The Origins of Void Worship are unclear, as the Void itself has been around for tens of thousands of years. It is quite possible that Void Worship is in fact the oldest Religion in the world, but the problem with verifying this, is that each successive civilization had a slightly different interpretation, and it is distinctly possible that the Void Gods also varied more in earlier iterations, as they largely form their consciousness based on the present living entities in Aloria. The current iteration dates back to the earliest millennia of the Allorn Empire when Void Cults rose up after excessive experimentation with the Void occurred in select locations across the Empire. It grew very slowly, until the collapse of the Allorn Empire when it exploded in popularity, especially as the Kathar split off from the Empire, the religion eventually found its way across the world. In the modern era, Void Worshipers exist in any continent, though the majority of them exist in the Dread Empire, with select (legal) pockets existing in other nations. Regalia tolerates Void Worship, but only because Regalia has a form of freedom of Religion based on practice, not dogma. That is to say, some of Void Worship's activities are illegal in Regalia, because of how violent and law-breaking they are.
Core Identity
Void Worship is a religion developed out of the idea that all living things should seek to evolve, to become better, stronger, smarter, faster, bigger, in whatever way they can. They collectively believe that the Void is the most likely source of Evolution that they can master. They acknowledge that the Void is dangerous, unwieldy, and has a habit of backfiring against their users, which is exactly why they believe that those who do Evolve through the Void, are better than anything else existing in the world, purely because of the sheer power required to master and survive the Void's nefarious influences. Void Worship is split into various Cults which are all somewhat related to one another, with members gravitating to Cults, each with their own patron Void God, or Void Ancient. It is possible to be a member (practicing worshiper) of multiple Cults at once, or just one Cult. Void Worship's Tenets and Beliefs are also slightly different than all other Religions, because they don't follow the standard procedure of a blueprint for life, followed by an afterlife, as these concepts are absent.
Tenets
The weak should fear the strong always: Void Worship is all about natural selection, and the weak perishing because they did not have the strength or power to survive in a world designed to ruin them. The ruinous powers of the Void only reward those who can stand up for themselves and who can subject others to their might, or at the very least be useful to their leader with their individual skills and strength or talents.
The world is an oyster, and I hunger: Void Worship is a religion that strongly emphasizes pleasure, whether that is in food and drink, the carnal, or entertainment. It is a religion that validates slavery, rewards gluttony and lust, and generally advocates that the faithful don't hold back on any desire they have, for desires are primal urges that are only held back by weakness and doubt, neither which a faithful should have.
Virtue serves where need can be found: Void Worship isn't all about just having Vices however, honesty, compassion, and loyalty are still virtues appreciated. Even the weak can be strong in loyalty, even the poor can showcase the strength of those willing to provide for them, and even a Void Worship society should remain functional and structurally organized, otherwise descend into complete chaos and lack of decency.
Pride cometh before the fall for all: Void Worship is a religion that emphasizes pride in skill, trait and things one has to be proud of, and wishes for the faithful to put the things they are proud of on display, but to be mindful of false pretense. One should be proud of actual skills and traits, instead of pretend, for pretenders who lie and cheat their pride into existence, will be severely burned by the consequences.
Respect is the foundation of control: Void Worship is strictly against the idea of anarchy, the whole world should obey a structure of autocratic control, where power is given by the weak to the strong, and where the stronger yet challenge the strongest to take control. Respect is a strongly appreciated value, as even the strong must respect the weakness of the weak for it frames their strength.
Loyalty beholden above all else seen: Loyalty is perhaps the most important aspect of Void Worship, that is to say: Loyalty to one's Void God/Cult Patron, and loyalty to one's religious figures, and loyalty to one's self above all. Disloyalty and treason are harshly punished, as are those who turn away from the faith or abandon their flock. Even the great betrayer plots in the open against his masters to show loyalty.
Beliefs
Narrative: The Void Worship Narrative is extremely simple. The world is a shitty place, everyone will treat you like shit, and you will die a pointless death where none will remember your name. Void Worship grants you the means to become a better version of yourself, with the ultimate (but often unachievable goal) of indefinite immortality, and failing that, at least a life of longevity and leaving a mark on the world to be remembered by, going out with a bang and being hard to be replaced or equaled by others who come after.
Canon Evil: There is no true Canon Evil in Void Worship, though there is heavy inference that Exist Worship/Estellon is a form of Evil-ness, as this religion inherently encourages the opposite ideals of Void Worship, and encourages dabbling in Exist Essence to Evolve the person, which Void Worshipers believe is a weakening essence that brings about unwanted traits and desires. As such, it could be argued that anything that is Exist touched, is considered evil in the eyes of a Void Worshiper.
Identity: Void Worship has no concept of gender, sex, age, ethnicity, culture, or Race. None of these factors matter, and more often than not, through the acts of the Cults, do worshipers transcend these labels and become far more complicated than what these categories enforce on society in Aloria.
Conversion: Void Worship does not encourage the spreading of Void Worship, rather, the faithful are meant to keep an eye out for strong, Evolved, or otherwise suitable people of other religions that would benefit with Void Worship, or would benefit the faith. The idea is to pick only the strongest and most Evolved out there in the world, and convince them their natural strength and skills could be multiplied if they serve the Void Gods instead. Void Worship does not strictly disagree that other Religions exist, in fact they are very real, however Void Worshipers generally believe these Gods are weak and unwilling to make their people stronger, instead giving them arbitrary life lessons and trials which are meaningless and without reward. Other Gods, essentially don't deserve the worship they get.
Sins & Taboo: The only real taboo in Void Worship, is disloyalty and weakness. Weakness itself is sometimes such a stain on someone's reputation that it can result in them being expelled from their family, but it is never so bad to cause someone to be put to death. Even the weak have a place in life, for without the weak, the strength of the strong could not be framed and understood, they are needed to contextualize each other. Secondly, Loyalty to one's Void God or religious and political leaders is paramount. This does not mean not to challenge them, after all, the strong should constantly be challenged to keep them strong. However it means that such challenges should be stated and performed boldly out in the open, instead of at the tip of a blade in the shadows or a poisoned cup.
Gods and Goddesses
Void Worship is split into various Cults, each represented by a single God. There is an overarching concept of the "Archvoid", however the Void Worshipers acknowledge that the Archvoid lacks a conscience, and is purely just a murderous entity that will destroy anything it touches. This is what the Void Worshipers consider the danger of Void Worship, as incorrectly touching or being touched by the Archvoid without the necessary preparations or strength of body and/or mind, will cause death. The Cults themselves are led by the Void Gods, which are given shape by the dreams, desires, fears and ambitions of the living in Aloria, which is why their depictions may sometimes differ from Race to Race.
Cult of the Body, Carraq the Hunter
Identity: The Cult of the Body focuses its theory of Evolution in the need for the body to be Evolved through Mutations and Void Essence into a higher form of being.
Themes: The Cult of the Body encourages Void Mutations, but also Race-splicing, Body Enhancements, and finding ways to add functions and power to the body to make it stronger.
Manifestation: The Cult of the Body's Patron God is Carraq, the Flesh Centaur, a large muscular and flayed Centaur with a snake-tail constantly on the hunt.
Worship: Carraq is worshiped anywhere the body can be best used, for example in battle or in sports or on the hunt, by invoking his name, or a prayer for his blessing to become stronger.
Worship House: Carraq's largest Temple can be found in the Eronidas Pol Carrack, an isolated Void-Worshiping Eronidas community on the north shores of the Dread Empire.
Shrines: Carraq shrines often feature a statuette of Carraq, as well as a freshly hunted predator as sacrifice, or some trinket taken from a respected foe that was defeated.
Demands: Carraq demands that his faithful are physically fit and capable, and that they cull the weak and infirm, physical strength is greatly praised, as is bodily size.
Relations: Carraq despises Ifrit, the only Void God that Carraq has been unable to defeat in the Blood Games of the Void, and by extension, he (and his faithful) hate all Dragons.
Other Notes: Faithful organize the Game of Blood in Carraq's honor, where Void Worshipers fight for the prestigious title of Blooded Carnage, Carraq's regional champion.
Cult of the Magi, Onu the Warper
Identity: The Cult of the Magi focuses its theory of Evolution on the need for the faithful to acquire as much Magic and Arcane knowledge as possible to evolve to a higher being.
Themes: The Cult of the Magi encourages learning new Magic, unlocking and unraveling the Magical mysteries of the past, and finding a deep understanding of how Magic works.
Manifestation: The Cult of the Magi's Patron God is Onu, the Warper, a two-headed horned beast holding an Allorn Noonh Sphere device capable of unlocking the past.
Worship: Onu worship is done by great Magical acts in his name, or by infesting an area with Magic and letting his realm take hold in the world of Aloria.
Worship House: Onu's largest Temple can be found in Olvataar, the capital of Methenwÿaal, one of the few remaining Allorn-independent Nelfin States.
Shrines: Onu's shrines include a statuette of Onu, usually surrounded by passive Magical feats of defying reality like floating candles, weightless water, and pure darkness.
Demands: Onu demands that his worshipers know Magic, and discard those without Magic as weak, feeble, and incapable, and that his faithful show the Mundane their power.
Relations: Onu despises Eloblina and her Cult, for Eloblina meddles with his control of time, and generally gets in his way. Onu is seen as the wise one among the Pantheon.
Other Notes: Onu is said to be the maker of the Noonh-Spheres, as a bargain he once made with a secretly Void-Worshiping Allorn Empress in millennia long past.
Cult of the Blood, Venna the Deathsinger
Identity: The Cult of the Blood focuses its theory of Evolution on the need for the faithful to be Vampires, and to create large Bloodlines of many Vampires in powerful Covens.
Themes: The Cult of the Blood encourages Vampirism, but also a lot of killing, being the most violent of the Cults that thrives off the death of others either directly or indirectly.
Manifestation: The Cult of the Blood's Patron Being (Venna is non-binary) is Venna, the Deathsinger, who relishes in the sight of Blood, and whose screams cower even the mightiest.
Worship: Venna worship is almost exclusively done through blood sacrifice, the creation of new Vampires, or just killing (and causing murder elsewhere), usually highly illegal.
Worship House: Venna's largest Temple is the Blooded house of Relished Carnage, a massive complex in Dorkarth, with vast canals of drained blood from Blood-cattle and victims.
Shrines: Venna shrines usually depict her clawing at her throat, with a bowl for blood offerings, or where one can burn the heart of one's victim as a ritual offering.
Demands: Venna demands that her faithful infect those worthy of Vampirism with the Sanguine Kiss, and cull all those who are too weak, to bathe in their blood.
Relations: Venna has a distinct hatred for Ifrit, specifically because he has a distinct hatred for Vampires and by extension her, a mutual dislike and war in the Void.
Other Notes: Venna is the only Void God known to be capable to manifest in Aloria, having been witnessed several times during pivotal moments in Dorkarth, her capital.
Cult of the Brood, Armas the Desired
Identity: The Cult of the Brood focuses its theory of Evolution on the concepts of progeny and planned breeding, with a heavy focus on eventually birthing the perfect being.
Themes: The Cult of the Brood is entirely a hedonistic Cult that glorifies the carnal pleasures and romance as the most glorious activities one can engage in.
Manifestation: The Cult of the Brood's Patron Being (Armas is non-binary) is Armas, the Desired, who takes whatever form is most desired by the onlooker, ever alluring.
Worship: Armas worship is, as one would expect, entirely related to the carnal activities implied in their identity, with the very act itself considered holy.
Worship House: Armas's largest Temple is the Temple of Birth in Etosil, where Void Worshipers of Armas pretend to be Evintarian Unionists so as to fit in.
Shrines: Armas's shrine is an innocuous looking pedestal upon which a red pillow rests with an Armas Mask, capable of summoning their homunculi for services to the Divine.
Demands: Armas demands strict family planning, with the removal of weak children, and selection of proper mates for offspring, so as to make the next generation more perfect.
Relations: Armas is hated by all the other Gods, and was imprisoned in a cage of their own will that could not contain him, save for him thinking it will, made by Onu.
Other Notes: Armas's homunculi are not Armas themselves, but a mental projection of them. They can take whatever Race or gender or sex the beholder wants them to be.
Cult of the Beast, Xor the Untamed
Identity: The Cult of the Beast focuses its theory of Evolution on the concept of Afflictions, and taking on traits of the deadliest predators and wild beasts in the known world.
Themes: The Cult of the Beast encourages Markenism, but also any other form of transformation or merger into other known beings, with a distinct exception of Vampirism and Cahalism.
Manifestation: The Cult of the Beast's Patron God is Xor the Untamed, a beastly hulking mass of multiple merged animals and an Eronidas, of the greatest physical intimidating size.
Worship: Xor worship is not done in the same way as other Divine Beings, rather, the chase for the perfect form or transformation in itself is a form of worship to Xor.
Worship House: Xor's largest Temple is the Moon Lake of Desvach, a valley deep in the interior of Talahm Gall, Gallovia, where Marken roam freely and proudly in defiance of gods.
Shrines: Xor lacks conventional shrines, because to Xor, the very beastly transformed body itself is a shrine, and anything it engages in, is a form of worship to him.
Demands: Xor demands that his faithful have some Affliction that is specifically not Vampirism or Cahalism, or some other form of beastly transformation, or being an Urlan.
Relations: Xor is always positively depicted with Armas, with whom he supposedly produces the strongest and most feared beast-folk to unleash on Aloria to test his followers.
Other Notes: Xor is a violent God, but never against the sentient Races, because he glorifies the hunt and killing of great murderous beasts, never weak bipedal humanoids.
Cult of the Ageless, Marvaal the Mindlord
Identity: The Cult of the Ageless focuses its theory of Evolution on longevity specifically, the (futile) chase of immortality, and extending one's life through whatever means necessary.
Themes: The Cult of the Ageless encourages screwing other people, nature, the world, and society over to try and extend one's life, even if it comes at the cost of other living beings.
Manifestation: The Cult of the Ageless's patron God is Marvaal, an immensely powerful Allorn Archmage who somehow supplanted his consciousness onto a Void God, usurping them.
Worship: Marvaal worship is done by collecting old, beautiful, and rare objects, and then ritually breaking or ruining them in front of a statue of Marvaal to absorb their beauty and power.
Worship House: Marvaal's largest Temple lies at the bottom of the sea in the Sundered Lands, an area heavily affected by the Cataclysm and Wildering, inaccessible to all but deep divers.
Shrines: Marvaal's shrines are usually cleverly hidden as anvils or other simple crafting objects, as a form of passive praying for his good will, is also to craft beautiful things.
Demands: Marvaal demands that his faithful design a legacy for themselves and extend their natural lifetime through whatever means necessary (except Vampirism, which is Venna's realm).
Relations: Marvaal is despised by all the other Void Gods for being a mortal who infringed on the realm of the Gods, but they generally have to tolerate him being there now.
Other Notes: Marvaal has the most artifacts made by his hands roaming around Aloria, though all infected with the Curse of Greed, giving all a murderous intent when laying eyes on them.
Cult of the Eyeless, Inthalis the Manymind
Identity: The Cult of the Eyeless focuses its theory of Evolution on pure knowledge, that evolution will come eventually to those who know all because to know is to change reality.
Themes: The Cult of the Eyeless encourages learning as much information as possible, hoarding it, and sharing as little as possible unless it directly leads to learning more information.
Manifestation: The Cult of the Eyeless is represented by Inthalis the Manymind, the Thousand Eye God, a great unknowable being that hungers for knowledge as much as its followers do.
Worship: Worship of the Eyeless is performed by offering up rare and delicious information to Inthalis, who may bless his worshipers with equally useful information in return.
Worship House: The largest Temple dedicated to Inthalis is rumored to be somewhere on the Crown Isle of Regalia, a massive forgotten statue half-sunken in the ground, reached through a portal.
Shrines: Inthalis shrines are usually made of an amalgam of engineering gears and metal parts, fused with rotten and gnarled wood, and a bowl in which written secrets are burned on paper.
Demands: Inthalis demands that its followers seek out more information, remain quiet observers, and generally play the role of the silent mole or rat, always hearing things, not drawing attention.
Relations: Inthalis has an unbridled hatred for Dragon sites and the Maraya, the latter in particular, because both hoard secrets, but Maraya make active attempts to keep it away from their knowledge.
Other Notes: Inthalis is represented by so called "Worms" in all the major areas of the world. Regalia too has a Worm, but this Worm's identity is well hidden from the public eye.
Cult of the Swamp, Eloblina the Wiseless
Identity: The Cult of the Swamp focuses its theory of Evolution on mastery of nature and the wildlands, for if the world was made to kill, then mastering the world is evolution in itself.
Themes: The Cult of the Swamp encourages living as one with nature, and not destroying, but mastering the beasts and plants and dangerous aspects of the world to become one with it all.
Manifestation: The Cult of the Swamp's Patron Godess is Eloblina the Wiseless, the Toad Mother, and Guardian of Time, who encourages the status quo of the world of Aloria.
Worship: Worship of Eloblina is done by creating freedom for nature and its inhabitants, spreading her fungi and swamplands, and taking care of or nurturing frogs and toads.
Worship House: Eloblina's largest Temple is the Forestsong Grove in Kirkmuir, where Yanar, Ailor, and Urlan tend to the vast swamplands of Eloblina's Toads and Frogs.
Shrines: Eloblina's shrines are usually an amalgam of driftwood, moss, plants, fungi and mushrooms, as well as any swamp insect or create that can be found. All of this also fits in one's hair.
Demands: Eloblina demands her followers prevent the end of time, which is when all time stops, something the other Void gods plot for, and her frogs and toads sing against with their croaks.
Relations: Eloblina isn't strictly disliked or liked by the other Void Gods, if anything they are all apathetic to one another, save for Onu, who is her rival, as he tries to end time.
Other Notes: Eloblina's also has a Cult outside of the framework of Void Worship called the Cult of Eloblina, because she is the "least Void-like of all the Void Gods."
Cult of the Mastermind, Odella the Whisperer
Identity: The Cult of the Mastermind focuses its theory of Evolution on the more subtextual concept of control through controlling the narrative of information and puppets to transcend.
Themes: The Cult of the Mastermind encourages learning information and then (as opposed to Inthalis) carefully deploying this information to change history, and watch it all burn from afar.
Manifestation: The Cult of the Mastermind's Patron Goddess is Odella, the Whisperer and mother of spies, one who is nearly as knowledgeable as Inthalis, but more versed in using her info.
Worship: The act of Worship to Odella is not the gathering of information, but specifically deploying such information to gently correct or change the course of history and time in her name.
Worship House: Odella's largest Temple is the Faithless Halls complex in the capital of the Dread Empire, Parthanaar. This complex is so massive, visitors can get lost in its labyrinthine halls.
Shrines: Odella's shrines feature a likeness of their Goddess, balancing on one leg, with her six arms bending in various directions, changing the flow of history and time and bending events.
Demands: Odella demands that her followers become influential in history through the butterfly effect, using very small nudges and actions to snowball into major pivotal changes in history.
Relations: Odella has a hatred for Inthalis who her believers say hoards information away from him, but also Eloblina, who reinforces the status quo of time, and prevent major events from changing time.
Other Notes: Odella isn't strictly tied to using information to change events. Espionage, subterfuge, assassination, protection, theft and intrigue are all fair game in politics to change history.
Cult of the Lording, Ifrit the Darkscale
Identity: The Cult of the Lording focuses its theory of Evolution on the more subtextual concept of control through having lots and lots of followers and being in control of groups of people.
Themes: The Cult of Lording's themes are leadership, command, military command, clans, anything and everywhere a person might be able to claw power away from the ruling classes and become a despot.
Manifestation: The Cult of Lording's Patron God is Ifrit the Darkscale, supposedly once a Dragon of Aloria who was trapped in the Void, killed another God, and took its powers for himself.
Worship: Worship of Ifrit is performed by forming, leading, and controlling a large group of people, quite openly (as opposed to Odella's Secrecy), and inclining them to Ifrit worship.
Worship House: Ifrit's largest Temple is found in the largest city in the Princedoms of Osciird, the Rokhaal Messiac Temple, also the largest chapterhouse of Rokhaal Vampires and Osc'iird politics.
Shrines: Ifrit's shrines feature a dark draconic figure to which is prayed for strength and power in mind to subject others to one's will and control, and the means to successfully lead.
Demands: Ifrit demands that its followers rise from the dredges of the simple and the ordinary to become leaders. This is why this is the smallest of Cults (few can lead, more must follow)
Relations: Ifrit despises all the other Void Gods because he wishes to be released from the Void, but has accepted his fate, and now executes the functions of his Cult to terrifying skill.
Other Notes: Ifrit is also followed by a splinter group of Archon called the Darkscales, formerly Western Matron Archon who switched from Dragon Worship to Void Worship for Ifrit, who they call Ruin.
Arken Worship
Arken and Void Gods are often mistaken for one another, but Arken are distinctly different from Void Gods, and many would say, a lot less powerful. Void Gods are true to the nature of Gods, with powers beyond belief, even to resurrect the dead, and Arken in comparison, are merely cyclically re-incarnating Mages in comparison. Despite this comparison however, Void Worship still acknowledges the Void Arken as a form of divine messenger or first among agents of the Void Gods in the physical world. While the Void Gods are much more powerful, they are largely unable to manifest in Aloria due to the lingering protections of Dragons, and because their very manifestation would create problems with the laws of reality wherever they choose to do so. In many ways, as such, Arken are the much more tangible arm of Void Worship, which many of the followers try (and sometimes succeed) to interact with.
Arken Dedications
All the major Void Arken have so-called Dedications, which means they are loyal or at least to some degree work together with one or more Void Gods. These co-operating relations are not always amicable or full of trust, though reliable and predictable enough for the Void Worship faithful to seek out these Arken and reliably be able to communicate or potentially work with one that shares the same ideals as their Void God Patron. The Void Gods also use the Arken as their own pawns in schemes against one another (sometimes even harming their own Dedicated Arken in the process), for example, Inthalis may be scheming against Ifrit, and thus target Ifrit's Dedicated Arken Pride to get at Ifrit, because it cannot attack Ifrit directly. The exact relation between the two forces is not fully understood, though on some level, it is known that the Arken draw power from the Void Gods now that the Archvoid is gone, and the Void Gods can only act on the real world if the Arken channel their will. Arken are never considered more important than the Void Gods, though sometimes, worship of the Arken is considered synonymous to worship of the Void God they are Dedicated to.
Carraq has the Arken Dedication of Fury, as they are both permanently on the warpath, and look to lay others low through conquest.
Onu has the Arken Dedications of Power, both immensely magically gifted, and masters of obstruction and hidden dimensions to toy with souls.
Venna has the Arken Dedications of Corruption, as her Vampires infect and corrupt mortals, so too does Corruption take pleasure in their fall.
Armas has the Arken Dedications of Pride, both with a great desire to create demi-god-like offspring, often carefully planning the next Silven lineage.
Xor has the Arken Dedications of Body, as both busy themselves with taking on the traits that suit them best, and becoming powerful through acquisition.
Marvaal has the Arken Dedications of Envy and Obsession, for Marvaal and Envy's greatest and most depraved actions, were for envy over that which others had.
Inthalis has the Arken Dedications of Avarice, for both have an insatiable greed, not just to own things, but to know things from all over the world.
Eloblina has the Arken Dedications of Anarchy and Guilt, both rather mellow, all joined in their desire to see a status quo enduring on the world.
Odella has the Arken Dedications of Wickedness, for it takes a truly wicked heart to enjoy the game of puppets that both Arken engage in on mortals.
Ifrit has the Arken Dedications of Legacy, as to Ifrit belongs the long legacy of his history in the Void, as the stolen scion of the Dragons.
