goodness in the world. How can the Ehosians maintain this stance, when faced with evidence of other clerics? They also have a well-developed demonology, which attributes death and evil to the workings of inimical extraplanar creatures. These demons may be greater or lesser. Some of the lesser demons may even appear to be beneficial, but are still evil because they lead people off the true path to Eho.How does Eho get away with this? Don't the other gods get annoyed? The fact is, in the area around Ehosia, Eho is essentially the only god. He and his followers subsumed or drove away the lesser godlings of that land centuries ago. [Mechanics: AD&D uses "areas of influence," GURPS uses "sanctity levels" - whatever the case, clerics of other gods have difficulty casting spells in regions under Eho's influence].
Who Is Eho?Eho is identified with the sun that burns so brightly over Ehosia. He is the giver of light, life, and fire, and the three things are often seen as being similar. Ehosians, for instance, envision the soul as a divine flame given to the individual by Eho.Fire and heat are also destructive, as the inhabitants of the desert well know. Eho has a stern and angry face as well, one that punishes the cruel and the evil with terrible burning. This is why the Ehosian "holy" method of execution (exposure in the desert) is known as "The Wrath of Eho." Eho himself has lawful and good tendencies, as revealed in the Word of Eho delivered by his First Prophet. His clerics and followers, however, run the gamut. Why Eho tolerates this is unknown; some speculate that he doesn't, and that one of the Ehosian demons of myth actually provides spells to the clerics that have strayed from the Fiery Path.
The PatriarchyThe Ehosian church is heirarchical. (In this, it is more similar to modern Roman Catholicism than Islam). The whole of it is overseen by a single religious and political leader, who takes the title Patriarch (or Matriarch). As the secular ruler, the Patriarch dwells in the splendid Silver Palace of Shariz. As the religios ruler, he holds services at the awesome Golden Mosque in the same city. (To preserve the desert-Arabic flavor of Ehosia, temples to Eho are referred to as mosques).The Patriarch serves for life, or until he elects to step down. A gathering of the most blessed mullahs of the cities gather to select the next Patriarch, and they claim that Eho confirms their selection in a secret ceremony. These elders also act as advisors and assistants to the Patriarch. The mullahs serve under the Patriarch, generally heading up worship in his or her own city. Each city has at least one fine, large mosque. Smaller ones, headed up by clerics or groups of clerics, dot the sections of the cities. Clerics administer to the masses, leading prayer services for the ill in their own homes, distributing alms, and so forth. Due to the urban and compressed nature of Ehosia, an extended parish system is not needed - just enough mosques so that all of the faithful have somewhere to go for prayer.
Rituals and TaboosThe primary daily ritual of the Ehosian faith is prayer. Ehosians pray five times a day, facing towards the holy city of Shariz. No particular items are needed.Most people also perform candle-lighting ceremonies in their homes, just before bedtime. (Indigent Ehosians may light candles at a mosque, instead). This is a personal, quiet prayer, usually made to ask Eho to watch over a loved one. Unlike Islam, the Ehosian religion does not forbid alcohol (although drunkeness is frowned upon). Indeed, Ehosia Red Fire is a cinnamony hot-sweet cordial greatly prized both inside and outside of the Pearl Kingdom.
Religiously-Inspired JusticeMore distastefully, Ehosian punishments (which often have religious overtones, given the theocracy) also usually involve fire. While minor offenses are met with fines, branding, burning at the stake, and exposure in the desert are not unknown. Criminals guilty of noncapital crimes of violence are branded. Those guilty of murder, rape, or other capital crimes are killed and their bodies burned. Heretics against the Patriarchy are burned alive in the Cleansing Flames, and non-Ehosians guilty of grave crimes (usually elves) may be sentenced to the Wrath of Eho.
The Current CrusadeThe Twentieth Patriarch reinterpreted a passage in the Word of Eho generally taken as a directive to destroy undead to refer to elves. On the basis of this, he began a war against the elves of the Great Forest to the north. Ehosian atrocities (particularly egregious use of the Wrath of Eho) have driven some elves to the very brink of insanity from sheer wrath. Many of these souls find some solace in a semi-secret society of shapechanging elven assassins known as the dae faroth ("shadow hunters"). The dae faroth are nearly the only offensive force the elves have mounted. Luckily, the bottlenecks at the ley-gates make keeping a large force at the Forest difficult for the Ehosians. Still, the elves look to the west at the old N'ndasha Euli and tremble.
The Reform MovementStarting with al-Aja the Younger (the "Heretic Prophet"), some brave Ehosian clerics have begun to speak and act against the Patriarchy. It seems to them to have become too cruel to truly represent the loving, life-giving Eho they see in the Word of Eho. Not a few Reformers have had mystic experiences they claim give them direct knowledge of Eho's will. Most upsetting of all, some of the most radical Reformers advocate the destruction of the ley-gates. They say the Sixth Matriarch acted against Eho's will in bringing them into existence, and that the Patriarchs since then have only compounded the crime by bringing the society to rely on them.Some Reformers live quietly within the heirarchy, trying to change it from the inside out. Others preach to the crowds, staying one step ahead of the religious police and the Cleansing Fires. And a few have sought alliances with northern barbarians and even elves. Some Reformers would like to see Ehosia shrink back to its original coastal state and become the open society it once was, years ago.
ConvertsAll are welcome in the Light of Eho (except, apparently, elves). And all faithful are welcome to come to Shariz to worship, should they please. If an outsider should wish to embrace Eho, blessings upon him, but he must first spend a year in Sommayid, the gateway city, living in a mosque and studying the ways of the faith. If, after a year, he makes his professions of faith and is found devout by the clerics teaching him, he may be allowed to journey to Shariz. These measures are taken to prevent infidels and thieves from pretending to the faith to access the riches of Ehosia.
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