Void Worship

Void Worship
Religion
Pronunciation	Void Worship
Origins	Unknown, presumed Seraph
Deities
The Void Gods
Subsects
Each God/Goddess/Being is a standalone Cult.

Origins

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 sometimes tolerates Void Worship (but not currently), 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 an incredibly chaotic (and some would claim, evil) religion which mainly preaches the need for the faithful to find ways to evolve themselves through a variety of proposed means. Each God or Goddess is an Evolutionary God representing some type of Ideal (manner of Evolution), some which conflict, others which are complimentary with one another. Void Worship is strongly Void oriented, meaning it is practically impossible to be a Cahal (Exist Afflicted) and also be a Void Worshiper, though it is very possible for Mundane characters that are not Kathar to be Void Worshipers. In fact, Void Worship does quite well among some of the more nefarious populations of the Regalian Underworld, because the Void Gods are more gracious with granting boons and powers to their most faithful worshipers and strongest of champions. The Void Gods do not manifest in the world of Aloria (except for Gahn), often sending emissaries or so called Heralds, to speak for them, but also to grant their blessings on the faithful. They frequently mess with Regalia however, because Regalia is a nexus of information and people, and there is always something to gain from them.

Tenets

Void Worship tenets are fairly simple, in that the weak should fear the strong, the world is an oyster and you are hungry, virtues serve where need can be found, pride cometh before the fall, and respect the foundations of control. Void Worship is inherently a religion without rules, only guidelines to not get killed and "know your place", but lacking any real sins or virtues. Of course, Void Worship does not recommend its faithful to engage in self-harming obliviousness to the world they live in. For example, Void Worshipers are not recommended to be clownishly evil in Regalia, but to act subtly, and to only reveal their intentions and actions when needed. The Void faithful acknowledge Dragons as powerful beings, and other Gods as real, but only the Void Gods as being capable of helping them shed their mortal coil and become god-like or demigods in their own right, which is the goal of each Void God faithful. As such, Void Worship has no afterlife, in death Void Worshipers souls are consumed by the Void Gods.

Gods and Goddesses

Void Worship has a variety of Gods and Goddesses, which are all loosely allied with one another, though all worshipers acknowledge that they also compete with one another (and other divine entities in Aloria). It is common for worshipers to worship all Gods equally, except their one preferred God or Goddess who most aligns with their Ideal for Evolution. For example, if their Ideal of Evolution is Magic, then they would hold Onu higher than all other Void Gods, and primarily worship them, though still bring offerings and praise to the others.

Xor, the Colossus of Combat Xor is the Evolutionary God of physical power, both in the sense that he is worshiped to ask for blessings in Combat, but also praised to give thanks for the various transforming powers that exist in the world. Most strongly associated with him, is the Void Urlan, however Marken can sometimes also be found in his worshiper ranks as they seek any physical and biological advantage over their enemies. Xor worshipers believe evolution will come through bodily metamorphosis, with the end product being stronger, faster, and more deadly, without using the shortcut of Magic or magical powers. Xor's largest temple is the Moon Lake of Desvach in Talahm Gall, Gallovia, where Xor's Marken make battle with the Mother of the Covenant's Marken over the souls of the locals. Xor is exceptionally hostile to the Pagan Faiths as well as the Old Gods, as their transformative powers are jealously coveted by Xor and his followers, in particular the ichor of Arne, the God-Nectar, which Xor wishes to possess.

Onu, the Colossus of Magic Onu is the Evolutionary God of Magical power, by learning ever more Magic, deepening one's Magical knowledge, and using it acquire power and destroy one's enemies. Onu's strong association with Magic reaches its pinnacle with his control over the Noonh Spheres, ancient Allorn Magitech capable of peering into the past and turning whole areas into recorded snapshots of the past, to peer into secrets long lost. Onu worshipers believe evolution will come through magical apotheosis, with the end product being more powerful and subjecting ever more people to one's own whims. Onu's largest Temple is the Great Olvataar, in the city of Olvataar in the state of Methenwÿaal, a highly magical country surrounded with a magical barrier that denies entry. Onu is exceptionally hostile to the Estellon faithful, as a byproduct of Estellon faithful deeply hating him for seeding the corruption of the Allorn Empire with his faustian gift, and for stealing the Noonh Spheres.

Ifrit, the Colossus of Dragons Ifrit is not native to the Void, but rather the Dragon Triton from Dragon Worship, who upon first breaching into the Void, was consumed by it, and became a Void God as a result. Ifrit is the Evolutionary God of Draconic Might, with his faithful believing that true power can only be unlocked through acquiring the secrets and powers of the Dragons, more specifically the power to creating new life. Ifrit worshipers believe that by acquiring the powers of creation itself, they can grant themselves immortality, and remove all flaws inherent to creation itself by controlling all life from that point forward. Their obsession with Dragon related things extends beyond Dragon powers themselves however, any Dragon parahelia, weapons, artifacts, technology, is all free game for them to desire. Ifrit does not have a Temple, which is exemplified in his problematic relationship with the other Void Gods. Ifrit is known not to want to be a Void God, and actively works against them often. Ifrit is both hostile, and cooperative with the Dragon Worshipers. Those who consider him a fallen God and his followers evil, are his enemy. Those who yield to the inaction of the Dragon faithful and see the power of his flame, are his allies.

Venna, the Colossus of Sanguines Venna is the youngest of the Void Gods, born from the chaotic eruption of the Cataclysm a mere 300 years prior. Venna is the Evolutionary Goddess of Vampirism, with her faithful believing that the next stage of Evolution is already present in Aloria, that being Vampirism, and that Geists and Cahal are a mere poor imitation. Venna's faithful believe in a way to break free from the constraints of Behesael, to unlock the potential of Vampirism by removing the elements that control them, allowing them to control the Sanguine Curse instead. Her theme is to acquire immortality through the Sanguine Curse, and to derive all power from it. Venna's largest Temple is the Shrine of Crimson Carnage in Dorkarth, where her strongest emissary (and some whisper, avatar) the Queen of Blood rules the Dorkarthi Realm, claiming her lordship over all Vampires. Venna is particularly hostile against Ordial Cultism, due to the proximity of Death Isldar to her earthy realm, making war on her Vampiric followers and allies in Dorkarth.

Odell, the Colossus of Minds Odell is the Evolutionary Goddess of Intellect, or the trained and honed mind, of sharp wit and speech and grand plans. Odell's strong association with learning puts her in the more benign corner of Void Worship, but the end product is no less violent or malign, to use said intellect to subjugate others by grand design. Odell worshipers reject violence and obvious hostility, favoring clever scheming and plotting to acquire the skills and insight to defeat all other foes, and to treat life like a chess game. Her theme is Evolution through yielding followers and mindless servants, godhood through influence. Odell's largest Temple is the Faithless Halls in Parthanaar, the capital of the Kathar Empire, a Temple so massive that it out-scales all other Temples in the world, and is a labyrinthine maze in and of itself. Odell has particular hostility towards the Estelsoor religion, whom she considers weak and pathetic vermin gods without the intellect and wit to even win the Allorn civil War for their own sake.

Inth, the Colossus of Knowing Inth is the Evolutionary God of Information, secrets untold, and hoarding knowledge that is kept hidden from the world. Inth is sometimes also called the Thousand Eye God, or the Wellspring of Knowledge, because he is reviled as the most knowing entity in existence, even acknowledged by other religions as one who hoards information and rarely shares. His theme is Evolution through knowing, to have all the information in the world is to be a God. Inth is an extremely obsessed God, whose followers are the silent watchers, spies, infiltrates, and gray whisps in the wind, that barely anyone notices, but who observe all. Inth's largest is a forgotten statue on the Regalian Isle, about which it is said that any who lay eyes on it without Inth's permission, go mad for a day, before awakening in a cold sweat at home with amnesia. Inth is reviled by practically all religions, because he takes relish in making others doubt their religions, but he does not care for any religion in particular.

Eloba, the Colossus of Synthesis Eloba is the Evolutionary Goddess of Synthesis and Alchemy, creating (somewhat) mundane Evolution through the use of plants, concoctions and tinctures to command nature and biology itself. Evolution for Eloba is unlocked through alchemy, which is croaked into the world by her emissaries, toads and frogs, ergo her nickname the Toadmother. Eloba's largest Temple is the Forestsong Grove in Kirmuir, where Yanar, Ailor and Urlan tend to the fast swamplands filled with frogs and toads and driftwood. Eloba is generally considered benign by other religions, even if she creates certain spores and plants which are hostile to organic life. As a result, there is no overt hostility towards her, nor does she have hostile sentiment to other entities across Aloria, as she prefers to be left to her own devices.

Dogor, the Colossus of Dread Dogor is the Evolutionary God of Dread, the most personal and immediate personification of the Dread Empire and the Kathar Race. His theme is Dread Rebirth itself, a power granted by him to the Kathar, to create a following and expand one's Khaal to power and acquire the worship of adulation. Dogor was the first Kathar, though he was never a mortal, rather he was born several thousand years before Venna even, when the first Allorn Elf was seduced to Void Worship. It is said that on his body are written the instructions of the ritual in Void Script, as well as the beginnings of Void Worship among the Kathar, making him a type of Prophet-God. Dogor's largest Temple is the Darksky Spire, at the very center of Odell's Temple, where only those with the requisite intellect are able to find their way to his throne room. Dogor has a particular hate for Unionism, which he considers the most dangerous religion to the continued existence of the Kathar, who worship him in exchange for blessings and fortune.

Armas, the Colossus of Seduction Armas is the Evolutionarty God of Eugenics, of heritage planning, descendance, and racial improvement. To Armas, what the Dragons made is broken, and the only way to erase the flaws of individual creation, is by birthing the perfect being through magic and passion. Armas is feared by the other Void Gods as potentially the most powerful among them, and as such, he is imprisoned in a cage of his own imagination, as Onu and Odell tricked him into thinking he is imprisoned. Armas is entirely hedonistic, and often seen as benign by non Void Worshipers even, though there are some very uncomfortable and violent undertones to his rejection of birth flaws and defects. Armas is largely the reason why Kathar kill weak infants before they can grow up, both in fearing his curse, but also doing them a service to deny them a harsh life in the Dread Empire. Armas's largest Temple is the Temple of Birth in Etosil, where Void Worshipers pretend to be Evintarian Unionists to fit in, with one of Armas's Sires (Divine Spirit children) being a stand-in. Armas has no overt hostility to any religion, but strongly hates anyone who is celibate or chaste.

Gahn, the Colossus of Spirits Gahn is the Evolutionary God of Theurgy, of commanding the next stage of Evolution through command over the Spirits, and to merge with Spirits into greater beings. Gahn in particular is worshiped by Void Demon Theurgists, as his personal Spirits are some of the most dangerous and powerful Void beings on Aloria. Gahn is the reason why most cultures have some version of "never give away your name for free" or "be careful who you invite in your door", as he is said to be the only Void God to manifest in Aloria, but to respect hospitality laws, but also acquire mind control over anyone who willingly gives him their name. It is said that Gahn was once a Dewamenet God, though information on this is very hard to find given the Allorn habit of destroying early Asha history. Gahn's largest Temple is the Steam vault in the Ithanian Desert, though this place is extremely dangerous to approach for any non-Theurgist, because it is filled with invasive Void Demons. Gahn in particular despises the Baskarr Gods and Goddesses, considering them apathetic weaklings, while he constantly tries to seduce the Asha to his worship by invading them with Spirits through his seductive speech. Gahn is always accompanied by his right hand Spirit, Boshok, an Eronidas-presenting Void Demon who has a yet unexplained connection to The Beyond.

Morrlond, the Deepherald Morrlond is not actually a God, but classically connected to the Pantheon, because he fulfills a very important role within Void Worship. Morrlond is a Greater Void Demon of immense power, who wields influence over the deep oceans, and the mutated monsters touched by the Void within. Morrlond is the father of the Akula who assault the Sihai, and the lord of the Daphalar and other deep-sea worshipers. He is considered the Deepherald of the Void Pantheon, because he is commonly believed to be the most powerful Demon alive, who is able to act as a conduit and voice for the Void Gods who can't always manifest in Aloria, or create physical rewards for their followers without relying on intermediaries. Morrlond creates the places where the Void Gods can fester and contact mortals, so any portal or magical realm that anyone passes through to speak to the Void Gods, is always provided or built by Morrlond. Even though he is technically not a god, he is still pseudo worshiped by those who wish to be as close and associated to the Void Gods as he, or just because he is a very badass Demon himself, having summoned tsunamis as high as mountains to wipe coastal cities who defied his will off the map. In terms of Evolution, he is often tied to the Evolutionary belief of Mutations, in that Mutations can grant advantages, but in and of themselves also represent a funnel where the weak and badly mutated are eliminated, and only those with good mutations remain, being the strong. Morrlond has numerous aquatic temples across the world.

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Accreditation
Writers MonMarty Artists MonMarty, Patsie Processors FireFan96	Last Editor Dedjok on 07/7/2023.

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