Like I said, I don't know that much about Eberron's past lore (and delays in shipping means it could be around another month before the Eberron Campaign Guide shows up here in Australia), so can anyone tell me if the Blood of Vol has legitimately earned this sinister reputation, or if this is just slander by rival religions? I think I've read somewhere that there are a number of necromancers and sentient undead (mainly vampires, but also a few liches) in the higher ranks, but the majority of the faithful have no idea of the seamier underbelly of their religion, but I'm not really sure.
The faithful of the Blood of Vol respect and pay homage to the "Undead Champions" who have given up their chance at divinity to fight the Tyrannical Gods for the rest of Eternity.
To the outside these two things look like "They Worship the Undead" and "They want to destroy other religions." The faithful of other religions then take these observations back to their own masses without questioning the motives behind these observations.
Think of it like Margaret Mead's "Coming of Age in Samoa". Some of the people Mead interviewed have since stepped forward and claimed to have lied to Mead for their own amusement, and claim that they would of told her the truth if she pressed the matter, but she simply took their word at face value.
P.S. As for the "war against the gods", I was under the impression that only a part of the faithful actually follow that doctrine(namely those who reside in Sharn), the rest rejecting the notion of "gods" altogether. Please correct if I am mistaken
.Some people have a problem with that.
As for the "war against the gods", I was under the impression that only a part of the faithful actually follow that doctrine(namely those who reside in Sharn), the rest rejecting the notion of "gods" altogether. Please correct if I am mistaken
Only a part of the faithful follow this doctrine, but it's more than just the group in Sharn; you can find adherents of this belief in Karnath, the LP, and elsewhere. It's a variant of the faith, just as the SH and SF have sects within the core faiths.
.Like I said, I don't know that much about Eberron's past lore (and delays in shipping means it could be around another month before the Eberron Campaign Guide shows up here in Australia), so can anyone tell me if the Blood of Vol has legitimately earned this sinister reputation, or if this is just slander by rival religions? I think I've read somewhere that there are a number of necromancers and sentient undead (mainly vampires, but also a few liches) in the higher ranks, but the majority of the faithful have no idea of the seamier underbelly of their religion, but I'm not really sure.
I'm pretty sure the average Blood of Vol member has never personally met a Vampire or Lich. However, they do generally know of them, as well as the Emerald Claw, which is a militant Blood of Vol Karrnathi-nationalist movement (their version of Al Queda).
They don't worship them, but rather, recognize them acting on their behalf. In the blood of Vol Faith, it is believed that undead who serve the blood are making the greatest sacrifice of all. They are giving up their own blood- their own chance at divinity- in order to live a long life dedicated to fighting the good fight and uncovering the secrets of true divine immortality. They're analogous to martyrs and bodhisattvas. They are making the greatest sacrifice of all.
Vol is believed to be the greatest of these heroes. Few people have met her, and even fewer know what her true motives are, but her acts are the stuff of inspiring legends.
They tolerate and accept the things that Undead aligned with the Blood of Vol and Emerald Claw do because they believe that these entities are acting in their best interests. They know the Silver Flame and Sovereign Host won't approve, because of their slanted bias and ignorance.
This complicit tolerance is what leads people to associate the average Blood of Vol member with the less savory elements of the faith and creates a stereotype of all members of the faith as creepy Undead loving murderers. After all, the only person who wouldn't decry something as horrible as undead or the Emerald Claw (branded a terrorist group) must clearly agree with them- or so the logic goes.
I'm pretty sure the average Blood of Vol member has never personally met a Vampire or Lich. However, they do generally know of them, as well as the Emerald Claw, which is a militant Blood of Vol Karrnathi-nationalist movement (their version of Al Queda).
They don't worship them, but rather, recognize them acting on their behalf. In the blood of Vol Faith, it is believed that undead who serve the blood are making the greatest sacrifice of all. They are giving up their own blood- their own chance at divinity- in order to live a long life dedicated to fighting the good fight and uncovering the secrets of true divine immortality. They're analogous to martyrs and bodhisattvas. They are making the greatest sacrifice of all.
Vol is believed to be the greatest of these heroes. Few people have met her, and even fewer know what her true motives are, but her acts are the stuff of inspiring legends.
They tolerate and accept the things that Undead aligned with the Blood of Vol and Emerald Claw do because they believe that these entities are acting in their best interests. They know the Silver Flame and Sovereign Host won't approve, because of their slanted bias and ignorance.
Actually, Most worshippers have no idea that Eradis d'Vol even exists.
I also have to ask why you assume that the average worshipper is aware and approves of the Emeralc Claw's true agenda and cause-it is supposed to be a top secret after all.
Actually, Most worshippers have no idea that Eradis d'Vol even exists.
I also have to ask why you assume that the average worshipper is aware and approves of the Emeralc Claw's true agenda and cause-it is supposed to be a top secret after all.
They know of a Lich Queen who is amongst the most powerful and accomplished undead members. They don't know that she's Erandi's d'Vol, heir to house Vol, who wants to restore the mark of death and destroy Aerenal/Argonessen.
The Emerald Claw is also a well known organization. It was the premiere Karrnathi knightly order before Kaius turned on the Blood of Vol. Again, the people generally don't know of it as the personal army of Vol.
They know enough of these entities to know that they exist and act in the world, but are ignorant enough that they consider their actions conducive to the goals of the faith, and consider them champions.
townsfolk don't know that the Order of the Emerald Claw was outlawed and are terrorists. Especially in Karnnath.They know of a Lich Queen who is amongst the most powerful and accomplished undead members. They don't know that she's Erandi's d'Vol, heir to house Vol, who wants to restore the mark of death and destroy Aerenal/Argonessen.
(I'll use some Hellcow quotes)
Isn't that what the [post=18933425]Emerald Claw[/post] know about her? [post=18933590]On the other hand[/post]
Again, Erandis' agenda is her personal agenda. The Blood of Vol is based on the work of her family, but the religion in its current form was developed on Khorvaire and Erandis isn't devoted to the faith (though she's an extremely charismatic and intelligent person with a knack for manipulating those that are).. Beyond this, only the Emerald Claw knows about the Queen of Death, and only the inner circle knows that the Queen of Death is Erandis Vol.