Unionism: Difference between revisions

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* [[Emended Unionism]]

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==Abridged Version==

Unionism lore is complex, multi-faceted, and nuanced, enough to the point that a single read-through won't clarify everything there is to know about it. Equally, this page is so long that it could scare off new players or people who have trouble absorbing large walls of text. To help out, we provide an abridged version here (in the colored box below). For 9 out of 10 players, this information should be sufficient to understand this important state religion in Regalia, and will get you safely through most roleplays. You are always recommended to look at the pictures of the article itself for inspiration, but reading the rest is optional.

{{ infobox

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Unionism is an '''Ailor religion''' founded by the '''Prophet-Emperor Theomar, creator of the Regalian Empire'''. Expanding over time to include many of the Empire's Races, it '''preaches Regalian hegemony''', so that the '''Emperor of Man can someday become the Emperor of All'''. Despite two major Schisms, the magic-loving Evintarians and pragmatic Emended, Unionists tend to band together. Unionism recognizes a single benevolent, supreme being called the '''Everwatcher''', which '''reincarnates in every Regalian Emperor'''. However, it has expanded over time into a '''pantheon of subordinate Gods and Goddesses''', both from the Empire and its conquered nations. Each deity preaches a '''Divine Lesson''': a way to live one's life, with a vice to avoid. Individual Unionists pick and choose their Gods, but '''all believe in the Everwatcher'''.

In summary, '''the Pantheon includes''':

* '''Theomar the Prophet-Emperor,''' favored by the pious. His Divine Lesson is to hold fast to the faith, and never be swayed by outsiders.

* '''Ness, Goddess of Forgiving,''' favored by the kind and alms-givers. Her Divine Lesson is to always show mercy, and never be cruel, as cruelty is always repaid.

* '''Juvin, God of Wisdom,''' favored by scholars. His Divine Lesson is to read and learn, but to guard against false information, as lies destroy Empires.

* '''Almar, God of Justice,''' favored by judges. His Divine Lesson is to heed the law, and to guard against tyranny, especially aristocratic tyranny.

* '''Allest, God of Strength,''' favored by Knights. His Divine Lesson is to forge the body into a weapon, and to never be slothful, as laziness kills.

* '''Elia, God of War,''' favored by soldiers. Her Divine Lesson is to steel oneself to righteous war, but shy away from bloodlust without reason.

* '''Vess, God of Freedom,''' favored by free spirits. His Divine Lesson is to fight for one's liberties, and to defend those of others, or be undefended yourself.

* '''Alexander, God of the Vessel,''' favored by the humble. His Divine Lesson is that all eminence eventually vanishes, not to get too attached to status.

* '''Taal, Goddess of Purity,''' favored by those who hate Magic. Her Divine Lesson is that Magic is dangerous rot, but even in vengeance against it, to be pure and honest.

* '''Nicholas, God of Stewardship,''' favored by leaders. His Divine Lesson is to show humility to one's betters, and that insolence and disrespect ruin men.

* '''Elen, Goddess of Burden,''' favored by those who support Magic. Her Divine Lesson is that Magic is a tool that can be used for virtue, but the wielder should never become arrogant.

* '''Niall and Nolan, Gods of Art,''' favored by artists. Their Divine Lesson is to never forget high culture and pleasure, but never to get addicted, or go too far.

* '''Ceren, God of the Seas,''' favored by sailors. His Divine Lesson is to remember the power of nature, the horrors within it, and to never be indifferent to the world.

* '''Hor, God of Service,''' favored by the helpful. His Divine Lesson is to find pride in little gifts, and not burn bridges for power, not to make the top too lonely.

* '''Kristopher, God of Sacrifice,''' favored by the pensive. His Divine Lesson is to remember that actions have consequences, and to solve problems when they arise.

* '''Agus, God of Purpose,''' favored by the driven. His Divine Lesson is to never rest, to always contribute, and never allow oneself to be forgotten by others.

* '''Mendes, God of Prosperity,''' favored by merchants. His Divine Lesson is to unite to bring wealth to the Empire, but avoid the sin of greed, which is insatiable.

* '''Ilarion, God of the Covenant,''' favored by Knights as well. His Divine Lesson is that brotherhood is invaluable, and never to betray oath bonds, or those one is close to.

* '''Theomar, Ness, Allest, Elia, Taal, Elen, and Ilarion''' are commonly picked, though by different kinds of people.

}}

==Origins==

The origins of Unionism are well recorded as it is one of the youngest religions in the world. Unionism was originally founded as an Ailor-only religion by the prophet Emperor Theomar I Ivrae-Kade, of the Regalian Empire following its founding. The prophet spoke about a divine entity called the Everwatcher contacting him in a series of visions, before appearing to him in person, to speak to him about the fate of all living things under the stewardship of the Ailor Race. Emperor Theomar then wrote the holy chronicle called the Creed, which acts like holy scriptures, containing all the religious laws and concepts dear to Unionism. Following the prophet’s death, it was ordained that the Everwatcher would select Emperors of Regalia as its Vessel through which it would speak and guide destiny. Each successive Emperor has made small and large changes to Unionist doctrine by editing parts of the Creed, meaning this holy scripture ended up being a document that evolved as time passed. The core concept of an Ailor-dominant world eventually made way for the concept of a Regalia-dominant world, inclusive of all other Races and creating a more acceptable secular basis for the religion. Unionism is fairly unique in comparison to other religions, in that it suffered several schisms, major events of theological conflict between its worshipers that resulted in the community splitting each time. As such, there are 4 distinct Unionist beliefs now: Dogmatic, Evintarian, Emended and Vultragon. Each of these have their own structures, beliefs, and hierarchy, though all invariably worship the Everwatcher, and work towards a common goal, of Regalian hegemony and rule over all the world and its people and for the Emperor of Man to become the Emperor of All.

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Vess is the Vessel God also nicknamed Vilgy, who was the 26th Emperor of the Regalian Emperor Vilgemar I. As a mortal they were remembered as good natured and good willed, until one day they claimed to have received divine premonitions of the Empire's fall to corruption and tyranny, and to receive Divine insight in all the corners that evil was hiding in the Imperial Administration. They both eliminated the Morgannt then, and began a crusade against the tyrannical nobles and rulers of the Empire, eliminating scores of them but to some degree also failing to tackle the Van Sherburne Family due to its prior royal connections, and setting the stage for the Baron Rebellions. The Concilly Council verified their Godhood after their death when their Divine Spirit manifested to direct Imperial Inquestors and Inquisitors alike to the deepest recesses of the bureaucracy and the peerage, finding those that were corrupt, and revealing evidence for their trials. Vess is also fondly remembered as the patron of entertainers and freedom fighters, their plight was less to do with justice and more with freedom from tyranny. Their largest Temple is the Temple of Joyous Everwatch, where their coffin is surrounded by an ever growing pile of broken chains, one for each freed slave in the Empire.

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Alexander is the living Vessel God of the Everwatcher, though this role is somewhat unique. Where-as all other Gods and Goddesses are permanent, Alexander as the living Vessel of the Everwatcher is a temporary God. Every living Emperor who is the Vessel of the Everwatcher is temporarily a God until such a time that the Concilly Council is able to verify them as having Godhood on their own, or to consign them to the history books as a mortal Emperor. Alexander has yet shown no Divine Powers, and is generally even seen as a somewhat ineffective Emperor due to his insistence on ruling by consent and compromise. Nontheless, he is seen as a patron of diplomats and those using their charisma to get their ways, as he is a great mentor and example to those who seek to include others in whatever problem they are trying to solve. When Alexander dies, the next Emperor is expected to take his place as the God of the Vessel. The Palace doubles both as his residence, as well as his Temple.

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Taal is the living Joined Goddess of the Sarlann, a people that once lived in Osteirmark but were wholly absorbed into the Empire along with their fanatic purity ideology. Taal is the patron of the Belliards, those who hate Magic and all forms of Occult no matter how benign, as she also seeks to root out the Occult infestations in the Empire. In Taal's preaching, the Occult is always a stain on the soul of mortals, even Dragon Occult, as a rot that brings about all the vices that the other Gods and Goddesses warned about. She has personally provided the purists with Pure stone and Hallowed stone, enabling the invention of Puretek and other wondrous anti-Occult devices held by the Lothar Knights and Belliard organizations. Taal still roams the land, executing renegade Occult who draw too much attention to themselves and healing and cleansing any area corrupted by uncontrollable Magic. Taal's largest Temple stands in Praag in Osteiermark, called the Temple of the Pure Vigil, where she herself occasionally preaches to the faithful.

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Nicholas is the Called God Architect, a man so incomprehensibly skilled and competent, that the Concilly Council verified him after death as having been undoubtedly Divine, even if the scope of his power could not be understood until after his death after having reigned for 86 years as Arch Chancellor under several Emperors. Under his reign, the Empire expanded, the economy soared, and Unionism spread like wildfire. He was the Architect of the Empire's greatest moments that endured after his death, cementing his place as a Divine Spirit, even if his manifestation has not been seen since his death. Nicholas is the patron of stewards, scribes, tacticians, planners and leaders, prayed to for insight and skill in leadership. His largest Temple is the Temple of the Trodden Fields in Axenfoort, the capital of Anglia, one of the rare cases of a Grand Temple being built outside of Regalia (and unfortunately shared with the Emended Unionist Schism).

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Elen is the Joined Goddess of the Breizh people, originally part of the Weard faith but incorporated into Unionism after the Breizh people formally joined the Empire under Theomar, making her also the oldest living Joined Divine. Elen stands in direct opposition of Taal, as the Goddess who represents the gift of Magic, claiming that (not magic itself but the ability to have Magic) is a divine gift of the Everwatcher who enables a soul to be born, or to comprehend in learning. Equally however, she hammers home the point that any soul that draws extra attention to the Everwatcher to this degree, must also have a higher purpose than any john doe, and should live up to this purpose and live a life of virtue and refrain from vice. Elen's pro Magic stance was surpressed for a long time under anti-Magic Emperors, until the Aelrrigan Order was restored, along with her pro-Magic religious interpretations in the Creed. Elen's largest Temple is the Harel Moher Temple in Coltyr outside of Regalia, which is entirely built underground and where she closely co-operates with the Aelrrigan Order to protect Magic.

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Niall and Nolan are the Joined Gods of Culture and Military, originally part of a sub-sect of Ceardian Pagan beliefs related to but not identical to Old Gods (though some parallels have been made with Old God Njal). Niall and Nolan are unique in that they were verified by the Concilly Council not as two seperate Gods, but a twin-God pair with complementary elements. Niall (hair) represents the need for art to moderate the roughness of the military, while Nolan (bald) represents the need for military to moderate the softness of art, thus creating balance. Niall and Nolan both made paintings with future premonitions in them to interpret by the faithful, as well as some of the Empire's most prized art collections now houses in the Imperial Palace. Niall and Nolan were alive in the first century of the Empire's growth, but disappeared shortly after and have not been seen since, but remain confirmed as Gods. Their largest Temple is the Gallery of Divine Will in Loiree-Bas, Vixhall, where many of their paintings remain that perfect wed the gruesome nature of war, and the delicate skill of art.

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Ceren is the Joined God of Nature, though more specifically of the sea as a reminder of the terrible power of nature and less of the dainty and frivolous flowers and butterflies. Ceren belonged to a very small Fin'ullen faith that diverged from Estellon after the collapse of the Allorn Empire, bringing them along in the migration waves of Fin'ullen to Regalia, where the Concilly Council verified their blessings for the Regalian Navy out at seas, giving favorable winds and protecting them from sea monsters. Ceren represents the spectacular destructive capacity of nature, and many sailors and explorers say prayers to him for good winds and safe journeys. Ceren is still alive and frequently appears to give ships at risk of being beached or destroyed in rough storms safe and clear waters, saving the sailors from a terrible drowning or being eaten by some monster. Ceren was instrumental in saving many of the Regalian ships during the Bone Horror crisis that struck globally, and kept most of the Empire's trade network alive until the military could clear the oceans of Bone Horrors. His largest Temple is the Mellow Water Pond in the north of Solleria where the largest Fin'ullen populations live.

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Hor is the Called God of Service, known as Horremenet as a mortal. Hor was thought as just a regular exceptionally large Asha, but was investigated by the Concilly Council as he was repeatedly able to take fatal hits while protecting his clients as bodyguard without dying, and on some occasions even wished them back to life. Hor was eventually verified as a living Called God, blessed by the Everwatcher with God-like powers of resurrection and protection of others. Hor is the patron god of bodyguards, but also Metropolitan Constables who are Unionists, or Noble House Guards, anyone wishing to protect anyone else. Hor does not yet have a Temple dedicated to him, however Unionist Asha are building one in the region of Mandu in the south of the Regalian Archipelago called the Divine Claw Rending Temple. Hor is somewhat difficult to approach, as even though he lives in Regalia, he finds it hard to leave the house without a horde of faithful approaching him, and he is a person of few words, resulting in the Metro cordoning off the street he lives in to give him privacy. He appears occasionally on battlefields, claiming to have received a vision to save someone from certain death, which he always ends up doing before leaving again.

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Kristopher is the Called God of Sacrifice, and the youngest God to be added to the pantheon just this year. Kristopher was a commoner street urchin born in Calemberg, who lived most of his life a repressed Mage, eventually falling in with the criminal circuit in Calemberg but making a name for himself as a conscientious and pious criminal who gave half his winnings to the homeless. Kristopher was killed as just another faceless victim to Magical terrorism in Regalia when he visited a cafe that was blown up to target the purists inside that he had no relation to. After his death, the Concilly Council investigated reports of his Divine Spirit appearing in Calemberg, leading the 14 powerful families in religious communion to achieve a better understanding of Magic and how to restrain it. His views lie somewhere in between Taal and Elen, in that Mages should be induced into forced guilds for training and conditioning, and that a free and independent Mage is always a risk. Surprisingly, Kristopher is also the patron of craftsmen, as even though he was a matter Mage able to make things from thin air, he always spent large amounts of coin on craftsmen so that his magic would never unintentionally put mundane crafters out of business, to make sure his Magic would never cause others suffering. There is no Temple dedicated to him yet.

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Agus is the Joined God of a large population of Allar who fled the Essa Empire long before the Chrysant War, guided by Agus a divine entity that sought out a better future for his followers. After nearly a century of drifting across the world on a massive fleet, harassed by Asha and Songaskian pirates and monsters alike, Agus claimed to have communed with the Everwatcher that his purpose lie with the Regalians, and so the fleet arrived and requested citizenship, which was granted after the Concilly Council verified his visions. Agus quicky became a representative of the aimlessness that so many faithful feel when they cannot see their purpose or fate for the Great Way. He is there to answer the anxieties about not knowing what is expected of one's self, and the wanderlust to see more of the world to create a greater understanding of the individual role in it all. He is still held in high regard even among Allar who follow the Great Alchzech, because she bestows particular favor towards the Allar in Regalia, but also grants divine insight to Allar not necessarily faithful of Unionism. His largest Temple is the Golden Rock in Hadar, being the only Unionist Grand Temple outside of the Regalian Archipelago.

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Mendes is the Joined God of Wealth, who was verified by the Concilly Council when large migrations of ex-Asha slaves from Daendroc arrived in Regalia along with Mendes with them. Mendes's Faith of the Golden Mask was a religion entirely founded during the Allorn Empire slavery days, before the Asha there could re-learn the Faces of Baskarr, and as such, it survived eventually being brought to Regalia. Mendes brought god-like powers of wealth with him, as well as the ability to turn the lands in which the Asha settled into fertile regions capable of sustaining crops where prior there was only silted rock. Mendes as a living Joined God is a bit unique, because his existence is both a blessing to the Empire's wealth, but also a curse of greed, as he is the only God to actively hold court, and accept direct offerings of gold and jewels from the faithful. This makes him exceptionally easy to approach, but also draw some controversy about the purchases of indulgences and his personal blessings to wealthy patrons. Mendes lives in the Temple of the Golden Mask in Regalia, and is seen as the patron of merchants and anyone else who wants to make a lot of money or strike out on a new enterprise.

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Ilarion is the Called God of Knighthood, a very early God to be added to the Pantheon as the Concilly Council verified his god-like combat prowess, but above all his ability to draw supporters from far and wide and inspire great courage, discipline, and camaraderie in them. While never fully proved, it is said that Ilarion was instrumental in helping the early Knight charters with their codes, and binding the first generation loyally to discipline and hierarchy, so that the Knights would all succeed in their purpose. Ilarion has since acted as the supreme independent mediator between all Knight Orders, always wearing white so as not to show preference, and riding on his white steed. Ilarion is also the punisher of supreme betrayal, those who would sell out their Knightly Order or their fellow brothers and sisters in arms to the enemy. Ilarion's Temple is the Grand Temple of Fervent Service, where many Knighthood charters have sacraments of service dedicated to, passing their final exam by standing a 24 hour vigil on the steps of this Temple where Ilarion sits motionless on a simple and humble marble throne, without sleep or food, waiting for the next time the Everwatcher calls him to defend the Honor and Knighthood of the Empire.

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==Priestly Activities==

Dogmatic Unionist priests are part of the so-called Dogmatic Religious Community. At the very top is the Concilly Council. Originally this organization had a leader called the Supreme Reverend, however the Supreme Reverend position was abolished when the last Supreme Reverend discovered insidious corruption within the religious community, tried to expose it, and was assassinated for it. To compensate, Conclave determined that the Dogmatic community should henceforth be ruled by a Council of elder Arch-Celates. Below the Concilly Council, are the Arch-Celates, which are equivalents to Dukes in the Regalian Empire. They wield considerable power and rule over vast areas of land, subdivided into Celeries. Below the Arch-Celate is the Celate, or just the average priest. Each Celate administrates a Celerie, which is usually a piece of land donated to the clergy where they maintain temples, shrines, and convents, while also producing crops and tending to cattle. Celates perform all religious tasks such as confession, preaching, hearing concerns, and simply taking care of Unionist needs like a social caretaker or mental health worker. Arch-Celates on the other hand are more administrative in that they take care of the treasury, any military attached to the religious orders, and communication between the Concilly Council and the vast wide-spread Unionist elements. Formally the Emperor is the leader of the Holy Seat, which is more of a group term for the Palace and the Concilly Council grouped together, but historically Emperors have interfered very little in the day to day running of the Celeries, and as such, this fact is usually ignored, the Emperor being considered a completely independent entity. This has also historically separated the Emperor from controversy among the Celates, and vice versa.

==The Nuance of Godly Tribalism==

For those who have lasted long enough to read to this point, it should have become obvious that not all Gods and Goddesses see eye to eye, and that some of them even directly contradict each other. While the Creed theoretically exists to apply the correct interpretation and lessons to be learned from the Gods and Goddesses, reality often finds for example Elen and Taal followers at odds, and Elia and Niall & Nolan followers at odds because of ideological differences. Unionism does not demand the universal worship of every God and Goddess, often the faithful only pick a few that really apply to them, after all, why would an Anglian peasant worship the God of King and Emperors if only in passing to praise his name for the Creed and Prophecy. No God or Goddess is also more or less correct than another, in the eyes of the Everwatcher, each God has some degree of validity, and some degree of error which is prone in the Sin of Creation, both in the fact that even Gods and Goddesses can sometimes act in error, but also in that mortals can apply the wrong interpretation of their lessons to reality around them. It is important never to call another Character a heretic for preferring one God or Goddess over the other and disregarding the preaching of one to uphold those of another.

==Trivia==

*Unionism used to be mandatory for nobility somewhere during the second century after Cataclysm, though this Holy Law was removed when the war against the [[Skagger Horde]] ceased, and the Empire benefited more from including non-Unionists into the peerage. An exception had always been made for the [[Altalar]] nobles of [[Solvaan]] origins in [[Solleria]] however, called the Confessions of Melennar.

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 * [[Emended Unionism]]
 |}}
+==Abridged Version==
+Unionism lore is complex, multi-faceted, and nuanced, enough to the point that a single read-through won't clarify everything there is to know about it. Equally, this page is so long that it could scare off new players or people who have trouble absorbing large walls of text. To help out, we provide an abridged version here (in the colored box below). For 9 out of 10 players, this information should be sufficient to understand this important state religion in Regalia, and will get you safely through most roleplays. You are always recommended to look at the pictures of the article itself for inspiration, but reading the rest is optional.
+{{ infobox
+| bodystyle = width: 80%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin: auto; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; background-color: #DFE7E0;
+| headerstyle = background: #8FA694; width: 100%; text-align: center; vertical-align:middle; font: 20px georgia; font-weight: bolder; font-variant: small-caps; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;
+| datastyle   = text-align: left; font-size: 0.95em;
+| header1     = Unionism
+| data2       =
+Unionism is an '''Ailor religion''' founded by the '''Prophet-Emperor Theomar, creator of the Regalian Empire'''. Expanding over time to include many of the Empire's Races, it '''preaches Regalian hegemony''', so that the '''Emperor of Man can someday become the Emperor of All'''. Despite two major Schisms, the magic-loving Evintarians and pragmatic Emended, Unionists tend to band together. Unionism recognizes a single benevolent, supreme being called the '''Everwatcher''', which '''reincarnates in every Regalian Emperor'''. However, it has expanded over time into a '''pantheon of subordinate Gods and Goddesses''', both from the Empire and its conquered nations. Each deity preaches a '''Divine Lesson''': a way to live one's life, with a vice to avoid. Individual Unionists pick and choose their Gods, but '''all believe in the Everwatcher'''.
+In summary, '''the Pantheon includes''':
+* '''Theomar the Prophet-Emperor,''' favored by the pious. His Divine Lesson is to hold fast to the faith, and never be swayed by outsiders.
+* '''Ness, Goddess of Forgiving,''' favored by the kind and alms-givers. Her Divine Lesson is to always show mercy, and never be cruel, as cruelty is always repaid.
+* '''Juvin, God of Wisdom,''' favored by scholars. His Divine Lesson is to read and learn, but to guard against false information, as lies destroy Empires.
+* '''Almar, God of Justice,''' favored by judges. His Divine Lesson is to heed the law, and to guard against tyranny, especially aristocratic tyranny.
+* '''Allest, God of Strength,''' favored by Knights. His Divine Lesson is to forge the body into a weapon, and to never be slothful, as laziness kills.
+* '''Elia, God of War,''' favored by soldiers. Her Divine Lesson is to steel oneself to righteous war, but shy away from bloodlust without reason.
+* '''Vess, God of Freedom,''' favored by free spirits. His Divine Lesson is to fight for one's liberties, and to defend those of others, or be undefended yourself.
+* '''Alexander, God of the Vessel,''' favored by the humble. His Divine Lesson is that all eminence eventually vanishes, not to get too attached to status.
+* '''Taal, Goddess of Purity,''' favored by those who hate Magic. Her Divine Lesson is that Magic is dangerous rot, but even in vengeance against it, to be pure and honest.
+* '''Nicholas, God of Stewardship,''' favored by leaders. His Divine Lesson is to show humility to one's betters, and that insolence and disrespect ruin men.
+* '''Elen, Goddess of Burden,''' favored by those who support Magic. Her Divine Lesson is that Magic is a tool that can be used for virtue, but the wielder should never become arrogant.
+* '''Niall and Nolan, Gods of Art,''' favored by artists. Their Divine Lesson is to never forget high culture and pleasure, but never to get addicted, or go too far.
+* '''Ceren, God of the Seas,''' favored by sailors. His Divine Lesson is to remember the power of nature, the horrors within it, and to never be indifferent to the world.
+* '''Hor, God of Service,''' favored by the helpful. His Divine Lesson is to find pride in little gifts, and not burn bridges for power, not to make the top too lonely.
+* '''Kristopher, God of Sacrifice,''' favored by the pensive. His Divine Lesson is to remember that actions have consequences, and to solve problems when they arise.
+* '''Agus, God of Purpose,''' favored by the driven. His Divine Lesson is to never rest, to always contribute, and never allow oneself to be forgotten by others.
+* '''Mendes, God of Prosperity,''' favored by merchants. His Divine Lesson is to unite to bring wealth to the Empire, but avoid the sin of greed, which is insatiable.
+* '''Ilarion, God of the Covenant,''' favored by Knights as well. His Divine Lesson is that brotherhood is invaluable, and never to betray oath bonds, or those one is close to.
+* '''Theomar, Ness, Allest, Elia, Taal, Elen, and Ilarion''' are commonly picked, though by different kinds of people.
+}}
 ==Origins==
 The origins of Unionism are well recorded as it is one of the youngest religions in the world. Unionism was originally founded as an Ailor-only religion by the prophet Emperor Theomar I Ivrae-Kade, of the Regalian Empire following its founding. The prophet spoke about a divine entity called the Everwatcher contacting him in a series of visions, before appearing to him in person, to speak to him about the fate of all living things under the stewardship of the Ailor Race. Emperor Theomar then wrote the holy chronicle called the Creed, which acts like holy scriptures, containing all the religious laws and concepts dear to Unionism. Following the prophet’s death, it was ordained that the Everwatcher would select Emperors of Regalia as its Vessel through which it would speak and guide destiny. Each successive Emperor has made small and large changes to Unionist doctrine by editing parts of the Creed, meaning this holy scripture ended up being a document that evolved as time passed. The core concept of an Ailor-dominant world eventually made way for the concept of a Regalia-dominant world, inclusive of all other Races and creating a more acceptable secular basis for the religion. Unionism is fairly unique in comparison to other religions, in that it suffered several schisms, major events of theological conflict between its worshipers that resulted in the community splitting each time. As such, there are 4 distinct Unionist beliefs now: Dogmatic, Evintarian, Emended and Vultragon. Each of these have their own structures, beliefs, and hierarchy, though all invariably worship the Everwatcher, and work towards a common goal, of Regalian hegemony and rule over all the world and its people and for the Emperor of Man to become the Emperor of All.
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+Vess is the Vessel God also nicknamed Vilgy, who was the 26th Emperor of the Regalian Emperor Vilgemar I. As a mortal they were remembered as good natured and good willed, until one day they claimed to have received divine premonitions of the Empire's fall to corruption and tyranny, and to receive Divine insight in all the corners that evil was hiding in the Imperial Administration. They both eliminated the Morgannt then, and began a crusade against the tyrannical nobles and rulers of the Empire, eliminating scores of them but to some degree also failing to tackle the Van Sherburne Family due to its prior royal connections, and setting the stage for the Baron Rebellions. The Concilly Council verified their Godhood after their death when their Divine Spirit manifested to direct Imperial Inquestors and Inquisitors alike to the deepest recesses of the bureaucracy and the peerage, finding those that were corrupt, and revealing evidence for their trials. Vess is also fondly remembered as the patron of entertainers and freedom fighters, their plight was less to do with justice and more with freedom from tyranny. Their largest Temple is the Temple of Joyous Everwatch, where their coffin is surrounded by an ever growing pile of broken chains, one for each freed slave in the Empire.
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+Alexander is the living Vessel God of the Everwatcher, though this role is somewhat unique. Where-as all other Gods and Goddesses are permanent, Alexander as the living Vessel of the Everwatcher is a temporary God. Every living Emperor who is the Vessel of the Everwatcher is temporarily a God until such a time that the Concilly Council is able to verify them as having Godhood on their own, or to consign them to the history books as a mortal Emperor. Alexander has yet shown no Divine Powers, and is generally even seen as a somewhat ineffective Emperor due to his insistence on ruling by consent and compromise. Nontheless, he is seen as a patron of diplomats and those using their charisma to get their ways, as he is a great mentor and example to those who seek to include others in whatever problem they are trying to solve. When Alexander dies, the next Emperor is expected to take his place as the God of the Vessel. The Palace doubles both as his residence, as well as his Temple.
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+Taal is the living Joined Goddess of the Sarlann, a people that once lived in Osteirmark but were wholly absorbed into the Empire along with their fanatic purity ideology. Taal is the patron of the Belliards, those who hate Magic and all forms of Occult no matter how benign, as she also seeks to root out the Occult infestations in the Empire. In Taal's preaching, the Occult is always a stain on the soul of mortals, even Dragon Occult, as a rot that brings about all the vices that the other Gods and Goddesses warned about. She has personally provided the purists with Pure stone and Hallowed stone, enabling the invention of Puretek and other wondrous anti-Occult devices held by the Lothar Knights and Belliard organizations. Taal still roams the land, executing renegade Occult who draw too much attention to themselves and healing and cleansing any area corrupted by uncontrollable Magic. Taal's largest Temple stands in Praag in Osteiermark, called the Temple of the Pure Vigil, where she herself occasionally preaches to the faithful.
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+Nicholas is the Called God Architect, a man so incomprehensibly skilled and competent, that the Concilly Council verified him after death as having been undoubtedly Divine, even if the scope of his power could not be understood until after his death after having reigned for 86 years as Arch Chancellor under several Emperors. Under his reign, the Empire expanded, the economy soared, and Unionism spread like wildfire. He was the Architect of the Empire's greatest moments that endured after his death, cementing his place as a Divine Spirit, even if his manifestation has not been seen since his death. Nicholas is the patron of stewards, scribes, tacticians, planners and leaders, prayed to for insight and skill in leadership. His largest Temple is the Temple of the Trodden Fields in Axenfoort, the capital of Anglia, one of the rare cases of a Grand Temple being built outside of Regalia (and unfortunately shared with the Emended Unionist Schism).
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+Elen is the Joined Goddess of the Breizh people, originally part of the Weard faith but incorporated into Unionism after the Breizh people formally joined the Empire under Theomar, making her also the oldest living Joined Divine. Elen stands in direct opposition of Taal, as the Goddess who represents the gift of Magic, claiming that (not magic itself but the ability to have Magic) is a divine gift of the Everwatcher who enables a soul to be born, or to comprehend in learning. Equally however, she hammers home the point that any soul that draws extra attention to the Everwatcher to this degree, must also have a higher purpose than any john doe, and should live up to this purpose and live a life of virtue and refrain from vice. Elen's pro Magic stance was surpressed for a long time under anti-Magic Emperors, until the Aelrrigan Order was restored, along with her pro-Magic religious interpretations in the Creed. Elen's largest Temple is the Harel Moher Temple in Coltyr outside of Regalia, which is entirely built underground and where she closely co-operates with the Aelrrigan Order to protect Magic.
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+Niall and Nolan are the Joined Gods of Culture and Military, originally part of a sub-sect of Ceardian Pagan beliefs related to but not identical to Old Gods (though some parallels have been made with Old God Njal). Niall and Nolan are unique in that they were verified by the Concilly Council not as two seperate Gods, but a twin-God pair with complementary elements. Niall (hair) represents the need for art to moderate the roughness of the military, while Nolan (bald) represents the need for military to moderate the softness of art, thus creating balance. Niall and Nolan both made paintings with future premonitions in them to interpret by the faithful, as well as some of the Empire's most prized art collections now houses in the Imperial Palace. Niall and Nolan were alive in the first century of the Empire's growth, but disappeared shortly after and have not been seen since, but remain confirmed as Gods. Their largest Temple is the Gallery of Divine Will in Loiree-Bas, Vixhall, where many of their paintings remain that perfect wed the gruesome nature of war, and the delicate skill of art.
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+Ceren is the Joined God of Nature, though more specifically of the sea as a reminder of the terrible power of nature and less of the dainty and frivolous flowers and butterflies. Ceren belonged to a very small Fin'ullen faith that diverged from Estellon after the collapse of the Allorn Empire, bringing them along in the migration waves of Fin'ullen to Regalia, where the Concilly Council verified their blessings for the Regalian Navy out at seas, giving favorable winds and protecting them from sea monsters. Ceren represents the spectacular destructive capacity of nature, and many sailors and explorers say prayers to him for good winds and safe journeys. Ceren is still alive and frequently appears to give ships at risk of being beached or destroyed in rough storms safe and clear waters, saving the sailors from a terrible drowning or being eaten by some monster. Ceren was instrumental in saving many of the Regalian ships during the Bone Horror crisis that struck globally, and kept most of the Empire's trade network alive until the military could clear the oceans of Bone Horrors. His largest Temple is the Mellow Water Pond in the north of Solleria where the largest Fin'ullen populations live.
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+Hor is the Called God of Service, known as Horremenet as a mortal. Hor was thought as just a regular exceptionally large Asha, but was investigated by the Concilly Council as he was repeatedly able to take fatal hits while protecting his clients as bodyguard without dying, and on some occasions even wished them back to life. Hor was eventually verified as a living Called God, blessed by the Everwatcher with God-like powers of resurrection and protection of others. Hor is the patron god of bodyguards, but also Metropolitan Constables who are Unionists, or Noble House Guards, anyone wishing to protect anyone else. Hor does not yet have a Temple dedicated to him, however Unionist Asha are building one in the region of Mandu in the south of the Regalian Archipelago called the Divine Claw Rending Temple. Hor is somewhat difficult to approach, as even though he lives in Regalia, he finds it hard to leave the house without a horde of faithful approaching him, and he is a person of few words, resulting in the Metro cordoning off the street he lives in to give him privacy. He appears occasionally on battlefields, claiming to have received a vision to save someone from certain death, which he always ends up doing before leaving again.
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+Kristopher is the Called God of Sacrifice, and the youngest God to be added to the pantheon just this year. Kristopher was a commoner street urchin born in Calemberg, who lived most of his life a repressed Mage, eventually falling in with the criminal circuit in Calemberg but making a name for himself as a conscientious and pious criminal who gave half his winnings to the homeless. Kristopher was killed as just another faceless victim to Magical terrorism in Regalia when he visited a cafe that was blown up to target the purists inside that he had no relation to. After his death, the Concilly Council investigated reports of his Divine Spirit appearing in Calemberg, leading the 14 powerful families in religious communion to achieve a better understanding of Magic and how to restrain it. His views lie somewhere in between Taal and Elen, in that Mages should be induced into forced guilds for training and conditioning, and that a free and independent Mage is always a risk. Surprisingly, Kristopher is also the patron of craftsmen, as even though he was a matter Mage able to make things from thin air, he always spent large amounts of coin on craftsmen so that his magic would never unintentionally put mundane crafters out of business, to make sure his Magic would never cause others suffering. There is no Temple dedicated to him yet.
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+Agus is the Joined God of a large population of Allar who fled the Essa Empire long before the Chrysant War, guided by Agus a divine entity that sought out a better future for his followers. After nearly a century of drifting across the world on a massive fleet, harassed by Asha and Songaskian pirates and monsters alike, Agus claimed to have communed with the Everwatcher that his purpose lie with the Regalians, and so the fleet arrived and requested citizenship, which was granted after the Concilly Council verified his visions. Agus quicky became a representative of the aimlessness that so many faithful feel when they cannot see their purpose or fate for the Great Way. He is there to answer the anxieties about not knowing what is expected of one's self, and the wanderlust to see more of the world to create a greater understanding of the individual role in it all. He is still held in high regard even among Allar who follow the Great Alchzech, because she bestows particular favor towards the Allar in Regalia, but also grants divine insight to Allar not necessarily faithful of Unionism. His largest Temple is the Golden Rock in Hadar, being the only Unionist Grand Temple outside of the Regalian Archipelago.
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+Mendes is the Joined God of Wealth, who was verified by the Concilly Council when large migrations of ex-Asha slaves from Daendroc arrived in Regalia along with Mendes with them. Mendes's Faith of the Golden Mask was a religion entirely founded during the Allorn Empire slavery days, before the Asha there could re-learn the Faces of Baskarr, and as such, it survived eventually being brought to Regalia. Mendes brought god-like powers of wealth with him, as well as the ability to turn the lands in which the Asha settled into fertile regions capable of sustaining crops where prior there was only silted rock. Mendes as a living Joined God is a bit unique, because his existence is both a blessing to the Empire's wealth, but also a curse of greed, as he is the only God to actively hold court, and accept direct offerings of gold and jewels from the faithful. This makes him exceptionally easy to approach, but also draw some controversy about the purchases of indulgences and his personal blessings to wealthy patrons. Mendes lives in the Temple of the Golden Mask in Regalia, and is seen as the patron of merchants and anyone else who wants to make a lot of money or strike out on a new enterprise.
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+Ilarion is the Called God of Knighthood, a very early God to be added to the Pantheon as the Concilly Council verified his god-like combat prowess, but above all his ability to draw supporters from far and wide and inspire great courage, discipline, and camaraderie in them. While never fully proved, it is said that Ilarion was instrumental in helping the early Knight charters with their codes, and binding the first generation loyally to discipline and hierarchy, so that the Knights would all succeed in their purpose. Ilarion has since acted as the supreme independent mediator between all Knight Orders, always wearing white so as not to show preference, and riding on his white steed. Ilarion is also the punisher of supreme betrayal, those who would sell out their Knightly Order or their fellow brothers and sisters in arms to the enemy. Ilarion's Temple is the Grand Temple of Fervent Service, where many Knighthood charters have sacraments of service dedicated to, passing their final exam by standing a 24 hour vigil on the steps of this Temple where Ilarion sits motionless on a simple and humble marble throne, without sleep or food, waiting for the next time the Everwatcher calls him to defend the Honor and Knighthood of the Empire.
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 ==Priestly Activities==
 Dogmatic Unionist priests are part of the so-called Dogmatic Religious Community. At the very top is the Concilly Council. Originally this organization had a leader called the Supreme Reverend, however the Supreme Reverend position was abolished when the last Supreme Reverend discovered insidious corruption within the religious community, tried to expose it, and was assassinated for it. To compensate, Conclave determined that the Dogmatic community should henceforth be ruled by a Council of elder Arch-Celates. Below the Concilly Council, are the Arch-Celates, which are equivalents to Dukes in the Regalian Empire. They wield considerable power and rule over vast areas of land, subdivided into Celeries. Below the Arch-Celate is the Celate, or just the average priest. Each Celate administrates a Celerie, which is usually a piece of land donated to the clergy where they maintain temples, shrines, and convents, while also producing crops and tending to cattle. Celates perform all religious tasks such as confession, preaching, hearing concerns, and simply taking care of Unionist needs like a social caretaker or mental health worker. Arch-Celates on the other hand are more administrative in that they take care of the treasury, any military attached to the religious orders, and communication between the Concilly Council and the vast wide-spread Unionist elements. Formally the Emperor is the leader of the Holy Seat, which is more of a group term for the Palace and the Concilly Council grouped together, but historically Emperors have interfered very little in the day to day running of the Celeries, and as such, this fact is usually ignored, the Emperor being considered a completely independent entity. This has also historically separated the Emperor from controversy among the Celates, and vice versa.
+==The Nuance of Godly Tribalism==
+For those who have lasted long enough to read to this point, it should have become obvious that not all Gods and Goddesses see eye to eye, and that some of them even directly contradict each other. While the Creed theoretically exists to apply the correct interpretation and lessons to be learned from the Gods and Goddesses, reality often finds for example Elen and Taal followers at odds, and Elia and Niall & Nolan followers at odds because of ideological differences. Unionism does not demand the universal worship of every God and Goddess, often the faithful only pick a few that really apply to them, after all, why would an Anglian peasant worship the God of King and Emperors if only in passing to praise his name for the Creed and Prophecy. No God or Goddess is also more or less correct than another, in the eyes of the Everwatcher, each God has some degree of validity, and some degree of error which is prone in the Sin of Creation, both in the fact that even Gods and Goddesses can sometimes act in error, but also in that mortals can apply the wrong interpretation of their lessons to reality around them. It is important never to call another Character a heretic for preferring one God or Goddess over the other and disregarding the preaching of one to uphold those of another.
 ==Trivia==
 *Unionism used to be mandatory for nobility somewhere during the second century after Cataclysm, though this Holy Law was removed when the war against the [[Skagger Horde]] ceased, and the Empire benefited more from including non-Unionists into the peerage. An exception had always been made for the [[Altalar]] nobles of [[Solvaan]] origins in [[Solleria]] however, called the Confessions of Melennar.