Daega, The Lost Prophet

    

    After the Great Messiah Nimates ascended (died), he appointed 9 of his closest followers, the Table of High Prophets, to lead the cult of Nimatism on his behalf until his return. Daega was one of those high prophets. Daega believed adamantly that the messiah would return, and, wishing to conquest and solidify the cult as a global power (a belief that the messiah condemned), he devised a plan to exploit the Table into a power imbalance. He seized the power, but was nearly murdered in vengeance after he had killed the son of one the high prophets. The Table, impressed by Daega's genius, yet betrayed by his actions, had his eyes gouged. Daega was then excommunicated and sent to a remote desert where he was left to die.

    Though Daega had still believed the messiah and sought conquest to spread his scripture and teachings to all, in a belief it would thereby trigger his return (the Second Insurgence), Daega, outraged and forsaken by the ones he thought were truly the blind ones, survived. His survival was possible because he had exhumed the Salet, a head wrap belonging to the messiah, and wore it across his eyes, imbuing him with supernatural vitality and granting him the Sacred Strings, wires of light into which the messiah ascended. The light has such energy, that they can cut through anything. With the Salet and his loyalty to the messiah, Daega was determined to bring the Second Insurgence.

    Daega, alone, set on a pilgrimage to Arkon, the mountain peak where the messiah had died. The messiah did not respond. He prayed, but heard nothing. He did not know if he was forsaken for his past actions, the betrayal, the theft of the Salet. Daega had cried, but being blind, the only tears that produced were those of blood. They still stain the Salet and leak from his eyes. He persevered for an answer. He fasted, prayed. In prayer, he reached enlightenment through the seven meditations that took the form of halos: being (black), beauty (purple), love (red), peace (green), joy (yellow), holiness (white), and grace (blue). But still, no answer. Was this the answer, the seven meditations? Despite the silence, this could be what the messiah had left behind as his legacy to the next messiah, these meditations as his essence for whoever to discover enlightenment. "Our Lord is dead, and from His own divine artifacts and being, we are imbued with His ashes these Seven Meditations which constitute the form of the Chosen, and let these strings bind the meditations to unity."

    After the pilgrimage, Daega had accepted his god as having left beyond return and had realized--from his excommunication and pilgrimage--he was the lost prophet. Perhaps he was the Second Insurgence, the new messiah. Thus, Daega set out from Arkon on his mission to conquer the nonbelievers who banished him, absorb the Nimatists' first insurgents, and spread the new, Second Insurgence to the world.

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    How to expand on the story?

• Character development: Dive deeper into Daega's internal struggles as he grapples with his faith, betrayal, and newfound sense of purpose. Explore his past experiences and relationships with the other members of the Table of High Prophets, as well as his own journey of self-discovery on the remote desert island.
• World building: Expand on the lore and mythology surrounding Nimatism, the Great Messiah Nimates, and the Sacred Strings. Describe the society and hierarchy within the cult, as well as the beliefs and rituals that shape their worldview.
• Conflict and resolution: Introduce obstacles and adversaries that Daega must overcome on his quest to spread the Second Insurgence. Perhaps he encounters rival factions within the cult, external threats from non-believers, or moral dilemmas that challenge his newfound identity as the "lost prophet."
• Explore themes: Delve deeper into the themes of faith, power, and redemption. Explore how Daega's actions are influenced by his beliefs and desires, and how they ultimately shape his journey and impact the world around him.
• Plot twists, surprises: Incorporate unexpected twists and turns into the story to keep readers engaged and guessing. Perhaps Daega discovers hidden truths about the origins of Nimatism or encounters unexpected allies or enemies along his journey.

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Other comments

• Huh wow, Daega I thought of as quite evil for wanting to conquest, against the messiah's wishes, and also taking the Table for himself and whatnot. But then he got excommunicated, became enlightened, and set out on vengeance to destroy the Table and spread the second insurgence. 
• But oddly enough, his revolution and conscription of the original Nimatism improved most of the lives of those following it by dismantling the corrupt Table? He upended them and successfully gets vengeance, at the cost of a great number of lives, but ultimately enhancing and reviving the quality of life and faith of Nimatism, hm?