Maraq saar-Wandi

Maraq saar-Wandi was the founder of Wandism, a controversial tritheistic religion followed nearly exclusively by Qaemedi people.

Early Life
Born in the city-state of Qaem in the eastern part of the Orient. He was the son of a wealthy merchant family, and received a good education in literature, mathematics, and the arts. From a young age, Maraq showed a deep interest in religion, and often spent hours reading religious texts and meditating.

As a child, Maraq was deeply influenced by his parents, who were both devout followers of the traditional polytheistic religion of the Qaemedi people. He was raised to believe in the importance of ancestor worship and the performance of rituals, and was taught to respect the gods and goddesses of his people.

Despite this, Maraq was never fully satisfied with the religion of his people. He found the pantheon of gods and goddesses confusing and difficult to understand, and he struggled to find a clear moral code within the religion. As he grew older, he began to search for a more structured and dogmatic religion that could provide him with the guidance and direction he craved.

Religious Revelations
Maraq became disillusioned with the polytheistic religion practiced by his people, which he saw as being too syncretic and lacking in moral guidance. He spent many years studying different religions and philosophies, seeking a path that would lead him to spiritual enlightenment. He read the sacred texts of various religions, and spent long hours in meditation and contemplation. Eventually, he found what he was looking for in the teachings of the Heavenly Father, whom he believed to be the one true god.

Inspired by the strict moral code and clear teachings of the Heavenly Father, Maraq began to spread the word of this new religion among his people. He became known as the Wise Owl, and was revered as a prophet and the earthly avatar of the Heavenly Father. Despite facing persecution from authorities, Maraq continued to spread his teachings and eventually established Wandism as the state religion of a small kingdom in the Orient.

Maraq was a deeply charismatic and passionate leader, and his followers were drawn to his fervent belief in the power of the Heavenly Father. He was known for his eloquence and his ability to convey complex ideas in a clear and concise manner, and his teachings were widely accepted by the Qaemedi people - however, Maraq was also a controversial figure, and his strict interpretation of the Heavenly Father's teachings often put him at odds with the authorities. He preached against the decadence and corruption of the ruling elites, and called for a revolution against the old order. This radicalism earned him many enemies, and he was often targeted by those who opposed his teachings.

Despite these challenges, Maraq remained unwavering in his faith and his commitment to spreading the word of the Heavenly Father, establishing a Wandist state, a small kingdom in which Wandism is the state religion. As the leader of the Wandist state, Maraq implemented a series of radical policies designed to rebuild the kingdom according to his vision. He abolished private property and implemented collective farming, and he also forced the population to undergo rigorous ideological training in order to ensure their loyalty to the regime.

Maraq was a harsh taskmaster, and he expected nothing less than complete loyalty from his subjects. He demanded long hours of hard labor from the population, and punished anyone who failed to meet his expectations. He also imposed strict rules on the population, including strict codes of dress and behavior, and he imposed the death penalty for even the slightest infractions.

As the leader of Wandism, Maraq worked tirelessly to establish the moral and ethical code of the religion, which included strict rules on sexual morality and the veneration of the Wise Owl as an infallible leader. However, Maraq himself fell victim to the strict moral code himself had established: he was caught seeking sexual activities with married women. In accordance with Wandist doctrine, he was burned alive as punishment for his transgressions. Of course, in order to reconcile his execution by his own followers and the infallibility of his own words, his followers claimed, that Maraq saar-Wandi succumbed to possession by the Betraying Bride, and that destroying his body was an act of liberating his soul and helping him ascend.

Legacy
Maraq's death did not mark the end of Wandism, and the religion continued to spread within the small kingdom where it is the state religion. However, Wandism is viewed as a subversive cult everywhere else and faces harsh persecution. Despite this, it has managed to survive to the present day, with a small but devoted following.