The Cult of the Deep

The Cult of the Deep, is based on an Eldham based faith from the land of Azrileus, regarding an unnatural hole known as the Deep, found deep within the Rodinnian desert, and the ancient beings called Heralds sealed deep within it. Worshippers perform sacrificial feedings in the form of forcing their captured enemies into the Deep, along with valuable items for the Heralds to feast upon.

The History of the Heralds
Before the beginning of the universe, there was a being. This being was known as the "Great Hand." The Hand created a race known as the Valkyra for him to rule over. The Valkyra were an elite race of beings, possessing an insurmountable intellect. They perfected society and built machines to further the arts and sciences. Things like "poverty" and "hunger" did not exist in the Valkyrian language. However, eventually, the Valkyra wished for their own beings to rule over them. They asked the Great Hand to create another race of lesser beings for them to rule.

However, the Great Hand, angry with the desire of the Valkyra to rule, created the race of lesser beings the Valkyra wished for, and called them humans. However, he made these humans have the capability to murder, something that the Valkyra did not have. After eons of being rulers, the Valkyra were no longer the perfect race the Great Hand had wished for. They had become gluttonous upon their power, and treated humans as scum. Humans, angered with their mistreatment, began a revolt against their overlords. They began a genocide against the Valkyra. Eventually, the Valkyra were pushed to near extinction. The Valkyra prayed and prayed, wishing for the Great Hand to deliver them from their butchering, but the Great Hand turned away in disgust. Soon, the Valkyra were completely wiped out. The Great Hand returned yet again, this time in penance.

Realizing his sins in creating humans, he renamed these ancient humans "Heralds", to spread the will of the Great Hand. The Great Hand, despising the Heralds and himself for being their creator, killed himself and, in doing so, entombed the Heralds deep within the world. The Heralds, knowing their doom, created a single seed to repopulate the lands above them. These people that sprouted from the seed became the current humans. The Heralds, sealed within the Deep, began to influence humanity to feed them, until they one day, could escape their seal. The Great Hand expecting the Herald's trickery, produced his own seed. This seed would spread to those who would fight against what the Heralds wished. Those born of the Great Hand's seed would come in the form of non-believers in the cult.

Jihad
The Heralds wish for their children, the humans, to commit a Holy War in their name to exterminate all humans born of the Great Hand's seed. This genocide would ensure enough nourishment for the Heralds to escape their seal, and also remove all obstacles blocking the Heralds from rising from their tomb.