Mara Valkarin was the only survivor of the Theocrat’s betrayal during the Reliquary Crusade. Having seen his lust for power, she dedicated herself to his destruction - and to the end of all religion.
To this end, she formed the Order of the Veil, a secret society headed by five powerful figures, called the Penta Nera. Each of these figures had a public life, often apparently supporting the Theocrat’s regime. Behind Taryn’s back, they plotted his downfall.
To depose a God takes time; though the Scarred are long-lived, the Penta Nera required more to achieve their ends. They exposed themselves regularly and ritualistically to pure essence to power their ambitions.