After the downturn of the Bessian Religion in the decades following Bessiah’s death, it fell out of discourse. At the early part of the eight century NA, the teachings were re-embraced in Aduran, but in a very different way.
The original Bessian teachings were not strict, placing the onus upon the individual to create their own heaven, their own hell, but action. Ethics formed through debate and study were seen as paramount. And, while Bessiah had ascended to a higher stage of humanity, she was still human and ultimately died.
The Aduran King at the time, Yan Meela, and those around him, began to re-interpret the teachings. They saw in her recorded teachings the need for guidance from an authority. A priesthood was created that was much higher in standing to the lay. A list of sins and a codex of ethics was drawn up, toward which the people had to obey. The natural end of one’s life led to a terrible afterlife but, with the help of the Priesthood and contributions to the church, you could be granted access to a more pleasant afterlife.
This new form of Bessian did something arguably more dramatic. Bessiah was transformed into a god, or a series of goddesses. The six manifestations of Bessiah were Retribution, Health, Birth, Death, Truth and Coin. With these, every factor of the ordinary person’s life could be dealt with.
New Bessian spread rapidly across the world. Rulers adopted it frequently before their people, seeing it as a sanctioning of war and control.
The Priesthood quickly became largely a gadal institution. While the Brotherhood were the major challenge to the rise of the Academy, the Priesthood and the religion which they served caused both of those consternation.
Into the modern era, there can be no doubt that the Priesthood is still a powerful player in the world, commanding considerable sway.