The sinister Black Sun Cult, under the command of an avatar of the angel Imperius, sees mankind as inherently unstable and prone to fall to demonic temptation. By joining forces against the demonic legions, the armies of Man and Angel would be able to deliver the death blow to the Burning Hells. The Covenant of the Golden Flame, led by a prophet who claims to receive instructions directly from the angel Auriel, preaches unity and brotherhood among the faithful of Zakarum and the destruction of those who work against the Church. Although many feared for a holy war, the leaders of the sects agreed to close their ranks and work together against the common foe unfettered by infighting and distrust. From the ashes of the old orders, two sects with a radically different interpretation of the Akaran scriptures and diametrically opposite morals arose. The faithful of the Light looked elsewhere for answers and banded together around the new prophets.

The weakening influence of the central Church in Kehjistan and the mysterious disappearance of the Que-Hegan only contributed to the chaos. After the fall of the Hand of Zakarum, the paladin orders disbanded one by one or were torn apart by internal conflicts.

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