Saturday, July 29, 2006

The Dhe’nar View of the “Gods”: Ronan and Sheru (Arkati)

07/29/2006

Ronan is the Lord of Dreams. Before the sentient races existed, he had no particular role. However, when he realized that the minds of sleeping mortals had created what amounted to a new “plane” of existence - the Dreamscape - he took up residence there. At first he was there to study it, then eventually he took up the role of Guardian as well, as he learned of other creatures, and other Arkati, that were able to enter the Dreamscape and manipulate it, often causing harm to sleeping mortals.

Ronan is the darker twin of Phoen, and it is said by some that the two cannot come together in the same place. If true, this is most likely, according to the Dhe’nar, because Ronan cannot stand being in the presence of his vacuous and extravagant brother.

The Arkati Sheru also dwells within the Dreamscape, and considers himself the Lord of Nightmare. Sheru is driven by only a singular goal, that being to drive mortals mad.

It amazes the Dhe’nar that the younger cultures never question why an Arkati would have such a pointless and singular goal, especially since they know they truth of the matter.

Sheru is a nightmare of Ronan’s.

Early during his residence in the Dreamscape, Ronan had yet to learn the properties of the realm in which he had chosen to dwell. Though he had figured out that the “stuff” of the dream realm reacted to the subconscious minds of sentient beings, he did not quite realize the extent to which this occurred, and had not yet properly disciplined his own mind. Though an Arkati, and not required to sleep, he still had a subconscious, and it acted upon the Dreamscape without Ronan even realizing it. Every dark urge repressed, every hidden feeling of resentment and/or superiority towards the mortals he guarded worked and worried at the stuff of the dream realm, until Ronan’s subconscious became a consciousness of its own. The exact method by which this happened is unknown, but it is the subject of a number of cautionary tales amongst the Dhe’nar (the moral of which is generally a warning of the dangers of having a great deal of power without the knowledge and discipline to use it properly, and a reminder that the Arkati are subject to a number of the same weaknesses that befall mortals).

Suffice it to say, by the time Ronan learned of his new “brother”, it was too late to simply extinguish him. Sheru fled to his own corner of the Dreamscape, instinctually erecting enough defenses around his new “realm” that Ronan could not simply destroy him without a lengthy siege that would force him to ignore everything else in the Dreamscape for the duration. Even then, there was no guarantee he could destroy Sheru even should he pierce his fortress. Ronan instead has had to resign himself to countering Sheru and his minions wherever possible, in order to atone for his mistake.

Ronan does not typically speak of these matters to his followers, for obvious reasons. Sheru does not as well, for equally obvious ones.

The Dhe’nar respect Ronan and his dedication to his duty, even if they do not entirely trust him. The creation of Sheru also lends more weight to their belief that the Arkati are eminently fallible, and the world is better off with more mortals Ascendant, than trusting to the caretaking of the Arkati.

Initiates of the Dhe’nari order of Khisai are able to keep themselves from dreaming altogether, thus removing themselves from the Ronan/Sheru conflict entirely. Khisari consider dreams to be little more than a distraction, and evidence of incomplete mental discipline anyway. Not all Dhe’nar subscribe to this view, and it is a matter of some intellectual debate between various sects.

The Dhe’nar View of the “Gods”: Phoen (Arkati)

07/29/2006

The Dhe’nar know Phoen as The Braggart, the Empty God, Consort to The Breeder.

Phoen considers himself the “God” of the Sun, which the Dhe’nar know existed before Phoen was even created, thus putting the lie to his claims.

Phoen is pure ego and bravado, associating with the Sun because he wishes to be the center of attention. It wasn’t even until he learned of the mortal races’ reverence for the sun that he chose to associate with it and take credit for it. Like the sun, he wishes to be seen and praised by all, though, without actually having to do anything to earn that adoration.

He is essentially Oleani’s brainless and pretty “kept man”, who has worshippers only because he has been able to trick enough of the younger cultures into believing his nonsense. Even so, most of his power is gained by leeching off what Oleani chooses to throw his way.

The Dhe’nar have absolutely no interest in a useless, loudmouthed braggart like Phoen, and even acknowledgement of him in Sharath is exceedingly rare, except perhaps as a lesson for young Dhe’nar that even the Arkati can be crippled by ego, and are not all to be emulated, or even respected.

The Dhe’nar View of the “Gods”: Onar (Lesser Spirit)

07/29/2006

Onar is an ascended assassin who has been known to sell his services to the Arkati (of both “pantheons”, as the younger cultures divide them), and to mortals who know the secrets of both attracting his attention and the types of payment he accepts. It is not known who Onar was when mortal, and it is believed that he has long since eliminated anyone who knew his original identity.

When Onar acts, he rarely, if ever, does so in his own form, as secrecy is of vital importance to him. Rather, he prefers to possess mortals and act through them. Typically, he chooses one with skills, knowledge, or connections that will assist him in his work. Some Dhe’nar assassin sects, particularly the Bent Talon and the Sons of Ash, are known to hope to become temporary vessels of Onar, as it is said that when the possession ends, some elements of the spirit’s skill/knowledge is left behind.

While some claim that Onar leaves a skull mark on those he possesses, the truth of the matter is that no competent assassin would announce his intentions in such an obvious manner, visible to even a cursory search. To the Dhe’nar and others with common sense, it is understood that such marks are used for distraction and misdirection.