TestUnionism: Difference between revisions
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==Origins== | ==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. | |||
==Core 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=== | ===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. | 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. | ||
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==Gods and Goddesses== | ==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 | 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 several Cults. | ||
There are different types of Gods within the Pantheon: | |||
*The '''Vessel God''' is the living Regalian Emperor. | |||
* '''God Emperors''' are past Emperors that became Gods after death. | |||
* '''God Empresses''' are past Empresses that became Goddesses after death. | |||
* '''Called Gods''' are mortals that ascended to Godhood. | |||
* '''Joined Gods''' are Gods of other Religions that were integrated into the Pantheon. | |||
<table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"> | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | {| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | ||
|- style="background:#FFD700" | |- style="background:#FFD700" | ||
| || | | || | ||
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| style="width: 1%" | [[File:Alexander.png| | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:Alexander.png|200px|caption|]] || '''The Everwatcher is the Supreme Being of Unionism, and Emperor Alexander is the Vessel God.''' | ||
* The Everwatcher holds supremacy over all other Gods, and utilizes the Vessel God to communicate to mortals. | * The Everwatcher holds supremacy over all other Gods, and utilizes the Vessel God to communicate to mortals. | ||
* The Vessel God is always the reigning Regalian Emperor, with their divinity ending upon death or abdication. | * The Vessel God is always the reigning Regalian Emperor, with their divinity ending upon death or abdication. | ||
* The | * The Prophets' Golden Lesson is that all eminence eventually vanishes, so one should not to get too attached to status. | ||
* The Imperial Palace is considered the holiest site to the Everwatcher and Vessel God | * The Imperial Palace is considered the holiest site to the Everwatcher and Vessel God | ||
* Emperor Alexander is the only Vessel God in history to lose his divinity (upon abdication to his brother Cedromar) and regain it (following his return after the Interregnum). | * Emperor Alexander is the only Vessel God in history to lose his divinity (upon abdication to his brother Cedromar) and regain it (following his return after the Interregnum). | ||
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| colspan="2" | | | colspan="2" | | ||
<span class="mw-customtoggle-Everwatcher" style="color:#0645AD"><u>For expanded lore, click here.</u></span> | <span class="mw-customtoggle-Everwatcher" style="color:#0645AD; font-size:100%"><u>For expanded lore, click here.</u></span> | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-Everwatcher"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-Everwatcher"> | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | <div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | ||
'''Description'''<br> | '''Description'''<br> | ||
The Everwatcher (not pictured) is the Supreme Being of Unionism, the source of all creation, and the final destiny of all things. Unionists believe it was the first thing created at the beginning of time, holding supremacy over all other Gods and Goddesses. The Everwatcher does not manifest in Aloria, and utilizes the Vessel | The Everwatcher (not pictured) is the Supreme Being of Unionism, the source of all creation, and the final destiny of all things. Unionists believe it was the first thing created at the beginning of time, holding supremacy over all other Gods and Goddesses. The Everwatcher does not manifest in Aloria, and utilizes the Vessel God to be the living embodiment of its divine will. Alexander is the Emperor of Regalia, and is thus the current Vessel God of Unionism until his death or abdication (as only the reigning Emperor can be the Vessel God). Together, Alexander and the Everwatcher represent Divinity, Sageness, Wisdom, Benevolence, Inclusivity, All-Loving, and All-Caring. The Imperial Palace is seen as the chief holy place for the Vessel God, and seen as the holiest site for Unionists. There are no Rituals for the Vessel God, as they are only divine in life, and each successor takes a different approach to carrying out the Everwatcher's will, making it difficult to find any common rituals beyond the imperial coronation and other ceremonies of state. | ||
'''Virtues'''<br> | '''Virtues'''<br> | ||
The Virtue of the Vessel is to be humble and aware of one's own mortality. Nobody lives forever, as even the Vessel God will one day die, so Unionists make an effort to use what time they have to celebrate their achievements and gains in life, while also preparing the way for their inevitable successors. Likewise, Unionists in positions of authority are tasked with being fair representatives of the Emperor's positive characteristics, as the Emperor in turn is representative of the Everwatcher's divinity. By being a fair and just example, Unionists demonstrate the benevolence of the Vessel | The Virtue of the Vessel is to be humble and aware of one's own mortality. Nobody lives forever, as even the Vessel God will one day die, so Unionists make an effort to use what time they have to celebrate their achievements and gains in life, while also preparing the way for their inevitable successors. Likewise, Unionists in positions of authority are tasked with being fair representatives of the Emperor's positive characteristics, as the Emperor in turn is representative of the Everwatcher's divinity. By being a fair and just example, Unionists demonstrate the benevolence of the Vessel God, which helps to encourage even non-believers to emulate his characteristics to benefit the Regalian Empire and further the Great Way. | ||
'''Vices'''<br> | '''Vices'''<br> | ||
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'''Legacy'''<br> | '''Legacy'''<br> | ||
Alexander was born Alexander Kade, son of Arch-Chancellor Moriarty Kade and Princess Alianne Ivrae de Sange, through whom the line of Succession passed through after the death of the previous Emperor, Justinian II. Alexander was brought up to one day succeed his father as Arch-Chancellor, though the Sanction of 302 AC saw him become Emperor instead. Emperor Alexander is actually Alexander II, as the God Brand was known as Alexander the Giant in life. However, the regnal number is often omitted, as Alexander is the first reigning Emperor with that name, and also because Alexander the Giant is referred to by his divine name Brand since his death. Emperor Alexander is the only mortal to have become the Vessel | Alexander was born Alexander Kade, son of Arch-Chancellor Moriarty Kade and Princess Alianne Ivrae de Sange, through whom the line of Succession passed through after the death of the previous Emperor, Justinian II. Alexander was brought up to one day succeed his father as Arch-Chancellor, though the Sanction of 302 AC saw him become Emperor instead. Emperor Alexander is actually Alexander II, as the God Brand was known as Alexander the Giant in life. However, the regnal number is often omitted, as Alexander is the first reigning Emperor with that name, and also because Alexander the Giant is referred to by his divine name Brand since his death. Emperor Alexander is the only mortal to have become the Vessel God twice, as he abdicated the throne to his brother Cedromar before being reinstated after an interregnum period. Despite the Emperor's absence in recent times, he remains the Vessel God, as he has not been declared dead, nor has any successor taken the Imperial Throne. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
|} | |} | ||
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | {| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | ||
|- style="background:#FFD700" | |- style="background:#FFD700" | ||
| || | | || | ||
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| style="width: 1%" | [[File:Thomur.png| | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:Thomur.png|200px|caption|]] || '''Theomar and Thedmir are the Prophet Gods of Unionism, the founders and spreaders of the faith.''' | ||
* | * Theomar (left) is the God Emperor of Prophecy, and in life was the first Vessel God of Unionism as the first Regalian Emperor, Theomar Ivrae de Sange. | ||
* | * Thedmir (right) is the Called God of Founders, and in life was the first Arch-Chancellor of the Regalian Empire, Thedmir Kade. | ||
* The Vessel God's Golden | * The Vessel God's Golden Lesson is 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. | ||
* The | * The Arch Temple of the All-Beacon is considered the holiest site to the Prophet Gods. | ||
* | * The Prophets are the patrons of Fathers, Rulers, Nobles, Leaders, Commanders, and Best Friends. | ||
* | * Theomar ascended to the Pantheon upon his death, whereas Thedmir was not recognized until the Emended Unionists declared him a God. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| colspan="2" | | | colspan="2" | | ||
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<div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | <div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | ||
'''Description'''<br> | '''Description'''<br> | ||
Theomar (left) and Thedmir (right) are the Prophet Gods of Unionism, the spreaders and founders of the faith. Theomar is also known as the first God-Emperor of Unionism, a title used to refer to the Emperors and Empresses who ascend to godhood after their deaths. In life, Theomar was the first Vessel | Theomar (left) and Thedmir (right) are the Prophet Gods of Unionism, the spreaders and founders of the faith. Theomar is also known as the first God-Emperor of Unionism, a title used to refer to the Emperors and Empresses who ascend to godhood after their deaths. In life, Theomar was the first Vessel God of Unionism, making him the first physical speaker of the Everwatcher, and thus was responsible for proclaiming the message of Unionism through the Creed. Thedmir was a God of the Guided Unionists, but following the mending of this community with the rest of the Unionists, was included as the Duo-God with Theomar, as Thedmir was equally responsible with spreading the faith of Unionism during its beginning. Together, the Prophet Gods represent insight, good governance, loyalty, friendship, and faith. They are often represented by the necklace of friendship, as the bond between friends is the same type of bond that should be shared between all Unionists. Their main place of worship is the All-Beacon Temple in the center of the City of Regalia, which is the tallest temple in Unionism. Rituals of the Prophets include the preaching of Unionism to non-believers, aiding in the defense of holy places, mediating disputes between adversaries, and providing spiritual guidance to the military. There are also rituals concerning the sanctification and re-affirmation of friendship. | ||
'''Virtues'''<br> | '''Virtues'''<br> | ||
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'''Legacy'''<br> | '''Legacy'''<br> | ||
In life, Theomar was known as Thulric Ivraan, later known as Theomar Ivrae, the First Emperor of Regalia. It was Theomar who received visions from the Everwatcher which led to the proclamation of Unionism via the Creed, and set the foundations for the religion. Theomar was the Vessel | In life, Theomar was known as Thulric Ivraan, later known as Theomar Ivrae, the First Emperor of Regalia. It was Theomar who received visions from the Everwatcher which led to the proclamation of Unionism via the Creed, and set the foundations for the religion. Theomar was the Vessel God, and was considered to be a mortal God. Following his death, the Covenant Council confirmed his ascension to the Pantheon, maintaining the same divinity he held in life. Thedmir was known in life as Thedmir Kade, Grand Alder of Anglia and first Arch-Chancellor of the Regalian Empire. As a lifelong friend of Theomar, Thedmir co-led the Five Family Rebellion which established the Regalian Empire, before working on laying out the government structure alongside the Emperor. When Theomar recieved his visions, Thedmir became the first convert to Unionism, and aided in its spread among the ruling nobility of the Empire. Following his death, Thedmir was not immediately seen as a God, though the Guided Unionists would deify him centuries later to be a Duo-God with Theomar, a status which eventually was adopted by all Unionisms following the mending of the schisms. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | {| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | ||
|- style="background:#FFD700" | |- style="background:#FFD700" | ||
| || | | || | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="width: 1%" | [[File:Elfgods.png| | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:Elfgods.png|200px|caption|]] || '''Sinnavei and Eirlys are the Allied Goddesses of Unionism, showing non-believers and outsiders that they may find solace and alliance in the Regalian Empire.''' | ||
* | * Sinnavei (left) is the Joined Goddess of Elves, and doubles as an Estelley Goddess. | ||
* | * Eirlys (right) is the Joined Goddess of the Tribes, and was the Goddess of the Breizh Wearden Religion. | ||
* The | * The Allies' Golden Lesson is 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. | ||
* The | * The Skyward Palace in Solleria and the Bryn Dwyfol in Kintyr are the holiest sites to the Allied Goddesses. | ||
* | * The Allies are the patrons of Solvaan, Elves, Breizh Ailor, Pre-Empire Tribes, Ancient peoples, and heritage. | ||
* | * Sinnavei joined the Pantheon when Emperor Theomar proclaimed the Confessions of Melennar, whereas Eirlys joined the Pantheon following the Conclave of Alstyr. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| colspan="2" | | | colspan="2" | | ||
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | {| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | ||
|- style="background:#FFD700" | |- style="background:#FFD700" | ||
| || | | || | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="width: 1%" | [[File:Ness.png| | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:Ness.png|200px|caption|]] || '''Ness and Eora are the Mother Goddesses of Unionism, the saviors of the faithful, and the granters of mercy.''' | ||
* | * Ness (left) is the God Empress of Mercy, and the first God Empress to ascend to the Pantheon, serving in life as Empress Nessaria Calontir to Emperor Henri I. | ||
* | * Eora (right) is the Goddess of Healers, serving in life as Arch-Chancellor Eotranna Kade. | ||
* The | * The Mothers' Golden Lesson is that kindness and compassion are good things, and that even the most criminal seeking love and affection is deserving of it, while sin is to be bereft of mercy. | ||
* The | * The Temple of Salvation on the Crown Isle is the holiest site to the Mothers. | ||
* | * The Mothers are the patrons of Mothers, Healers, Caretakers, Protectors, Empaths, and Martyrs. | ||
* | * Ness ascended to the Pantheon upon her death, whereas Eora was not recognized until the Emended Unionists declared her a Goddess. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| colspan="2" | | | colspan="2" | | ||
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<div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | <div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | ||
'''Description'''<br> | '''Description'''<br> | ||
Ness (left) and Eora (right) are the | Ness (left) and Eora (right) are the Mother Goddesses of Unionism, the saviors of the faithful, and the granter of mercy. Ness was the first God-Empress of Unionism, a title which refers to an Empress of Regalia who obtains Godhood following her death. Eora was a Goddess of the Guided Unionists, but following the mending of this community with the rest of the Unionists, was included as the Duo-Goddess with Ness, as the two were contemporaries and worked together during their mortal lives. Together, the Savior Gods represent protectiveness, nurturing, care, self-sacrifice, and forgiveness. There are represented by the Butterfly Mask of Ness and the Habit (head scarf) of Eora, as both were notable belongings of them in life. Their main place of worship is the Temple of Salvation on the outskirts of the City of Regalia, which also doubles as a hospital. Rituals to the Saviors involve forgiving, nurturing, and healing others. The act of taking private confessions, volunteering as a medic or aid in a clinic, and visiting prisoner to offer love and kindness where there is often rejection and apathy. | ||
'''Virtues'''<br> | '''Virtues'''<br> | ||
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== | </tr></table> | ||
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | {| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | ||
|- style="background:#FFD700" | |- style="background:#FFD700" | ||
| || | | || | ||
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| style="width: 1%" | [[File:Lizardgods.png|180px|caption|]] || ''' | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:Lizardgods.png|180px|caption|]] || '''Tanthor and Dari are the Preserving Gods of Unionism, the advocators for the weak and downtrodden by blessing them with the strength to go on.''' | ||
* | * Tanthor (right) is the Called God of the Unwanted, and was a Kathar refugee from the Dread Empire before ascending to Godhood. | ||
* | * Dari (left) is the Called God of the Forgotten, and was an Allar Refugee from Sendrass before ascending to Godhood. | ||
* The | * The Preservers' Golden Lesson is 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. | ||
* | * There is no holy site for the Preservers, as it was destroyed to make room for high-rise housing. | ||
* | * The Preservers have no specific patronage, for they are for the Downtrodden, Forgotten, and Unwanted. | ||
* | * Both Tanthor and Dari ascended to Godhood at the same time during the Seasonal Emperors Period. | ||
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| colspan="2" | | | colspan="2" | | ||
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | {| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | ||
|- style="background:#FFD700" | |- style="background:#FFD700" | ||
| || | | || | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="width: 1%" | [[File:Talli.png|180px|caption|]] || ''' | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:Talli.png|180px|caption|]] || '''Juvin and Glanzia are the Pure Gods of Unionism, the teachers of the purity soul (Magic-apprehension) and Logic.''' | ||
* | * Juvin (right) is the God Emperor of Pure Reason, serving in life as Emperor Heinrich III Ivrae Heiligenblut. | ||
* | * Glanzia (left) is the Called Goddess of Pure Soul, and was an anti-magic advocate in Osteiermark before her ascention to Godhood. | ||
* The | * The Pure Gods' Golden Lesson is 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. | ||
* The | * The Temple of Greater Understanding is the holiest site of the Pure Gods. | ||
* | * The Pure Gods are the patrons of Intellectuals, Mundanes, Anti-Magi, Scholars, Teachers, and Archeologists. | ||
* | * Juvin ascended to the Pantheon upon his death, whereas Glanzia ascended to Godhood following a performance of miracles in Praag. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| colspan="2" | | | colspan="2" | | ||
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</center> | |||
== | </tr></table> | ||
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | {| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | ||
|- style="background:#FFD700" | |- style="background:#FFD700" | ||
| || | | || | ||
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| style="width: 1%" | [[File:Eastgods.png|180px|caption|]] || ''' | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:Eastgods.png|180px|caption|]] || '''Al-Asir and Marani are the Inspired Gods of Unionism, the divine inspiration and guard against inventions of evil in technology.''' | ||
* | * Al-Asir (right) is the God of Invention, and doubles as the Draconist God Marik. | ||
* | * Marani (left) is the Called God of Inspiration, and is Al-Asir's closest friend and confidant. | ||
* The | * The Inspired Gods' Golden Lesson is 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. | ||
* The | * The Telocar Temple in Al-Alus is the holiest site to the Inspired Gods. | ||
* | * The Inspired Gods are the patrons of Technicians, Engineers, Inventors, Architects, Craftsmen, and Laborers. | ||
* | * Al-Asir was always a God, revived by the Everwatcher as a reincarnation of Marik (which the Qadir deny, claiming immaculate creation). Marani ascended to Godhood after his divine contributions to Al-Asir's work were recognized. | ||
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| colspan="2" | | | colspan="2" | | ||
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | {| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | ||
|- style="background:#FFD700" | |- style="background:#FFD700" | ||
| || | | || | ||
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| style="width: 1%" | [[File:GAYS.png|180px|caption|]] || ''' | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:GAYS.png|180px|caption|]] || '''Allest and Brand are the Martial Gods of Unionism, the promoters of strength in martial arms, and of fraternity and loyalty in the military.''' | ||
* | * Allest (right) is the God Emperor of Warriors, serving in life as Emperor Allestrain I Ivrae Heiligenblut. | ||
* | * Brand (left) is the Called God of Gladiators, serving in life as Arch-Chancellor Alexander Kade "the Giant" and lover to Allestrain I. | ||
* The | * The Martial Gods' Golden Lesson is 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. | ||
* The | * The Hero's Contemplation Temple in Gloomrot Forest is the holiest site to the Martial Gods. | ||
* | * The Martial Gods are the patrons of Soldiers, Generals, Commanders, Gladiators, Warriors, and Homosexuals. | ||
* | * Allest ascended to the Pantheon upon his death, whereas Thedmir was not recognized until the Emended Unionists declared him a God. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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<div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | <div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | ||
'''Description'''<br> | '''Description'''<br> | ||
Allest (right) and Brand (left) are the Martial Gods of Unionism, the promoters of strength in martial arms, and of fraternity and loyalty in the military. Allest is the God of Warriors, and was also a Vessel | Allest (right) and Brand (left) are the Martial Gods of Unionism, the promoters of strength in martial arms, and of fraternity and loyalty in the military. Allest is the God of Warriors, and was also a Vessel God in life before ascending to the Pantheon following his death in battle. Brand is the God of Gladiators, and was a God to the Emended and later Guided Unionists, before being incorporated to the unified Pantheon in recent times. Together, the Martial Gods represent bravery, boisterousness, glory, victory, martial prowess, dependability, and steadfastness. They are represented by two crossed swords, one with blood to symbolize the battlefield, and one dripping with tears to represent the loss of comrades in these conflicts. Their main holy place is the Divine Heroic Contemplation Temple, located in the Gloomrot Forest of the Crown Isle. Rituals belonging to the Martial Gods 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. | ||
'''Virtues'''<br> | '''Virtues'''<br> | ||
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| style="width: 1%" | [[File:Artgods.png|180px|caption|]] || ''' | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:Artgods.png|180px|caption|]] || '''Neall and Nolven are the Culture Gods of Unionism, the teachers of the facets of culture in peace and war, and in loving art.''' | ||
* | * Neall (left) is the Joined God of Visual Arts, and the twin brother of Nolven, who was once a God to a now forgotten Religion. | ||
* | * Nolven (right) is the Joined God of Martial Arts, and known to sire Godborn, and was also a God to a now forgotten Religion. | ||
* The | * The Culture Gods' Golden Lesson is 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. | ||
* The | * The Temple of High Arts is the holiest site to the Culture Gods. | ||
* | * The Culture Gods are the patrons of Painters, Sculptors, Make-up Artists, Fashion Designers, Gardeners, and Designers. | ||
* | * Both Neall and Nolven joined the Pantheon during the conquests of Allestrain I. | ||
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|- style="background:#FFD700" | |- style="background:#FFD700" | ||
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| style="width: 1%" | [[File:LESBIANS.png|180px|caption|]] || ''' | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:LESBIANS.png|180px|caption|]] || '''Elia and Leona are the Protector Goddesses of Unionism, the teachers of the faithful to guard one another and be responsible for one another.''' | ||
* | * Elia is the God Empress of the Watchful Gaze, serving in life as Empress Eolaria Brunig to Emperor Allestrain I. | ||
* | * Leona is the Called Goddess of Knights, serving in life as the protector and lover of Empress Eolaria, and wife to Arch-Chancellor Alexander the Giant. | ||
* The | * The Protectors' Golden Lesson is 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. | ||
* The | * The Temple of Unyielding Overwatch is considered the holiest site to the Protector Goddesses. | ||
* | * The Protectors are the patrons of Guards, Knights, Hunters, Rangers, Explorers, Scribes, and Lesbians. | ||
* | * Elia ascended to the Pantheon upon her death, whereas Leona was not recognized until the Emended Unionists declared her a Goddess. | ||
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== | </tr></table> | ||
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| style="width: 1%" | [[File:Furrygods.png|180px|caption|]] || ''' | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:Furrygods.png|180px|caption|]] || '''Mendes and Hor are the Prosperity Gods of Unionism, blessing the people with wealth and prosperity and good wit in commerce.''' | ||
* | * Mendes (left) is the Joined God of Prosperity, and was once the God of a small Asha Cult called the Golden Mask. | ||
* | * Hor (right) is the Called God of Wealth, and served as Mendes's longtime friend and bodyguard. | ||
* The | * The Prosperity Gods' Golden Lesson is 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. | ||
* The | * The Regalian Central Bank and Exchange is considered the holiest site to the Prosperity Gods. | ||
* | * The Prosperity Gods are the patrons of Merchants, Bankers, Traders, Shopkeepers, and Bureaucrats. | ||
* | * Mendes joined the Patheon when his divinity was proven by turning an infertile landscape into fertile farmland, whereas Hor ascended to the Pantheon after protecting several Unionist relics from robbery. | ||
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| style="width: 1%" | [[File:Magicgods.png|180px|caption|]] || ''' | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:Magicgods.png|180px|caption|]] || '''Caan and Kaldric are the Burdened Gods of Unionism, the teachers of proper and virtuous Magic usage, warning of corruption.''' | ||
* | * Caan (left) is the Called God of Restrained Magic, serving as a Mage-Knight of the Aelrrigan Order, and known to sire Godborn. | ||
* | * Kaldric (right) is the Called God of Penitent Magic, and was a Robin Hood-esque mage before his ascension to Godhood after his death. | ||
* The | * The Burdened Gods' Golden Lesson is 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. | ||
* The | * The Hall of Golden Ascension in the Holy Agatha Mountains is considered the holiest site to the Burdened Gods. | ||
* | * The Burdened Gods are the patrons of Mages, Aelrrigan Knights, Arcane Researchers, those seeking Redemption. | ||
* | * Caan ascended to Godhood during the reign of Justinian II, whereas Kaldric ascended to Godhood following the appearance of his Spirit in Calemberg following his death. | ||
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==Cults== | ==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. | 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=== | ===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 | 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. | ||
== | <table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"> | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | {| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | ||
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| style="width: 1%" | [[File:Exitciuv.png|180px|caption|]] || ''' | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:Exitciuv.png|180px|caption|]] || '''Kithemon and Amandaros are the Exist and Void God of the Evintarian Cult, respectively, protecting the faithful from mind incursions, and helping with childbirth.''' | ||
* | * Kithemon (left) is the Evintarian God of Mind Protection. | ||
* | * Amandaros (right) is the Evintarian God of Progeny, and was once a Void Spirit Sovereign serving under the Evolist God Armas, and known to sire Godborn. | ||
* The Temple of Ethereal Naether in Aetosil is considered the holiest site to Kithemon and Amandaros. | |||
* The | * Kithemon and Amandaros are the patrons of protections against the dark arts, and of parents. | ||
* | * Kithemon was recognized as a God due to his ability to detect hostile possessions in individuals, performing exorcisms to draw out these entities. Amandaros is recognized as a God due to their ability to aid couples in producing children. | ||
* | |||
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | {| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | ||
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| style="width: 1%" | [[File:New Canvasgsgerhfghjyt.png|180px|caption|]] || ''' | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:New Canvasgsgerhfghjyt.png|180px|caption|]] || '''Yvasi and Eredicos and the Ordial and Primal Gods of the Evintarian Cult, respectively, helping believers become their true self and to embody ancestors.''' | ||
* | * Yvasi (left) is the Evintarian God of Self-Love, and is an Ordial entity possessing a mortal host. | ||
* | * Eredicos (right) is the Evintarian God of Elder Wisdom, serving as Prince Frederick Kade while possessed by the Primal Revenant of Arch-Chancellor Betheoric I Kade. | ||
* The House of the PAtrilineal Divinity if Aetosil is considered the holiest site to Yvasi and Eredicos. | |||
* The | * Yvasi and Eredicos are the patrons of those struggling with anxiety/depression, and children of heritage. | ||
* | * Yvasi was recognized as a God when she used her divinity to help the faithful realize their true selves, whereas Eredicos was recognized as a God after his Symbiosis into an Urlan, after which he became possessed by Betheoric who aided him in leadership. | ||
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===Guided Cult=== | ===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 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. | 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. 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;"> | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | {| class="wikitable" style="margin:left; width: 100%" | ||
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| style="width: 1%" | [[File:Leadergodsas.png|180px|caption|]] || ''' | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:Leadergodsas.png|180px|caption|]] || '''Nicholas and Aarthes are the Leadership Gods of the Guided Cult, the teachers of responsibility and careful design to those in positions of power.''' | ||
* | * Nicholas (left) is the Dragon God of Political Design, serving in life as Arch Chancellor Nicholas Kade, and was a previous incarnation of the Dragon Regulus. | ||
* | * Aarthes (right) is the Archon God of Architectural Design, and served as Nicholas's bodyguard. | ||
* The Golden Seed Temple in Axford is considered the holiest site to the Leadership Gods | |||
* The | * The Leadership Gods are the patrons of Intellectuals, strategists, philosophers, diplomats, patriarchs, and matriarchs. | ||
* | * Nicholas was not recognized as a God until the Emended Unionists declared him such due to his achievements as the Glorious Chancellor, recognizing Aarthes at the same time. | ||
* | |||
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| style="width: 1%" | [[File:Snakegods.png|180px|caption|]] || ''' | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:Snakegods.png|180px|caption|]] || '''Morgan and Narsil are the Tyrant Gods of The Guided Cult, the warnings to blind faith and unquestioning obedience.''' | ||
* | * Morgan (left) is the Dragon God of Tyrants, serving in life as Arch Chancellor Morgan Kade, and was a previous Incarnation of the Dragon Regulus. | ||
* | * Narsil (right) is the Archon God of Corruption, serving in life as Morgan's bodyguard and spymaster. | ||
* | * There is no holy site for the Tyrants, as as any shrines are frequently vandalized. | ||
* The | * The Tyrant Gods are the patrons of those who question leadership and faith in the right and respectful ways, as well as Spies and Saboteurs. | ||
* | * Nicholas was recognized as a God by the Emended Unionists after his death due to his achievements as the Sun Chancellor, recognizing Narsil at the same time. | ||
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===Armageddon Cult=== | ===Armageddon Cult=== | ||
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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. | 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;"> | ||
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| | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:New Cauunvasgsgerhfghjyt.png|180px|caption|]] || '''Celestina and Eòin are the Anticipating Gods of the Armageddon Cult, the teachers of going good without material reward.''' | ||
| style=" | * Celestina is the Called Goddess of Preparation, serving as an Émérites Knight of the Lothar Order. | ||
* Eòin is the Called God of Execution, serving as a Tyrian Knight of the Viridian Order. | |||
* The Divine Advent Temple in Regalia is considered the holiest site to the Anticipating Gods. | |||
* The Anticipating Gods are the patrons of Doomsday preppers, Purists, Demon Hunters, Vampire Hunters, and Anti-Evolists. | |||
* Celestina and Eòin both ascended to Godhood around a decade ago, due to their divine preaching against the various calamities that faced the Holy City in recent years. | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="2" | | |||
<span class="mw-customtoggle-Doomslayer" style="color:#0645AD"><u>For expanded lore, click here.</u></span> | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-Doomslayer"> | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | |||
'''Description'''<br> | |||
Celestina (left) and Eòin (right) are the Anticipating Gods of the Armageddon Cult, the teachers of going good without material reward. Celestina is the Goddess of the spoken word and the prepared mind, and Eòin is the God of the physical arm and execution of the divine plan. Together, the Anticipators represent altruism, resolve, combativeness, unforgiveness, noncapitulation, and preparedness. They are represented by the Habit and mask of the Silent Sisters, and the Imperial Guard Seal. Their main holy place is the Divine Advent Temple on the Crown Isle. Rituals belonging to the Anticipating Gods 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. | Celestina (left) and Eòin (right) are the Anticipating Gods of the Armageddon Cult, the teachers of going good without material reward. Celestina is the Goddess of the spoken word and the prepared mind, and Eòin is the God of the physical arm and execution of the divine plan. Together, the Anticipators represent altruism, resolve, combativeness, unforgiveness, noncapitulation, and preparedness. They are represented by the Habit and mask of the Silent Sisters, and the Imperial Guard Seal. Their main holy place is the Divine Advent Temple on the Crown Isle. Rituals belonging to the Anticipating Gods 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. | ||
'''Virtues'''<br> | |||
The Virtue of the Anticipating Gods is to fight, restrain, or otherwise hamper the forces of the Void. 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 Virtue of the Anticipating Gods is to fight, restrain, or otherwise hamper the forces of the Void. 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. | ||
'''Vices'''<br> | |||
The greatest Vice against the Anticipating Gods is to consort with the agents of the Devils. 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. As such, the faithful are tasked with steeling their hearts and minds against the corruptive forces of the enemy, hunting down Demons, and serving the Emperor by slaying his detractors. Failure to do this is to give the enemy a greater advantage when the Endwar begins, and to place one's descendants into dangers they should not have faced. | The greatest Vice against the Anticipating Gods is to consort with the agents of the Devils. 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. As such, the faithful are tasked with steeling their hearts and minds against the corruptive forces of the enemy, hunting down Demons, and serving the Emperor by slaying his detractors. Failure to do this is to give the enemy a greater advantage when the Endwar begins, and to place one's descendants into dangers they should not have faced. | ||
'''Legacy'''<br> | |||
Celestina was once a Silent Sister who resided in the City of Regalia, often tending to her duties and upholding her vow of silence. However, the multiple of attacks on the Holy City by various magical and demonic threats took a severe toll on the Silent Sister, who could no longer stand by when it seemed like calamity would tear the capital apart. Eventually, Celestina broke her Vow of Silence, and began to preach about the need to prepare for future calamities, even ones not to be experienced in her lifetime. It was by those who listened that her message seemed to come from a higher power, and she was soon recognized as a Goddess by the fledgling Armageddon Cult. Today, Celestina is an Émérites Knight, frequenting the Regalian courts to preach against the normalization of magic and warning of its corrupting power. Eòin was once a Viridian Knight who was known as a frequent training of students at the Viridian Citadel on the Crown Isle. He was present at the Citadel during the Deathling Crisis, where he witnessed the Grandmaster, Elders, and majority of Knights make a last stand to allow for younger students to escape into the countryside. Eòin managed to survive the eradication, and was recognized as a God after he began to preach divinely inspired messages about preparation, citing how even the most-skilled Viridian Knights were only able to delay the inevitable destruction of the demonic threat. He later joined the Tyrian Knights in defending the Imperial Palace, which he preaches as the final bastion against all that is unholy in the world. | Celestina was once a Silent Sister who resided in the City of Regalia, often tending to her duties and upholding her vow of silence. However, the multiple of attacks on the Holy City by various magical and demonic threats took a severe toll on the Silent Sister, who could no longer stand by when it seemed like calamity would tear the capital apart. Eventually, Celestina broke her Vow of Silence, and began to preach about the need to prepare for future calamities, even ones not to be experienced in her lifetime. It was by those who listened that her message seemed to come from a higher power, and she was soon recognized as a Goddess by the fledgling Armageddon Cult. Today, Celestina is an Émérites Knight, frequenting the Regalian courts to preach against the normalization of magic and warning of its corrupting power. Eòin was once a Viridian Knight who was known as a frequent training of students at the Viridian Citadel on the Crown Isle. He was present at the Citadel during the Deathling Crisis, where he witnessed the Grandmaster, Elders, and majority of Knights make a last stand to allow for younger students to escape into the countryside. Eòin managed to survive the eradication, and was recognized as a God after he began to preach divinely inspired messages about preparation, citing how even the most-skilled Viridian Knights were only able to delay the inevitable destruction of the demonic threat. He later joined the Tyrian Knights in defending the Imperial Palace, which he preaches as the final bastion against all that is unholy in the world. | ||
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| | | style="width: 1%" | [[File:New dsadCanvasgsgerhfghjyt.png|180px|caption|]] || '''Belialus and Sablael are the Devils of Unionism, the Supreme Evils of the world, and the greatest threat to the Great Way.''' | ||
| style=" | * Belialus (left) is the Devil of the Sanguine, and is also known as Behesael, the Arch Demon of the Void. | ||
* Sablael (right) is the Devil of Shadows, and the Architect and Commander of the previous Void Invasions. | |||
* There is no holy site for the Devils, though Vampires worship in the House of Blood in the Vampire District. | |||
* The Devils have no specific patronage, for they are entities to weaken into inaction. | |||
* Belialus has been recognized as a divine threat to Aloria since the Seraph Civilization, whereas Sablael was recognized during the Allorn Era. | |||
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<span class="mw-customtoggle-Demon" style="color:#0645AD"><u>For expanded lore, click here.</u></span> | |||
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'''Description'''<br> | |||
Belialus (left) and Sablael (right) are the Devils of Unionism, the Supreme Evils of the world, and the greatest threat to the Great Way. Belialus is the Devil of the Sanguine, though is also known by the Elves as Behesael, the Arch-Void and Archdemon, and Supreme Being of the Void on par with the Everwatcher in his dimension. Sablael is the Devil of Shadows, Greatest Lieutenant of the Archdemon, and architect of the Void Invasions. Together, the Devils represent destruction, corruption, seduction, entrapment, danger, and evil. They are represented by the Sanguine Curse, the twisted and coiling shadow, and the hooked tail. Their main holy place is the House of Blood, where Vampires and their allies worship them. Rituals of the Devils involve candle night vigils and ritual purification of objects and people touched by them. 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. | Belialus (left) and Sablael (right) are the Devils of Unionism, the Supreme Evils of the world, and the greatest threat to the Great Way. Belialus is the Devil of the Sanguine, though is also known by the Elves as Behesael, the Arch-Void and Archdemon, and Supreme Being of the Void on par with the Everwatcher in his dimension. Sablael is the Devil of Shadows, Greatest Lieutenant of the Archdemon, and architect of the Void Invasions. Together, the Devils represent destruction, corruption, seduction, entrapment, danger, and evil. They are represented by the Sanguine Curse, the twisted and coiling shadow, and the hooked tail. Their main holy place is the House of Blood, where Vampires and their allies worship them. Rituals of the Devils involve candle night vigils and ritual purification of objects and people touched by them. 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. | ||
'''Virtues'''<br> | |||
The Virtue of the Devils is to seek evolution and advances through the Demonic and Void. Unlike all other Unionist Gods, the Virtue of the Devils is not one to aspire towards, but to recognize as the goal of the Devils. Ever since the Veil was first torn millennia ago, and the Void experienced the first "something" in a dimension of "nothing." Ever since then, Belialus had desired a return to nothingness, using Sablael and all his loyal servants to destroy Aloria and all that resides within and beyond. By utilizing the powers of the Void, Belialus is able to corrupt the world into decay, furthering his goal of complete annihilation. To become a servant of the Void is aid the Archdemon, to be discarded by Him when he claims victory in the Endwar. | The Virtue of the Devils is to seek evolution and advances through the Demonic and Void. Unlike all other Unionist Gods, the Virtue of the Devils is not one to aspire towards, but to recognize as the goal of the Devils. Ever since the Veil was first torn millennia ago, and the Void experienced the first "something" in a dimension of "nothing." Ever since then, Belialus had desired a return to nothingness, using Sablael and all his loyal servants to destroy Aloria and all that resides within and beyond. By utilizing the powers of the Void, Belialus is able to corrupt the world into decay, furthering his goal of complete annihilation. To become a servant of the Void is aid the Archdemon, to be discarded by Him when he claims victory in the Endwar. | ||
'''Vices'''<br> | |||
The greatest Vice against the Devils is to hunt down Vampires, Demons, and other servants of the Void. As the Archdemon cannot manifest within Aloria, he must use his agents of the Void to further his goals. With every infection of a Vampire, with every demonic deal, and with every Void Mage casting a Sinistral spell, his power grows stronger in Aloria. As such, the faithful must work to cure those afflicted with the Sanguine Curse (or put them out of their misery), destroy all tomes and books and prevent the summoning or use of Demons, and hunt down Mages who would use their powers to infect the world with corruption. By seeking out and defeating the enemies of evil, the Devils are kept at bay, weakening them to ensure that Unionists will eventually bring about Paradise and rid the world of all corrupting forces. | The greatest Vice against the Devils is to hunt down Vampires, Demons, and other servants of the Void. As the Archdemon cannot manifest within Aloria, he must use his agents of the Void to further his goals. With every infection of a Vampire, with every demonic deal, and with every Void Mage casting a Sinistral spell, his power grows stronger in Aloria. As such, the faithful must work to cure those afflicted with the Sanguine Curse (or put them out of their misery), destroy all tomes and books and prevent the summoning or use of Demons, and hunt down Mages who would use their powers to infect the world with corruption. By seeking out and defeating the enemies of evil, the Devils are kept at bay, weakening them to ensure that Unionists will eventually bring about Paradise and rid the world of all corrupting forces. | ||
'''Legacy'''<br> | |||
Belialus is the Supreme Being of the Void, and thus was the ultimate source of the Void Gods, Spirit Sovereigns, Arken, and lesser Demons. While all of these entities at first owed him loyalty, their time spent in Aloria (or through the actions of Alorians) caused many to break free of their servitude, becoming their own agents despite having some ties to the Archdemon. Most records of Belialus have been lost to time, as most civilizations who knew of him eventually were destroyed in the Void Invasions. As such, much of what is known comes from the Elves, who called him Behesael. His most notable modern calamity was the creation of the Sangaley Blood Curse, which was mutated by the Void Gods to create the modern Vampires. Sablael is the architect of the Void Invasions, and commanded the legions of Void Demons against previous civilizations. They were originally mistaken to be the same entity as the Archdemon, though the scant Allorn records telling of the Fifth Void Invasion differentiate between Sablael and Behesael, confirming that only Sablael can manifest outside of the Void. Fortunately, Sablael has not been seen since the Cataclysm when he was cast back into the Void, and civilization should pray that he never again returns to herald a Sixth Void Invasion, or the Endwar itself. | Belialus is the Supreme Being of the Void, and thus was the ultimate source of the Void Gods, Spirit Sovereigns, Arken, and lesser Demons. While all of these entities at first owed him loyalty, their time spent in Aloria (or through the actions of Alorians) caused many to break free of their servitude, becoming their own agents despite having some ties to the Archdemon. Most records of Belialus have been lost to time, as most civilizations who knew of him eventually were destroyed in the Void Invasions. As such, much of what is known comes from the Elves, who called him Behesael. His most notable modern calamity was the creation of the Sangaley Blood Curse, which was mutated by the Void Gods to create the modern Vampires. Sablael is the architect of the Void Invasions, and commanded the legions of Void Demons against previous civilizations. They were originally mistaken to be the same entity as the Archdemon, though the scant Allorn records telling of the Fifth Void Invasion differentiate between Sablael and Behesael, confirming that only Sablael can manifest outside of the Void. Fortunately, Sablael has not been seen since the Cataclysm when he was cast back into the Void, and civilization should pray that he never again returns to herald a Sixth Void Invasion, or the Endwar itself. | ||
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==Priestly Activities== | ==Priestly Activities== | ||
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*[[Pious Brothers]] | *[[Pious Brothers]] | ||
*[[Unionism Expanded]] | *[[Unionism Expanded]] | ||
*[[Unionist History]] | |||
*This section is not yet fully written, as it will come very last when all other immediate Religion update tasks are done. | *This section is not yet fully written, as it will come very last when all other immediate Religion update tasks are done. | ||
Latest revision as of 19:04, 20 June 2024
TestUnionism | |
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Religion | |
Pronunciation | Yoon-yen-is-m |
Origins | Emperor Theomar |
Deities | |
The Everwatcher and various other Gods and Goddesses | |
Subsects | |
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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.
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 several Cults.
There are different types of Gods within the Pantheon:
- The Vessel God is the living Regalian Emperor.
- God Emperors are past Emperors that became Gods after death.
- God Empresses are past Empresses that became Goddesses after death.
- Called Gods are mortals that ascended to Godhood.
- Joined Gods are Gods of other Religions that were integrated into the Pantheon.
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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.
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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. 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.
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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.
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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.
- Silent Sisters
- Pious Brothers
- Unionism Expanded
- Unionist History
- This section is not yet fully written, as it will come very last when all other immediate Religion update tasks are done.
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.