Faction type: Faction
Status: Defunct
Former townships: Jenova
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Ao sent the RoK before, in an attempt to fully destroy the Apprentice. Each time it was sent, it was beaten back... and sent again generations later. It is for this reason that Jihad believed Ao to be evil, and needed to be destroyed. The Jenovese (Jihad) believed that by destroying the RoK in its current incarnation, it was only leaving the problem to future generations. Jihad sought a long-term solution.
In the time before time, Ao took on a pupil, the Apprentice. Ao gave unto his Apprentice a world to build life. And build life he did. When the time came to inspect his pupil's work, Ao discovered his Apprentice had created a world far superior to his own. In jealousy, Ao sought to destroy this new world. The Apprentice opposed him and was murdered alongside his creations. The Great Realms would not see life again until the mortals Nisstyre and Teron stumbled upon it millennia later.
In his final moments, the Apprentice prophesied his own return: when next Ao destroyed the Great Realms, the Apprentice would be resurrected to reclaim his throne, as well as Ao's throne for his treachery. In making this prophecy, the Apprentice vested his final lifeforce into the RoK, thus making it a dead god. By worshipping the RoK, many Jenovese hoped to sustain and strengthen that ailing force. They also believed that by doing so, they left an imprint of their soul upon the Apprentice's memory- and would be Reborn after the RoK struck and Ao would be defeated.
It should be noted that not all of the Jenovese worshiped the RoK, or sought its fall. The common citizens of Jenova often played no role in their government's schemes. Also, Jihad's five Divisions varied slightly in their beliefs. Lastly, there was the fanatical group which called itself Dissonance. This group of Cyricists believed the Prophecy was a prophecy of Cyric ascending to Elder Godhood *as* the Apprentice.
The five Divisions of Jihad were:
- (HoF) Harbingers of Faith
- (WoR) Warriors of Ragnarok
- (JNP) Jihad Naval Patrol
- (JRO) Jenovese Reconnaissance Order
- (JRS) Jihad Research Syndicate
