Toggle search
Toggle menu
438
3K
82
59.1K
MassiveCraft Wiki
Toggle personal menu
Not logged in
Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits.

Unionism: Difference between revisions

From MassiveCraft Wiki
More actions
← Older editNewer edit →
(161 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Info religion
{{Info religion
|image = Unionism.png
|image = Unionismlaaol.png
|pronunciation = Yoon-yen-is-m
|pronunciation = Yoon-yen-is-m
|origins = Empror [[Theomar]]
|origins = Emperor [[Theomar]]
|deities = The Imperial Spirit
|deities = The Everwatcher and various other Gods and Goddesses
|subsects = Various Sects and Churches
|subsects =  
* The Evintarian Cult
* The Guided Cult
* The Armageddon Cult
|}}
|}}
Unionism is a monotheistic religion based on the life and oral teachings of the [[Emperors of Regalia]] and the divine Spirit that binds them all together. Unionism is one of the largest faiths in [[Aloria]] and practiced by millions of [[Ailor]] and those others from [[Races]] seeking spiritual fulfillment. The core belief of Unionism is that one day, Humanity will achieve paradise through the journey they call “The Great Way.” The Great Way refers to the time between now and an undefined time in the future where [[Human]] superiority will eclipse that of all other lesser races and establish a holy paradise on Aloria. In the past, Unionism was greatly divided between various sects and regional systems of belief, but over the past several years, these divisions have been solved with a newly reunified Unionism. Because of this, Unionism is on the rise (even though it is already dominant) and religious fervor has gripped many devout regions, while the Conclave in Regalia working hard to push the tenants of the faith onto the world.


'''Note: This is a very large article and it was decided to not have it split up. The content is not universally relevant, if you want to get a basic understanding of Unionism, simply read the Beliefs main section, Worship, Symbols, and Denominations. For those who want to go more in-depth though, this article should cover all the information you could ever want on Unionism.'''
==Origins==
Unionism as a [[Religion]] was created in the year 5 AC when Emperor [[Theomar]] (the founding [[Regalian Emperor]]) proclaimed the Creed (the holy Scripture) as visions received from the Everwatcher. In the beginnings of the Empire, the faith was slow to spread, but through providence and divine intervention, as well as [[Regalia]]'s military spread and aggressive missionary proselytizing, Unionism quickly spread from its small cult-like origins to a world-religion. It has over the years also absorbed Gods from smaller religions, and included Gods form other Religions to become a very all-inclusive cosmopolitan Religion. While most other Religions are [[Race]] specific with some caveats, Unionism is a cross-Race religion that invites all Races to join under the Everwatcher.  


==History==
===Schisms===
===Early Churches and Worship===
Unionism has had a series of schisms in the past centuries, notably the Evintarian schism which was the result of dogmatic differences and a civil war, and the Supremoclast schism which followed a more critical and humanist conscience of the people. This resulted in the Religion splitting in three (with some smaller cults that were later re-absorbed) that engaged in some degree of religious war on each other to proclaim supremacy over the concept of the Everwatcher. It took several centuries, but in recent times, the conflict wounds healed, and the priests of all Schisms came together to re-merge the religious communities, founding the Unionist Divine, which represents the current faith and priesthood. Some Cults like the Evintarian and Guided Cult still exist, however these add optional additional Gods, rather than radically diverging from religious beliefs.  
Unionism began shortly after the rise of the [[Regalian Empire]]. Newly crowned Emperor [[Theomar I]] was said to have had divine visions, which came slowly over the course of 53 years. By 58 AC, the Ten Predictions of Union were officially ratified into the Ten Creeds, and the Unionism sect began to expand its power outside of the Imperial Court. In this early stage, it had no churches or centers of worship, instead being spread slowly between the upper class and nobility present in the capital city. Conversion happened locally throughout [[Regalia]], mostly by court missionaries and by the power of the word of mouth. Sectarian violence in Regalia was a common occurrence in the early years after the [[Void Invasion]], following the fracturing of existing religions as theologians scrambled to try and explain the events that were happening in the world. Limited missionaries were sent out to other states, but did not take root as strongly as they did in Regalia. Regalia was after all at this stage only but a city-state, not a sprawling Empire. When Theomar died in 61 AC, his son [[Lilienmar I]] apparently saw a greater vision for Unionism. He translated the Ten Creeds of Unionism into the Axelland Anglian Dialect, and was also the first Emperor to call a Diet of Unionism to unify the growing religion.


===The First Schism: The Etosian Heresy===
==Core Beliefs==
Unionism's first true Schism happened at the Diet summoned in 69 AC by Emperor Lilienmar I following the death of Emperor Theomar the First. The Council broke unity over the Third Creed, which spoke about the Herons. The Supreme Reverend and the grand majority of the Reverends of the [[Regalian Archipelago]] believed the liberty of the Third Creed was taken too loosely by a Unionist sect called the Evintarians. They reasoned that Herons should function only as the most prime examples of Unionist fervor, and that anointing living Humans as Herons was heresy, because it would imply that the worship of another Human besides the Emperor in life is permitted. The Evintarians, however, believed that living Humans should be anointed as Herons, so that they may function as living examples and be worshiped to indirectly worship the Emperor, as they claim the Emperor was responsible for their good deeds. The debate between the main body of Reverends and the Evintarians continued for several days until an eventual deadlock was declared and the Reverends started a vote of expulsion and declaration of heresy unto the Evintarians.  
Unionism is a polytheistic Religion with one single superior being and his mortal vessel on earth, and a whole host of paired Gods who all offer specific lessons of the faith. The Religion's primary objective is world domination, that is to say, to create a globe-spanning Regalian Empire that can create eternal peace and stability, and bring about paradise by banishing war and suffering and death, and bring back all the dead from the Afterlives into an eternal paradise. Each of the God Pairs (except the Vessel) provides what the Unionists call, a Golden Lesson, which acts like a virtue, and opposes a sin in the belief of Unionism. If a person dies and their soul is judged by the Everwatcher they are found to be virtuous, they join the Everwatcher on the Great Stairway where they watch down on the living in wait for paradise to come. If they are deemed sinful, they are re-incarnated in the mortal world, so they are given another chance. The following Golden Lessons can be found in Unionism:
* '''Theomar and Thedmir:''' The Golden Lesson preaches that Unionism is good, and that spreading the faith is a virtue, and that sin is turning away from the Great Way, or outright sabotaging its intent.
* '''Ness and Eora:''' The Golden Lesson preaches that kindness and compassion are good things, and that even the most criminal seek love and affection and are deserving, while sin is to be bereft of mercy.
* '''Juvin and Glanzia:''' The Golden Lesson preaches that virtue is with the pure soul not tainted by the corrupt powers, and with knowing pure fact from wrong, while sin is spreading corruption and false information.
* '''Allest and Brand:''' The Golden Lesson preaches that loyalty to the state, the army, and fellow believers is a virtue, as is physical strength, and that sin is treason, deceptiveness without morals, and adultery.
* '''Elia and Leona:''' The Golden Lesson preaches that responsibility and protecting society is shared by everyone, no one can be excused, and that sin is to indifferent and not watching for the dangers of the world.
* '''Neal and Nolven:''' The Golden Lesson preaches that culture and art fill the soul with light, and that even in the darkness of war is beauty, and that sin is pure blind hatred without grace or beauty.
* '''Al-Asir and Marani:''' The Golden Lesson preaches that Technology brings forth great progress, and to share with society is a virtue, and that sin the creation of killing machines that automate death.
* '''Tanthor and Dari:''' The Golden Lesson preaches that even the most wretched, unwanted, and outcast of society have a role in the Great Way, and that sin is to find sadism and satisfaction in hurting the unloved.
* '''Mendes and Hor:''' The Golden Lesson preaches that wealth is there to be shared, but ultimately needed for the greatness of the faith, and that sin is to hoard wealth alone, and to steal from others.
* '''Sinnavei and Eirlys:''' The Golden Lesson preaches that even those outside the Faith can have an indispensable role to fill in paradise, and that sin is the wanton destruction of all that is alien and unknown.
* '''Caan and Kaldric:''' The Golden Lesson preaches that Magic and the Occult are a tainted burden that come with great responsibility, and that virtue can be found in good use, and sin in selfish destructiveness.
===Divine Mechanics===
All Religions provide 1 single Mechanic to their Believers that fits within the flair of their Religion. This Mechanic is lost if the individual stops believing in the Religion, or becomes a heretic, but can be regained. Afflicted can use this mechanic, but having the mechanic does not imply that they have blanket forgiveness from their Gods, just that there is more nuance to it than that.
* Unionist Faithful can be blessed by the gods by having a divine intervention and being cured of their Affliction or being cleansed of their Affinity through a divine event. Such a divine event should be orchestrated by the player themselves, does not necessarily require a pre-condition like "this character destroyed a Unionist Temple so the Gods intervened" or "this Character tore apart a painting of the Emperor so the Gods punished them", but can require one. This should generally only occur once per Affliction/Affinity, and is entirely up to the player's own consent over their character when and where it occurs.


The Evintarians were expelled from Regalia by the Emperor Leomar the First, though this gave them enough time to set up a proper church structure. They originally baptised their new split off church the Evintarian Patriarchate, and moved all their priestly members and a large crowd of their followers who refused to convert to the island of [[Etosil]]. Mixing with the local population and their culture, the Evintrarian Patriarchate eventually became the Etosian Patriarchate as the land was defined by the influx of migrants, who eventually also started adding to the religion. Separated from the Unionist Sancella, which was also set up around this time, largely by the fear of the Supreme Reverend that the Evintarian church would gather more followers due to its structure, the Etosian Church developed  new beliefs. Iconoclasm became a central theme in Etosian Unionism in later years, setting the two churches permanently apart, with the Etosians believing that imagery of the Imperial Spirit or Emperor are heretical objects and that images may only be made of the Herons.
==Gods and Goddesses==
Unionism differs from other Religions, in that it has Duo-Gods. All Duo-Gods are divine and each have divine powers in the afterlife (though some Gods may be yet living). Unionists worship all Gods equally, though they may choose specific Patron gods which they worship more. The Everwatcher acts like an overarching God of Gods, but the Everwatcher cannot directly be interacted with, so most people end up praising the Everwatcher through the Gods and Goddesses. Unionism also has the Cults further below. Cults add Gods onto the standard Pantheon, but they are not mandatory for vanilla Unionists who don't worship the Cults. It is possible to be a believer of both Cults.
<table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Prophet Gods Theomar and Thedmir'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Thomur.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Theomar (left) and Thedmir (right), the Prophet Gods, first believers.
* '''Patron:''' Fathers, Rulers, Nobles, Leaders, Commanders, and Best Friends.
* '''Symbols:''' Theomar and Thedmir are symbolized by the necklace of friendship.
* '''Role:''' Theomar and Thedmir were the Prophets of Unionism, spreading the faith.
* '''Traits:''' Patriarchy, Insight, Good Governance, Loyalty, Friendship, Faith.
* '''Temple:''' The All-Beacon Temple in Regalia proper, the largest Unionist Temple.
* '''Allies:''' Regulus Worshipers, Dáuw Worshipers, anyone in the military.
* '''Enemies:''' In essence all Evolist worshipers, and all Vola Fornoss Gods.
* '''Rituals:''' Theomar and Thedmir Rituals involve re-enacting the struggles of them in the early days of Unionism. This involves preaching the faith to non believers, aiding the faithful in the defense of their holy shrines and places of worship, to mediate and act as diplomat for embattled groups, and to provide spiritual guidance to the Military. Theomar and Thedmir also have rituals concerning the sanctification and re-affirmation of friendship.
|}
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50%;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Mother Gods Ness and Eora'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Ness.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Ness (left) and Eora (right), Empress and Chancellor in life.
* '''Patron:''' Mothers, Healers, Caretakers, Protectors, Empaths, Martyrs.
* '''Symbols:''' Ness's Butterfly Mask, and the Habit (head scarf) of Eora.
* '''Role:''' Ness and Eora are the savior Goddesses of Unionism who care for believers.
* '''Traits:''' Protective, Motherly, Nurturing, Caring, Self-Sacrificing, Forgiving.
* '''Temple:''' The Temple of Salvation in Old-Town forest side, which doubles as Hospital.
* '''Allies:''' Leif Worshipers, Severena Worshipers, Daiana Worshipers, Medics of any Faith.
* '''Enemies:''' Murderers, people who adopt adults, people who attack medics/the unarmed.
* '''Rituals:''' Ness and Eora rituals are all about forgiveness and nurturing and healing others. This may involve taking confessions, but can also involve volunteering at a medical station or healing house. Furthermore, Ness and Eora faithful travel prisons and downtrodden areas to give forgiveness to the damned, and offer them love and kindness where there is only the cold sting of rejection and apathy to the fates of the forgotten.
|}
</center>
</tr></table>
<table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Pure Gods Juvin and Glanzia'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Talli.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Glanzia (left) Goddess of Pure Soul, and Juvin (right) God of Pure Reason.
* '''Patron:''' Intellectuals, Mundanes, Anti-Magi, Scholars, Teachers, Archeologists.
* '''Symbols:''' Books with the Unionist Eye and Black Granite statues of Heroes.
* '''Role:''' To teach the faithful purity of soul (Magic-apprehension) and Logic.
* '''Traits:''' Analytical, Apprehension, Thoughtfulness, Anti-Magical, Purist.
* '''Temple:''' Temple of Greater Understanding, which doubles as a Library.
* '''Allies:''' Lothar Knights, Melca Worshipers, Severena & Aurora Worshipers.
* '''Enemies:''' Mage-Radicals, Theurgists, Those with Demon/Arken Pacts and Deals.
* '''Rituals:''' Rituals belonging to Juvin and Glanzia usually involve the Rites of Investigation. This usually involves an in-depth investigation to some kind of mystery, for Juvin that being discovery of new information and publication to the masses, and for Glanzia to uncover hidden Mages and the Occult, and to warn the general public. General rituals and customs also just involve educating the masses on general factual information and debates of skill.
|}
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50%;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Martial Gods Allest and Brand'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:GAYS.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Allest (right) God of Warriors, Brand (left) God of Gladiators.
* '''Patron:''' Soldiers, Generals, Commanders, Gladiators, Warriors, Homosexuals.
* '''Symbols:''' Two crossed holy swords, one with blood, and one dripping with tears.
* '''Role:''' To encourage fraternity and loyalty in the army, and strength of arms in warriors.
* '''Traits:''' Brave, Boisterous, Glorious, Victorious, Martial, Dependable, Unwavering.
* '''Temple:''' The Divine Heroic Contemplation Temple in Gloomrot Forest in Regalia.
* '''Allies:''' Cemaan Worshipers, Bard & Njal Worshipers, Bloodcast Knights.
* '''Enemies:''' Pacifists, cowards, enemies of Unionism and those who attack Priests.
* '''Rituals:''' Allest and Brand were lovers in live and death, where most of their rituals involve some kind of brotherly oath, a promise to protect someone until one's dying breath, or swearing fealty and undying loyalty to an overlord in war. Allest and Brand were glorious warriors each in their own right, so in many ways, prayer before battle and battle itself is a form of worship in their names, as is love persevering through war.
|}
</center>
</tr></table>
<table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Protector Gods Elia and Leona'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:LESBIANS.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Elia (left) Goddess the Watchful Gaze, and Leona (right) Goddess of Knights.
* '''Patron:''' Guards, Knights, Hunters, Rangers, Explorers, Scribes, and Lesbians.
* '''Symbols:''' Elia's Longbow and Leona's Blacksteel sword, along with Blacksteel in general.
* '''Role:''' To teach the faithful to guard one another and be responsible for one another.
* '''Traits:''' Chivalrous, Alert, Mindful, Responsible, Dedicated, Precise, Awareness.
* '''Temple:''' Temple of Unyielding Overwatch which doubles as the Imperial Hunting Lodge.
* '''Allies:''' Urlan, Knights of all Kind, Metropolitan Guards, Tame Marken, Huntsmen.
* '''Enemies:''' Criminals, Monsters in the wild, Kathar, Argentum Knights, Womanizers.
* '''Rituals:''' Elia and Leona were lovers in life and death, where most of their rituals involve some kind of communal or co-operative practice of the hunt or respect and support of the Knights (as well as being Knights). Knighthood is considered the greatest form of "keeping watch over society", and so many of their patrons become Knights. Other forms of rituals are couple or group hunts, and inspections of garrisons and walls and armories.
|}
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50%;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Vessel Gods Alexander and The Everwatcher'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Alexander.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Alexander (see) Emperor of Regalia and The Everwatcher (not depicted).
* '''Patron:''' Alexander is the Vessel of the Everwatcher, He speaks through him only.
* '''Symbols:''' The Unionist Eye represents the Everwatcher, the Crown Alexander.
* '''Role:''' To be living embodiment of the divine will of the Everwatcher in Regalia.
* '''Traits:''' Divine, Sagely, Wise, All-Loving, All-Inclusive, All-Caring.
* '''Temple:''' The Imperial Palace in essence doubles as the Temple of the Vessel.
* '''Allies:''' Alexander is ostensibly an Ally of all and everyone who will listen.
* '''Enemies:''' He has no Enemies. Even those who reject him in Crookback get his love.
* '''Rituals:''' There aren't strictly any rituals for Alexander, as he is only the Temporary Vessel. When Alexander dies, the next Emperor will take his place as the Vessel God, so that only ever the living Emperor will be Vessel God. It's also worth noting that Gladiator God Brand's name in life was also Alexander, as Brand is Alexander's ancestor. The latter is styled "Alexander II", the former has the Divine name of Brand from his living nickname Bram.
|}
</center>
</tr></table>
<table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Culture Gods Neall and Nolven'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Artgods.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Neall (left) is the God of Visual Arts, Nolven (right) is the God of Military Arts.
* '''Patron:''' Painters, Sculptors, Make-up Artists, Fashion Designers, Gardeners, Designers.
* '''Symbols:''' Nolvens's golden radiant sword, or Neall's golden radiant paintbrush / pencil.
* '''Role:''' To teach the faithful the facets of culture in peace and war, and to love art.
* '''Traits:''' Creative, Artistic, Expressive, Gregarious, Welcoming, Inclusive, Visual.
* '''Temple:''' Temple of the High Arts inside the Imperial Palace Art Galleries.
* '''Allies:''' Artists, Njall Fornoss Worshipers, Viridian Knights, Beauty Arkenborn.
* '''Enemies:''' Argentum Knights, the Mutated and Monstrous, Evolist Worshipers.
* '''Rituals:''' Neall and Nolven's rituals invariably involve the combination of cultural beauty and the art of war, whether that is a dramatic renaissance-style painting of a battlefield, or finding ways to depict what is in essence militarist propaganda in beautiful ways (statues, poetry, literature, art, etc). Because art is a skill, most worshipers of Neall and Nolven tend to perform their worship by paying artists to make art, a form of patronage.
|}
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50%;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Inspired Gods Al-Asir and Marani'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Eastgods.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Al-Asir (right) the God of Invention, and Marani (left) the god of Inspiration.
* '''Patron:''' Technicians, Engineers, Inventors, Architects, Craftsmen, Laborers.
* '''Symbols:''' Al-Asir's golden gears, or Qadir Ailor arm tattoo shapes in glowing gold.
* '''Role:''' Divine inspiration and guard against inventions of Evil in Technology.
* '''Traits:''' Eureka, Technical, Resourceful, Inspired, Altruistic, Conscientious.
* '''Temple:''' The Telocator Temple in Al-Alus, the only one outside Regalia's Empire.
* '''Allies:''' Those that help society at large, Those that make everyone's lives easier.
* '''Enemies:''' Death Cultists, Rishiq Qadir, Machinist Worshipers, War-Machine Inventors.
* '''Rituals:''' Al-Asir and Marani rituals involve the act of inventing, or just tinkering with technology, reading books and improving skills, or just generally engaging in crafts from simple wood carving furniture to advanced architectural planning. The act of production for someone else, even at the cost of payments, is considered a virtuous activity for the patron Gods of Craftsmen, this is why object creations are always blessed by the Gods.
|}
</center>
</tr></table>
<table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Persevering Gods Tanthor and Dari'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Lizardgods.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Dari (left) and Tanthor (right) are the Allar and Kathar Gods of the Forgotten.
* '''Patron:''' No specific Patronage, they are for the Downtrodden, Forgotten and Unwanted.
* '''Symbols:''' Golden neck chains or other forms of personal restraint around the neck.
* '''Role:''' To bless even the weakest and most unwanted in society with strength to go on.
* '''Traits:''' Dignified, Charitable, Austere, Sharing, Seeking Equity over Equality.
* '''Temple:''' There currently is no Temple, it was demolished in Crookback for housing.
* '''Allies:''' Tanthor and Dari see any and all who want to be included in Regalia as Allies.
* '''Enemies:''' Tanthor and Dari see anyone who kicks down on the downtrodden as enemies.
* '''Rituals:''' Dari and Tanthor mostly give hope to the lost that there is still a place for them in the Everwatcher's Grace and the Regalian Empire. Rituals of Dari and Tanthor often involve charity and bringing care and warmth to the poor, the dispossessed, the unwanted, and to show compassion and no bigotry against those who look or act different. They involve rituals to combat racism, discrimination, and general radical inclusion, perhaps, even Vampires.
|}
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50%;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Prosperity Gods Mendes and Hor'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Furrygods.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Mendes (left) and Hor (right) are the Gods of Prosperity and Wealth.
* '''Patron:''' Merchants, Bankers, Traders, Shopkeepers, Bureaucrats, the Filthy Rich.
* '''Symbols:''' The Golden Coins of Union, Regal Coins with the Eyes of the Everwatcher.
* '''Role:''' To bless the people with wealth and prosperity and good wit in commerce.
* '''Traits:''' Business Acumen, Opulent, Responsible, Self-Sufficient, Insightful.
* '''Temple:''' The Temple of Mendes and Hor is the Regalian Central Bank and Exchange.
* '''Allies:''' Mendes and Hor see anyone who spreads Order and Stability as Allies.
* '''Enemies:''' Mendes and Hor see anyone who spreads Anarchy and Chaos as Enemies.
* '''Rituals:''' It perhaps sounds ironic, but one of the most common forms of worship to Mendes and Hor is paying taxes. The act of paying taxes is considered virtuous, because it both shows a willingness to part with wealth, and a willingness to trust the State to do good by the people with said Taxes, and to contribute to communal greatness. Other rituals involve squeezing foreigners for money and signing unequal trade treaties with foreign merchants.
|}
</center>
</tr></table>
<table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Allied Gods Sinnavei and Eirlys'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Elfgods.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Sinnavei (left) Goddess of the Elves, Eirlys (right) Goddess of the Tribes.
* '''Patron:''' Solvaan, Elves, Breizh Ailor, Pre-Empire Tribes, Ancient peoples, heritage.
* '''Symbols:''' The Sollerian Mist-Gryphon, and the Breizh Santwr, Feather-Winged Warriors.
* '''Role:''' To show that non-believers and outsiders may find Solace and Alliance in Faith.
* '''Traits:''' Arcane, Enchanting, Ancient, Glory of Ages, Respect, Venerability of Age.
* '''Temple:''' Bryn Dwyfol in Kintyr, and The Skyward Palace in the capital of Solleria.
* '''Allies:''' Sinnavei and Eirlys see any who would join Regalia's ambitions as Allies.
* '''Enemies:''' Sinnavei and Eirlys see any who would obstruct Regalia's ambitions as enemies.
* '''Rituals:''' Rituals of Sinnavei and Eirlys involve (much like Tanthor and Dari) radical inclusion, but as opposed to Regalia's own citizens, that of outsiders. To ally with other faiths for the good in the world, to respect outsiders, to give them human decency and dignity, and to help them help the faith. It also involves healing racial tensions, and uncovering and sharing ancient lost knowledge to the world for the wisdoms that it may hold.
|}
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50%;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Burdened Gods Caan and Kaldric'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Magicgods.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Kaldric (left) and Caan (right) are the Gods of Burdened but Beautiful Magic.
* '''Patron:''' Mages, Aelrrigan Knights, Arcane Researchers, those seeking Redemption.
* '''Symbols:''' Kaldric's horned bramble crown, and Caan's Arcane tome symbolisms.
* '''Role:''' To teach the faithful proper & virtuous Magic usage, and warn for corruption.
* '''Traits:''' Self-Sacrificing, Penitent, Humble, Pious, Stalwart, Holy, Paladins.
* '''Temple:''' The Hall of Golden Ascension in the Holy Agatha Mountains of Regalia.
* '''Allies:''' Those who use Magic respectfully, virtuous, and care for world & others.
* '''Enemies:''' Those who abuse Magic for selfish or hedonistic purposes and ego.
* '''Rituals:''' Kaldric and Caan rituals involve forms of self-sacrifice and penitence. Self-flagellation is one form of self-punishment practiced by some of their worshipers, but other forms of self-enforced humility through the praising or service of others are also common. Kaldric (once called Kristoph in life) is more for the self-loathing/punishing Mages and Occult, while Caan is more for the restrained and dignified Mages and Occult.  
|}
</center>
</tr></table>


===The Clastic Law===
==Cults==
The Clastic Law was a piece of legislation accepted by the Emperor and the Supreme Reverend in 98 AC. The Patriarch of Etosil also unofficially ratified the treaty, though mostly did so under the threat of military purging and holy wars from the central Unionists, as the Supreme Reverend in Regalia wished a quick end to hostilities between the two sects. Unionism was, after all, still in its infancy, and the Old Gods faith was still in the majority in Regalia. The Clastic Law would dictate that in the future, all forms of Unionism would have some basic set of protection laws within the realm of Regalia. While none of the smaller denominations of Unionism had the right to perform missionary conversions, they were protected from violence and retributions from each other’s members and were given the safety to worship and have houses of faith across the Empire. Various segments of this Clastic Law would become suspended in later years, or entirely dismissed for complete denominations like the Vultar Unionist denomination, however this would not occur until late 300 AC. The Clastic Law paved the way for  a near 200 years of peaceful co-existence that would result in massive growth for the Unionist faith.
Cults exist in Unionism as "add-ons" for the Religion itself. While all Unionists by default worship the Gods and Goddesses listed in the Pantheon above, some Cults within Unionism worship additional gods that most of the main stream believers do not. These are holdouts from the old Schisms, that albeit while joining the main current of religious worshipers, still have some leftover of their old beliefs. Each Cult is represented by a single theological belief, and with Gods who are included by this theological belief, while all other aspects of the Religion are the same. It is possible to be a member of multiple Cults as they just add additional beliefs, but it is also possible to believe in one of the Cults, or none at all.  
===Evintarian Cult===
The Evintarian Cult was established by the Evintarian Schisms many centuries ago when the Evintarian priests split off, and were expelled from Regalia and founded their own country in [[Etosil]]. The Evintarian Schism happened, because the Evintarian Priests thought that Trans-Dimensional Entities (such as certain Demons) could become Gods too if they shed off their sinful nature and were blessed by the Everwatcher, which the main dogmatic branch rejected. The Evintarian Priesthood voted to join the Unionist Divine, and so they became a Cult that has included several Trans-Dimensional Entities as God Pairs. Each of the Evintarian Gods requires some explanation of how they came to be accepted as Gods in the Evintarian Cult, which will be explained first, before the Gods are discussed.  


===The Second Schism: The Diviner Heresy===
Kithemon is an Exist entity from another realm that possessed an Aetosian man named Nikolaos (surname lost to time). Kithemon was verified as a God for the Evintarians, as he granted them many protections of the mind against incursions from Demons and other entities who would corrupt and usurp them and rob them of their freedom and identity. Amandaros is a Void Entity that was somehow related to the Evolist God Armas, but always dodges the subject when discussed. Amandaros possesses his host an Asha named Amon, though it is important to mention that Amandaros as an entity does not reside in a single place, but can be in many places (and hosts) at once. Amandaros is also summoned by the Mask of Amandaros which is held in Evintarian Shrines, which the faithful may use to help conceive children if they cannot themselves (see: Amandaros [[Godborn]]). Yvasi is an Ordial Entity possessing a Half-Eronidas named Girin who has proved to be of aid to the Great Way, by traveling the lands and helping the faithful realize and manifest their true self in gender, appearance, and heritage. It is not known what entity Yvasi is related to, but she did show her loyalty to mortals and the living, by aiding in the defense of the [[Last City of the Living]], before traveling on to Aloria to aid the Unionists.  
Nearly 90 years following the Clastic Law, a small crisis point arose in 186 AC. The Second Schism was much smaller than the first, caused by a group of dissenting locals in Girobalda, a lordship of Regalia. The locals and the priests felt that Unionism did not do enough to forcefully convert non-Humans and pagan Humans to their faith. Additionally, Divining and superstition had become a popular local practice, leading the local priests, under the influence of Opium, to believe that the Emperors were not the only ones able to receive visions and messages from the Imperial Spirit. They believed that, in a smaller form, everyone could form a connection with the Imperial Spirit as long as they were devout and sacrificed enough, and used the right potency of numbing substances to achieve a hallucinatory trance. The Second Schism is referred to as the "Diviner Schism" leading to the establishment of the small cult-like religion of Diviner Unionism. This was the first event that caused the Reverends to regret the signing of the Clastic Law. Diviner Unionism was a much more xenophobic and aggressive form of Unionism, demanding regular non-Human sacrifices and violent struggles within the religion itself to advocate survival of the fittest for the cause of Humanity. Despite the original success of Diviner Unionism in Girobalda, the religion did not spread elsewhere, largely because of the lack of appeal in a drug-infested forest dwelling belief, but also because the Girobaldin lands are completely surrounded by Ithanian lands. Ithanian Culture demands a certain level of civility and class, two things that were utterly incompatible with Diviner Unionism. Without a presentable land bridge to spread their faith, Diviner Unionism eventually confined itself within Girobalda and declined over the decades until it was limited to only a few small forest communities who gradually went more and more underground. Still, the state respected their rights to live out their faith of choice in Girobalda so no aggressive actions were taken in accordance with the Clastic Law.


===The Kleine Rechnung===
Yvasi in particular discusses many concepts of transhumanist and transgender concepts with the faithful, as she is a female-presenting spirit in a male-presenting body, and how that generally affects gender presentation to the faithful, as well as gender roles in society. Finally, Eredicos is a divine name for the Imperial Prince Frederick Kade (second son of the Emperor), who shares his body with an ancestral spirit of Betheoric I Kade. Unlike the other entities who have mostly subsumed their host, Eredicos represents both Frederick in the mortal body and Betheoric in the immortal self, and the two frequently exchange host status. Eredicos is a very recent addition as God, because Frederick only ascended to godhood when he became an Urlan in the past 3 years, and in doing so, proved to have divine god-like powers of command and venerability over even non-believers through Betheoric. The fact that an Imperial prince is technically possessed by a Primal Revenant is a very much not-so-secret at the Imperial Palace, but out of respect nobody causes an issue over it.  
Unionism grew explosively between 190 AC and 250 AC, following the many successful conquests of the Emperors and the subjugation of many other Human States within the Regalian Archipelago and elsewhere. Missionaries, for the first time, had success spreading their faith elsewhere, causing the erection of many Unionist Cathedrals across Aloria. Unionism had undergone several changes as well. Several Emperors selectively removed, added, and re-added smaller sections of the Creeds, or wrote expansions to suit their specific needs at the time. In 263 AC, [[Old Gods]] worship had totally been eclipsed by Unionism as the more dominant religion in the Regalian Empire, and was well on its way to control the rest of the Human world. It was in this year that the Supreme Reverend [[Wolffram Ultor]] signed the "Kleine Rechnung." The law effectively dictated that the Old Gods and the [[Faith of Estel]], as religions, were protected within the borders of the Regalian Empire, being degenerate religions that simply "lost their way." The Emperor believed that despite the fact that non-Unionists worshiped false idols and gods, they still unknowingly worshiped the Imperial Spirit. It was reasoned that the eight Old Gods, and the Goddess Estel, were in fact the Imperial Spirit in disguise, and that it was the true power behind these religions. The Religious clergy initially thought to resist this change, but the divine will of the Emperor could ultimately not be questioned.  
<table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Exist/Void Gods Kithemon and Amandaros'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Exitciuv.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Kithemon (left) Protector of Minds and Amandaros (right) Protector of Proginy.
* '''Patron:''' Kithemon, Patron of protections against the dark arts, and Amandaros of parents.
* '''Symbols:''' The shielded silhouette of a head, and a tree of descendance or ancestry.
* '''Role:''' Kithemon protects from mind incursions, while Amandaros helps with childbirth.
* '''Traits:''' Resolute, Stalwart, Protecting, and Hedonistic, Capricious, Lustful.
* '''Temple:''' The Temple of Ethereal Naether in the capital of Aetosil, Regalian Empire.
* '''Allies:''' Leyon and Sapphora faithful, Aelrrigan Knights, those with big families.
* '''Enemies:''' Those that bargain with Arken and Demons, the possessed, and incels.
* '''Rituals:''' Kithemon and Amandaros rituals vary greatly, as they are obviously very different. Kithemon rituals involves seeking out and revealing the corruption of Spirits and mind control affecting others and then freeing them. Amandaros rituals involve hedonistic self-satisfying parties, preferably those which involve in copious amounts of romantic matches or flings that may expand the population through conventional means.
|}
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50%;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Ordial/Primal Gods Yvasi and Eredicos'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:New Canvasgsgerhfghjyt.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Yvasi (left) Bringer of Self-Love and Eredicos (right) of Elder Wisdom.
* '''Patron:''' Those struggling with anxiety/depression, and children of heritage.
* '''Symbols:''' The mask of anonimity, and the banner of command and the staff of rule.
* '''Role:''' Yvasi to help believers become their true self, Eredicos to embody ancestors.
* '''Traits:''' Guiding, Mentorly, Authoritative, Venerable, Wise, Erudite and Thorough.  
* '''Temple:''' The House of the Patrilineal Divinity in the capital of Aetosil.  
* '''Allies:''' Urlan, Therapists, Estelley and Fornoss Priests, the Elderly.
* '''Enemies:''' Bigots who bully on matters of identity, and those who betray family.
* '''Rituals:''' Yvasi and Eredicos rituals similarly diverge due to their diverging nature, but they are more similar than Kithemon and Amandaros. Many of the rituals for Yvasi and Eredicos converge on praising and worship of ancestors, to showcase the skill and achievements of ancestors, and to keep a clean grave or shrine to them. Yvasi has rituals of self exploration, meditation, and both also have rituals with experimentation with self-presentation.
|}
</center>
</tr></table>


The Kleine Rechnung is sometimes also called the Confession of Melennar, who was a Holy Minister who claimed to have received visions of the lesser religions when he received a gift from the Emperor. The Emperor was so moved by his enthusiasm and emotion that he agreed with the sentiment put forward by Melennar, and the law was proposed. The law would later come to protect many Old Gods and Estel worshippers, sometimes even those who never truly accepted the Melennarian confessions, but merely pretended in order to avoid being chased by the inquisition. After the death of Melennar, the Kleine Rechnung would continue to gather more faiths to its collection, though also become more aggressive. The [[Songaskia]] faith of [[Shambala]] was included under the pretext that those who worship the faith wear hats, a practice strictly forbidden in [[Farah’deen]] Shambala.  
===Guided Cult===
The Guided Cult has a long and troubled history, as Dogmatic Unionists tried to violently suppress so-called religious-critical movements that challenged the clergy by asking questions instead of blindly believing everything that was fed to them. The Guided Cult inevitably agreed to re-join the Unionist Divine, as the priests of the other groupings agreed to accept their Duality-God (each God representing two) entities, while also admitting some of their more free-thinking ideas in how to interact with the priests. While prior the priests could not be questioned, with the Guided Unionist re-interpretation, Priests were actively challenged to be questioned in their preaching and faith, so that everyone would become stronger in belief. The Guided Cult still exists, because they hold on to some of the so-called [[Dragon]] Gods.  


===The Third Schism: Vultar Heresy===
This means that while critical thinking, questioning faith, and keeping an innovative and independent mind are aspects of the Guided Cult, what is more important to them is the divinity of Dragons, that being also the separation between them and the dogmatic beliefs: that Dragons can be Gods. Dragons are all Divine, and while not all Dragons are Gods, some of them are, and they should be adhered to when they make proclamations. Some make the incorrect assumption that this means Guided Unionists believe in both Unionism and [[Draconism]], but the Guided Unionists specifically delineate between Draconist Gods, and Unionist Gods, in that the Dragons that are Gods, are specifically not Dragons from Draconism, because they represent a different faith. That being said, Archon do exist in an in-between function, in that the Guided Cult does accept Archon as holy warriors if they worship Unionism. Each Duo-God pairing is a pair of a Dragon Soul God, and an Archon God who acts as their protector. The first Dragon God is Nicholas Kade, the Glorious Arch-Chancellor who is commonly remembered as the most competent government leader the Regalian Empire ever had, and Aarthes his Fin'ullen Archon Bodyguard. Nicholas has been dead for over a century, but Aarthes is still alive, living in Nicholas's old Estate in Anglia alone.  
The Third Schism happened upon the ascension to the throne by [[Alexander Kade]], the first non-Ivrae to take the throne in nearly 300 years. The Kade Settlement, as the document would later be called, was a paper signed by the Chancellor and the then dying Emperor that would dictate males from female descendants could take the throne. Prior to this event, Emperor Justinian II had lost all his sons to the [[Undead Scare]] in Regalia, leaving no male descendants alive. Prince Charles, the brother of Justinian who died 10 years prior to him, still had two living daughters, Princess Liliane Ivrae-Kade and Princess Adelheid Ivrae. Princess Liliane, the eldest of the two, had been married to the Arch-Chancellor Moriarty Kade, and had given birth to several sons, among them Alexander and Cedric. Adelheid Ivrae only had two sons, Daryl and Frederic Ivrae, but she was the younger sister, and so these Ivrae males were overlooked by the Kades when it came time to select the next Emperor. The Reverends of Vultaro believed that, because Alexander Kade was a muddled descended from Emperor Theomar the First, that the Imperial Spirit had left the Imperial seat and would not connect with it again since the line had been broken. This effectively started the Third Schism, the Vultar Heresy. The Vultar Heresy took place in 302 AC and had major momentum in the Duchy of Vultaro, which was within the Regalian Archipelago. The locals were already disgruntled by rule of the local Duke, causing this dissent to merge with religious unrest.  


The status of Vultar Heretics was difficult within the Regalian Empire. The Church of Union wished to eradicate their heretical split religion, but the Clastic Law prevented them from doing so. Wolffram Ultor, despite somewhat supporting the Vultar Heresy ideas, sent many missionaries to convert the Vultar population by power of word. The Clastic Law, after all, only dictated that no force was to be used against heretics, but it never stated anything against conversion. The Vultar Heresy was small and local, but still damaging to Unionism as a whole. This marked the first event where the undisputed power of the Emperor was brought into question. Following the [[Ranger Crisis]], and later the [[Elven War of 302 AC]], fervor for Unionism returned, as it always had after wars with non-Humans. A series of revolts in Vultaro also brought a proper end to the concentrated efforts of the Supremocliast of Vultaro, a hastily assembled church structure which the Vultars used to try and compete with the other churches. Vultar mobs formed the bulk of civil unrest forces during the Anahera Dictatorship, supporting the dictator’s moves against the majority of the nobility. The Suprest of the Supremocliast (the highest office in the Vultar Church) had made a calculated risk and failed. The Anahera Dictatorship was cast down and the Vultar church was branded in violation of the Clastic Law. Since the Clastic Law no longer protected them, the White Order, the Sancella, and the Etosian church alike descended on Vultaro to purge the heretics by trials of fire and execution. The vast majority of the Vultarins died by being thrown off the cliffs of Vultaro for their heresy, or being burned at the stake, bringing an almost definitive end to the Vultar Unionists.  
The second Dragon God is Morgan Kade who is commonly remembered as a highly competent, but extremely morally corrupt and cruel Arch-Chancellor, and Narsil his Snake-Marken Archon Bodyguard who was painted in Gold as he slithered through the Imperial Palace. Morgan died several decades ago, and Narsil was put to death immediately after Morgan, as he was no longer around to protect his bodyguard-pet Marken. The duality of virtuous Nicholas and sinful Morgan as Gods is that the Guided Unionists believe that Gods can also be just awful people, and be extremely selfish and capricious, but that bad qualities and ugly personalities are not reasons to write off the skills and competencies that people do have. The Guided Cult holds that Dragon-Souls (like Prince Cedromar, or his children August and Florian) would be more suitable heirs to the throne, but have agreed with their re-integration into Dogmatic Unionism to cease their opposition to Emperor Alexander's rule.  
<table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Dragon Gods Nicholas and Aarthes'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Leadergodsas.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Nicholas (left) and Aarthes (right), Gods of political and architectural design.
* '''Patron:''' Intellectuals, strategists, philosophers, diplomats, patriarchs and matriarchs.
* '''Symbols:''' The scepter of regality, government buildings, the Regalian state banner.
* '''Role:''' Nicholas teaches those in positions of power responsibility and careful design.
* '''Traits:''' Foresight, Calculated, Intellectual, Informed, Responsible, Unwavering.
* '''Temple:''' The Golden Seed Temple in Axford, capital of Anglia, Regalian Archipelago.
* '''Allies:''' Regulus faithful, those who favor charisma and speech over combat.
* '''Enemies:''' Chaos agents and those who would disrupt the order and stability of states.
* '''Rituals:''' Nicholas and Aarthes rituals involve the bridging of duality, to seek out "the mind" and "the body" in friendships, and form a perfect union between the person who plans and thinks, and the person who acts and completes. The intention is to build friendships from unlikely partners, to create unbreakable bonds and collaborative efforts that showcase the perfection cooperation, that dependency is not weakness but beautiful and meaningful.
|}
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50%;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Dragon Gods Morgan and Narsil'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:Snakegods.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Morgan (left) and Narsil (right), Gods of the corrupted excellence.
* '''Patron:''' Those who question leadership and faith in the right and respectful ways.
* '''Symbols:''' The Cobra hooded head, and the snake-forked tongue and snake-hair head.
* '''Role:''' Morgan and Narsil exist as warnings to blind faith and unquestioning obedience.
* '''Traits:''' Selfish, Greedy, Cruel, Wroth, Prideful, Hyper-Competent, Self-assured.
* '''Temple:''' Morgan and Narsil don't have an official Temple because of vandalism.
* '''Allies:''' Slizzar, Criminals, Gang Leaders, Spies, Saboteurs, and Rogues.
* '''Enemies:''' Those who use Emperor, Faith, or Law, to justify cruelty and evil.  
* '''Rituals:''' Rituals of Morgan and Narsil are less in service to them, and more in deterrence to the qualities of Morgan. The most common form of ritual is the Public Examination, where large crowds gather in front of a speaking stand, where citizens and commoners hold a public debate on the competency and virtues and morality of an individual in office or power, as a means to hold them accountable to good governance and keep them on the right track.
|}
</center>
</tr></table>


===The Unionist Divine, the Ascension, and the Tenth Creed===
===Armageddon Cult===
As civil strife plagued the capital of the Regalian Empire year after year, many Unionists prayed for a divine miracle by the Imperial Spirit. During the [[Dragon Occupation]], their cries for salvation were seemingly answered, as it was revealed that Emperor [[Cedromar I]] possessed Dragonblood, allowing himself to transform into the Imperial Dragon. With the revelation that dragons had not gone extinct as previously thought, the Unionist Synod met to debate the question of Cedromar’s status as a Dragon. After deliberations, the High Reverend of Regalia at the time declared in a Synodical Bull that the Imperial Dragon was a sign of divinity by the Imperial Spirit, investing the Emperor with divine power to deliver the Unionist Faithful in their hour of need. This Bull would have lasting consequences, the first of which came from the Vultar Heretics. The High Pontiff of the Vultarins declared his Sect’s belief that the Dragonblood of the Emperor was the divine sign they needed to recognize the Kade ascendency to the throne, and that they would fully support the Dragonblood Emperor and his descendents if they would be granted protection under the Clastic Laws. This was agreed upon by the Synod, and the Vultar Heresy was reborn as the Vultdragon Hegemony.
The Armageddon Cult originated in the preaching of the Evintarian priest Belisarius, whose core belief was that while Paradise is certain to come at the end of the Great Way, that the traditional doctrine does not account for the non-mortal elements of the world. In essence, while believers and mortal non-believers alike could bring about Paradise, the dogma does not account for the existence of Demons, those who reject the Emperor's love, and Vampires who by nature cannot love his grace. Belisarius believed that on the Eve of Paradise, an event would occur called the Armageddon, where all the Demons, Demon worshipers, Arken, Void Gods, and other entities that wish to prevent Paradise, would unleash a holy war on Unionism and that the final test before Paradise would be winning this cataclysmic war that would touch all corners of the mortal realm. Armageddon Cultists in essence believe in an inevitable "War in Heaven", and express their belief mainly in daily "thinning the herd" of Demons and Vampires so as to reduce the overwhelming forces that the Demons will come to possess when Armageddon begins.  


Around the same time, a treaty was sent by the Patriarch of Etosil to mend the First Schism and create a new Unionist Divine. Part of the treaty would see the creation of two Synods (Regalian and Etosian), the sharing of financial and military resources, and the universal recognition of living Herons. After discussions within the Regalian Synod, the treaty was signed, causing the faith of Unionism to have a (relatively) unified body that was not seen since the time of Leomar I.
They are doomsday preppers, with many even entertaining that Armageddon will not come in their lifetime, but that they will contribute to a reduction of the numbers of the enemy, and preparing the Empire and their descendants for the final war by producing more weapons, and researching every edge they might gain against the Demons. The Armageddon Cult is unique in Unionism in that it acknowledges an actual canonical evil, the supreme devil as it were, and entertains the idea that there is actually a chance that the Armageddon war might be lost if too many people fall to the vices of Demon worship and consorting with the Devil. The Armageddon Cult was accepted into the faith along with the other Cults, and conformed just like the others. It is a relatively small cult, but it is immensely popular among purists and those who make it their daily employment to hunt down Demons and serve the Emperor by slaying his detractors. It should be noted that a more twisted version of the Armageddon Cult also exists. Because the "evil" Gods (perceived similarly to Guided Unionism in more of a fear-worship, or appeasement to keep them away) are still immensely powerful, some Vampires have developed a twisted version of the Armageddon Cult where they believe that when Armageddon begins, they will all rise up against the Gods of Evil, and join the righteous in the war in heaven for Paradise, and redeem themselves.  


However, this mending would be dwarfed in comparison to another religious event that would take place soon afterwards. Summoned to the Imperial Cathedral in the City of Regalia by Emperor Cedromar, the citizens of the Empire bore witness to a strange display. Upon speaking, the Emperor began to strip away his imperial regalia, undressing until he wore only a linen shirt and knee-high breeches. After requesting all present to begin praying, bright lights flashed around the Cathedral, with apparitions of previous Emperors appearing out of their statues around the halls. After declarations of divinity by these past Emperors, the Cathedral grew dark and quiet. After a lengthy pause, Cedromar rose to his feet, proclaimed that the Imperial Spirit had departed his mortal host to be a part of all the faithful, and immediately abdicated the Imperial Seat, creating a year-long interregnum where the Regalian Empire was not ruled by an Emperor, but by the Nobility and Government Offices. This absence of an Emperor was planned to be permanent, but after political strife began to collapse the Empire, the government and Synod re-invested Alexander as Emperor, as Cedromar had chosen to retire from political life after the Ascension of Unionism.
Through this belief, some of them have become pro-Regalian pro-Emperor, acting from the shadows in the benefit of the Regalian Empire, even if the Empire would have them slain at the earliest convenience. This Vampiric interpretation is obviously heretical and not supported by the Cult itself, but it is notable enough to be mentioned, and why some Vampires might worship the Armageddon Cult Gods. On a closing note, while the Armageddon Cult only has two Devil Gods, the theology allows for a much larger range of evil entities to be acknowledged as "Aspects of the Endwar", such as Void Gods, Arken, Greater Demons, and in some interpretations even Estelley Gods. The Armageddon Cult has many superstitions concerning the Endwar, and players are encouraged to experiment with catholic apocalypse visions and the circles of hell.
<table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Anticipating Gods Celestina and Eòin'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:New Cauunvasgsgerhfghjyt.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Celestina (left) and Eòin (right), Gods of service for bounties they may never see.
* '''Patron:''' Doomsday preppers, Purists, Demon Hunters, Vampire Hunters, Anti-Evolists.
* '''Symbols:''' The Habit and mask of the Silent Sisters, and the Imperial Guard Seal.
* '''Role:''' Celestina and Eòin teach the virtue of doing good without material reward.
* '''Traits:''' Altruistic, Resolute, Combative, Unforgiving, Unrelenting, Prepared.
* '''Temple:''' The Divine Advent Temple in Regalia, found in the countryside on roads.
* '''Allies:''' Those that fight, restrain, or otherwise hamper the forces of the Void.
* '''Enemies:''' Evolists, Kathar, Demons, Theurgists, Those that consort with Demons.
* '''Rituals:''' Celestina and Eòin represent the spoken word and the prepared mind, and the physical arm and execution of the divine plan. Their rituals involve preparing one's self, or the world around one, for the inevitable Armageddon, and to find peace in the fact that all the toil of a lifetime may not ever see fruits while alive, and that the benefit of one's labor must be for one's descendants or those who come after. and never for one's self.
|}
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50%;">
<span style="font-size:150%;><center>'''Endwar Devils Belialus and Sablael'''</center></span>
{|
[[File:New dsadCanvasgsgerhfghjyt.png|220px|caption|left]]
|
* '''Name:''' Belialus(left) devil of the Sanguine, and Sablael (right) devil of Shadows.
* '''Patron:''' The Devils are not patrons, they are entities to appease into inaction.
* '''Symbols:''' The Vampiric Curse, the twisted and coiling shadow, and the hooked tail.
* '''Role:''' Belialus and Sablael act as a focal point of a clearly defined evil to fight.
* '''Traits:''' Destructive, Corrupting, Seducing, Enrapturing, Dangerous, Evil.
* '''Temple:''' No official Temple, but Vampires worship in the House of Blood in the sewers.
* '''Allies:''' Those who would seek evolution and advances through the Demonic and Void.
* '''Enemies:''' Paladins, Priests, Holy Figures and those who hunt Vampires and Demons.
* '''Rituals:''' Rituals of Belialus (called Behesael by Elves) and Sablael involve candle night vigils and ritual purification of objects and people touched by the Devils. The idea is to cast away the evil presence of the Devils (a word itself taken from the Velheim Djevel or "evil one"), because the belief is held that if their influence is cast back into the Void, that their connection with the mortal world is disrupted and they enter a state of slumber.  
|}
</center>
</tr></table>


With Alexander re-throned, the Regalian Empire continued on as it once did, albeit with the Imperial Spirit’s presence now a matter of religious debate. However, strife soon faced the Unionist flock once more, as the Supreme Reverend Piète-a-piète Kade was assassinated by a faction of Reverends over the supposed finding of the Tenth Creed, a creed which was rumored to have existed, but never confirmed. After his death, an Anglian milkmaid ferried the presumed Creed to the Imperial Palace, and after comparison with the other Nine Creeds and Theomar’s writing, was deemed legitimate. In this Creed, Theomar wrote an Imperial dissention, and declared that the Unionist Sancella was a mistake, seeing it as an entity that could be easily corrupted by its membership. He instead saw the Unionist Faith as a collection of regional Churches, each with their own beliefs and practices, united in the Immovable Concepts of Holy, Curated, and Spiritual Professions. With this revelation, the Unionist Divine split into various groups. Old Sects such as the Etosians and Vultars split off once more into their own spheres of influence, while the Sancellists were fragmented into several denominational churches, with only a Conclave to serve as a unifying body. While the death of the Supreme Reverend was shocking, the overall news gave hope to others that Unionism could modernize and survive the onslaught of the new century.
==Priestly Activities==
Unionist priests are part of the so-called Covenant College. At the very top is the Secilly 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-Everians. Below the Secilly Council, are the Arch-Everian, which are equivalents to Dukes in the Regalian Empire. They wield considerable power and rule over vast areas of land, subdivided into Everies. Below the Arch-Everian is the Everian, or just the average priest. Each Everian administrates an Everie, which is usually a piece of land donated to the clergy where they maintain temples, shrines, and sanctuaries, while also producing crops and tending to cattle. Everians 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-Everians 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 Secilly 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 Secilly Council grouped together, but historically Emperors have interfered very little in the day to day running of the Everies, 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 Everians, and vice versa.


==Beliefs==
==Expanded Lore==
Unionists have a set of holy passages referred to as the Holy Creeds, written by various Emperors throughout Ailor history. It is said that the Holy Creeds are written by the Emperors, but their hands are guided by the Imperial Spirit with visions granted from that same divine power. The Creeds are all written in Proto-Regalian, a now ancient and dead language that predated the [[Alt-Regalisch]] language. The Practices of the Unionist church are fairly uniform, in that all forms of Unionism pray and worship in roughly the same ways, though there is a great amount of sectarian variety from one Reverend’s flock to another. Most of the Unionist practices are not mandatory, but highly encouraged or recommended. A list of common Unionist practices is as followed.
The Expanded Lore section contains additional contextual information about the Gods. While the above sections will provide enough information to get a clear picture, there are some nuances and subtext to the Gods that are not apparent on first inspection, but that may be very useful for super-pious Characters. This section will tackle each God pair in greater detail (eventually) and discuss various additional pieces of information available for the faithful.
*Prayer three times a day, at dawn, noon, and following dinner after dusk. Unionists are recommended to pray at least once a day in public mass, which occurs at the same time as Prayer time.
*[[Silent Sisters]]
*The dead are burned and their ashes are buried. The burning occurs in so called Houses of the Dead where priests burn the bodies in ceremonial stone sacrophacusses. After burning, the remains are scraped up and placed in an urn which is then encased in a cask and buried. Most nobles are not burned, but rather beheaded and have their heart removed and placed in an urn away from the body.
*[[Pious Brothers]]
*Sacred images are used in all denominations of Unionism. This includes paintings of the Emperor, statuettes, and sometimes relics of Herons and previous Emperors.
*[[Unionism Expanded]]
*Four yearly religious celebrations, the festivals of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter with their own various religious implications.
*This section is not yet fully written, as it will come very last when all other immediate Religion update tasks are done.
 
==The Imperial Spirit==
The Imperial Spirit in Unionism refers to the soul of the Imperial power. It is an abstract concept that many theologians have theorized about, but the general interpretation is that the Imperial Spirit is a form of spiritual energy of divine power with its own will that fuses with the soul of the Emperor of Regalia as soon as he is crowned. The Emperor's duties as the Imperial Spirit are to make the divine decisions for the cause and course of Humanity, with regards to who to subjugate, who to free, and where to divert the attention of the Empire. The Imperial Spirit also abstractly exists in the afterlife, guiding the souls of those who have passed in the Divine flow of energy that empowers the Imperial Spirit, and keeping them safe and close until the day of the divine Fate.
 
==The Creeds of Unionism==
The Creeds of Unionism are the written holy scriptures of Theomar I that are worshipped, sometimes even more fervently than the Emperor himself, as the scriptures are the strict words of the Imperial Spirit while the Emperor is technically just a prophet who put them to paper. Similarly to the Emperor, the Creeds cannot be wrong, but they can be misinterpreted or mistranslated, or differently interpreted and translated. Because of this vagueness, it could be said that the Reverends can develop their own Sects based on their interpretations of the Creeds. In rare instances, future Emperors have edited the Creeds after much religious reflection. The original Creeds were written in Proto-Regalian, a now extinct language now used only by religious and linguistic scholars, though over time have been translated into other languages. The following translation was done by Emperor Alexander I in 307 AC after receiving a divine message from the Spirit to re-translate the original Creeds.
 
===First Creed===
The First Creed is the foundation for all other creeds after it and the formation of the formal state religion. It represents the core principles of the Spirit, the Imperial bloodline, and the Great Way. It speaks of the trinity of divinity between the Emperor, the Spirit, and the Great Way.
 
''“There exists something so pure and beautiful, yet it has no name. I, Theomar the First have witnessed a land where there is no want, no hunger, no sadness and no fear. It is the land where all who have gone before us returned, and embraced those who were living and saw no difference between the living or the dead or the soon to be. It was a land pure of Humans, clean of those who would spoil our greatness and clean of those who would be ruinous onto others as they are onto themselves. It is a vision that was given to me by a being so pure it also has no name. For it tasked me to provide it with a name, and a worldly body so that it can act for which it exists. I write of the Imperial Spirit, the embodiment of our Empire so Holy and our future so pristine. The collective will of all that is Regalian and all that shall be, for a future which we all share. This Spirit was born when we cast down the chains of the past, when we freed ourselves of oppression and raised ourselves up in the light of prosperity. This Imperial Spirit has chosen the Emperors of Regalia as its host, as we see the world of Aloria our host. As we guide our world, so does this Imperial Spirit guide our hand to the future that lays beyond, the Great Way that will take us there.”''
 
===Second Creed===
The Second Creed dictates the duties of the faithful in prayer and virtue, while also speaking about practices of worship. While some obvious virtues like military support for the cause of Unionism and good natured behavior towards other Unionists is specified, it does not go into specific detail about what a virtue is or what actions would constitute as virtuous, as long as they do not conflict with the code of law.
 
''“The Divine Spirit has shown us the way, and the way we shall follow. For through my hands, its will shall become manifest, but mine hands are only two of many. For thousands of hands are required to carry the burden and prominence of our future and fate. I speak of those who are the common men and women, the farmers, the artisans, the priests, the clerks and soldiers. No matter how small the being, all carry the weight of Unionism on their shoulders and back, and if one falls, so shall the others feel it. For The Great Way to remain on the correct path, all must endeavor to pray, worship and act as examples of the Code of Union. Man woman and Child must pray three times a day, come morn of dawn and come dusk of night. Priests shall administer prayer times, five times a day, for those who are unable to meet dawn or dusk mass. All must contribute to the Great Way, from the highest noble to the lowest street beggar. All must also contribute to each other’s Great Way however, the noble must give alms to the poor and the poor must take up the sword and spear and bow when the noble is in need of men and women for their banner. War by the Empire is always sanctioned in the name of Union, and so is the divine word of the court which speaks for the Emperor which speaks for the Imperial Spirit. To kill another man not in the name of Union is heresy, and to deny the birth of a Human will condemn a soul for non-Human torment”''
===Third Creed===
The Third Creed speaks about Herons and the holy decrees of the Emperor.
 
''“And by the virtue of strength, or wit, or cunning or the simple virtues of man woman and child, so too can the simplest of souls be elevated to the highest steps to the throne of the Imperial Spirit. The Emperor alone is but one, surrounding him is a vast collection of spirits, not Imperial in a sense, but purely Unionist in many ways. We speak of the Herons, the Heroes and Saints of our times and times past. We model our lives to them as examples, as they have modeled their lives in the image of the Emperors. So that the will of the Emperor can be carried in the wind, like rain on a gust, ever multiplying into the infinite beyond. They shall have shrines, they shall have statues and the people shall evoke their names in reverence. They shall fill the bodies of Union with the will to fight, to preserve our cause, and to dream to one day become like one of them and be assured passage to the highest places in Paradise.”''
===Fourth Creed===
The Fourth Creed states that Humankind will ascend to the afterlife and shall be judged for having done their part for the Great Way, or having been left wanting. Those who are judged as having made their contribution to the Great Way are present in the afterlife together with the Spirit, while those who are rejected are reincarnated as a non-Human to prove themselves again. It also states that non-Humans are also weighed by the Spirit, and if non-Humans are judged as having made a contribution, then they are reborn as a Human, without necessarily specifying anywhere what a Human is, despite it including Ailor.
 
''“The afterlife is not a state to be feared, for I too have heard the voices of my forefathers and felt comfort in what they had to say. The Imperial Spirit, much like the Emperors to be, are as much a vessel as a clay vase like us. The Imperial Spirit gathers all the souls of those who pass over and weighs them on the Scale of Worthy Judgement. The single Eye pierces through darkness and deceit and exposes the light, or the lack thereof. When the judgement time comes, the souls will be denied or granted. When denied, they shall be cast back as a non-Human, tormented to live life again as a lesser being to have a second chance at proving they deserve to be Humanum, such is the grace and mercy of the Imperial Spirit. Those who are worthy, shall join the Imperial Spirit in the Everwatch, a state of divine being in which those who have come before, together with the Imperial Spirit, watch over us from above. Take comfort in the knowledge my fellow Humanum, death is never the end, simply the beginning of the long Everwatch until the Great Way is complete and all shall be reunited in paradise. Carry all: the sword, the rake, the prayer beads, the hammer and sickle and tool, carry all for the virtue of work, the hardship of prayer and the love for your fellow Unionist. Carry all in your days and your lives, so that when the measure comes of the scales of judgement that you shall be on the weightier end of your crimes against Unionism. For a single crime, or a second crime will not condemn you. But should your crimes become too many, and repentance is far to be found, so too shall your entrance to the afterlife be denied, and cursed you shall be to the life of one not Human."''
===Fifth Creed===
The Fifth Creed speaks of the unaccepted faiths, the heresies and the seductions and powers of ruin of the Void and Demons. The Fifth Creed as such specifies that certain faiths are acceptable misinterpretations of the Spirit’s will and guidance. In Unionism, other religions could be interpreted to form syncretic faiths under the guidance of Unionism, but it never actually specifies what these faiths are and under what specifications such a syncretism would be applicable. It does however specify that explicit Void Worship is a sin. This Creed in particular was edited by Emperor Justinian II, who allowed the Confession of Melennar to become holy law within the Empire.
 
''“It is not hatred we should harbor for those who have lost the way. For the steps to the Imperial Throne lie in front of us, and yet we may look away. But the only way to the land above, so pristine and pure, is up those steps. There is no way around, there is no way from it, and no matter how far we tread, those steps will always be ever closer. So too are those who have fallen from the righteous path, they envelop themselves in the fabrications of false prophets, but the people are born in a state of ignorance and innocence. It is the duty of the virtuous to convert and protect the lesser beings that need our guidance, not to utterly destroy them in fire. Let the gentiles who accept our word and confess their sins to Melennar be welcomed with open arms, not as a brother or equal, but as a lesser mirror of ourselves, yet to be brought into the fold with due time. However, there are those who would destroy the steps to the Imperial Throne. Those who would see us all cast out of paradise and see paradise twisted to a tormented plain of destruction, where our loved ones will anguish and we will watch for all eternity. It is the Daemons of our past, our present and our future, the evils within and without, the evils we invite and the evils that claw at our very doorstep every morn and every dusk. It is the duty of every man woman and child to purge the evil and Daemon scourge from the world, be it an act of kindness or the sword of deliverance. For Daemons are merely creatures of will, and will hath no hold over Humans of virtue. Those who would dabble in the arts of Daemons, and would see honest men and women cast into the darkest Void for their hubris. Those foul charlatans and deceivers whom bend reality from the creation of the Spirit for their own needs in place of the needs of the greater good. Strike them down for their fingers thread where no Human should, in the realm of the corrupted and the befouled. They bring only ills on their loved ones, plagues of blisters and putrid plague and destruction.”''
===Sixth Creed===
The Sixth Creed dictates the structure of the Curates, Reverends, the High Reverend, the Synod, and the Supreme Reverend. It dictates that the Reverends have the individual freedom to interpret the Creeds “where they are found lacking in detail and specificness” and administer their own flock as a sect of Unionism, as long as this is not in an affront to the Supreme Reverend’s spiritual guidance. The Supreme Reverend ensures that no Reverend starts interpreting the Creeds into the realms of Heresy, and commands the High Reverend to enact conformity should such a situation occur. The Synod exists as an unofficial conclave that calls for a diet when a religious emergency occurs, who vote for their High Reverend from among their members who will also double as the cleric for the Imperial Family and the Emperor.
 
''“The Holy Synod shall rule all, like the Supreme power of the Emperor, though granted by us. The Holy Sancella shall be the Ministers of the Spirit, much like our own material ministers guide our hands in the matters of the material world. The Holy Ministers shall be the Reverends, the Revered and holiest men in the body and house of worship. Their word will be carried by the Priests, the Curates of Union who multiply and amplify the words so holy and pure to be the Holy Law. The Holy Synod remains charged with the interpretation and the enactment of the Spirit’s Holy words, where they are found lacking in detail and specificness, from their Unionist convictions.”''
 
===Seventh Creed===
The Seventh Creed dictates the need for spiritual and bodily transcendence of Humankind to become greater Humans than the ages before. The Seventh Creed is incredibly vague, as it does not specify what transcendence actually means, but it roughly translates to the constant need for Unionists to improve both themselves as Humans as well as their means to fulfill the goals of the Great Way.
 
''“To believe is not to think. To think is to not believe. We will transcend, as those who have come before transcended. Providence only comes forth by the will of the few, like Paradise can only come by the will of the many.”''
===Eight Creed===
The Eight Creed dictates the Great Way and the specifics of it. The Great Way is specified as: “such a time in which Humankind has irrevocable and unmistakable dominance over all the lesser races and creatures and ideologies over Aloria, and where the Spirit is believed in by the population of the world.”
 
''“In this pure and beautiful future, I witnessed the hands of Humanum holding the chains of the lesser beings. There is no place for the fallen races among the steps to the Divine throne of the Imperial Spirit, but they will not be denied entry to paradise. Be it they cannot or will not prove themselves worthy of the Great Way, they shall be our slaves and servants when the time comes, that time of such great Regalian might and prominence. One day our fair race shall rule all the world and all the known lands and all the known seas and so too shall we take to the skies and conquer anything that can be seen and even that which cannot be seen. It is by the labor of the man, woman and child, and by the direction of the Imperial Spirit and the hands of the Emperors that we shall achieve and bathe in the divine Fate”''
===Ninth Creed===
The Ninth Creed dictates the various offences against the Imperial family and the Emperor, essentially forming the basis for the Imperial Laws. This Creed is also unassailable and cannot be altered without the direct input of the Emperor.
 
''“For through the divine Imperial Spirit, we Emperors become divine in living. We are but an earthwork vase for a vessel of water however, make no ill mistake. Like glass we can shatter, and like water, our contents may spill into nothingness. It is the primary duty of any of Union or Humanity to preserve the sanctity, life, and divinity of the Emperors and the Empire, and to work against the Empire or Emperor are high treason”''
===Tenth Creed===
The Tenth Creed was revealed in the latter days of 307 AC, after being kept hidden for almost three centuries. This Creed is what religious figures would call an Imperial dissention, which is a rare case where an Emperor steps back on a proclamation made before, and changes their mind. Specifically, Theomar professed that the Sixth Creed was a mistake, and that instead of one single Church body, there should be a multitude of bodes, each with their own cultural interpretations.
 
''“Though like all mortals, we are but flawed creations in the Eye of the Spirit. Just as the Emperors are an earthwork vase, so to is the Holy Synod, able to shatter through vices of sin and corruption. Just as Humanum must transcend, so to must the spiritual foundations of guidance. There is not just one Human, but many Humanum. In the same light, there can not be just one Church, but many Churches, all advocating for interpretations to suit the needs of the multitudes of Faithful. While debate may arise between Churches in Conclave, only the Immovable Concepts must be professed in Union. These are the Holy Professions of the Great Way and Paradise, the Curated Professions of those who study the Scripture to guide the Faithful, and the Spiritual Professions of Judgement, Divine Authority, and the Emperors to come.”''
 
==Relics==
*'''Dais of Faith:'''
The Dais of Faith is a structure built out of the sarcophagus of Theomar the First, housed beneath the Regalian Cathedral in the Holy City. This tomb is venerated by all sects of Unionism, as it is the only place where one can communicate directly through the Imperial Spirit without going through the intermediary of the Emperor of Conclave. The Dais is also known for producing some of Unionism’s holiest artifacts, granting them to those willing to sacrifice their ways for Unionism. Despite its many divine actions, the Dais only awakens when Unionism is in peril, or whenever the Spirit deems it necessary to intervene in Alorian affairs. As a result, the Tomb can remain dormant for several decades, only to awaken for a few days, before going quiet again.
 
==Practice==
It is implied in the Ten Creeds of Union that prayers can be used to call upon the Emperor for worldly favors and blessings. Emperor Theomar I constructed the grand Regalian Cathedral, home to the Pillars of Blessings. The Pillars of Blessings have small orifices in them, capable of containing small pieces of paper. Believers of Unionism will write down small wishes and deeds they would like to see the Emperor perform, and stuff these papers into the ornaments of the Pillars. Every month, the Emperor would lead a procession of the Imperial Spirit in the Cathedral, after which he would come down to the Pillars and pick out a few pieces of paper. These wishes or deeds would then be performed within the mortal power of the Emperor, giving heed to the blessings asked for by the followers.
 
Communal worship for Unionists happens on a daily basis three times a day, and though it is strongly encouraged and almost enforced once a day, participation is not obligatory more than once a week. Most citizens with a profession choose Saturday or Sunday, but Priests hold sermons every day of the week, so one may participate on any day. Sermons of Unionism are usually filled with communal prayer, priests reading from the holy texts, and faith healing. Sermons are held traditionally within churches, but can also be held in open air or in any building. There is no specific celestial law that states sermons must be held in a church, and street sermons are sometimes frequent in times of trouble or social unrest. Worship can be varied for different events. Birth blessings have their own rituals, as do funeral rites, and communions for Union and feast days or holidays.
It is traditional for Unionists to close religious discussions, debates, or sermons with the wording "Oratario Paean", which roughly translates to "Orchestra of praise or triumph", a diminutive form of Proto-Regalian used to describe the final coming of Paradise. Within folklore and customs of worship, this phrase is uttered both as a blessing for others to be there when Paradise comes, but also to thank the Spirit and the Great Way for its benedictions. It is custom for good Unionists to respond with “Oratario Paean” when a Reverend cites it in Sermon or in Holy Lecture. If in person, whether two Unionists departing from one another, or giving blessings in passing, the more common "Oratario Ode" is used, which is a more personal blessing rather than the more universal “Oratario Paean”, but they effectively mean the same.
:*''Click [[Verses of the Faith|here]] for the Verses of the Faith, a collection of short prayers commonly spoken by Unionists.
*'''Liturgical Calendar:'''
:The Liturgical year of Union is a central way for the devoted to celebrate and devle into worship. It is very class and profession based. The period of spring is seen as the Cycle of Growth, in which children are conceived, crops are planted and the year's census is done. The following period in Summer is the Cycle of Dominion, in which wars are usually performed by the Regalian Empire for expansion. The next Cycle is in Autumn, the Cycle of the Harvest, wherein at the end, children are usually born, crops are harvested, and the lands subjugated. Finally the months of Winter represent the Cycle of Reflection, months filled with worship, feasts and thinking back on everything that has happened during the past year.
 
Each Cycle has their own smaller holidays, and its own Festival week, in which most Regalians celebrate the Liturgical cycle with each other in a merry week of drinking, games, feasting and communal prayer. The one during the Cycle of Reflection is especially important, as that is the only Festival which the Emperor actively participates in.
:*''Click [[Unionist Liturgical Calendar|here]] for more information on the Unionist Liturgical Calendar
 
==Sacraments of Union==
Unionism has several Sacraments throughout one's lifetime. Some are optional; only the first and last Sacrament must be performed for all Humans.
 
===Sacrament of Birth Blessing===
The first Sacrament is the birth blessing. Upon the birth of a Human born in a Unionist family, the baby must be blessed by a priest reading the First Creed to the baby, usually when it has just come out of its mother. This Sacrament represents initiation of the Human baby into the duty and rights of a Unionist, but also serves to cleanse the newborn of any past non Human life they may have suffered, to prepare them for their second chance at redemption.
 
'''Applicable to:''' Birth/Baptism
 
===Sacrament of Entry===
The next Sacrament is the Sacrament of Entry. Entry Sacraments are performed by those who enter the service of the Regalian state. This means all soldiers, knights, nobles, state officials, politicians and priests, or children who aspire to be of those professions, go through this Sacrament. In this Sacrament, the children (usually between ages 10 and 13) must profess the Creeds of Union, and be able to recite them in their most basic rudimentary form during a sermon on their Communion day (though are not required to memorize the full translations, as such requires several years of religious tutelage). The Communion Sacrament is seen as entry of one's duty to the Human Fate. Anyone who has an employment as subject to the Regalian State must have gone through the Sacrament of Entry.
 
'''Applicable to:''' Military, Nobles, Knights, State Officials, Politicians
 
===Sacrament of Harmony===
The Sacrament of Harmony is performed to each wedding made in the Unionist church and blessed by the Sancella. It should be noted that marriage in Regalia isn't exactly the same as a church marriage. The church and the state do not have the same ideology or legislation concerning marriage, and as such, having a marriage agreed upon by the State, is not the same as getting a marriage from the Church. Church marriage is always subject to canon law, though does not have to particularly come before or after a state marriage, and can in fact be made entirely separately depending on whether the state marriage even took place or not (though the state never recognizes religious marriages for legal reasons). If divorced or widowed, the Sacrament of Harmony is repeated with every new spouse, meaning the Sacraments of Harmony duplicate. A man who divorced his first wife and remarried, thus has two Sacraments of Harmony. Note, because Sects and Churches are allowed to have their own interpretation of what passes for a marriage, it is quite possible to have a Sacrament of Harmony that is recognized by one clergyman but rejected by another.
 
'''Applicable to:''' Those who are married in the Unionist Church
 
===Sacrament of Solution===
The Sacrament of Solution exists between the Sacrament of Union and Sacrament of Entry, for those who converted to Unionism at a later date than birth or early childhood. The Sacrament of Solution is done by combining both the Sacrament of Union and Entry into one, while also requiring the individual to already be engaged in, or start working in service to the Regalian State. Additionally, unless the person was Agnostic or Atheist, they will be required to engage in the Sacrament of Rejection.
 
'''Applicable to:''' Converts
 
===Sacrament of Rejection===
The Sacrament of Rejection is a Unionist practice that ensures (from the Sancella's perspective) the loyalty of the individual by forcing them in an act of grand heresy or taboo that would condemn them in their native religion. For most converters (such as Old Gods or Old Fayth) this includes performing sacrilege on holy offerings and idols, for [[Songaskians]] this involves turning away from the sun with their head covered, and for most other religions, the loud and vocal rejection of old beliefs. The Sacrament of Rejection must be performed by each convert.
 
'''Applicable to:''' Converts
 
===Sacrament of Blessings===
The Sacrament of Blessings is intended for individuals who have their soul status elevated to Humanum, when their body is still non-Humanum. This Sacrament is still issued by the Conclave but not officially performed since it is always implied when the Emperor through the Imperial Spirit promotes someone's soul. This Sacrament is the rarest Sacrament, since Emperors very rarely promote anyone. In fact, many Emperors have gone through life never promoting any individual to Humanum.
 
'''Applicable to:''' Humanum Status Grants
 
===Sacrament of Sacrifice===
The Sacrament of Sacrifice is usually performed by adults advanced in age, and often by criminals. The Sacrament of Sacrifice effectively introduces those who perform the rites into a monastic order. Men often become monks and priests, whereas women may become nuns or silent women of the church who embalm the dead or deliver babies to the world. After the Sacrament of Sacrifice, those who have passed either divorce their marriage or never marry again. It is also common for those who perform this ritual to swear an oath of silence and servitude to the church, becoming a member of the Ecclesiastical Estates of Basta.
 
'''Applicable to:''' Church Service/Monasteries
 
===Sacrament of Highest Order===
The Sacrament of Highest Order is performed for each Imperial Guard who enters service. It involves a number of highly spiritual sermons and meetings in which the subject prays and begs the Spirit for the strength of mind and body to protect the Emperor and to serve him everlasting or until death separates them from him. The Sacrament of the Highest Order can often also be granted by the Emperor to unique individuals who serve the Emperor with great dedication and loyalty.
 
'''Applicable to:''' Imperial Guards
 
===Sacrament of Fervent Service===
The Sacrament of Fervent Service is the official rite name of Knighthood, a ritual that most male Nobility go through, but also commoners who are elevated to Knighthood. The Sacrament of Fervent Service is the only Sacrament not performed in the church, instead relying on a test of strength, wit, and faith to the Emperor by the Regalian military. In most cases, the recruits will be instructed to stand guard at the cathedral for a week with nothing but a flask of water, while also reciting the predictions of Union whenever anyone asks for them, and remaining disciplined and orderly throughout the entire ordeal.
 
'''Applicable to:''' Knights
 
===Sacrament of Slumber===
The final Sacrament is the Sacrament of  Slumber, the death rite. The Sacrament of Slumber is performed for those who have passed, but it differs radically per social class. Richer citizens can afford a crypt burial, involving priests reciting the relevant Creeds and heavy use of incense, while the more common folk will simply be cremated and their ashes put in a grave with a simple prayer. It is custom to dress the dead in robes of black, while all those who mourn for their death are dressed in pure white. This is to emphasize that even if their passed spirit cannot see themselves, they can always see those who are still on Aloria and living, and focus their energy to further their cause instead of any worldly selfish desires.
 
'''Applicable to:''' All dead Unionists
 
==Major Sects==
There have been several notable Sects and Denominations that arose over the years. While Unionism has seen a large growth of various Church bodies in recent history, these Sects have existed for the longest time, and have gone to shape the cultural practices of those they cater towards.
*'''Standard Unionism'''
**Standard.
**Sometimes referred to as Sancellist Unionism to set it apart from the others.
**Has since been replaced by the Conclave of Churches following the Tenth Creed’s revelation.
*'''Etosian Unionism'''
**Herons may be anointed while they are alive.
**Heron appointments are considerably more lax than Standard.
**Making any images, statues, or paintings of the Emperor is strictly illegal.
**Was briefly merged with Standard Unionism, but separated after only a few months.
**Sometimes referred to as Evintarin Unionism
*'''Vultar Unionism'''
**The Emperor is not the Imperial host until some divine sign indicates him to be.
**Nobility in Regalia do not have the divine right to rule, rather their right should be derived from the people, and suspended by the people when they are abused.
**Priesthood should only be engaged in by men.
**Was considered a heresy until the revelation of the Imperial Dragon, which led the High Pontiff to seek reconciliation with the Sancella, which was granted.
**Currently known as Vultdragon Hegemony, and believes only Dragonblood Emperors are Divine.
*'''Diviner Unionism'''
**The Emperor is not necessarily the Imperial host; anyone can be the host and anyone can receive visions from the Imperial Spirit if they have consumed enough Opium.
**The Imperial Spirit will only be manifested and proved to be manifested by an undefined amount of non-Human sacrifices.
**The Diviner Unionists only recognize Ailor as Human.
**Priesthood should only be engaged in by elder men, who perform sacrifices by cutting the living heart out of the subject.
**Considered heretical by all other Sects, but survives in underground circles predominantly in Daendroquean settlements.
 
==Symbols==
Unionism isn't a specifically aniconist religion, meaning it does not rely much on images to convey itself, but there are several symbols which strongly represent the religion. Within the first 300 years, a stork was the main symbol of Unionism, carrying the spirit of Union across the Ivrae family, as it was their family crest animal. Since the Kade Settlement however, the stork has been replaced with a feathered Dragon, animal ruler of Aloria and proud symbol of justice, strength, power and all-rule.
 
Items or other symbols are not used frequently. It's often difficult to symbolize the fate of humanity into a single image, though the most acceptable way of putting it is a golden eye with sunrays radiating from it. This is also seen in priestly prayers where they hold their right hand up next to their face while reciting the Creeds with the Unionist symbol pendant in their hand palm, using their left hand to turn the pages and move religious artifacts around during Sermons. Most Unionists have a necklace with a small golden hand in front of a star, or a broach with the head of Emperor on it to outwardly identify themselves as Unionist. In general, Unionists condemn the practice of outward identification of other Religions however, and refrain from doing it much themselves in the street.


==Faith Syncretism==
All Gods and all Religions in Lore are valid, because they physically exist in the world and constantly provide evidence to their divinity, however, Religions have boundaries to which Gods to worship and which ones not to. Faith Syncretism is an optional concept where a person who is faithful to the Religion found on this Page, includes two Gods from another Religion to expand their Pantheon and acquire additional beliefs. While this concept stands on shaky grounds when examining canon lore too closely, it is mostly motivated because Religion sometimes creates unnecessary obstacles for Roleplay Alliances or interactions. By allowing Religious figures to expand their Religious loyalty, they gain access to a wider range of people to interact with that would otherwise be closed due to Religious dogma. Syncretism has several rules applied:
* Only one Syncretism may be chosen, and this choice is permanent. The Syncretism should be recorded in the same place where Religions are mentioned on a Character Application.
* Syncretic believers do not worship all the Gods of the second faith, only the two included in the Syncretic belief, it is not possible to expand beyond that or choose other Gods.
* Syncretic beliefs do not grant access to Religious Mechanics of the secondary Religion or other bonuses acquired from Religions or Gods as mentioned on their Pages.
* Syncretic believers cannot be Priests, Godchosen, or any other type of Religious figure as described on the Pages. They must be singularly loyal to their own Religion.
* Syncretic believers are not discriminated against by believers of the secondary Faith. They can however be criticized by their primary faith for their choice of Syncretism. 
===Syncretism Variants===
* '''[[Fornoss]] Syncretisms'''
** '''Love for Life Syncretism:''' Leif and Eikki form the basis of the Love for Life Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with the Love and Affection God Leif, and the Feasting and Joy God Eikki. This Syncretic theme incorporates a love for life and others, while bringing more nature-elemental and shamanistic aesthetics to Unionism.
** '''Chained Guilt Syncretism:''' Bard and Hrymrök form the basis of the Chained Guilt Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with Retribution and Judgement God Bard, and the Freedom and Liberty Goddess Hrymrök. This Syncretic theme incorporates a more violent and aggressive hostility towards the enemies of Unionism, and taking the initiative on destroying Unionism's rivals, while bringing more while bringing more nature-elemental and shamanistic aesthetics to Unionism.
* '''[[Draconism]] Syncretisms'''
** '''Imperial Core Syncretism:''' Regulus and Gaia form the basis of the Imperial Core Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with the Rulership and Time God Regulus, and the Preservation and Redemption God Gaia. This Syncretism theme incorporates Dragons as divine beings created by the Everwatcher to preserve Unionism, and identify the so-called Imperial Dragons as Regalian-native Gods, while bringing respect and preservation of old Draconic Sites and Radicals of the Dragons along with it.
** '''The Black Flame Syncretism:''' Caius and Umbra form the basis of the Black Flame Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with the Violence and Battle God Caius, and the Death and Decay dragon Umbra. This Syncretism draws direct lines from the Immortal War and the fight of Dragons against the Occult, and the Unionist Purist stance on Magic usage, identifying the Dragons as some type of Everwatcher ordained holy protector, and bringing with it the use of Leytech to fight the Occult.
* '''[[Estelley]] Syncretisms'''
** '''The Fae Queens Syncretism:''' Vyrë and Mana form the basis of the Fae Queens Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with the Commanding Ocean Goddess Vyrë and the Compassionate Nature Goddess Mana. This Syncretism poses that Unionism lacks an explanation for the natural realm, a Nature Goddess to praise for the bounty of the forests, and a Sea Goddess to worship for safe passage on the open seas. This Syncretism also ports pro-Magic and Elven Mysticism into Unionism.
** '''The Moon Gazer Syncretism:''' Leyon and Melca form the basis of the Moon Gazer Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with the Protection and Benevolence God Leyon, and the Foresight and Mysteries Goddess Melca. This Syncretism poses that Unionism focuses too strongly on the mechanical industrial world, failing to see the mystical and often Magical reality that exists also, and assumes too much from a Mundane point of view, thus expanding horizons to truly connect with Mysticism.
* '''[[Baskarr]] Syncretisms'''
** '''The Golden Hour Syncretism:''' Tjafar and Akhet form the basis of the Golden Hour Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with the Insight and Rulership God Tjafar, and the Unaccountable Reclaimer God Akhet. The Golden Hour Syncretism incorporates the Asha as brother-folk to the Unionists, in that much of their Allorn-oppressed history is aligned, and their long term goals also align. Golden Hour Syncretism believers acknowledge Asha and Ailor as the same people.
** '''The Relentless Vengeance Syncretism:''' Khannar and Wadj form the basis of the Relentless Vengeance Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with the Hateful Vengeance God Khannar, and the Intrigue and Deceit God Wadj. This Syncretism takes a lesson from the Revenge Asha: Unionism and the Regalian Empire move too slowly to punish evil, and all forces should be more aggressively forced away from inaction and apathy, and into Violence against the Allorn.
* '''[[Evolism]] Syncretisms''' do not exist in Unionism, due to their extreme opposition to one another.
==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*Emperor Theomar the First made Unionism mandatory among some of the noble families very early on, but this regulation has relaxed in recent times when it was removed from Synod Law.
*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 [[Solvaan]] nobles in [[Solleria]] however, called the Confessions of Melennar.
*Some speculate there is some dark conspiracy behind the Emperor, the Oxoron Celestial Body and the Void, but most of this is generally called nutcase ramblings.
*Sectarian violence largely came to an end at the turn into the fourth century as the last attacks on Vultragon Unionist by state forces ceased, and an uneasy truce was signed between the Schism religious communities. They still do not see eye-to-eye, and the different Schismatic groups still prod at each other, but instead of murdering each other over sectarian differences, they mostly fight with words nowadays, a legacy of the Kleine Rechnung, the document that called for the truce.
*Melennar was not an Elf, contrary to popular belief because of his name.  
* Despite Eirlys's absorption into Unionism, the [[Breizh]] still maintained a high level of cultural autonomy, some even clinging to old beliefs. As such, even when Magic became illegal in the Empire, the Breizh [[Aelrrigan Order]] continued to find and train Mages safely in their sanctuaries while the rest of the Empire turned to brutal oppression (and the Magic part of Eirlys was suppressed from dogma). Eirlys' faithful among the Aelrrigan Order are commonly cited as the reason why Magic acceptance eventually returned, and Eirlys' magical nature in theological teachings was returned.
{{Religion}}
{{Religion}}
{{Accreditation
{{Accreditation
|Artists =  
|Artists =  
|Writers = MonMarty, HydraLana, FireFan96
|Writers = MonMarty
|Processors = birdsfoot_violet
|Processors = Hemingway7, FireFan96
}}
}}
[[category:Religion]] [[category:Human Religions]]
[[category:Religion]]

Revision as of 21:57, 15 May 2024

Unionism
Religion
PronunciationYoon-yen-is-m
OriginsEmperor Theomar
Deities
The Everwatcher and various other Gods and Goddesses

Origins

Unionism as a Religion was created in the year 5 AC when Emperor Theomar (the founding Regalian Emperor) proclaimed the Creed (the holy Scripture) as visions received from the Everwatcher. In the beginnings of the Empire, the faith was slow to spread, but through providence and divine intervention, as well as Regalia's military spread and aggressive missionary proselytizing, Unionism quickly spread from its small cult-like origins to a world-religion. It has over the years also absorbed Gods from smaller religions, and included Gods form other Religions to become a very all-inclusive cosmopolitan Religion. While most other Religions are Race specific with some caveats, Unionism is a cross-Race religion that invites all Races to join under the Everwatcher.

Schisms

Unionism has had a series of schisms in the past centuries, notably the Evintarian schism which was the result of dogmatic differences and a civil war, and the Supremoclast schism which followed a more critical and humanist conscience of the people. This resulted in the Religion splitting in three (with some smaller cults that were later re-absorbed) that engaged in some degree of religious war on each other to proclaim supremacy over the concept of the Everwatcher. It took several centuries, but in recent times, the conflict wounds healed, and the priests of all Schisms came together to re-merge the religious communities, founding the Unionist Divine, which represents the current faith and priesthood. Some Cults like the Evintarian and Guided Cult still exist, however these add optional additional Gods, rather than radically diverging from religious beliefs.

Core Beliefs

Unionism is a polytheistic Religion with one single superior being and his mortal vessel on earth, and a whole host of paired Gods who all offer specific lessons of the faith. The Religion's primary objective is world domination, that is to say, to create a globe-spanning Regalian Empire that can create eternal peace and stability, and bring about paradise by banishing war and suffering and death, and bring back all the dead from the Afterlives into an eternal paradise. Each of the God Pairs (except the Vessel) provides what the Unionists call, a Golden Lesson, which acts like a virtue, and opposes a sin in the belief of Unionism. If a person dies and their soul is judged by the Everwatcher they are found to be virtuous, they join the Everwatcher on the Great Stairway where they watch down on the living in wait for paradise to come. If they are deemed sinful, they are re-incarnated in the mortal world, so they are given another chance. The following Golden Lessons can be found in Unionism:

  • Theomar and Thedmir: The Golden Lesson preaches that Unionism is good, and that spreading the faith is a virtue, and that sin is turning away from the Great Way, or outright sabotaging its intent.
  • Ness and Eora: The Golden Lesson preaches that kindness and compassion are good things, and that even the most criminal seek love and affection and are deserving, while sin is to be bereft of mercy.
  • Juvin and Glanzia: The Golden Lesson preaches that virtue is with the pure soul not tainted by the corrupt powers, and with knowing pure fact from wrong, while sin is spreading corruption and false information.
  • Allest and Brand: The Golden Lesson preaches that loyalty to the state, the army, and fellow believers is a virtue, as is physical strength, and that sin is treason, deceptiveness without morals, and adultery.
  • Elia and Leona: The Golden Lesson preaches that responsibility and protecting society is shared by everyone, no one can be excused, and that sin is to indifferent and not watching for the dangers of the world.
  • Neal and Nolven: The Golden Lesson preaches that culture and art fill the soul with light, and that even in the darkness of war is beauty, and that sin is pure blind hatred without grace or beauty.
  • Al-Asir and Marani: The Golden Lesson preaches that Technology brings forth great progress, and to share with society is a virtue, and that sin the creation of killing machines that automate death.
  • Tanthor and Dari: The Golden Lesson preaches that even the most wretched, unwanted, and outcast of society have a role in the Great Way, and that sin is to find sadism and satisfaction in hurting the unloved.
  • Mendes and Hor: The Golden Lesson preaches that wealth is there to be shared, but ultimately needed for the greatness of the faith, and that sin is to hoard wealth alone, and to steal from others.
  • Sinnavei and Eirlys: The Golden Lesson preaches that even those outside the Faith can have an indispensable role to fill in paradise, and that sin is the wanton destruction of all that is alien and unknown.
  • Caan and Kaldric: The Golden Lesson preaches that Magic and the Occult are a tainted burden that come with great responsibility, and that virtue can be found in good use, and sin in selfish destructiveness.

Divine Mechanics

All Religions provide 1 single Mechanic to their Believers that fits within the flair of their Religion. This Mechanic is lost if the individual stops believing in the Religion, or becomes a heretic, but can be regained. Afflicted can use this mechanic, but having the mechanic does not imply that they have blanket forgiveness from their Gods, just that there is more nuance to it than that.

  • Unionist Faithful can be blessed by the gods by having a divine intervention and being cured of their Affliction or being cleansed of their Affinity through a divine event. Such a divine event should be orchestrated by the player themselves, does not necessarily require a pre-condition like "this character destroyed a Unionist Temple so the Gods intervened" or "this Character tore apart a painting of the Emperor so the Gods punished them", but can require one. This should generally only occur once per Affliction/Affinity, and is entirely up to the player's own consent over their character when and where it occurs.

Gods and Goddesses

Unionism differs from other Religions, in that it has Duo-Gods. All Duo-Gods are divine and each have divine powers in the afterlife (though some Gods may be yet living). Unionists worship all Gods equally, though they may choose specific Patron gods which they worship more. The Everwatcher acts like an overarching God of Gods, but the Everwatcher cannot directly be interacted with, so most people end up praising the Everwatcher through the Gods and Goddesses. Unionism also has the Cults further below. Cults add Gods onto the standard Pantheon, but they are not mandatory for vanilla Unionists who don't worship the Cults. It is possible to be a believer of both Cults.

Prophet Gods Theomar and Thedmir
caption
caption
  • Name: Theomar (left) and Thedmir (right), the Prophet Gods, first believers.
  • Patron: Fathers, Rulers, Nobles, Leaders, Commanders, and Best Friends.
  • Symbols: Theomar and Thedmir are symbolized by the necklace of friendship.
  • Role: Theomar and Thedmir were the Prophets of Unionism, spreading the faith.
  • Traits: Patriarchy, Insight, Good Governance, Loyalty, Friendship, Faith.
  • Temple: The All-Beacon Temple in Regalia proper, the largest Unionist Temple.
  • Allies: Regulus Worshipers, Dáuw Worshipers, anyone in the military.
  • Enemies: In essence all Evolist worshipers, and all Vola Fornoss Gods.
  • Rituals: Theomar and Thedmir Rituals involve re-enacting the struggles of them in the early days of Unionism. This involves preaching the faith to non believers, aiding the faithful in the defense of their holy shrines and places of worship, to mediate and act as diplomat for embattled groups, and to provide spiritual guidance to the Military. Theomar and Thedmir also have rituals concerning the sanctification and re-affirmation of friendship.
Mother Gods Ness and Eora
caption
caption
  • Name: Ness (left) and Eora (right), Empress and Chancellor in life.
  • Patron: Mothers, Healers, Caretakers, Protectors, Empaths, Martyrs.
  • Symbols: Ness's Butterfly Mask, and the Habit (head scarf) of Eora.
  • Role: Ness and Eora are the savior Goddesses of Unionism who care for believers.
  • Traits: Protective, Motherly, Nurturing, Caring, Self-Sacrificing, Forgiving.
  • Temple: The Temple of Salvation in Old-Town forest side, which doubles as Hospital.
  • Allies: Leif Worshipers, Severena Worshipers, Daiana Worshipers, Medics of any Faith.
  • Enemies: Murderers, people who adopt adults, people who attack medics/the unarmed.
  • Rituals: Ness and Eora rituals are all about forgiveness and nurturing and healing others. This may involve taking confessions, but can also involve volunteering at a medical station or healing house. Furthermore, Ness and Eora faithful travel prisons and downtrodden areas to give forgiveness to the damned, and offer them love and kindness where there is only the cold sting of rejection and apathy to the fates of the forgotten.
Pure Gods Juvin and Glanzia
caption
caption
  • Name: Glanzia (left) Goddess of Pure Soul, and Juvin (right) God of Pure Reason.
  • Patron: Intellectuals, Mundanes, Anti-Magi, Scholars, Teachers, Archeologists.
  • Symbols: Books with the Unionist Eye and Black Granite statues of Heroes.
  • Role: To teach the faithful purity of soul (Magic-apprehension) and Logic.
  • Traits: Analytical, Apprehension, Thoughtfulness, Anti-Magical, Purist.
  • Temple: Temple of Greater Understanding, which doubles as a Library.
  • Allies: Lothar Knights, Melca Worshipers, Severena & Aurora Worshipers.
  • Enemies: Mage-Radicals, Theurgists, Those with Demon/Arken Pacts and Deals.
  • Rituals: Rituals belonging to Juvin and Glanzia usually involve the Rites of Investigation. This usually involves an in-depth investigation to some kind of mystery, for Juvin that being discovery of new information and publication to the masses, and for Glanzia to uncover hidden Mages and the Occult, and to warn the general public. General rituals and customs also just involve educating the masses on general factual information and debates of skill.
Martial Gods Allest and Brand
caption
caption
  • Name: Allest (right) God of Warriors, Brand (left) God of Gladiators.
  • Patron: Soldiers, Generals, Commanders, Gladiators, Warriors, Homosexuals.
  • Symbols: Two crossed holy swords, one with blood, and one dripping with tears.
  • Role: To encourage fraternity and loyalty in the army, and strength of arms in warriors.
  • Traits: Brave, Boisterous, Glorious, Victorious, Martial, Dependable, Unwavering.
  • Temple: The Divine Heroic Contemplation Temple in Gloomrot Forest in Regalia.
  • Allies: Cemaan Worshipers, Bard & Njal Worshipers, Bloodcast Knights.
  • Enemies: Pacifists, cowards, enemies of Unionism and those who attack Priests.
  • Rituals: Allest and Brand were lovers in live and death, where most of their rituals involve some kind of brotherly oath, a promise to protect someone until one's dying breath, or swearing fealty and undying loyalty to an overlord in war. Allest and Brand were glorious warriors each in their own right, so in many ways, prayer before battle and battle itself is a form of worship in their names, as is love persevering through war.
Protector Gods Elia and Leona
caption
caption
  • Name: Elia (left) Goddess the Watchful Gaze, and Leona (right) Goddess of Knights.
  • Patron: Guards, Knights, Hunters, Rangers, Explorers, Scribes, and Lesbians.
  • Symbols: Elia's Longbow and Leona's Blacksteel sword, along with Blacksteel in general.
  • Role: To teach the faithful to guard one another and be responsible for one another.
  • Traits: Chivalrous, Alert, Mindful, Responsible, Dedicated, Precise, Awareness.
  • Temple: Temple of Unyielding Overwatch which doubles as the Imperial Hunting Lodge.
  • Allies: Urlan, Knights of all Kind, Metropolitan Guards, Tame Marken, Huntsmen.
  • Enemies: Criminals, Monsters in the wild, Kathar, Argentum Knights, Womanizers.
  • Rituals: Elia and Leona were lovers in life and death, where most of their rituals involve some kind of communal or co-operative practice of the hunt or respect and support of the Knights (as well as being Knights). Knighthood is considered the greatest form of "keeping watch over society", and so many of their patrons become Knights. Other forms of rituals are couple or group hunts, and inspections of garrisons and walls and armories.
Vessel Gods Alexander and The Everwatcher
caption
caption
  • Name: Alexander (see) Emperor of Regalia and The Everwatcher (not depicted).
  • Patron: Alexander is the Vessel of the Everwatcher, He speaks through him only.
  • Symbols: The Unionist Eye represents the Everwatcher, the Crown Alexander.
  • Role: To be living embodiment of the divine will of the Everwatcher in Regalia.
  • Traits: Divine, Sagely, Wise, All-Loving, All-Inclusive, All-Caring.
  • Temple: The Imperial Palace in essence doubles as the Temple of the Vessel.
  • Allies: Alexander is ostensibly an Ally of all and everyone who will listen.
  • Enemies: He has no Enemies. Even those who reject him in Crookback get his love.
  • Rituals: There aren't strictly any rituals for Alexander, as he is only the Temporary Vessel. When Alexander dies, the next Emperor will take his place as the Vessel God, so that only ever the living Emperor will be Vessel God. It's also worth noting that Gladiator God Brand's name in life was also Alexander, as Brand is Alexander's ancestor. The latter is styled "Alexander II", the former has the Divine name of Brand from his living nickname Bram.
Culture Gods Neall and Nolven
caption
caption
  • Name: Neall (left) is the God of Visual Arts, Nolven (right) is the God of Military Arts.
  • Patron: Painters, Sculptors, Make-up Artists, Fashion Designers, Gardeners, Designers.
  • Symbols: Nolvens's golden radiant sword, or Neall's golden radiant paintbrush / pencil.
  • Role: To teach the faithful the facets of culture in peace and war, and to love art.
  • Traits: Creative, Artistic, Expressive, Gregarious, Welcoming, Inclusive, Visual.
  • Temple: Temple of the High Arts inside the Imperial Palace Art Galleries.
  • Allies: Artists, Njall Fornoss Worshipers, Viridian Knights, Beauty Arkenborn.
  • Enemies: Argentum Knights, the Mutated and Monstrous, Evolist Worshipers.
  • Rituals: Neall and Nolven's rituals invariably involve the combination of cultural beauty and the art of war, whether that is a dramatic renaissance-style painting of a battlefield, or finding ways to depict what is in essence militarist propaganda in beautiful ways (statues, poetry, literature, art, etc). Because art is a skill, most worshipers of Neall and Nolven tend to perform their worship by paying artists to make art, a form of patronage.
Inspired Gods Al-Asir and Marani
caption
caption
  • Name: Al-Asir (right) the God of Invention, and Marani (left) the god of Inspiration.
  • Patron: Technicians, Engineers, Inventors, Architects, Craftsmen, Laborers.
  • Symbols: Al-Asir's golden gears, or Qadir Ailor arm tattoo shapes in glowing gold.
  • Role: Divine inspiration and guard against inventions of Evil in Technology.
  • Traits: Eureka, Technical, Resourceful, Inspired, Altruistic, Conscientious.
  • Temple: The Telocator Temple in Al-Alus, the only one outside Regalia's Empire.
  • Allies: Those that help society at large, Those that make everyone's lives easier.
  • Enemies: Death Cultists, Rishiq Qadir, Machinist Worshipers, War-Machine Inventors.
  • Rituals: Al-Asir and Marani rituals involve the act of inventing, or just tinkering with technology, reading books and improving skills, or just generally engaging in crafts from simple wood carving furniture to advanced architectural planning. The act of production for someone else, even at the cost of payments, is considered a virtuous activity for the patron Gods of Craftsmen, this is why object creations are always blessed by the Gods.
Persevering Gods Tanthor and Dari
caption
caption
  • Name: Dari (left) and Tanthor (right) are the Allar and Kathar Gods of the Forgotten.
  • Patron: No specific Patronage, they are for the Downtrodden, Forgotten and Unwanted.
  • Symbols: Golden neck chains or other forms of personal restraint around the neck.
  • Role: To bless even the weakest and most unwanted in society with strength to go on.
  • Traits: Dignified, Charitable, Austere, Sharing, Seeking Equity over Equality.
  • Temple: There currently is no Temple, it was demolished in Crookback for housing.
  • Allies: Tanthor and Dari see any and all who want to be included in Regalia as Allies.
  • Enemies: Tanthor and Dari see anyone who kicks down on the downtrodden as enemies.
  • Rituals: Dari and Tanthor mostly give hope to the lost that there is still a place for them in the Everwatcher's Grace and the Regalian Empire. Rituals of Dari and Tanthor often involve charity and bringing care and warmth to the poor, the dispossessed, the unwanted, and to show compassion and no bigotry against those who look or act different. They involve rituals to combat racism, discrimination, and general radical inclusion, perhaps, even Vampires.
Prosperity Gods Mendes and Hor
caption
caption
  • Name: Mendes (left) and Hor (right) are the Gods of Prosperity and Wealth.
  • Patron: Merchants, Bankers, Traders, Shopkeepers, Bureaucrats, the Filthy Rich.
  • Symbols: The Golden Coins of Union, Regal Coins with the Eyes of the Everwatcher.
  • Role: To bless the people with wealth and prosperity and good wit in commerce.
  • Traits: Business Acumen, Opulent, Responsible, Self-Sufficient, Insightful.
  • Temple: The Temple of Mendes and Hor is the Regalian Central Bank and Exchange.
  • Allies: Mendes and Hor see anyone who spreads Order and Stability as Allies.
  • Enemies: Mendes and Hor see anyone who spreads Anarchy and Chaos as Enemies.
  • Rituals: It perhaps sounds ironic, but one of the most common forms of worship to Mendes and Hor is paying taxes. The act of paying taxes is considered virtuous, because it both shows a willingness to part with wealth, and a willingness to trust the State to do good by the people with said Taxes, and to contribute to communal greatness. Other rituals involve squeezing foreigners for money and signing unequal trade treaties with foreign merchants.
Allied Gods Sinnavei and Eirlys
caption
caption
  • Name: Sinnavei (left) Goddess of the Elves, Eirlys (right) Goddess of the Tribes.
  • Patron: Solvaan, Elves, Breizh Ailor, Pre-Empire Tribes, Ancient peoples, heritage.
  • Symbols: The Sollerian Mist-Gryphon, and the Breizh Santwr, Feather-Winged Warriors.
  • Role: To show that non-believers and outsiders may find Solace and Alliance in Faith.
  • Traits: Arcane, Enchanting, Ancient, Glory of Ages, Respect, Venerability of Age.
  • Temple: Bryn Dwyfol in Kintyr, and The Skyward Palace in the capital of Solleria.
  • Allies: Sinnavei and Eirlys see any who would join Regalia's ambitions as Allies.
  • Enemies: Sinnavei and Eirlys see any who would obstruct Regalia's ambitions as enemies.
  • Rituals: Rituals of Sinnavei and Eirlys involve (much like Tanthor and Dari) radical inclusion, but as opposed to Regalia's own citizens, that of outsiders. To ally with other faiths for the good in the world, to respect outsiders, to give them human decency and dignity, and to help them help the faith. It also involves healing racial tensions, and uncovering and sharing ancient lost knowledge to the world for the wisdoms that it may hold.
Burdened Gods Caan and Kaldric
caption
caption
  • Name: Kaldric (left) and Caan (right) are the Gods of Burdened but Beautiful Magic.
  • Patron: Mages, Aelrrigan Knights, Arcane Researchers, those seeking Redemption.
  • Symbols: Kaldric's horned bramble crown, and Caan's Arcane tome symbolisms.
  • Role: To teach the faithful proper & virtuous Magic usage, and warn for corruption.
  • Traits: Self-Sacrificing, Penitent, Humble, Pious, Stalwart, Holy, Paladins.
  • Temple: The Hall of Golden Ascension in the Holy Agatha Mountains of Regalia.
  • Allies: Those who use Magic respectfully, virtuous, and care for world & others.
  • Enemies: Those who abuse Magic for selfish or hedonistic purposes and ego.
  • Rituals: Kaldric and Caan rituals involve forms of self-sacrifice and penitence. Self-flagellation is one form of self-punishment practiced by some of their worshipers, but other forms of self-enforced humility through the praising or service of others are also common. Kaldric (once called Kristoph in life) is more for the self-loathing/punishing Mages and Occult, while Caan is more for the restrained and dignified Mages and Occult.

Cults

Cults exist in Unionism as "add-ons" for the Religion itself. While all Unionists by default worship the Gods and Goddesses listed in the Pantheon above, some Cults within Unionism worship additional gods that most of the main stream believers do not. These are holdouts from the old Schisms, that albeit while joining the main current of religious worshipers, still have some leftover of their old beliefs. Each Cult is represented by a single theological belief, and with Gods who are included by this theological belief, while all other aspects of the Religion are the same. It is possible to be a member of multiple Cults as they just add additional beliefs, but it is also possible to believe in one of the Cults, or none at all.

Evintarian Cult

The Evintarian Cult was established by the Evintarian Schisms many centuries ago when the Evintarian priests split off, and were expelled from Regalia and founded their own country in Etosil. The Evintarian Schism happened, because the Evintarian Priests thought that Trans-Dimensional Entities (such as certain Demons) could become Gods too if they shed off their sinful nature and were blessed by the Everwatcher, which the main dogmatic branch rejected. The Evintarian Priesthood voted to join the Unionist Divine, and so they became a Cult that has included several Trans-Dimensional Entities as God Pairs. Each of the Evintarian Gods requires some explanation of how they came to be accepted as Gods in the Evintarian Cult, which will be explained first, before the Gods are discussed.

Kithemon is an Exist entity from another realm that possessed an Aetosian man named Nikolaos (surname lost to time). Kithemon was verified as a God for the Evintarians, as he granted them many protections of the mind against incursions from Demons and other entities who would corrupt and usurp them and rob them of their freedom and identity. Amandaros is a Void Entity that was somehow related to the Evolist God Armas, but always dodges the subject when discussed. Amandaros possesses his host an Asha named Amon, though it is important to mention that Amandaros as an entity does not reside in a single place, but can be in many places (and hosts) at once. Amandaros is also summoned by the Mask of Amandaros which is held in Evintarian Shrines, which the faithful may use to help conceive children if they cannot themselves (see: Amandaros Godborn). Yvasi is an Ordial Entity possessing a Half-Eronidas named Girin who has proved to be of aid to the Great Way, by traveling the lands and helping the faithful realize and manifest their true self in gender, appearance, and heritage. It is not known what entity Yvasi is related to, but she did show her loyalty to mortals and the living, by aiding in the defense of the Last City of the Living, before traveling on to Aloria to aid the Unionists.

Yvasi in particular discusses many concepts of transhumanist and transgender concepts with the faithful, as she is a female-presenting spirit in a male-presenting body, and how that generally affects gender presentation to the faithful, as well as gender roles in society. Finally, Eredicos is a divine name for the Imperial Prince Frederick Kade (second son of the Emperor), who shares his body with an ancestral spirit of Betheoric I Kade. Unlike the other entities who have mostly subsumed their host, Eredicos represents both Frederick in the mortal body and Betheoric in the immortal self, and the two frequently exchange host status. Eredicos is a very recent addition as God, because Frederick only ascended to godhood when he became an Urlan in the past 3 years, and in doing so, proved to have divine god-like powers of command and venerability over even non-believers through Betheoric. The fact that an Imperial prince is technically possessed by a Primal Revenant is a very much not-so-secret at the Imperial Palace, but out of respect nobody causes an issue over it.

Exist/Void Gods Kithemon and Amandaros
caption
caption
  • Name: Kithemon (left) Protector of Minds and Amandaros (right) Protector of Proginy.
  • Patron: Kithemon, Patron of protections against the dark arts, and Amandaros of parents.
  • Symbols: The shielded silhouette of a head, and a tree of descendance or ancestry.
  • Role: Kithemon protects from mind incursions, while Amandaros helps with childbirth.
  • Traits: Resolute, Stalwart, Protecting, and Hedonistic, Capricious, Lustful.
  • Temple: The Temple of Ethereal Naether in the capital of Aetosil, Regalian Empire.
  • Allies: Leyon and Sapphora faithful, Aelrrigan Knights, those with big families.
  • Enemies: Those that bargain with Arken and Demons, the possessed, and incels.
  • Rituals: Kithemon and Amandaros rituals vary greatly, as they are obviously very different. Kithemon rituals involves seeking out and revealing the corruption of Spirits and mind control affecting others and then freeing them. Amandaros rituals involve hedonistic self-satisfying parties, preferably those which involve in copious amounts of romantic matches or flings that may expand the population through conventional means.
Ordial/Primal Gods Yvasi and Eredicos
caption
caption
  • Name: Yvasi (left) Bringer of Self-Love and Eredicos (right) of Elder Wisdom.
  • Patron: Those struggling with anxiety/depression, and children of heritage.
  • Symbols: The mask of anonimity, and the banner of command and the staff of rule.
  • Role: Yvasi to help believers become their true self, Eredicos to embody ancestors.
  • Traits: Guiding, Mentorly, Authoritative, Venerable, Wise, Erudite and Thorough.
  • Temple: The House of the Patrilineal Divinity in the capital of Aetosil.
  • Allies: Urlan, Therapists, Estelley and Fornoss Priests, the Elderly.
  • Enemies: Bigots who bully on matters of identity, and those who betray family.
  • Rituals: Yvasi and Eredicos rituals similarly diverge due to their diverging nature, but they are more similar than Kithemon and Amandaros. Many of the rituals for Yvasi and Eredicos converge on praising and worship of ancestors, to showcase the skill and achievements of ancestors, and to keep a clean grave or shrine to them. Yvasi has rituals of self exploration, meditation, and both also have rituals with experimentation with self-presentation.

Guided Cult

The Guided Cult has a long and troubled history, as Dogmatic Unionists tried to violently suppress so-called religious-critical movements that challenged the clergy by asking questions instead of blindly believing everything that was fed to them. The Guided Cult inevitably agreed to re-join the Unionist Divine, as the priests of the other groupings agreed to accept their Duality-God (each God representing two) entities, while also admitting some of their more free-thinking ideas in how to interact with the priests. While prior the priests could not be questioned, with the Guided Unionist re-interpretation, Priests were actively challenged to be questioned in their preaching and faith, so that everyone would become stronger in belief. The Guided Cult still exists, because they hold on to some of the so-called Dragon Gods.

This means that while critical thinking, questioning faith, and keeping an innovative and independent mind are aspects of the Guided Cult, what is more important to them is the divinity of Dragons, that being also the separation between them and the dogmatic beliefs: that Dragons can be Gods. Dragons are all Divine, and while not all Dragons are Gods, some of them are, and they should be adhered to when they make proclamations. Some make the incorrect assumption that this means Guided Unionists believe in both Unionism and Draconism, but the Guided Unionists specifically delineate between Draconist Gods, and Unionist Gods, in that the Dragons that are Gods, are specifically not Dragons from Draconism, because they represent a different faith. That being said, Archon do exist in an in-between function, in that the Guided Cult does accept Archon as holy warriors if they worship Unionism. Each Duo-God pairing is a pair of a Dragon Soul God, and an Archon God who acts as their protector. The first Dragon God is Nicholas Kade, the Glorious Arch-Chancellor who is commonly remembered as the most competent government leader the Regalian Empire ever had, and Aarthes his Fin'ullen Archon Bodyguard. Nicholas has been dead for over a century, but Aarthes is still alive, living in Nicholas's old Estate in Anglia alone.

The second Dragon God is Morgan Kade who is commonly remembered as a highly competent, but extremely morally corrupt and cruel Arch-Chancellor, and Narsil his Snake-Marken Archon Bodyguard who was painted in Gold as he slithered through the Imperial Palace. Morgan died several decades ago, and Narsil was put to death immediately after Morgan, as he was no longer around to protect his bodyguard-pet Marken. The duality of virtuous Nicholas and sinful Morgan as Gods is that the Guided Unionists believe that Gods can also be just awful people, and be extremely selfish and capricious, but that bad qualities and ugly personalities are not reasons to write off the skills and competencies that people do have. The Guided Cult holds that Dragon-Souls (like Prince Cedromar, or his children August and Florian) would be more suitable heirs to the throne, but have agreed with their re-integration into Dogmatic Unionism to cease their opposition to Emperor Alexander's rule.

Dragon Gods Nicholas and Aarthes
caption
caption
  • Name: Nicholas (left) and Aarthes (right), Gods of political and architectural design.
  • Patron: Intellectuals, strategists, philosophers, diplomats, patriarchs and matriarchs.
  • Symbols: The scepter of regality, government buildings, the Regalian state banner.
  • Role: Nicholas teaches those in positions of power responsibility and careful design.
  • Traits: Foresight, Calculated, Intellectual, Informed, Responsible, Unwavering.
  • Temple: The Golden Seed Temple in Axford, capital of Anglia, Regalian Archipelago.
  • Allies: Regulus faithful, those who favor charisma and speech over combat.
  • Enemies: Chaos agents and those who would disrupt the order and stability of states.
  • Rituals: Nicholas and Aarthes rituals involve the bridging of duality, to seek out "the mind" and "the body" in friendships, and form a perfect union between the person who plans and thinks, and the person who acts and completes. The intention is to build friendships from unlikely partners, to create unbreakable bonds and collaborative efforts that showcase the perfection cooperation, that dependency is not weakness but beautiful and meaningful.
Dragon Gods Morgan and Narsil
caption
caption
  • Name: Morgan (left) and Narsil (right), Gods of the corrupted excellence.
  • Patron: Those who question leadership and faith in the right and respectful ways.
  • Symbols: The Cobra hooded head, and the snake-forked tongue and snake-hair head.
  • Role: Morgan and Narsil exist as warnings to blind faith and unquestioning obedience.
  • Traits: Selfish, Greedy, Cruel, Wroth, Prideful, Hyper-Competent, Self-assured.
  • Temple: Morgan and Narsil don't have an official Temple because of vandalism.
  • Allies: Slizzar, Criminals, Gang Leaders, Spies, Saboteurs, and Rogues.
  • Enemies: Those who use Emperor, Faith, or Law, to justify cruelty and evil.
  • Rituals: Rituals of Morgan and Narsil are less in service to them, and more in deterrence to the qualities of Morgan. The most common form of ritual is the Public Examination, where large crowds gather in front of a speaking stand, where citizens and commoners hold a public debate on the competency and virtues and morality of an individual in office or power, as a means to hold them accountable to good governance and keep them on the right track.

Armageddon Cult

The Armageddon Cult originated in the preaching of the Evintarian priest Belisarius, whose core belief was that while Paradise is certain to come at the end of the Great Way, that the traditional doctrine does not account for the non-mortal elements of the world. In essence, while believers and mortal non-believers alike could bring about Paradise, the dogma does not account for the existence of Demons, those who reject the Emperor's love, and Vampires who by nature cannot love his grace. Belisarius believed that on the Eve of Paradise, an event would occur called the Armageddon, where all the Demons, Demon worshipers, Arken, Void Gods, and other entities that wish to prevent Paradise, would unleash a holy war on Unionism and that the final test before Paradise would be winning this cataclysmic war that would touch all corners of the mortal realm. Armageddon Cultists in essence believe in an inevitable "War in Heaven", and express their belief mainly in daily "thinning the herd" of Demons and Vampires so as to reduce the overwhelming forces that the Demons will come to possess when Armageddon begins.

They are doomsday preppers, with many even entertaining that Armageddon will not come in their lifetime, but that they will contribute to a reduction of the numbers of the enemy, and preparing the Empire and their descendants for the final war by producing more weapons, and researching every edge they might gain against the Demons. The Armageddon Cult is unique in Unionism in that it acknowledges an actual canonical evil, the supreme devil as it were, and entertains the idea that there is actually a chance that the Armageddon war might be lost if too many people fall to the vices of Demon worship and consorting with the Devil. The Armageddon Cult was accepted into the faith along with the other Cults, and conformed just like the others. It is a relatively small cult, but it is immensely popular among purists and those who make it their daily employment to hunt down Demons and serve the Emperor by slaying his detractors. It should be noted that a more twisted version of the Armageddon Cult also exists. Because the "evil" Gods (perceived similarly to Guided Unionism in more of a fear-worship, or appeasement to keep them away) are still immensely powerful, some Vampires have developed a twisted version of the Armageddon Cult where they believe that when Armageddon begins, they will all rise up against the Gods of Evil, and join the righteous in the war in heaven for Paradise, and redeem themselves.

Through this belief, some of them have become pro-Regalian pro-Emperor, acting from the shadows in the benefit of the Regalian Empire, even if the Empire would have them slain at the earliest convenience. This Vampiric interpretation is obviously heretical and not supported by the Cult itself, but it is notable enough to be mentioned, and why some Vampires might worship the Armageddon Cult Gods. On a closing note, while the Armageddon Cult only has two Devil Gods, the theology allows for a much larger range of evil entities to be acknowledged as "Aspects of the Endwar", such as Void Gods, Arken, Greater Demons, and in some interpretations even Estelley Gods. The Armageddon Cult has many superstitions concerning the Endwar, and players are encouraged to experiment with catholic apocalypse visions and the circles of hell.

Anticipating Gods Celestina and Eòin
caption
caption
  • Name: Celestina (left) and Eòin (right), Gods of service for bounties they may never see.
  • Patron: Doomsday preppers, Purists, Demon Hunters, Vampire Hunters, Anti-Evolists.
  • Symbols: The Habit and mask of the Silent Sisters, and the Imperial Guard Seal.
  • Role: Celestina and Eòin teach the virtue of doing good without material reward.
  • Traits: Altruistic, Resolute, Combative, Unforgiving, Unrelenting, Prepared.
  • Temple: The Divine Advent Temple in Regalia, found in the countryside on roads.
  • Allies: Those that fight, restrain, or otherwise hamper the forces of the Void.
  • Enemies: Evolists, Kathar, Demons, Theurgists, Those that consort with Demons.
  • Rituals: Celestina and Eòin represent the spoken word and the prepared mind, and the physical arm and execution of the divine plan. Their rituals involve preparing one's self, or the world around one, for the inevitable Armageddon, and to find peace in the fact that all the toil of a lifetime may not ever see fruits while alive, and that the benefit of one's labor must be for one's descendants or those who come after. and never for one's self.
Endwar Devils Belialus and Sablael
caption
caption
  • Name: Belialus(left) devil of the Sanguine, and Sablael (right) devil of Shadows.
  • Patron: The Devils are not patrons, they are entities to appease into inaction.
  • Symbols: The Vampiric Curse, the twisted and coiling shadow, and the hooked tail.
  • Role: Belialus and Sablael act as a focal point of a clearly defined evil to fight.
  • Traits: Destructive, Corrupting, Seducing, Enrapturing, Dangerous, Evil.
  • Temple: No official Temple, but Vampires worship in the House of Blood in the sewers.
  • Allies: Those who would seek evolution and advances through the Demonic and Void.
  • Enemies: Paladins, Priests, Holy Figures and those who hunt Vampires and Demons.
  • Rituals: Rituals of Belialus (called Behesael by Elves) and Sablael involve candle night vigils and ritual purification of objects and people touched by the Devils. The idea is to cast away the evil presence of the Devils (a word itself taken from the Velheim Djevel or "evil one"), because the belief is held that if their influence is cast back into the Void, that their connection with the mortal world is disrupted and they enter a state of slumber.

Priestly Activities

Unionist priests are part of the so-called Covenant College. At the very top is the Secilly 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-Everians. Below the Secilly Council, are the Arch-Everian, which are equivalents to Dukes in the Regalian Empire. They wield considerable power and rule over vast areas of land, subdivided into Everies. Below the Arch-Everian is the Everian, or just the average priest. Each Everian administrates an Everie, which is usually a piece of land donated to the clergy where they maintain temples, shrines, and sanctuaries, while also producing crops and tending to cattle. Everians 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-Everians 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 Secilly 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 Secilly Council grouped together, but historically Emperors have interfered very little in the day to day running of the Everies, 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 Everians, and vice versa.

Expanded Lore

The Expanded Lore section contains additional contextual information about the Gods. While the above sections will provide enough information to get a clear picture, there are some nuances and subtext to the Gods that are not apparent on first inspection, but that may be very useful for super-pious Characters. This section will tackle each God pair in greater detail (eventually) and discuss various additional pieces of information available for the faithful.

Faith Syncretism

All Gods and all Religions in Lore are valid, because they physically exist in the world and constantly provide evidence to their divinity, however, Religions have boundaries to which Gods to worship and which ones not to. Faith Syncretism is an optional concept where a person who is faithful to the Religion found on this Page, includes two Gods from another Religion to expand their Pantheon and acquire additional beliefs. While this concept stands on shaky grounds when examining canon lore too closely, it is mostly motivated because Religion sometimes creates unnecessary obstacles for Roleplay Alliances or interactions. By allowing Religious figures to expand their Religious loyalty, they gain access to a wider range of people to interact with that would otherwise be closed due to Religious dogma. Syncretism has several rules applied:

  • Only one Syncretism may be chosen, and this choice is permanent. The Syncretism should be recorded in the same place where Religions are mentioned on a Character Application.
  • Syncretic believers do not worship all the Gods of the second faith, only the two included in the Syncretic belief, it is not possible to expand beyond that or choose other Gods.
  • Syncretic beliefs do not grant access to Religious Mechanics of the secondary Religion or other bonuses acquired from Religions or Gods as mentioned on their Pages.
  • Syncretic believers cannot be Priests, Godchosen, or any other type of Religious figure as described on the Pages. They must be singularly loyal to their own Religion.
  • Syncretic believers are not discriminated against by believers of the secondary Faith. They can however be criticized by their primary faith for their choice of Syncretism.

Syncretism Variants

  • Fornoss Syncretisms
    • Love for Life Syncretism: Leif and Eikki form the basis of the Love for Life Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with the Love and Affection God Leif, and the Feasting and Joy God Eikki. This Syncretic theme incorporates a love for life and others, while bringing more nature-elemental and shamanistic aesthetics to Unionism.
    • Chained Guilt Syncretism: Bard and Hrymrök form the basis of the Chained Guilt Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with Retribution and Judgement God Bard, and the Freedom and Liberty Goddess Hrymrök. This Syncretic theme incorporates a more violent and aggressive hostility towards the enemies of Unionism, and taking the initiative on destroying Unionism's rivals, while bringing more while bringing more nature-elemental and shamanistic aesthetics to Unionism.
  • Draconism Syncretisms
    • Imperial Core Syncretism: Regulus and Gaia form the basis of the Imperial Core Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with the Rulership and Time God Regulus, and the Preservation and Redemption God Gaia. This Syncretism theme incorporates Dragons as divine beings created by the Everwatcher to preserve Unionism, and identify the so-called Imperial Dragons as Regalian-native Gods, while bringing respect and preservation of old Draconic Sites and Radicals of the Dragons along with it.
    • The Black Flame Syncretism: Caius and Umbra form the basis of the Black Flame Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with the Violence and Battle God Caius, and the Death and Decay dragon Umbra. This Syncretism draws direct lines from the Immortal War and the fight of Dragons against the Occult, and the Unionist Purist stance on Magic usage, identifying the Dragons as some type of Everwatcher ordained holy protector, and bringing with it the use of Leytech to fight the Occult.
  • Estelley Syncretisms
    • The Fae Queens Syncretism: Vyrë and Mana form the basis of the Fae Queens Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with the Commanding Ocean Goddess Vyrë and the Compassionate Nature Goddess Mana. This Syncretism poses that Unionism lacks an explanation for the natural realm, a Nature Goddess to praise for the bounty of the forests, and a Sea Goddess to worship for safe passage on the open seas. This Syncretism also ports pro-Magic and Elven Mysticism into Unionism.
    • The Moon Gazer Syncretism: Leyon and Melca form the basis of the Moon Gazer Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with the Protection and Benevolence God Leyon, and the Foresight and Mysteries Goddess Melca. This Syncretism poses that Unionism focuses too strongly on the mechanical industrial world, failing to see the mystical and often Magical reality that exists also, and assumes too much from a Mundane point of view, thus expanding horizons to truly connect with Mysticism.
  • Baskarr Syncretisms
    • The Golden Hour Syncretism: Tjafar and Akhet form the basis of the Golden Hour Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with the Insight and Rulership God Tjafar, and the Unaccountable Reclaimer God Akhet. The Golden Hour Syncretism incorporates the Asha as brother-folk to the Unionists, in that much of their Allorn-oppressed history is aligned, and their long term goals also align. Golden Hour Syncretism believers acknowledge Asha and Ailor as the same people.
    • The Relentless Vengeance Syncretism: Khannar and Wadj form the basis of the Relentless Vengeance Syncretism, which supplements the Unionist Pantheon with the Hateful Vengeance God Khannar, and the Intrigue and Deceit God Wadj. This Syncretism takes a lesson from the Revenge Asha: Unionism and the Regalian Empire move too slowly to punish evil, and all forces should be more aggressively forced away from inaction and apathy, and into Violence against the Allorn.
  • Evolism Syncretisms do not exist in Unionism, due to their extreme opposition to one 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 Solvaan nobles in Solleria however, called the Confessions of Melennar.
  • Sectarian violence largely came to an end at the turn into the fourth century as the last attacks on Vultragon Unionist by state forces ceased, and an uneasy truce was signed between the Schism religious communities. They still do not see eye-to-eye, and the different Schismatic groups still prod at each other, but instead of murdering each other over sectarian differences, they mostly fight with words nowadays, a legacy of the Kleine Rechnung, the document that called for the truce.
  • Despite Eirlys's absorption into Unionism, the Breizh still maintained a high level of cultural autonomy, some even clinging to old beliefs. As such, even when Magic became illegal in the Empire, the Breizh Aelrrigan Order continued to find and train Mages safely in their sanctuaries while the rest of the Empire turned to brutal oppression (and the Magic part of Eirlys was suppressed from dogma). Eirlys' faithful among the Aelrrigan Order are commonly cited as the reason why Magic acceptance eventually returned, and Eirlys' magical nature in theological teachings was returned.
• Unionism • Draconism • Estelley • Fornoss • Evolism • Khama • Nilthism • Minor Faiths •
• Main Page •
Accreditation
WritersMonMarty
ProcessorsHemingway7, FireFan96
Last EditorHydraLana on 05/15/2024.
» Read more

Retrieved from "https://wiki.massivecraft.com/index.php?title=Unionism&oldid=50218"
Contents