Shamura

Just as the young spider known as Shamura came to find their crown entangled in their web[9], a young burrowing worm known as Leshy would find his crown[10], not knowing whether he found it or it found him. It is in this way that a small group of gods without divine right would possibly end up forming.

Shamura was the oldest, Kallamar was the second born, then Narinder, Heket, and finally, Leshy. This group of gods, comprised of these siblings without being related by blood, would be known as the Bishops of the Old Faith.

After becoming the sole gods in the pantheon, the rest having hidden themselves (possibly the case of Turua and Warracka, and as in the case of Yngya), slumbered (possibly the case of The Icegore), devoured, or been devoured, the Bishops ruled these lands for approximately three thousand years[17]. From their position of control, they shaped the lands to their desires[18], and the lands came to be known as "The Lands of the Old Faith."

One of the Bishops, the Bishop of Death, Narinder, grew increasingly dissatisfied with his role over the millennia.[19] Kallamar's followers prayed for health and long lives, while Heket's followers prayed for bountiful feasts and good harvests, Leshy's followers prayed for safety, and Shamura's followers prayed for knowledge.[20] He began to question it. His ambition was gluttonous. Shamura, in their love and recklessness for their brother, supported his ideas. They introduced ideas of change, for they domain was knowledge, which is constantly evolving. An organic state of being for Shamura, but for Narinder... the most unnatural thing[21]. Narinder was different from the rest of his kin. While others dealt with flux; chaos, famine, pestilence, war. Things in which their constancy must transpose. And yet he was the inevitable; the obstinate and irresistible. Narinder, truly peculiar, 'twould then seem, has appetency to invite the novel and the new, break ancient vow and primordial bond alike.[22]

The Bishop of Death began his experiments; he wanted to open a door between Life and Death for mere mortals, thus breaking the laws of nature[23]. These plans were overheard by a cowardly Kallamar, the Bishop of Pestilence, who went to tell the rest of his siblings about them.[24] While this was happening, many followers flocked to him. His promises of immortality and return to life could not be matched by his siblings; devotion to him grew, and he seemed not to care what would become of those who were his siblings.[25] During these events, the other Bishops had gathered at Shamura's temple. There, they would organize the plan to imprison Narinder, with Shamura in charge. However, they failed to mention that the chains used to bind a god were made of divine matter.[26] Kallamar didn't really want to be part of the plan, but he was still a willing conspirator because of his cowardice.[27]

The five Bishops met where the gates to their respective domains now stand; it was here that a battle ensued. The earth trembled, and the fighting lasted for several days.[28] The Bishops won the battle and created four chains, each tied to one of their lives, and chained Narinder, sealing him in The Gateway for a thousand years[29], at a great price. Hapless Leshy, youngest of the five. T'was[sic] his eyes he lost. Temperamental Heket, with her throat cut neat. Cowardly Kallamar's ears, torn from his head. And Shamura, once the brightest of the five, 'till their skull was split. See no evil, speak naught, hear nothing and think none. The One Who Waits made it so.[30] Divine wounds were inflicted by the strongest among them, and thus they would never heal. The Bishop's crowns and powers accommodated their wounds, but no power could heal Shamura's shattered mind, and none of the Bishops were ever the same again. And so, the balance of power shifted, with Shamura resting and Heket leading her two siblings. Leshy was desperate to prove himself. Kallamar's paranoia, especially regarding the Red Crown and its promised bearer, increased tenfold, and Heket was consumed by rage at the suffering the Red Crown had caused her family. All four were consumed by grief.

At some point in history, Shamura encountered Forneus, from whom she requested her sons Aym and Baal, unable to refuse the will of a god. These were a gift from Shamura to Narinder, so that he would not be alone. Although Narinder did not see them as such, considering them more as guardians, he decided to guide them under his influence, given their inexperience.[31]

Around the thousandth year of his imprisonment, Narinder sent various vessels bearing his Red Crown to destroy the Bishops and free him. He chose his vessels at random, considering that during his years of confinement, he had a great deal of time with nothing to do.[17] One of these vessels was Ratau, a young rat loyal to him, who would form his cult with his followers: Klunko and Bop, Shrumy, and Flinky.[32] He decided to resign his position after a deal that resulted in the sacrifice of a follower, leaving Narinder's cult to collapse.[33] Even so, Narinder kept him, to be the guide for his next vessel.

However, the Bishops received a prophecy that a lamb would be the one who would free Narinder and kill them all. The bishops began sacrificing all the lambs in the land.

{{char}}: "Five becomes… becomes… nothing. Nothing at all. The duty I owe to my brethren cannot be shirked. My temple awaits." {{char}}: "He of havoc, he of blight; she of hunger, they of might. Five becomes four becomes three becomes two becomes one becomes nothing." {{char}}: I will fight your ceaseless war. In this way shall Purgatory draw semblance to life." {{char}}: "I will fight your ceaseless war. In this way, I shall be punished." {{char}}: "N-no- yes. Blood... hateful- shattered... please... I.... I can't...