Messad

Messad people are very supportive of one another and believe firmly in community and public accountability. Their unique way of greeting one another is indicative of these values and serves as a constant reminder to their peers of what they value most in their tightly woven society. At the same time, they are usually very tolerant of outsiders or those who believe differently than they do. Messad culture conveys the confidence and contentment of a people who do not doubt or feel lacking in the way they live their lives. Messad are rarely timid or self-conscious. They consider simple pleasures to be very meaningful without sacrificing appreciation for the finer things in life.

The Messad faith is nearly extinct with merely 600 known followers still living throughout the world. The religion has existed for many thousands of years, so its people desperately wish to see their culture expand to its previous heights. Messad is not a religion that forces its belief upon others but the last remaining Callers believe that having the Messad faith as the governing authority of far-reaching settlements is the best way to expose the religion to new people and increase conversion enough to keep the belief alive. Public exposure and conversion is the only true agenda the Messad people have that is unique to their spirituality.

There is really no solid way to tell how many Messad are still living in Yvard. Messina's Gate is inhabited almost solely by Messad, but the population there is quite small and has been shrinking for hundreds of years. Throughout most of the last several millennia there has been no other place recognized as being under Messad leadership. However, records show that Messad-controlled settlements outside of Messina's Gate are generally diverse. Messad is not a religion which demands its followers be of a certain demographic; in fact, old Messad customs saw Sentinels roaming throughout Yvard to learn new combat techniques and preach about their faith. This drew people of all races into Messad lands if their communities weren't converted outright.

It is said that a single Messad warrior is worth half a dozen professional soldiers. While this figure probably springs from the extraordinary skill of traveling Sentinels and may sound like hyperbole, it is rooted in some truth: historically speaking, Messad soldiers are among the most dedicated and disciplined troops of any age. Due to the religion's basic tenants of devoting oneself to a single specialized pursuit or trade in life, they train and challenge themselves with a fervor far beyond that of paid soldiers or expensive mercenaries. Messad soldiers spend their entire lives actively striving to better themselves in warfare, and their religion teaches that their warrior god views death in battle as the most honorable and respectable way to die. This concept makes them absolutely dauntless in the face of overwhelming odds. No recorded conflict involving Messad troops makes mention of soldiers fleeing the field in self-preservation. To a trained soldier, that kind of resolve is just as terrifying as skill with weapons.
Messad armies are disciplined and tough but hardly appear to be a cohesive military entity because there are no standard issue armors or weapons among Messad forces. Some soldiers dedicate themselves generally to warfare while others choose specific weapons or skills in which to become specialized; a Sentinel or designated field commander would commit deep religious offense if they asked a soldier to abandon their sacred skill set to fit a particular function within the army. So the makeup of military forces depends entirely on the skills and pursuits chosen by the soldiers themselves. Most Messad warriors favor melee combat, but few armies in the world can field troops which compare to the discipline and steady hands of a Messad archer.
There is no person assigned to a Messad military unit simply to bolster the ranks of a necessary troop type. If a commander has an abundance of archers and scouts, they won't reassign a portion of them to function as general infantry. In the past this fact, when paired with the lack of uniformed troop appearance, has made planning campaigns against the Messad very difficult simply because it was virtually impossible for scouts to report Messad troop compositions from afar. Entering battle against Messad was rarely done with an informed plan based on what sorts of capabilities the army possessed. This loose organization makes equipment demands between Messad armies very complicated, so soldiers are expected to fight with equipment they own themselves. Very little armaments were provided by the army itself except as emergency backup weapons for items damaged or lost in battle. If a soldier does not have proper gear on hand for combat, then they have been failing to pursue their Inner Flame and are therefore found by their peers to be extremely lacking in faith and discipline. Followers of the religion who do not pursue warfare as their Inner Flame are not expected to take part in war unless immediately threatened. Even then, many of these "non-combatant" Messad show a surprising prowess with weaponry.

Then there are Sentinels. These warrior-priests leave an impact on any and all who see them fight. Despite their religious duties in Messad culture, the Sentinel is first and foremost the sacred guardian of Messina's faith. They are also extraordinary tacticians and commanders who lead their armies into the fray.
They have a long history and enduring reputation as some of the most fearsome warriors the world has ever known. If every Messad warrior is worth multiple veteran soldiers on the battlefield, every Sentinel is worth multiple Messad warriors. They are historically respected and feared by all who hear of them, regardless of religion or race. These warriors are tasked to spend their life mastering every type of weapon known to the world, and every regional fighting style associated with each weapon. Their ability to adapt techniques for countering opponents is often underappreciated if not unrecognized, but it has led to the mystique and legend surrounding these exemplars of this faith.

Messad society doesn't necessarily produce any unique developments in science or technology compared to any other faith or culture. Instead, its practitioners master what is already known or develop subtle variations that accomplish the same end as conventional industry practices elsewhere. Theoretically, exceptions would be more commonplace if the Messad saw more followers pursuing sciences, engineering, or arcane arts. Unfortunately the dwindling presence of the faith has led many to feel called to more basic pursuits that assist preservation of the faith in more obvious ways.

The Messad have a generally "live and let live" foreign policy. Trade is usually allowed to happen freely with little to no formal arrangements made. If a war doesn't directly involve the Messad, their feared military might is not likely to intervene in any way. Throughout the entirety of the Old Empires War they abstained from any involvement to assist the Empires. Individual Messad who fought in the war were rare and, while they would be encouraged to fight if doing so pursued their Inner Flame, their involvement did not represent the stance of their religious authorities or peoples as a whole.

Whatever their pursuit, it is safe to assume that any given Messad is going to be highly capable at it. An oversimplified summary of the religions basic practices has been stated as "pick one thing you want to do for the rest of your life, and never stop trying to be the very best in the world". This dedication produces fantastic levels of skill in industry and craft. Whether you're measuring the quality of crafted goods or skill at a certain trade, Messad strive to be the best with consistently high results.
One might think that such capability would lead to many Messad taking their work to Forelia. Being invited to work in Forelia is the highest recognition of skill a tradesperson can attain in Yvard; citizenship there is what most craftsfolk and merchants dream of accomplishing through distinct prowess in their work. But pursuit of the Inner Flame is done to honor and please Messina, not to gain entrance into Forelia or acquire wealth. The religion does not condemn the acquisition of wealth or secular station and so has no official stance against Messad who move to the prestigious island country. Yet many master craftsfolk in Messad society view moving to Forelia as selling out or being shallow of faith. Because of their religious dedication, very few Messad industry masters become licensed Forelian producers.

Most Messad are able to read and write, though it is not a requirement of the faith itself. Any given person's knowledge is going to be highly specialized into a few specific fields related to their sacred pursuit in life, but this can be at the expense of other general knowledge. All potential Messad are given a thorough education in the religion before being officially recognized as part of the society, so the cultural and spiritual history of the religion is very well understood by its practitioners despite the lack of any sacred texts. But fields such as mathematics, science, technology, or secular history are generally not taught in Messad culture beyond what is necessary to function. If someone bears knowledge of these subjects it is likely because it is relevant to their Inner Flame.

Any settlement under Messad governance will have a dedicated fane, which is their term for the temple unique to this faith. Any other infrastructure is determined by the conditions of the settlement, not the requirements of the religion.
Solitary practitioners of Messad, or those who do not live in Messad-run settlements, keep a dedicated area in their home or land for lighting fire. This arrangement is not expected to sustain a fire at all times as a fane does but serves as a dedicated gather place for prayers and rituals.

Messina was a Human man who excelled in both combat and intellectual endeavors. He came to resent the fact that the dead belonged to Losh, an ancient demon who ruled over the souls of the departed. Messad texts imply that at this early point in written history there were not as many gods as Yvard knows today, and that Losh had claim to all souls.
Messina allowed himself to fall gloriously in battle so that he could enter Purnam, the Realm of the Demon, and nine warrior women loyal to him followed. When they entered, Messina discovered that Losh was an entity who delighted in tormenting the souls of his subjects. With the help of his companions, Messina discovered and seized a hidden holy fire in Purnam and used it to kill Losh. When the battle was done, Messina inherited all the authority Losh held over Purnam, and the ability to shape the domain to his will. Messina completely destroyed Purnam and created Haval, where any person who is inspired by Messina’s triumph to pursue their own Inner Flame could enter regardless of race or origin.

Haval: the Messad Afterlife
The souls of the dead who enter Haval do so through the Beacon, the sacred flame Messina used to slay Losh. They are met by one of the The Valkyr, the women who assisted Messina in his victory, and guided to pick a discipline which they pursue for eternity in Messina’s honor. It is believed that many choose to continue pursuing their Inner Flame, but this is not required. The pursuit of one’s Inner Flame in life is meant to teach the perseverance and determination which the soul will need to pursue their chosen discipline in Haval. If a Messad ever questions whether or not they properly identified their Inner Flame, or if they feel their life has been devoted to the wrong pursuit, they have comfort in knowing that they can choose something new when they reach Haval. A warrior himself, Messina takes particularly great pleasure in recognizing all who fight and die in his name. When someone whose life honors Messina falls in battle, a Valkyr is sent to retrieve their soul and protect it from being poached by other covetous gods so that it can be personally escorted to Haval. It is also said that the Valkyr used to descend into active battlefields to protect the corpses of the fallen from desecration or violation so that they might be given full Messad honors for their death. These glorious dead train and spar against one another for all eternity. In Haval, Messina controls time so that every day he is able to visit with every inhabitant and spar with each warrior. Once he has done this, the inhabitants all gather and have a festival in his honor utilizing the goods and services provided by the non-combatants. When the celebration is finished, the next day begins and Messina begins his rounds anew.

The Valkyr, Feras, and Feras Vigil
The Valkyr are the nine female warriors who died with Messina before helping him discover the Beacon and slay Losh. They happily serve him in Haval and act as ambassadors between him and the mortal world. When a Messad prays, the Valkyr listen and convey all prayers to Messina with perfect recollection. When Messina answers prayers or influences the mortal world, the Valkyr convey his words and perform his will. These women speak softly and inspire awe. They have not revealed themselves to the mortal world for millennia but they continue their work behind proverbial closed doors. All but one of their names have been lost to the ages. The color white is associated with the Valkyr.
The Feras are the three Valkyr who are an order above the rest. They are more powerful than the other six and act as Messina’s lieutenants, bodyguards, and commanders over the other Valkyr. They do not come to the mortal world except in times of the greatest importance. The only Valkyr whose name is known is the first among the Feras. Her name is Herja, which translates from the old Northlander language into “She Who Devastates”. The color red is associated with the Feras
When historic battles or momentus massacres of Messad occur, the following morning sees the sun and sky turn a deep and vibrant red with nary a cloud in the sky. This is the Feras Vigil, a sacred event in which the Feras show the world that they and Messina acknowledge and weep for the heavy loss of Messad life which has taken place. All who fell before the Vigil are placed on funeral pyres to be lit before sunset. The Feras themselves descend through the smoke and retrieve these most sacred dead, carrying their physical forms away. These are the only physical bodies that pass through the Beacon, where their souls are rejoined with flesh and they receive special honors during Haval's nightly festivals and feasts. According to Messad teachings, there has never been a bone shard or scrap of armor recovered from the ashes of a Feras Vigil pyre.

The Inner Flame
Those who have heard of the Messad have heard that a single one of their warriors counts for several professional soldiers on the battlefield, but this prowess extends far beyond the scope of warfare. Any discipline to which an experienced Messad has devoted themselves will outshine the work of most contemporaries from other cultures. This is because every Messad has a passion which they call the Inner Flame. The pursuit of this Inner Flame has earned the Messad a reputation for typically being the best at whatever it is they pursue as they rarely waste time seriously committing to multiple lifelong endeavors. These people never cease to challenge themselves in their chosen area. Every Messad must identify the Inner Flame that burns in their hearts. This can be a skill or passion that usually manifests itself in some sort of vocation. A Messad is expected to make their living in pursuit of their Inner Flame, and failing to do so is considered an offense born of weak character and spirit. Even wealthy Messad who want for nothing are expected to devote themselves to their Inner Flame.
This devotion does not mean that Messad are functionally useless in basic matters. Most Messad have working knowledge of other things such as combat, cooking, and other skills common in life. But the devotion to their Inner Flame means that you won’t find a Messad warrior who also strives to become a world-renowned chef between combat training. It is very rare for a person’s Inner Flame to call them from one pursuit to another. The thought of changing disciplines is considered a very serious crisis for that person, and their community will pray fervently for them to find clarity.
. In order to be recognized as a Messad, a person must identify their Inner Flame and discuss it with a Caller or Sentinel. The Inner Flame needs to be something observable, actionable, and measurable enough for others to recognize growth and improvement. Carpentry, composing poetry, breeding livestock, or pursuing some kind of knowledge such as mastering Illusion magics are all examples. Regardless of if a person is actually good at their pursuit or not, they should always yearn to challenge and improve themselves in theirr chosen area. No Inner Flame is considered below others, and Messad culture has no care for how many people pursue any given discipline. A new convert might be the 15th stone carver to start working in a village of 50 people and no Messad would ever tell them to try something else.
A person must publicly declare their Inner Flame when they undergo the recognition ceremony, so they have to share it beforehand with the Caller or Sentinel who performs their recognition. To those born into Messad, recognition generally happens in the mid- to late-teenage years. Much of a child’s adolescence is spent dabbling in several areas of interest to which they feel called so that they can recognize and declare their Inner Flame once it has been identified. For adults converting into the faith, a Caller or Sentinel will discuss their life and interests to help them pinpoint theirr Inner Flame so that it can be declared and be recognized. A person is not considered Messad until they have declared and been recognized in this ceremony.
Prayer
Messad are encouraged to pray every day, but it is not required. It is, however, considered poor habit to go more than a week without praying. Prayer can be done in public or private, there is no difference. There’s not a structure to Messad prayer, but there are a few simple rules:
○ Speak prayers out loud. Messina is not omnipresent nor can he read minds, and his Valkyr need to hear the prayers in order to pass them along to him.
○ Pray in the presence of fire. Fire transports prayers directly to the Valkyr so they can hear and memorize what is said. The size of the fire does not matter; it can be a roaring forest fire, a candle, or even a match. ○ Speak freely and casually. Memorized, ceremonial recitation prayers don’t exist in Messad.

Messad doctrine doesn’t preach “good versus evil”. There is a general understanding of these concepts, but the faith is not based on this dichotomy. A person whose life is dedicated to their Inner Flame honors Messina and enters the Beacon. It’s that simple. Messad tend to be tolerant, hospitable, and encouraging; however, pursuit of an Inner Flame that leads to banditry or dubious mercenary work is not considered a failure by the faith unless it detracts from the pursuit of the core ideal. In the days of the religion's prime, many assassins and criminal masterminds were Messad of respected spiritual strength.
Messina became a god by overthrowing the rule of an evil torturous demon, so his followers vehemently oppose forces of tyrannical oppression and undeniable villainy, but his religion doesn't promote doing good or seeking justice for the sake of seeing such noble virtues upheld in the world. Since true Messad law is mostly spiritual, this leaves much of the civil guidance administered by the priestly classes able to reflect the values and needs of the overall populace at the current time. No two Messad cities of the past were governed with exactly the same civil policies, which left room for some morally-grey civil practices to become possible. The opposition of tyrannical oppression inherent to faith has not stopped some Messad settlements of the past from openly practicing slavery provided the enslaved were "treated decently", though this hasn't happened in several thousand years.
Wealth is not a subject of religious scrutiny or debate in Messad society. The Inner Flame is the driving factor in lives and decisions. Having money just means some aspects of its pursuit become more readily available. Some Messad are more wealthy than others, and great wealth is not regarded as any kind of temptation or inherent risk of poor character as long as it does not distract one from honoring Messina.
Though Messina is the god of the faith, he does not demand worship like some other gods of Yvard do. If you seek your Inner Flame and offer regular heartfelt prayers, it pleases and honors him. That’s more important than waging war against other religions or praying with bland repetitions of memorized phrases. Messad doesn’t condemn other religions to death by virtue of competition. When interacting with a priest of Sylvanus or a cleric of Tempest, they are afforded respect as religious leaders and not harassed outright for their beliefs. To a Messad, these followers of other gods are just missing out on Haval. This is viewed as their loss, and one that doesn’t mean they’re bad people or deserving of the sword.

Messad don’t usually say “hello” to greet other people; certainly not when addressing someone they know is Messad. Instead, they greet people by saying “keep the fire”. To outsiders, this phrase will identify them right away to anyone who has heard of the Messad.
When greeted in this fashion, a Messad will return the greeting with “seek the flame”. The same applies when separating. “Keep the fire” followed by “seek the flame” are again exchanged instead of “goodbye”. This is meant to encourage each other in the pursuit of their Inner Flame, and subsequently the portal to Haval, before parting ways.
Weekly religious gatherings in the local fane are known as Callings. The Caller speaks on a wide variety of topics relating to the religion, laws, and/or responses to recent events. The Calling also stands as a formal setting for people to bring questions and issues to the Caller before witnesses, as is Messad custom, instead of discussing matters privately where no accountability is possible. Messad are not required to attend Callings, but most everyone usually makes a sincere effort to attend as often as possible. There is rarely a sense of begrudging obligation among attendees.
Seeking the Inner Flame takes many forms. This endeavor can be seen through the work and commitment a Messad undertakes every day. It is the passion and pursuit to which they have publicly dedicated their life in order to earn the honor and favor of their god. Perhaps someone's Inner Flame leads them to pursue tailoring. Maybe they’ll benefit from going on a trip away from the shop and into foreign lands in order to observe different styles of clothing and sewing techniques, much as the Sentinels of old used to do with fighting styles. Or maybe their pursuit requires being patient with an obtuse old farmer in order to try establishing trade for a regular source of her pristine wool cloth. This is why Inner Flames are declared publicly, so that peers can encourage and empower each other when they see improvement or commendable efforts. Conversely, Messad communities know what it looks like when their neighbors are not pursuing their Inner Flame effectively and can correct or intervene as needed to get their neighbor back on the path to Haval.

The Fane
Both Callers and Sentinels live and work from the local fane. Every fane has a dedicated open flame, which is tended by the Callers. It is regarded a symbol and reminder of Messina’s triumph and courage. It is not considered an embodiment or manifestation of Messina himself or the true Beacon. This flame can be a massive brazier, like the one found in Messina’s Gate, or a torch inside a recently constructed prayer hut. When the Messad faith was hunted to near extinction in years past, lanterns were lit from a fane’s blaze to preserve the symbol of the faith if a fane was at risk of being destroyed.
A proper fane consists of a very large rectangular foundation made of stone bricks, its top accessible via stairs on one of the narrow edges. Atop the foundation, comprising most of its area, is a largely empty gathering space surrounded by square columns with the holy flame in its middle. This open-air space is where weekly Callings and most ceremonies, such as weddings or recognitions, take place. Typically, these Calling areas have no furniture or decorations.
Beyond the Calling area is a wide single story building that typically has two doors and a flat roof. One door leads into the Caller's quarters and any library or study that has been included in the fane. The other door leads to a large open room with weapons, shields, and armor of various forms stored on racks or stands around the entire place. This is the training area of the Sentinels, which is open for all who would come and observe the sacred warriors in practice. The back of the training area leads to humble living quarters for the Sentinels, which connects to the back of the Caller's rooms via a shared kitchen. Cooking is a shared task between Callers and Sentinels, though it's often unnecessary as Messad guests to the fane often bring food or drink as gifts for their revered leaders.

Messad Callers
Callers are the highest leaders of the Messad. Every fane has one, possibly a second Caller-in-training that is being groomed to assume this role in the near future. It is the Caller’s responsibility to see that their fane’s flame is always lit regardless of weather or circumstance. They also teach about the faith, the history of its followers, and the laws of the land both spiritual and secular. Callers perform recognition ceremonies and are the sole authority who can propose an individual to begin training as a Sentinel. To be given this proposal is considered the greatest compliment and highest honor a Messad can receive in all the world. It is also the greatest sacrifice which can be asked of a Messad in their life. Because of this, Callers are extremely selective in who they consider nominating for the responsibility. Both Callers and Sentinels are able to recommend a person for training as a Caller, but the Sentinel has no authority to make the decision unless there is no Caller currently serving their fane.

Callers have no set wardrobe but are often easily distinguished by wearing multiple layers of tunics and robes in alternating layers and hues of red, orange, yellow, and black. There is no proper holy symbol or icon for Messad to wear or display. Instead they keep fires burning and wear colors representing fire or the Valkyr.

Messad Sentinels
The combat training of potential Sentinels is extremely demanding and results in death as often as it results in completion. Combat training is not complete until a potential Sentinel can defeat Messad veterans with every weapon they’ve learned to use without losing a fight. These trials are conducted with real weapons, not wood or blunted steel. Very few of these trial fights pit a candidate against merely one veteran opponent, often including another Sentinel if one is available. Candidates are still considered to outrank Messad warriors on and off the battlefield. If a fane is without a Caller and Sentinels, a remaining candidate is temporarily recognized as the final civil and spritual authority until a higher ranked individual shows up. But Sentinels are not just warriors. They are also religious leaders as knowledgeable in ways of Messad law and spirituality as a Caller and must undergo all the appropriate leadership training of a potential Caller.
When a candidate has proven their capabilities in combat and religious leadership, they are recognized in a special ceremony called a Lighting. The veterans who trained the candidate publicly boast of the new candidate’s trials and feats, which were customized to provide the greatest challenge possible to the individual. Then a great feast is held with the newly recognized Sentinel displaying their combat prowess for all to see. Sentinels have traditionally been the closest thing the Messad have had to evangelists. In the days when Messad was spread far and wide, Sentinels would travel to foreign territories for weeks or months at a time. They would study and practice foreign combat styles at both the individual and tactical levels, and they would exchange some of their knowledge in return. Sentinels wouldn’t stand on a rock or street corner, preaching to passersby. Instead many foreigners saw their combat demonstrations and inquired as to how their religion enabled their extraordinary skills. These discussions regularly resulted in conversions in foreign lands, often in numbers enough to justify establishing a local fane. The Sentinel would oversee the construction of the building and the training of a local Caller before continuing their journeys elsewhere.
Sentinels are rarely seen without one or two weapons on their person and typically have armor on when traveling or attending any religious function. They usually favor medium armors that allow for adequate flexibility such as mail of chain or scales. Some stick to yet lighter armors of leather or hide and very few opt for heavy restrictive armors of steel plates. Sentinel clothing is typically form-fitting trousers with boots or shin wraps with loose tunics and open jackets that reach down to the thighs. Sentinels can wear the same color palette as Callers, but typically elect to wear deep reds as a symbol of the Feras with whom they closely identify.