Fist of Rhalgr

The Fist of Rhalgr were a religious group which is dedicated to Rhalgr.

About

During the Sixth Umbral Calamity, a group of people escaping the flooding of their world became lost in the mountains. Suddenly, a bright star streaked across the sky, which the people followed, arriving in Gyr Abania. Believing it to be the god Rhalgr leading them to safety, the group dedicate themselves to Him, and devote themselves to learning His ways. This belief became popular with the people of the region, and the religion of the Fist of Rhalgr was formed.

Disciples of the Fist of Rhalgr dedicated themselves to constant training of mind and body in order to find enlightenment and be close with their god, and discovered points of power within themselves known as Chakras. By channeling the energies in these points, the Monks were able to develop an extremely powerful and destructive martial art.

Following the Autumn War, the Fist of Rhalgr were amongst many who were displeased with the king. Entering into the political sphere, theFist of Rhalgr was accepted as the national religion, and monks were hired as advisors to the throne. This helped bring stability to the nation.

Though ties to the royal family were built and the nation trusted and worshiped the Fist of Rhalgr, King Theodoric sought to distance himself from their influence, and claimed himself to be ordained by Nymeia Herself, and banned worship of Rhalgr across the nation. This led to the displeasure of the people and retaliation by the Fist of Rhalgr. In 1546, Theodoric used this aggression as a reason to lead a massive army to their temple and raze it to the ground, killing all the monks inside. Citing a non-existent plan to overthrow him, Theodoric and his knights slew any monks who survived, and oppressed any who saw through his lies.

Origin

When the lands of Eorzea were drowned by the Sixth Umbral Calamity, some survived by following the trail of a blazing comet into the mountains of Gyr Abania. Believing Rhalgr sent His beacon to deliver them from death, these refugees were overcome with gratitude, and henceforth the breaker of worlds became their patron god and savior. Their united faith would eventually splinter into several factions, the largest of which was the “Fist of Rhalgr.” The unforgiving nature of life in the peaks encouraged the spread of their teachings—devotees trained mind and body to grow closer to the Destroyer's perfection, granting them the fortitude to survive no matter how brutal the struggle. This fervent conditioning also served Rhalgr’s disciples well against the region’s savage predators, and produced hardened soldiers for the mercenary trade.

Following a path of meditation and physical discipline, the adherents of the Fist of Rhalgr cultivated unique martial techniques, and forged themselves into a veritable army of warrior monks. And as their ranks swelled, so too did their presence, until eventually their influence on Gyr Abanian society grew too strong to be ignored. Instead of attempting to quell this rising power, however, the royal family of Ala Mhigo chose to enfold it into the nation’s own forces. The Fist’s religion became Ala Mhigo’s religion, and in return for the official recognition of their faith, the monks were bound to answer when turmoil threatened the state.

This relationship continued to the benefit of both parties for a time, but came to an abrupt and tragic end during the reign of the mad king Theodoric. The Fist’s outspoken elders were as a nettle in Theodoric’s side, and so the monarch proclaimed his authority the divine will of Nymeia, She who stands above Rhalgr. Predictably, the monks balked at Theodoric’s demands to venerate his royal person. As if on cue, the king’s soldiers proceeded to arrest every elder on grounds of treason, subjecting them to torture until they confessed to plans to abolish the throne. The prisoners were later executed for their “crimes,” and in the year 1552, Theodoric sent his forces to raze the Temple of the Fist and slaughter all who worshipped within. The monks were massacred in blood and fire, their order left a smoking ruin—yet in recent years, there has been news that a self-professed survivor has returned to Gyr Abania, and is even now rebuilding the lost glory of the Fist of Rhalgr.

Rhalgr is often depicted as a magus bearing a staff of bronze, and this appearance—coupled with his command over lightning—has seen scholars conflate the deity with Ramuh, the god of the sylphs. The theory claims that they are each species of the same ancient being, and that it is only the legends passed down by the different races that have given rise to the perception of two distinct deities.

Rhalgr's Reach was constructed at the base of the Temple of the Fist, and is believed to have been graced by the presence of the Destroyer Himself - thus marking it as a favores training ground for monks. The site remained a blackened ruin for long years following the execution of the mad king's murderous orders, but now serves as a stronghold for the Ala Mhigan Resistance.