The Faces in Stone

The Faces in Stone are a collection of divine beings worshipped primarily by the people of the Kurland Steppes. The faith comes from the land of Turghis, where growths of stone and crystalline solids rise from the earth, sometimes taking face-like visages. The Turg people have always venerated these faces, and since their conquest of that land, many of the Kurns have incorporated them into their faith.

In Kurnish tradition, the Faces are said to be the spirits of great warriors past, long given back to the earth, manifesting to call their descendents to glory. They can also call to justice, so it is important to Read the Faces accurately. Since most Kurn aren't to be found in Turghis these days, the faith has evolved: Stone-Seers commune with the earth to learn the will of the spirits, and conduct rituals involving the boiling of gold, silver, and other precious, malleable metals to peer at the shapes they make as they melt.

The Great Khans since before the First Kurnish Invasion have taken to carving their likeness into mountainside temples, the better for them to be worshipped as a god in the afterlife. These efforts began humbly, but in modern times, they have become great construction projects, yielding hundred-foot tall, intricately-detailed statues guarding tombs stuffed with treasure and filled with terrible traps.