Catechism of the Fifth Sect of the Church of Ezra
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2025 1:25 pm
  Catechism of the Fifth Sect of the Church of Ezra Table of Contents
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Time of Unparalleled Darkness
A Ravenloft persistent world for NWN1
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Catechism of the Fifth Sect of the Church of Ezra
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Foreword
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2025 12:51 pm
From Her Holiness, Bastion Emmanuelle Skyshard
.2.
Re: Catechism of the Fifth Sect of the Church of Ezra
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2025 1:01 pm
the Gift of Faith
And with those words, did Ezra become Our Guardian in the Mists.
.3.
Re: Catechism of the Fifth Sect of the Church of Ezra
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2025 2:15 pm
The First Revelation
.I.
In the time before, in a land cloaked in Mists, there was a woman, and She was Ezra.
Ezra was a healer of the sick and protector of the weak. Such was her lot in life. Such was her role in the grand scheme.
Ezra took pride in the role Fate had given her. Her duty was Her joy.
For many years, Ezra healed the lame and watched over Her people. Yet as time went on, Ezra began to see the Hollow.
From the Mists of Death came horrors of the night. They were the drinker of blood and the stealer of breath and the beast that rends. Many were their legions. Many were the roles played by darkness in the Grand Scheme.
Ezra knew that Death would come for her, as it comes to all in time. When Ezra entered the Gray Land, there would be no guardian to fill Her role. There would be no one to stand between Her people and the Legions of the Night.
Ezra set forth on a quest to find a guardian for Her people. She sought the One Pure Heart who would assume Her role.
Ezra sought for the One Pure Heart in many lands, but ever did She seek in vain.
In time, Her quest brought Ezra to the end of all things. Behind Ezra stretched all the lands of the world. Before Ezra rose only the Mists of Death.
Ezra spoke to the Mists. Asked She, “The world is yours. You set its shape. Why do you allow its people to wander, lost and afraid?”
Yet the Mists did not answer.
Again Ezra spoke. “Why have you filled your world with the Legions of the Night?”
Yet the Mists would not answer.
A third time did Ezra speak. “All things have their role in the Grand Scheme. The Legions of the Night have their place, but Guardians and Guides have their roles in turn.”
Still the Mists offered no reply.
Ezra spoke once more. “I have searched all the vastness of your lands, but I have found no Guardians for My people. I have found no Guides for the lost.”
Again the Mists were silent.
For the last time did Ezra speak. “You have failed the Grand Scheme. You have created a Hollow that must be filled. If you will not watch over your people, then that task falls to me.”
Upon the fifth entreaty did the Mists of Death reply. From the Mists came a Voice, and the Voice spoke, saying, “Turn back, Mortal. You know nothing of the Grand Scheme. You know nothing of the Mists. You have reached the end of Your world. Continue and You shall find only Your destruction, nothing more.”
Yet Ezra held fast against the Mists, saying, “You cannot bid Me enter, yet I cannot turn away. I offer Myself to you so that you may know the suffering of My People. If I must be destroyed for them, then that is what must be.”
The Mists of Death fell silent. Then the Voice spoke once more. “Enter the Mists if You must, Mortal, but not as You are. Your kind has no place here. To enter the Mists, You must become as one with the Mists. Never again shall you leave them. Will You forever sacrifice Yourself to watch over these few mortals?”
Spoke Ezra, “Such is My role in the Grand Scheme. So must it be.”
And with these words did Ezra become Our Guardian in the Mists.
.4.
Chapter One, Section Two: The Second Revelation
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2025 2:26 pm
The Second Revelation
.II.
Spoke Ezra, "Such is the role I have chosen in the Grand Scheme. Such is what I must do."
And with those words did Ezra become Our Guardian in the Mists.
From her place in the Mists of Death, Ezra looked down upon the mortals of the world, and She extended Her hand to fill the Hollow. But the Mists would not part.
Again a voice came from the mists, saying, "Foolish one, you still know nothing of the Grand Scheme. The Hollow begins to the Mists alone. It is their creation. You shall not spoil what they have wrought."
Ezra spoke, saying, "The Mists have wrought nothing but sorrow. It is My Role to succor the suffering of my people. What is to become of My Place in the Grand Scheme if the Mists cannot bid me Act? What shall become of the Pure of Heart, if they have no Guardian in the Mists?"
Answered the voice, "You may have those who choose to have You, and those only. If they be Pure of Heart, then so shall it be."
Ezra spoke again, asking, "And what of the Legions of the Night? What of the Drinker of Blood, and the Stealer of Breath, and the Beast that Rends? What of the Horrors who would steal the Pure of Heart and add them to their Legions?"
The voice replied, "The Legions of the Night belong to the Mists, not to You. Should mortals join the Legions of the Night, then that is the role they have chosen in the Grand Scheme. They were never among Your Pure of Heart."
Ezra accepted this, saying, "So shall it be. But if the Legions of the Night can be brought out of the darkness, then that is the role they have chosen in the Grand Scheme, and they shall stand in your Legions no more."
The Mists of Death were silent.
Ezra then gathered up the Pure of Heart, naming them Her Anchorites. It would be their role in the Grand Scheme to guide the Legions of the Night back into the Light.
As Ezra shall give succor to her Anchorites, Her Anchorites shall give succor to the faithful. The faithful shall spread Ezra's love to all the world, pushing back the darkness. When the Legions of the Night stand empty, the Hollow shall be filled. Such is the Grand Scheme.
.5.
Re: Catechism of the Fifth Sect of the Church of Ezra
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2025 3:00 pm
The Third Revelation
.III.
In the time before, there was a Goddess, and she was Ezra. Ezra looked down upon the world of mortals, and she saw that the world was well-tended by the Gods. But then, Ezra's eyes fell upon the Hollow. She looked deep into the Hollow, and saw a place abandoned by the Gods, its people left to suffer alone.
Ezra asked her divine brethren, "Why has this place been forgotten? Why have You forsaken its people?" But the Gods did not answer.
Again Ezra spoke, saying: "We are the guides and guardians of mortals. Such is Your role in the grand scheme. It is not right that these mortals be abandoned so." Again, the Gods gave no reply.
Ezra spoke for a third time: "It is not right that these mortals be left to suffer. If you will not watch over Your people, then must I."
Thus, Ezra left the realm of the Gods. Her Divine Brethern watched Her leave in Silence. Ezra descended to the Hollow, but before She could Enter, the Mists of Death rose up to block Her path.
From the Mists came a voice, and the voice spoke, saying: "Turn back, Goddess. This place is not for you. This place is for the Mists alone."
Yet Ezra held fast, saying: "I cannot allow your people to suffer alone. It is my place to protect them."
Again the voice spoke, warning: "Take heed, Goddess. Your kind have no place in the Hollow. Enter, and You shall find only Your destruction, nothing more."
Yet Ezra stood firm against the Mists, saying, "You cannot bid me enter, yet I cannot turn away. I cannot allow your people to suffer alone. If I must be destroyed, then that is what must be."
Upon Her fifth entreaty, the voice spoke once more: "Enter the Mists if you must, Goddess, but not as you are. To enter the Mists, you must become one with the Mists. You must cease to be, Your name forgotten in all other places. You shall never return to your brethren. Will You sacrifice all this for these few mortals?"
Spoke Ezra: "Such is My Role in the Grand Scheme. So must it be."
And with those words, Ezra joined the Mists. Her name became known to those in the Hollow, and lost to all others.
.6.
Re: Catechism of the Fifth Sect of the Church of Ezra
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2025 3:03 pm
The Fourth Revelation
.IV.
"Such is my role in the Grand Scheme," spoke Ezra. "So must it be."
With those words, did Ezra sacrifice Her mortal life to become Our Guardian in the Mists.
From Her Place in the Mists of Death, Ezra looked down upon the mortals she had forsaken all else to protect. Only then, did She see the wickedness in the mortal's hearts. Only then, did she see that the mortals she sought to protect, and the Legions of the Night, were one and the same. Only then, could she see the foulness of their hidden sins.
Ezra saw that those whom had been true to Her were but few - a scattering of dim stars in a sky of deepest black. In Her new role, Ezra saw that the sinfulness of the mortals was so loathsome that the Mists of death would soon wipe the Hollow clear of their blackened souls.
Ezra's heart sank, but She would not abandon hope. She knew that She could not save the souls of the wicked, but she could offer salvation to those who repented their evil ways, and allowed Her Guidance into their hearts.
Ezra did father her faithful few, naming them Her Anchorites. Ir would be their role in the Grand Scheme to guide the corrupted back into the light. As Ezra would guide and protect Her Anchorites, her Anchorites would stand vigil over those of good faith.
Ezra's servants must show the corrupted their paths of doom, and guard the Faith from those lost souls whom would not be saved. Her Anchorites must redeem the fallen and destroy the Legions of the Night whom would corrupt the pure.
When the Mists of Death sweep down, when the darkness devours the land and consumes the wicked, Ezra shall stand vigil over those whom have been true to Her.
The Time of Unparalleled Darkness is fast falling upon the land. We live in the days of dying light. Signs and Portents surround us, and only those whom admit Ezra's Light shall be spared.
.7.
Chapter One, Section Five: The Fifth Revelation
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2025 3:56 pm
The Fifth Revelation
.V.
In worlds beyond, in times before, there was a goddess, and She was Ezra. Ezra offered succor to those whom no others would take. Ezra offered serenity to those whom knew only conflict. Ezra offered life to those doomed to die.
Ezra's divine sight fell upon a Hollow, within a false land of the Mists of Death, populated by lost souls. Ezra knew they were abandoned. Ezra knew that they suffered only conflict. Ezra knew they were doomed to die.
And so, Ezra intervened: She violated the boundaries of the Land of Mists, and in fear of Her power, the Mists bound Her to themselves. Reborn into the Hollow as a mortal, Ezra knew Herself not. But Ezra was still the woman She was as a goddess, and She served the people of the Hollow, as a stalwart guardian, and a gentle healer.
Ezra did not know that the Grand Scheme yet guided Her.
When Ezra defied the Mists of Death again, and stepped within that They would know the suffering of Her people, again was she reunited with Godhood. Now She knew fully the suffering of Her People, for she had shared their burden. From this, Ezra knew the path of salvation for Her People. Ezra knew the tool with which She could grant it to them.
Ezra guided Her people through the mouths of Her Chosen Successors, whom She called Her Anchorites, and spread did her love to the four corners of the Hollow. Even the Legions of the Night fell before Her, begging for salvation. For, Ezra decreed She would be coming, and upon Her heels, the Mists would wipe clean the wickedness and darkness of this false world.
Such was the Grand Scheme, for there was, and always is a plan.
Ezra knew in Her Blessed Knowledge of the Grand Scheme, that all who had not yet known Her love, but resisted temptation, could be guided from this prison as surely as the pure of heart. For, Ezra had always intended to draw Her mists upon the Hollow, and shatter it from within. Through the cracks would fall light in which all the would would be able to be seen again. When the Mists roil and darkness billows and spits from the Legions of the night, the Pure of Heart will resist - and Ezra shall be their shield.
The Pure of Heart will offer their manifold hands to those whom have tasted darkness, and will guide them to its repudiation and their own salvation. Their numbers will swell five-hundred fold to face the Legions of the Night. And in the last moment of the last breath of this struggle, Her Name will fill the Hollow and shatter the Sky, and the Pure of Heart will be free at last.
The Light beyond the Mists will cascade forth as a curtain, and fall upon the Pure of Heart. Ezra will know them, and in her fated role as Guardian and Guide, free them. The souls that have waited with Her in the Mists will cry in joy, as they know the heavens that dwell beyond their prison, and in their hearts will cry the name of Ezra.
Salvation comes for those whom resist the temptations of the Mists of Death, liberation for those whom fight the Legions of the Night. These are the fated soldiers of Ezra, in the final army of Light whom will liberate the pure souls from this prison.
Such is the Grand Scheme. So will it be.
.8.