Godkillers
The Godkillers were an unofficial paramilitary group associated with the Grand Academy of Rasia, tasked with rooting out newly-formed god-elementals, and the potentially dangerous religious cults associated with them. The group was active during the High Period of Rasia, from 500 BME to the Long War and the Fall of Rasia in 236 ME. It is often rumoured that the Godkillers still exist in secret, though today this is considered a fairytale.
Rasian Academyplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigRasian Academy
Topics related to the Grand Academy of Rasia.
topics magi1
This is in a series of articles about the Rasian Academyplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigRasian Academy
The Rasian Academy is the common name for the Grand Academy of Rasia, the greatest institution of magic and learning in the Anrel Isles.
See also:
- Magicplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigMagic
Magic, also called thaumaturgy is the art and science of harnessing elementals, and instructing them to carry out simple or complex tasks.
Invoking more powerful spirits or gods is a related but much more dangerous art, called theurgy.
Magic
magic
This is in a series of articles about - Schools of Thoughtplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSchools of Thought (Category)
The Rasian Schools of Thought were various different approaches to academic philosophy and thaumaturgical practice which flourished during the golden age of the Grand Academy of Rasia. Of these various schools, only Magistry survives today, so that
New deitals were believed to form spontaneously as the result of contact with a luminate; usually, a poorly-educated young person either in remote places or on the margins of society, with the natural, often unconscious ability to communicate with elementals. Such people seemed able to perform miracles, using an unconscious ability to ensnare an elemental with their powerful thoughts and desires. They often genuinely believed these miraculous acts were divinely inspired, and gathered followers around them, forming the nucleus of a new cult.
Although not inherently dangerous, the fact that an elemental acts out the subconscious desires and fears of an often unstable child, this can lead to dreadful consequences, inflicting fire, pain and death. Such elementals gain strength from being revered, so that they become increasingly powerful if left unchecked.
The Godkillers consisted of a core group of specially trained field thaumaturges, with a network of scouts, informants and fighters. Scouts would investigate rumours of new cults or unexplained phenomena, and report back to the group. Thaumaturges assaulted the rogue elemental on the elemental plane, while fighters seized the focal leader of the child, often to restrain or kill fervent devotees.
As a group, the Godkillers were tolerated by the Academy as a necessary evil, and given funding via various colleges and private donations rather than official sponsorship.