Muza
The Dark Lord Muza, most often simply referred to as Muza, is the patron deity of the Cult of Yellow. By modern standards he is considered an evil god and the arch-nemesis of Soloralism. His cult gained a widespread following during the golden years of Menelmacar, when the Imperium was at the height of its power. The fight for dominance between the Yellowists and Soloralists resulted in the Menelmacari Civil War, which split the nation and led to the eventual downfall of both resultant states. Muza's origins remain unclear, with most suggesting he was unleashed with the Infernals that once emerged on Micras before being driven back into the depths. Others attest that he remains waiting in the dark corners of another universe, waiting for a new cult to call him back to this world. The latter seems highly unlikely since most of the cult was exterminated by the Dragon Riders of Ashinthael during the final catastrophe of Menelmacar.
Beliefs
Acolytes of Muza believe that he grants his followers divine psychic power. The greater an adherent prostrates him/herself before Muza, and/or offers great sacrifice, the greater the power that is bestowed. Typically this power is not granted by Muza himself, but rather through his avatar on Micras, the High Archetype. Yellowists believe that Muza possesses the ultimate psychic psionic power but has been stymied by those who oppose him (mostly the Soloralists).
Organization and structure
Scriptures
The history, beliefs and teachings of Muza are collected in the Holy Yellowist Scripture, known as the Radiant Psion, of which only two copies remain.
Worship
History
Muza's exact origins remain unclear. The sacred texts ascribed by his acolytes do not detail the deity's beginnings, instead starting at the early stages of his worship in Menelmacar. Scholarly consensus nowadays agrees that he likely appeared along with the plethora of other demons that emerged during the Infernal occupation of the region. It is surmised that even after the expulsion of the demons back to the underworld, some remained hidden at far-flung and remote locations. Whether Muza remained within the physical realm of Micras, or was banished to another dimension entirely, remains a mystery. What is known is that his acolytes continued to maintain their devotions and psionic link to their god, who in turn granted them psychic powers.
The Cult of Yellow reached its greatest strength during the Menelmacar's waning Golden Age. Muza's adherents had spent years building and growing his cult of followers. They had strategically focused the center of their activities on Yellow Island, far from the Menelmacari heartland. On nearby Crystal Island they built the Temple of Radiance, which became Muza's foothold on Micras. Some argue that the temple was a portal, connecting to either Muza's dimension or the underworld. Others attest that it was simply a transmitter for the god and his servants to communicate. Either way, it served to focus Muza's power and from here his influence spread rapidly. Calling themselves the Collective Unconsciousness, the cult fanned out across nearly half of Tapfer. More importantly, Muza's priests began to seep into Menelmacar.
It is not clear what drew the Cult of Yellow to target Menelmacar above all other nations, but it is likely that the Yellowists sought to eradicate the followers of Soloralism, which was considered the antithesis of the Radiant Psion. At that time Menelmacar had become the epicenter of the Soloralist faith and was spreading rapidly across Micras, going so far as to absorb the lands of Ashinthael and the former Infernal domains. This transgression supposedly sent Muza into a rage and he swore to obliterate the Menelmacari.
The power of the Collective Unconsciousness was not in arms, so they chose instead to infiltrate the Imperium. Soon Muza's missionaries began emigrating, taking advantage of the Menelmacari's good will, and establishing temples throughout the country. They found willing converts in the common folk, who were becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the gentrification of Menelmacar. Within a very short period Muza had established himself as the would-be savior of the country. Meanwhile, the Soloralists had begun to grow wary of Muza's presence and Empress Sirithil began enforcing edicts to check his advance. But the cunning god had appointed his greatest acolyte, the Archetype, as his embodiment on Micras. And it was Archetype who framed the Empress as a dictator, using the edicts as evidence of her corruption. In this way he turned the country against itself. The opposing sides would reach a boiling point when Sirithil and Archetype both vied for the position of Elenaran.
