Lorebook: The Four Fates
The Four Fates:
An Overview
LORE
Overview
The Church of the Four Fates was founded circa 2,000 PSO (Pre-Sanctified Order), an era shrouded in both myth and fragmented history. According to legend, on the eve of what was likely to be a devastating battle between the warring kingdoms of Durram, four ethereal spirits - manifestations of the Fates themselves - appeared to King Gregor I of Valo. The Fates, whose forms shifted with each telling, warned Gregor of a looming catastrophe that would engulf not only his kingdom but the entirety of Durram if the fractured kingdoms did not make peace. Their message was clear: the continent had to be united under one banner, or its people would be swallowed by chaos and ruin.
History
“The earth trembled not, yet the stars fell,
for the hands that held them forgot their names.
Where rivers end, they found no mouth,
only the breath of forgotten winds.Oathbound, they stood, neither stone nor sky,
beneath suns that never rose,
in the shadow of those who never lived.Oris built a tower where none could dwell,
its walls made of whispers, its doors of silence,
and the sea of Neyara lapped at its base,
tasting what was, but never knowing.Time unraveled in Ilvar’s web,
caught on the fray of an unseen needle,
each thread a song unheard.Yet the Veil burned bright,
and Shaelas smiled,
for what was, was never whole.”- Excerpt from The Song of the First Silence
The story of King Gregor's fateful encounter varies depending on who tells it. Some accounts say the Fates appeared to him as formless whispers on the wind; others describe them as glowing, spectral figures that moved like shadows across the walls of his tent. In all versions, however, they shared the same warning - an ominous glimpse of a future consumed by war and suffering. It is said that the Fates themselves revealed that the chaos Gregor feared was just the beginning, and only through unification could Durram withstand the trials that lay ahead.
In the days following the vision, Gregor summoned his closest advisors and spiritual leaders to his side, though he reportedly kept the full details of the vision to himself. For four days and nights, Gregor meditated in solitude, seeking the counsel of the Fates in private. Each Fate, it is said, visited him in turn, imparting their own wisdom and guidance:
Ilvar, The Weaver, was the first to appear. He revealed the intricate web of fate that bound Durram together - a tapestry of lives, destinies, and choices. In his hands, the future was a thread pulled tight, and Gregor saw both the unrelenting march of time and the consequences of every path he might choose. It was Ilvar who made him understand that leadership was more than just personal ambition - it was about ensuring the right choices were made for the greater good of all.
Neyara, The Tidebearer, came next, bringing with her the weight of life's cycles - birth, death, renewal, and decay. She showed Gregor visions of the endless wars that had plagued the kingdoms, the rise and fall of rulers, and the blood-stained earth of countless battlefields. Neyara made Gregor see that war, though a constant, could also be tempered - that peace, though temporary, was part of the cycle that must be maintained to preserve life.
Oris, The Silent Architect, appeared as a figure bathed in silvery starlight, his hands tracing the invisible foundations of the world itself. He whispered to Gregor of the structures that would be needed - not only castles and roads but laws, treaties, and alliances. Oris granted Gregor the knowledge to build something greater than a fleeting empire - he would build a lasting union, one shaped by fairness, logic, and the careful arrangement of power. His presence cemented the idea that only through careful, deliberate design could Durram be truly united.
Finally, Shaelas, The Veiled Flame, came to Gregor in the dead of night, their presence like a sudden storm, a flickering light in the darkness. They represented the force of change, the disruption of the status quo, and the need for revolution. Shaelas inspired Gregor to act swiftly and decisively, for the future of the continent could not wait for diplomacy alone. It was Shaelas’ words that sparked his conviction to break old traditions and reshape the political landscape of Durram in ways that had never been done before.
And so, when Gregor emerged from isolation, he declared the formation of the Church of the Four Fates, a new spiritual and political institution meant to serve as a guiding hand for the realm. More than just a religious order, the Church became a powerful force that influenced treaties, brokered alliances, and ensured that the Fates' will was honored in all matters of governance, war, and peace. Fatekeepers, priests and priestesses dedicated to each Fate, were appointed to advise rulers, serve as mediators in disputes, and interpret the oft-illusive will of the Fates. They acted not only as spiritual guides but also as political advisors, gaining significant influence in the courts of kings and queens across the continent.
Influence and Impact
The Church’s doctrine, deeply intertwined with the myth of Gregor's vision, held that the Fates did not merely observe the world - they actively shaped it, guiding rulers and shaping events to maintain a delicate balance. Their influence was not to be questioned but followed, for to stray from the path woven by them was to invite disaster. Ilvar's threads of destiny could be twisted or severed, Neyara's cycle of life and death could be thrown into disarray, Oris's careful designs could crumble, and Shaelas's flame of change could either burn away the old or ignite uncontrollable chaos.
As the Church grew in power, so did its reach. Temples dedicated to each Fate rose across the land, each grander than the last, becoming centers of both worship and political power. The Fatekeepers established schools where the children of nobles were taught not only the doctrines of the Church but also the arts of statecraft, ensuring that future leaders would be loyal to the Fates and their designs. This intertwining of spiritual and political power gave the Church control over many aspects of life in Durram and beyond.
Over the centuries, the myth of the Four Fates' appearance to King Gregor evolved into a central pillar of faith, with each generation of rulers looking to the Church for guidance. Though the details of the original vision have been debated by scholars and theologians for millennia, the impact of the Church on the world of Atheria remains undeniable. To this day, many kingdoms still look to the Fates for direction, and the Church of the Four Fates continues to shape the destiny of the realm, constantly attempting (and often failing) to balance the will of the divine with the ambitions of men.