The religious leader of Thrane, Jaela Daran, holds great power within the confines of the Cathedral of the Silver Flame. Outside its sanctified grounds, she is but an 11-year-old cleric, but inside, the Silver Flame grants her immense divine power. A small and secretive cult within Thrane believes that Jaela Daran’s gifts come not from Tira Miron or the couatl spirit that sustains the Silver Flame, but from the malevolent demon trapped within the unquenchable fire. Although they would dare not speak such heresy openly, their cult centers on the conviction that infernal voices advise their nation’s spiritual leader. According to the theories, outside forces powerful enough to hide within the Church of the Silver Flame in Flamekeep avoid detection by the many paladins and clerics who frequent it. While this conspiracy theory may seem elaborate, the cultists of the Whispering Flame do more than simply believe in this idea. They hear the voices, and they obey.
Only a few evil cults have managed to survive in Thrane—a feat demanding powerful magic, eternal vigilance, and a lack of sanity (or presence of vision, if you prefer). The Knights of Thrane have been ruthless in eliminating such corruption, yet the inner circle of this cult uses an array of spells to mask their alignments, bury their true thoughts, and veil their fiendish schemes. Few gatherings are held; instead, Whispering Flame cultists maintain contact through whispering flame spells and other secretive means of communication.
Whispering Flame cultists firmly believe that Jaela Daran herself is part of their organization, and that the orders she receives are the same as theirs. Investigators outside the cult hear rumors of Whispering Flame plots to eradicate the last vestiges of the monarchy, ensuring that the Keeper of the Flame’s rule continues unchallenged. Still others fear that the cultists might be capturing monsters from the Mournland to unleash upon Thrane or researching ways to unleash the fiend within the Silver Flame. Such ideas are speculative at best, however. The most pervasive theory is that the Whispering Flame cultists are simply insane, which could be the most dangerous rumor of all.
Source: Five Nations
When Tira bound Bel Shalor, she did not silence him completely. He is the Shadow in the Flame, and his words are wicked lies that tempt the good into evil. Those who fall under his sway lash out in fear and panic, assured that the only way to defend themselves is to strike first. His most prominent cult is known as the Whispering Flame, a secretive society that recruits from within the Church of the Silver Flame.
The greatest champion of the cult was Melysse Miron (she/her), a woman who claimed to be a direct descendent of Tira and wielded incredible divine power. She directly challenged Keeper Kyra Danth for control of the church, claiming that Tira had revealed to her a new, far harsher doctrine. Ultimately, Melysse was revealed to be a false Keeper, empowered by Bel Shalor rather than Tira and the Silver Flame. Publicly, Melysse is believed to have been slain by Kyra; in truth, she was petrified and imprisoned in Dreadhold’s stone ward. The Cult of the Whispering Flame is thus far unaware of this fact and wonders when a new Keeper will be imbued with the power of Bel Shalor; some believe that Jaela Daran is secretly their messiah, and eagerly look for proof of the young Keeper’s deception.
In many ways, the Pure Flame represents the corruption of the Whispering Flame; the tenets of the Pure Flame are remarkably similar to those of the False Keeper. However, that does not mean that the leaders of the Pure Flame are knowingly agents of Bel Shalor—the overlord’s powers and schemes are subtle, ensnaring hearts and minds to do his bidding unwittingly. Accusations of serving Bel Shalor are insufficient to dissuade members or sympathizers of the Pure Flame from supporting the sect; zealotry and conviction are not easily swayed by mere words.
Source: Cultures of Thrane
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