Depictions of Algor as a god occur very rarely, often he is depicted as the symbol of the sun on the scriptures and temples. Rarely is he seen depicted as a young man with a crystal staff in his hand, even more rarely is he sketched as an old man with a plain wooden staff. These depictions date mainly from between the 2nd and 6th centuries. Algor is celebrated on the first day of the new year, with the Feast of the New Year immediately following the New Year celebrations.
Algor is said to have once taken the form of a human to wander on Tirakan. Unfortunately for him, however, he completely forgot the small fact that he was a god and stayed on the face of the earth for several centuries. It is said that it was not until the 5th or 6th century that he remembered his true self and returned to his godly form.
The priesthood of Algor
Algor priests are easy to recognise: Clad in white robes, adorned with the insignia of light, a brightly illuminated sun, they roam the land to spread the word of Algor. Generally speaking, brothers dedicated to Algor (with the possible exception of the Contemplars) are extremely welcome company in almost every region of Tirakan. Among the general population, a priest, especially in the later centuries, almost always has a door open to him. Their integrity is beyond question.
"Bright as the light thou shalt be, that thou mayest carry the beacon of Algor into the world in his honour. The enemy of the shadow, a rampart against evil you shall be. Do not be diverted from your path, and you will experience the light of Algor." ~ Great Book of Consecrations, 1500 BC.
Probably the largest brotherhood is formed by the "Brothers of Akrenna", an order from Asgoran, which was founded around 600 BC. After a 5-year priestly training, the brothers each go on a 10-year pilgrimage through the country, during which they earn their living as mendicant monks or marketplace preachers. They reject any form of worldly possessions and are usually treated as extremely respectable persons. They find accommodation with hospitable families or in the temples of the Gods. After the 10 years, the brothers are free to determine their further path. Many then retire completely to monastic life, others found new temples or brotherhoods. In general, the brothers of Akrenna are considered to be extremely cosmopolitan, friendly priests who are an enrichment for every village, even if only a moral one.
Quite different, however, are the brothers of the "Contemplat of Light". This Yavon order, founded in the 6th century, has subjected itself to extremely strict rules, the Codex Luminus. These brothers, or Contemplars as they are popularly known, only leave buildings during the day, or rather, during the time of light. Travelling under the open sky at night is unthinkable to them, as darkness is considered evil to them from the bottom of their hearts. They impose equally strict rules on their other everyday life: food that has not been in the sun for more than one day is not to be eaten, as it has been spoiled by the shadow. Symbols of the moon are strictly forbidden and prayers are aligned according to the position of the sun. Admission to the Contemplat is probably one of the hardest tests of all the orders: The aspiring priest must spend 4 weeks fasting only with water in a brightly lit room of the Yavon order. The light is so bright that it is said that one can hardly see one's own hand in front of one's eyes. If the studius survives this procedure, a 10-year training awaits him, accompanied by fasting, meditation and, last but not least, self-flagellation. After this he may call himself priest and go out into the world. But for many priests, the month of light has driven them too close to the brink of madness, which explains why some members of the order were later actively involved in the rise of the second Inquisition. A circumstance that was only strongly condemned in later centuries by the highest priestly council of the Contemplar itself.
The "Holy Brothers of Anadal" are dedicated to the guardian angel of Algor. This brotherhood emerged in the 6th century and, surprisingly, developed from a white-magic cult, that of the Neronites. The brothers believe in the close connection between the divine and the magical and refer to the fact that the predecessors of their brotherhood, the Neronites, once met Algor himself, as well as to Nadal as an equal goddess. This order is one of the most powerful components of the war against the lizards in the late centuries. With white magic and prayers, they form an indispensable part of the royal armies. The training to become a priest is particularly extensive: in addition to the miners and religious instruction, the student must master a merciless workload of magical basics (the complete "The Magical Tracts 1-5" are just one keyword here...). After 7 years, the priest rides out into the world as a knight and priest gifted in white magic to confront the shadows with the word, the sword and magic.
"...and so he speaks and the people hear. His voice is like the bright sound of a spring bell, like the rush of the wind and the rumble of thunder. He always speaks true and in his words resonates Algor's love for all beings, that they may hear Alerail's words." - Great Book of Consecrations, 1500 b. EC.
