Background
The village that became "Hishari" was originally named Tumilo, a humble village of farmers and crafters. In about 793 PD, it became a commune centered around a charismatic leader named Efterin who experimented with "esoteric, elemental worship" and preached on the elemental spirits of old and the need to restore the Primordial powers. Efterin traveled from town to town, displaying impressive abilities, giving sermons on "the elemental spirits of old and the enduring need to restore the Primordial powers", and drawing many to follow him. The group eventually settled in Tumilo, far to the west of the Irriam Canyon at the base of the Utesspire Mountains, which was renamed "Hishari" as a tribute to the historical druid cultures of Exandria.
The source of Efterin's power, a "shard of power" given to him by the Great Tree of Atrophy on the island of Kalutha in the Shattered Teeth, became his downfall and led to the destruction of the village. In attempting to channel this extremely powerful source of elemental magic that became the centerpiece of their cult without knowing what it was, they could not control it and there was a massive explosion which destroyed the village and presumably all its inhabitants. The area which the village formerly occupied is now considered cursed.
The cult of Hishari is often used as a cautionary tale of sorts; the destruction of the village is said to be a testament to the dangers of listening to charming leaders who carry empty promises, as well as cults in general and delving without understanding into power. Its decimation also serves as a warning against blindly following the "conventional wisdom of the older, more pious cities that tend to govern Issylra," such as Vasselheim.
Campaign Three: Bells Hells
During the Twilight Mirror Museum heist, Bells Hells came across two sets of "Ceremonial Hishari Armor" on display. The "Headdress of a Lyth-Priest" was described as a "leather headband with side elements that curved upward, with a sculpted brow where eyes looked through. It's a mask and a headdress of curved leather that curved up like a flame, [with] long tethers of leather strips that came down from the sides that had been dyed in blues and reds." The leather chest armor matched the ceremonial theme of the headdress, with "detailed scrolling on it that had similar curves at the edges, and where it ended at the shoulders, they came to a long point off the side." Ashton Greymoore found something about the armor to be strangely familiar. As the rest of Bells Hells ascended the stairs of the museum, Ashton stayed behind momentarily to grab a helmet from one of the sets of ceremonial armor. Later, while intoxicated and alone, Ashton brought out the Hishari mask from their bag to observe. As they fell asleep, the sight of the helmet produced a "numb tingle" in the back of their mind.
When Ashton was caught in Imogen Temult's psychic blast at the culmination of Bells Hells fight against Otohan Thull, he experienced a vision:
He later shared this with the party, explaining that this memory of his parents was his last before the cataclysm that ripped the village apart. Ashton was found wandering the deadlands around Bassuras in Marquet.
Following the Apogee Solstice, Team Issylra (including Ashton) heard of the Hishari from Hevestro, the archdruid guardian of a shrine to a land spirit. He told the group the history of the Hishari as he knew it, telling them of Efterin and his travels. Hevestro didn't know specifics, but believed that the source of Efterin's power became his downfall and led to the destruction of the village. He believed they were attempting to use the power of the Titans as a source of elemental magic.
Thollo in Zephrah later confirmed much of the information Ashton had already gathered, describing the Hishari as a "cult of personality" built around a charismatic leader who traveled Issylra, preaching about a coming great event to reclaim the power of the elemental titans. Thollo was not happy that the group had borrowed the name of the Ashari and used it to spread strange promises.
