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 from 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.
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 Vessel God is always the reigning Regalian Emperor, with their divinity ending upon death or abdication.
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.
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).
Despite his disappearance, Alexander remains the Vessel God, as the Palace and Secilly Council have not declared the Imperial Seat vacant.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
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 instead 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 is 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
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
The greatest Vice against the Vessel God is pride itself and the refusal to prepare the stage for one's inevitable successor. The only way for a society to continue to improve is when one's forebears adequately prepare the next generation with the tools needed to carry on the torch of leadership. To deny and obstruct the transfer of power when the time comes not only causes the creation of incompetent leaders, but also creates cults of personality which detract from the needs of the greater Unionist community. As such, Unionists are obliged to make arrangements to ensure that stability is maintained, so that their deaths do not lead to a power vacuum or future incompetence. Likewise, the faithful should be willing to forfeit their power to another if it benefits the Great Way.
Legacy
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.
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 Lesson is that Unionism is good and spreading the faith is a virtue, while sin is turning away from the Great Way or outright sabotaging its intent.
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.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
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
The Virtue of the Prophets is to be faithful, which is practiced in a multitude of ways. First, the act of preaching and spreading the faith is an act to honor the Prophets, as well as ensuring the safety of all Unionist holy places to ensure the faithful can worship freely. Secondly, faith is practiced by supporting the Regalian Empire. As the State Religion, Unionism expects that its practitioners are good citizens, from the lowest commoner working an honest job to the highest Duke governing fairly as a representative of the Emperor. Finally, the Virtue of Faith is expressed as friendship or faith in one another, as only through shared bonds and experiences can the Great Way be progressed.
Vices
The greatest Vice against the Prophets is to turn away from the Great Way or to impede it. The most obvious example of such sabotage is treason against the Regalian Empire. As the State Religion, Unionism and Regalia are treated as one and the same in the hearts of Unionists, meaning that to harm the State by cooperating or aiding foreign adversaries is considered both a secular and religious crime. Likewise, the hindering of missionaries is likewise seen as a sin against the Prophets' message. As a tenet of Unionism is loyalty to the Regalian Emperor, spreading the faith to foreign nations is often a first step in incorporating them into the Empire's territory or network of alliances. Preventing the spread of Unionism to these states makes future diplomatic missions far more difficult, which can lead to setbacks in the Empire's ambitions.
Legacy
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 both god and mortal. 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.
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 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 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.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
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 is the Joined Goddess of the Elves and also doubles as an Estelley Goddess and patron of the Solvaan people. Eirlys is the Joined Goddess of the Tribes and was once the chief Goddess of the pre-Unionist Breizh community in Kintyr. Together, the Allied Goddesses represent the glory of ages, respect, venerablity of age, integration, and cooperation, They are represented by the Sollerian Mist-Gryphon and the Breizh Santwr, feather-winged warriors. Their main holy places are the Skyward Palace in Solleria and Bryn Dwyfol in Kintyr. Rituals of Sinnavei and Eirlys involve radical inclusion of non-Regalian 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 are seen as virtues. Worship also involves healing racial tensions and uncovering and sharing ancient lost knowledge to the world for the wisdoms that it may hold.
Virtues
The Virtue of the Allied Goddesses is to work alongside non-believers, as even they can contribute to the Great Way. While Unionists would prefer that others eventually convert to Unionism, they also accept that not everyone desires this outcome, but still wish to help the Regalian Empire out despite the difference in faith. As such, non-believers who wish to play a role in contributing to society are often accepted as valuable allies to the Empire's cause, as even they can help Unionists contribute to the Great Way by supporting the work of others. This is also extended to foreign states which may not be interested in joining the Empire, but are still open to furthering the Unionist cause by allying with the Regalians on the world stage.
Vices
The greatest Vice against the Allied Goddesses is the destruction of anything alien and unknown. If one is quick to purge those they consider foreign are incompatible, they also risk losing a potential friend and ally, while also showing to others a reputation of being a warmonger unable to be trusted. History has shownformer adversaries whose conflicts lasted hundreds of years finally joining together to accomplish a shared goal. The Allied Goddesses preach that the best way to defeat enemies is to make them your allies, so that both parties may prosper through cooperation. By ignoring the potential for such partnerships, Unionists likewise hinder the Great Way by coming off as terrible allies.
Legacy
As mentioned previously, both Sinnavei and Eirlys were Goddesses of their own religions before joining the Unionist Pantheon. Sinnavei has ruled over Solleria since the Allorn Empire colonized it centuries before, whereas Eirlys was a Goddess of the Breizh people in Kintyr. Together, both the Solvaan and Breizh frequently clased with the Aml Tribelands of early Anglia, even forming an alliance with one another at times. Following the Cataclysm, Sinnavei and Eirlys set aside their centuries of warfare with the Anglians and Eronidas of the Aml Tribelands and assisted them with launching the Five Family Rebellion, creating the Regalian Empire. They would both join the Unionist Pantheon following personal visits by Emperor Theomar as the Vessel God, joining him in the Pantheon to spread the Everwatcher's message of cooperation across Aloria. Sinnavei still rules over Solleria to this day as both the spiritual and secular ruler of the Solvaan, while Eirlys resides in Kintyr and often aids the Aelrrigan Knights with cleansing Renegade Mages of their power.
Ness and Eora are the Salvation Goddesses of Unionism, the rescuers 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 Salvation Goddesses' 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 Temple of Salvation on the Crown Isle is the holiest site to the Salvation Goddesses.
The Salvation Goddesses are the patrons of Parents, 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.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
Ness (left) and Eora (right) are the Salvation Goddesses of Unionism, the rescuers of the faithful, and the granters 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 Salvation Godesses represent protectiveness, nurturing, care, self-sacrifice, and forgiveness. There are represented by the Butterfly Mask of Ness and the Wimple(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 Salvation Goddesses involve forgiving, nurturing, and healing others. The act of taking private confessions, volunteering as a medic or aid in a clinic, or visiting prisoners to offer love and kindness where there is often rejection and apathy are all considered acts of worship.
Virtues
The Virtue of the Salvation Goddesses is to be merciful and show kindness and compassion to others, even if they would be undeserving of it. To Unionists, the ability to forgive those who have wronged them is seen as a deep spiritual conviction just as much as it is a mental one. Even the most damned individual is still deserving of mercy, which is why this Virtue is often a struggle for Unionists to uphold at all times. Ultimately, all people are mortals with free will and thus are prone to sin from time to time. The Salvation Goddesses thus task Unionists to be understanding of this reality and to always be willing to offer the same love and care that they would expect from their closest friends and family.
Vices
The greatest Vice against the Saviors is to be bereft of mercy and to close off one's heart to the possibility of forgiving others. As mortals, Unionists are well aware that it can difficult, if not seemingly impossible, to forgive some people for their actions. However, the Salvation Goddesses warn that unless one opens up their heart to the possibility of forgiveness and mercy, one cannot ever truly recover from the harm done to them. Likewise, if one does not consider extending mercy to others, they can often become blind with grudges that rub off onto others, perpetuating a cycle of hatred and cruelty. As such, Unionists should always try to forgive those who wrong them, even if it is difficult, as they may end up being the ones who seek out such mercy and would be defeated if they were not forgiven for their own transgressions.
Legacy
In life, Ness was known as Nessaria Calontir, Empress to Henri I. Nessaria lived a life of infidelity until she was blinded by her husband as punishment, eventually finding love in Henri after the births of their children. Following Henri's death, Nessaria would lose three of her children to assassins during the Years of the Three Emperors. As the Dowager-Empress, Nessaria personally forgave the assassins, an act of mercy unheard of for a mother who lost her family. She would spend the rest of her life visiting Greygate Prison at night to turn the worst criminals into repentant faithful. Following her death, the Covenant College proclaimed her divinity and ascension to the Pantheon. Eora was known in life as Eotranna Kade, serving as an Arch Chancellor of Regalia for a brief period before resigning after suffering a stroke. During her tenure and afterwards, Eotranna helped promote the medical field by funding the construction of hospitals and clinics across the Empire. Following her death, she was not immediately seen as a Goddess, though the Guided Unionists would deify her centuries later to be a Duo-God with Ness, a status which eventually was adopted by all Unionisms following the mending of the schisms.
Tanthor and Dari are the Advocate Gods of Unionism, the champions 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 Advocates' 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 Advocates, as it was destroyed to make room for high-rise housing.
The Advocates are patrons for the Downtrodden, Forgotten, and Unwanted.
Both Tanthor and Dari ascended to Godhood at the same time during the Seasonal Emperors Period.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
Tanthor (right) and Dari (left) are the Advocate Gods of Unionism, the champions for the weak and downtrodden by blessing them with the strength to go on. They are unique Gods in that they come from two peoples who have historically been the enemies of Unionism, with Tanthor being a Kathar and Dari being a Sendrassian Allar. Together, the Advocate Gods represent the downtrodden, the forgotten, and the unwanted in a society that are often pushed around by everyone around them to fit their needs. They are represented by golden neck chains or other forms of personal restraint around the neck, giving off notions of slavery and all the connotations associate with it. The Advocate Gods have no Temple, as it was demolished in Crookback to make way for housing, though shrines to them are found in the slums and undercities of the Regalian Empire. Tanthor and Dari 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.
Virtues
The Virtue of the Advocate Gods is to see the contributions that all people make to the Great Way, even the most wretched, unwanted, and outcast of society. Regardless of one's birth or station in life, Unionists should endeavor to find a way to help everyone contribute to the betterment of society and fight against bigotry and discrimination which aims to split society into an "us" vs "them" mentality. Unionism is first and foremost a religion for all people, and thus the act of including others as participants is seen as a virtuous act. As such, the faithful are tasked with finding sympathy with the downtrodden and to offer them alms and the ability to have their voices heard, while serving as an advocate and ally if they cannot speak for themselves.
Vices
The greatest Vice against the Advocates is to find sadism and satisfaction in the hurting of the unloved. As recent conflicts have seen the Regalian Empire fight against various peoples who are often seen as the embodiment of evil to Unionism, so too has prejudices risen against individuals who simply belong to same heritage, despite not being blameless is the actions of such adversaries. To give into bigotry and to kick those who are already down is seen as a sin in the eyes of the Gods, as those who are already at rock bottom do not need to be tormented more than they already are. To oppress those who have done no wrong is to simply become the evil that is to be fought against. As such, Unionists must train themselves to be conscientious about the plights of the downtrodden and to keep their well-being in mind, lest the Great Way be forgotten in the pursuit of oppression.
Legacy
Very little is known about either Thanthor or Dari's past, as both of them are more concerned about the plight of the downtrodden rather than their personal histories. They appeared first during the tenure of Arch-Chancellor Morgan Kade, known for his tyranny against others. Following his execution, the duo ascended to the Pantheon as Called Gods after moving Emperor Vilgemar to begin his emancipation efforts of the many slaves across the Regalian Empire. Rather than preach to the everyday faithful, the Advocate Gods took to the slums of the Empire, hearing the concerns of the downtrodden and unwanted and advocating for them on their behalf. This led to an improvement of conditions and a returning of faith to those who once felt that Unionism was a religion for the well-off who couldn’t care less for those without two coins to rub together. In recent times, Tanthor and Dari have been advocating for better treatment of refugees fleeing the Dread and Sendrassian Empires, reminding Unionists that the best way to defeat an enemy is to make them a friend and that any refugee who seeks out Regalia should be welcomed and offered a chance to contribute towards the Great Way.
Juvin and Glanzia are the Pure Gods of Unionism, the teachers of the pure 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 Pure Gods' Golden Lesson is that virtue is having a pure soul not tainted by the corrupt powers and knowing pure fact from wrong, while sin is spreading corruption and false information.
The Temple of Greater Understanding in Regalia 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.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
Juvin (right) and Glanzia (left) are the Pure Gods of Unionism, the teachers of the purity of mind through reason and logic and the purity of the soul through magical-apprehension. Juvin is another God-Emperor of Unionism and was the Vessel God in life before the Covenant College proclaimed his ascension as the God of Pure Reason to the Pantheon following his death. Glanzia is the Called Goddess of Pure Soul, a title which refers to mortals who ascended to Godhood through a higher calling. Together, the Pure Gods represent analytics, apprehension, thoughtfulness, anti-magic, and purity. They are often represented by Books with the Unionist Eye, as literature is a source of understanding of the wider world, and Black Granite statues of Heroes, which are mortal individuals known for their piety and service towards Unionism. Their main holy place is the Temple of Greater Understanding in the City of Regalia, which doubles as one of the Empire's greatest libraries. Rituals belonging to the Pure Gods involve the Rites of Investigation, an in-depth investigation of some mystery, usually either discovering and publishing new information in honor of Juvin or warning the public of hidden Mages and Occult in honor of Glanzia. General rituals and customs also just involve educating the masses on general factual information and debates of skill.
Virtues
The Virtue of the Pure Gods is the pursuit of knowledge which has not been tainted by corruption and knowing the pure truth from lies. At a surface level, this Virtue warns Unionists from lying towards others, as being deceptive and untruthful harms the progress of the Great Way because an open and honest individual is one who others find more receptive to cooperate with. At a deeper level, this Virtue also tasks Unionists with uncovering the truth of statements and accounts and to hold those who record such events to higher scrutiny. As knowledge ultimately is passed down through the generations, any manipulation of the facts in the present can greatly undermine the progress of the future. Likewise, scholars are encouraged to doubt the findings of their peers until they are able to verify their findings on their own, a practice which promotes higher quality research and greater understanding.
Vices
The greatest Vice against the Pure Gods is to corrupt others through lies and deceptive practices. Knowledge is a powerful tool which has the capacity to benefit society as a whole, but also has the ability to manipulate society by withholding critical information. The Pure Gods warn of these sinister agents who withhold knowledge from others and proclaim falsehoods in order to create various echo chambers to divide society. As such, Unionists should always seek to spread information with one another and to seek out different viewpoints to come to a greater understanding of the subject at hand. Likewise, the faithful should also be quick to point out conflicting information and seek out the reason for such discrepancies, lest a false narrative be passed down to future generations, robbing a future from the truth they are deserved.
Legacy
In life, Juvin was was known as Heinrich III Ivrae Heligenblut, later crowned as Emperor Henri III. As Emperor, Henri brought about the Blessed Reign, a golden age of the Regalian Empire where the borders of the realm greatly expanded, bringing in new peoples to foster growth in scholarship and economic growth. He was also the most pious Emperor, rivaled only to Theomar himself, which set him apart from his predecessors, who often had reputations of being puppets to the Viridian Order. In fact, the revelation of a coup conspiracy within the knights led to Henri greatly stripping away Viridian authority in the Empire in an effort to eradicate corruption, which ultimately succeeded. Following his death, the Covenant College declared his ascension to the Pantheon as God-Emperor Juvin (his middle name which he often used with his closest friends). Glanzia was a mortal who grew up in the Osteiermark area of the Regalian Archipelago, which was known to harbor several Vampire covens since the days of the Sarnan Tribes. Glanzia often preached about uncovering hidden Vampires in society, while also preaching of general apprehension to magic. She ascended to Godhood after displaying the ability to create a material known as Purestone, which was used to combat hostile occult across the region. Glanzia is still alive today and often resides in the city of Praag to preach to the faithful, also warning about manipulating her message to be a corruption in and of itself.
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 Called 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 Inspired Gods' Golden Lesson is that technology brings forth great progress and that sharing this with society is a virtue, while sin is the creation of killing machines that automate death.
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 contributions to Al-Asir's work were recognized as being divine.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
Al-Asir (right) and Marani (left) are the Inspired Gods of Unionism, the divine inspirers of innovation and technology to better wider society. Al-Asir is the God of Invention and often works with creators to improve their designs for greater effectiveness. Marani is the God of Inspiration and the best friend of Al-Asir, often providing ideas for future technological advancements. Together, the Inspired Gods represent technology, resourcefulness, inspiration, altruism, conscientiousness, and discoveries. They are represented by Al-Asir's golden gears or Qadir arm tattoo shapes in glowing gold. Their main holy place is the Telocator Temple in Al-Alus, the only one outside of the Regalian Empire. Rituals belonging to the Inspired Gods involve the act of inventing, 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.
Virtues
The Virtue of the Inspired Gods is to better society through the sharing of knowledge and technology. The concept of research and development is one valued highly by Unionists, as improving the functioning of the Regalian Empire and well-being of its citizens not only makes the Empire a better place to live but also frees up resources to focus on other areas in need of development. The ability to constantly improve upon previous systems is a strong tenet of Unionism, allowing the faith to adapt to changes in society. Even if some technological changes may come to a surprise to those unfamiliar with the science behind them, Unionists nonetheless are quite open to such advancements and often speculate on how a new invention can make life easier.
Vices
The greatest Vice against the Inspired Gods is to create machines which automate death. Technology should always be built with the intentions of improving the quality of life to those around them. To create a machine for needless killing only aims to take life from others and does not benefit society in any capacity. There is a key difference between inventing a new firearm, which has a benefit of reducing the number of casualties in battle and preventing needless bloodshed, and creating a machine programmed only to kill, which only automates the killing process and removes the morality behind going to war. All technology much be created as a response to the saving of life or the reduction in death and never designed for making killing more efficient for killing's sake.
Legacy
Al-Asir was born as Nadir Al-Taqdeer and predates the founding of Unionism by a century. According to the Qadir, he is believed to have been immaculately conceived by the Everwatcher before the Great Storm and tasked a group of Qadir to raise him into the God he is known for today. While the Qadir deny this, he is the reincarnation of the Dragon Marik, though most Unionists are indifferent with the notion. Marani, known by his full name of Marani Keita, is Al-Asir's stalwart protector and confidant, acting as an invaluable friend around the Qadir who are often too comfortable and casual around the God of Invention. Their pairing is unique, as Al-Asir is a Qadir, whereas Marani is a Songaskian. Together, they reside in Al-Alus by creating technology to help out society, but also work to mend the societal trauma between the Qadir and Songaskians which has existed for centuries during the Sariyd Empire.
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 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 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.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
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
The Virtue of the Martial Gods is to be loyal to the state, military, and fellow believers. While the Prophets also speak of loyalty, their lesson is more about faith and trust in general cooperation, whereas the Martial Gods preach for the actual demonstration of this loyalty by actually pledging to support others and work alongside them through thick and thin. A secondary virtue is physical strength, as promotes reliability and the ability to help others, rather than becoming dead weight and a liability. General exercise is seen as paying respects to the Martial Gods, as a fully sedentary life isolated from others breeds inaction and a lack of comradery with the faithful.
Vices
The greatest Vice against the Martial Gods is treason and deceiving one's allies for personal gain. It is seen as the greatest betrayal of Unionists to spend decades fighting alongside brothers and sisters against common enemies on the worst battlefields, only to turncoat and become the very thing you fought against for so long. While the term backstabbing is metaphorical in most cases, to Unionists the act of deceiving one's comrades may as well be a literal knife in the back, as the harm caused may as well be the same. Finally, adultery is equally considered a Vice against the Martial Gods, as the act of marriage is considered a sacred pairing between two lovers, where there are no secrets shared between them. To betray such an intimate bond is to be the scum of the earth and unworthy of even the Everwatcher's unconditional love.
Legacy
In life, Allest was known as Allestrain Ivrae Heiligenblut, later known as Emperor Allestrain I. Brand was known as Arch-Chancellor Alexander I Kade "the Giant", though his divine name was taken from his nickname “Bram”, given by Allestrain. Allestrain and Alexander were lovers in life, despite each of them being married (Allestrain to Eolaria Brunig, and Alexander to Leona Weissburg). It is believed that, due to the Emperor needing to have an Empress to sire future heirs, the four of them entered into sham marriages for political convenience, while actually being intimate with their "true spouses". Allestrain and Brand were instrumental in launching a rapid series of military conquests for the Regalian Military, while also implementing the Navigation Acts to cement Regalian authority over states that surrendered peacefully. Allestrain would be killed in battle against the Nordskaggers, after which the Concilly Council declared his ascension to the Pantheon as God-Emperor Allest. Alexander would continue to fight in the name of his deceased lover, eventually dying on the same battlefield several years later. He would be declared a God by the Emended and later Guided Unionists, before the mending of the schisms made him a Duo God with Allest.
Neall and Nolven are the Culture Gods of Unionism, the teachers of the facets of culture in peace and war, and of 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, is known to sire Godborn, and was also a God to a now forgotten Religion.
The Culture Gods' Golden Lesson is that culture and art fill the soul with light, that even in the darkness of war is beauty, and that sin is pure blind hatred without grace or beauty.
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.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
Neall (left) and Nolven (right) are the Culture Gods of Unionism, the teachers of the facets of culture and art, both in times of peace and war. Neall (left) is the Joined God of Visual Arts, while Nolven is the Joined God of Military Arts. Together, the Culture Gods represent creativity, artistic expression, gregariousness, welcomeness, inclusivity, and visuals. They are represented by Neall's golden paintbrush/pencil and Nolven's golden sword. Their main holy place is the Temple of High Arts, which serves as the Imperial Art Gallery. Rituals of the Culture Gods 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.
Virtues
The Virtue of the Culture Gods is to find the beauty in all aspects of life through cultural and artistic expressions. Unionists believe that art is a way to fill the soul with the Everwatcher's divine light and often decorate their holy spaces with stained glass, chiseled statues, and ironic paintings. The Culture Gods also preach about the beauty which can be found in war. While the battlefield can often be seen as a bloody hellscape void of emotion, it is also the place where great heroic feats are performed that pass into song and legend and well-planned strategies are executed with precision. It is thus a virtue to always seek the positives in every situation and find the beauty in even the most mundane of things, as often there is a divine order to all things.
Vices
The greatest Vice against the Culture Gods is barbarism and the blind hatred of things. To lash out against the world without grace or beauty is to be no different from a wild beast, fueled off of primal instinct and lacking true sentience. To give in to one's primal urges is to cast aside one's humanity and thus fall astray from carrying out the Great Way. Even when emotions run high, Unionists are reminded to demonstrate a sense of grace in their setbacks and to understand that such obstacles are simply part of life's process. Failure is bound to occur, as nobody creates a masterpiece the first them they start something. To rage against one's misfortunes is to lack the ability to grow and thus become an animal lacking any culture.
Legacy
Neall and Nolven are Joined Gods, meaning they were once the Gods of a tribe whose name has been lost to time. They are also unique in that the Covenant College declared them as Duo-Gods decades before the concept was adopted by the Emended and later Guided Unionists. Neall is generally seen as a reserved as shy God, more focused on his artistic pursuits, while Nolven as a war God is more gregarious and prone to carnal desires. It comes to no surprise that Nolvan is one of the Unionist Gods who sires Godborn, who are often expected by Unionists to represent their divine father and uncle's pursuits of cultured warriors.
Elia and Leona are the Protector Goddesses of Unionism, who teach 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 Protectors' Golden Lesson is that responsibility and protecting society is shared by everyone, that no one can be excused, and that sin is to be indifferent to the dangers of the world.
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.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
Elia (left) and Leona (right) are the Protector Goddesses of Unionism, the guardians of the faithful and promoters of responsibility towards others. Elia is the God-Empress of the Watchful Gaze, while Leona is the Goddess of Knights and was a Goddess to the Emended and later Guided Unionists, before being incorporated to the unified Pantheon in recent times. Together, the Protector Goddesses represent chivalry, alertness, mindfulness, responsibility, dedication, precision, and awareness. They are represented by Elias's Longbow and Leona's Sword, with Blacksteel in general representing the strength and durability required of defenders of the faith. Their main holy place is the Temple of Unyielding Overwatch, otherwise known as the Imperial Hunting Lodge, on the Crown Isle. Rituals belonging to the Protector Goddesses 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.
Virtues
The Virtue of the Protectors is to be responsible for society as a whole and to protect those around you. As the world is a dangerous place and enemies of Unionism are ever present, it is the duty of all faithful to remain vigilant for such threats and be ready to take up the call to protect all that they cherish. It is important to emphasize that this duty is not only for those martially inclined, as the Protectors preach for everyone to contribute what they can, be it a baker providing bread for a knight or a street sweeper ensuring that the roads are able to be traversed quickly in an emergency. By watching out for one's fellow citizen, they in turn will watch out for you, ensuring that society as a whole is well protected and cared for.
Vices
The greatest Vice against the Protectors is to be apathetic and uncaring to the world around them. As Unionists are expected to further the Great Way by doing their part to bring about Paradise, the act of general apathy not only impedes the Great Way, but might also hinder the duties of fellow citizens. For example, a farmer that decides not to harvest grain for the day prevents the miller and baker from producing the bread for the village, causing everyone to go hungry due to the laziness of one person. Likewise, a careless disregard to the dangers of the world invite even greater calamities upon those who were not prepared. As such, the Protectors emphasize the need for Unionists to pull their weight and contribute to society as a whole, while also remaining ever vigilant and prepared for any emergency that arises in the future.
Legacy
In life, Elia was known as Eolaria Brunig, Empress to Allestrain I, while Leona was married to Arch-Chancellor Alexander I. As mentioned previously, both marriages were public fronts to placate the demands of an Emperor to have an Empress. Eolaria was a fierce warrior, but fought more so for personal glory and to train the common soldier, rather than Allestrain and Alexander's ambitions for territorial expansion. Leona was the silent supporter of her lover's work, caring for the Empress when she was injured and taking hits for Eolaria when she was not paying attention, suffering through them. Both women would outlive their spouses, with Eoalaria continuing to fight in a few minor campaigns as the Dowager Empress alongside Leona. When Eolaria died after years of sustaining battle wounds, the Covenant Council declared her ascension to the Pantheon as God Empress Elia. Leona would retire to the Thousand Blade Monastery following the death of her true love, maintaining a silent vigil and training the next generation of knights. Following her death, the Emended and later Guided Unionists would declare her a Goddess in her own right, before recent times saw her paired with Elia in the Pantheon.
Mendes and Hor are the Prosperity Gods of Unionism, blessing the people with wealth, prosperit, 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 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 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.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
Mendes (left) and Hor (right) are the Prosperity Gods of Unionism, the bringers of wealth and fortune and instructors of financial wit. Mendes is the God of Fortune, able to grants boons to the faithful by giving them business acumen and blessing the lands to produce plentiful bounty. Hor is the God of Wealth and serves as Mendes's bodyguard to ensure that the fortunes of Unionism are not squandered or stolen by enemies of the faith. Together, the Prosperity Gods represent business acumen, opulence, responsibility, self-sufficiency, insight, and bounty. They are represented by the Golden Coins of Union, which are coins with the Eye of the Everwatcher in place of the Emperor's profile. Their main holy place is the Regalian Central Bank and Exchange, which houses most of the Empire's gold reserves. 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 shows a willingness to part with wealth, 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, signing unequal trade treaties with foreign merchants, and encouraging others to join the Empire and share in its prosperity.
Virtues
The Virtue of the Prosperity Gods is to share the wealth accumulated through one's actions. Not only does the pooling of money allow society to fund large projects which benefit everyone as a whole, but it also demonstrates the greatness of the Unionist faith, as worshippers are willing to part with their personal gains to benefit their fellow citizens. The giving of alms to the poor and donating to various charity organizations is a common practice for Unionists, as if the most destitute in society are given the means to life themselves out of squalor, they too will receive the means to lift others out of a terrible situation, continuing the cycle of charity and growth in society.
Vices
The greatest Vice against the Prosperity Gods is greed. To hoard one's wealth and refuse to contribute to society is seen as an act of selfishness and a desire to not be part of the wider Empire. Unionists believe that, while having some personal savings for emergency situation is a valuable necessity, money which simply sits around for no good reason should be put to better use, often through philanthropic pursuits. Similarly, the act of theft is considered a grave sin against the Prosperity Gods, as the valuables stolen from others not only strips away the fortunes of a fellow citizen, thus affecting their wellbeing, but rarely do these fortunes ever go to a good use and instead are hoarded by criminals who do not wish to contribute to wider society. As such, Unionists are encouraged to give freely to society so that society as a whole improves, reducing the reasons for would-be thieves to take what is not theirs.
Legacy
Mendes is a Joined God and was once the God of a monotheistic faith called the Golden Mask, practiced by ex-Asha slaves who broke away from Baskarr worship during their years of oppression. Mendes led a large exodus of ex-slaves to Corontium, where they settled in an inhospitable area which nobody would care about. His divinity was proven to the Covenant Council when missionaries reported that the once destitute lands were now arable and prosperous due to the blessings brought by Mendes, which he later extended to the Regalian Empire as a whole when he joined the Pantheon. Hor, known previously as Horremenet, was a mortal Asha who served as a friend and bodyguard to Mendes for most of their life. He ascended to divinity as a Called God of Unionism after he fought off a group of robbers attempting a heist on the Central Bank and Exchange's artifact vault, preventing some of Unionism's cherished relics from being put on the black market. Together, the Prosperity Gods continue to reside at the Central Bank and Exchange, with Mendes advising bankers and merchants about future projects and Hor training others to be better security guards for their clients.
Caan and Kaldric are the Burdened Gods of Unionism, teaching proper and virtuous Magic usage and warning of corruption.
Caan (left) is the Called God of Restrained Magic, serving as a Mage-Knight of the Aelrrigan Order and is 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 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, while sin is in selfish destructiveness.
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, and 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.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
Caan (right) and Kaldric (left) are the Burdened Gods of Unionism, the teachers of proper and virtuous use of Magic while warning of its corruptive tendency. Caan is the Called God of Restrained Magic and also serves as a Mage-Knight to the Aelrrigan Order that advocates for controlling Magic. Kaldric is the Called God of Penitent Magic and the most recent addition to the Unionist Pantheon who advocates for ethical Magic use. Together, the Burdened Gods represent self-sacrifice, penitence, humility, piety, stalwartness, and the arcane. They are represented by Kaldric's horned bramble crow and Caan's arcane tome. Their main holy place is the Hall of Golden Ascension, located within the Holy Agatha Mountains of the Crown Isle. Rituals belonging to the Burdened Gods 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.
Virtues
The Virtue of the Burdened Gods is the responsible use of Magic of those considered Occult. While Glanzia preaches of the dangers of Magic due to its potential for corrupting those around them, intentionally or not, the Burdened Gods add a caveat that, while Magic is a corrupting force, its corruption can be prevented through disciplined training and ethical usage. They also preach that those born Occult, such as Arkenborn, have a reasonability to those around them to learn how to control their powers, so that their usage does not harm the mundane society around them. Magic and the Occult are considered a tainted burden to Unionists and the faithful should hold those with such powers to either restrain themselves from using it or to direct their abilities to the benefit of everyone.
Vices
The greatest Vice against the Burdened Gods is to use Magic to their own ends, without considering those around them. They warn that the wanton use of Magic on a selfish whim is the true source of its corruption and when left unchecked can cause calamity to befall whole societies. The Mage who uses their powers to rule over others is one who impedes the progress of the Great Way and thus should be treated as an adversary of the faith. Likewise, the Mage who is able to create things better than the mundane worker risks destroying an entire sector of a town's economy through their powers, which in turn causes needless suffering of others. An unethical Mage is one who does not consider the full consequences of their actions and scoffs at the mundane population for their inferiority. The Burdened Gods call these selfish Mages to task, demanding restraint so they may be a valuable part of society, rather than a threat to it.
Legacy
Caan is a Matter-Mage, able to create anything from his thoughts, and currently serves the Aelrrigan Order as one of its most powerful Mage-Knights. He was recognized as a God by the Emended and later Guided Unionists, before being integrated into the consolidated Pantheon following the ending of the schisms. Caan is also known to sire Godborn with mortals, though his children usually lack any expectations from the wider Unionist community. In life, Kaldric was known as Christopher von Henselbrücke, who lived as a repressed Mage in the City of Calemberg. He eventually fell in with the criminal circuit there, but made a name for himself as a conscientious and pious criminal who gave half his winnings to the homeless. He was killed in a cafe explosion in 310 AC caused by magical terrorists targeting the purists inside. His divinity was recognized after his death when his spirit appeared in Calemberg to teach the 14 power families of the city in a better understanding of Magic and how to control it, prompting the Covenant Council to declare his ascension to the Pantheon.
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 mainstream 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,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.
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,was once a Void Spirit Sovereign serving under the Evolist God Armas, andis known to sire Godborn.
The Temple of Ethereal Naether in Aetosil is considered the holiest site to Kithemon and Amandaros.
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.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
Kithemon (left) and Amandaros (right) are the Exist and Void God of the Evintarian Cult, respectively. They are paired together as a God-Pair due to the opposite natures of the Void and Exist. Kithemon is the Exist God of Mind Protection and safeguards the faithful from mind incursions from demons and other corrupting entities. Amandaros is the Void God of Progeny, who aids the faithful who have difficulties siring children of their own. Together, the two Gods represent resoluteness, stalwartness, protection, hedonism, capriciousness, and lust. They are represented by the shielded silhouette of a head and a tree of descendance or ancestry. Their main holy place is the Temple of Ethereal Naether in Aetosil. 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 before 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.
Virtues
The Virtue of Kithemon is to steel the mind against the influence of demonic entities. As Evintarians may utilize Magic and trans-dimensional energy to evolve into a better person, they are tasked with fortifying their minds from Demons and other entities who would corrupt and usurp them and rob them of their freedom and identity. To remain in control while one enhances the self is core to Evintarian beliefs. The Virtue of Amandaros is to sire children by utilizing his divine powers. Unionism preaches of the faithful to bear and raise children to increase the number of believers, though some couples are unable to conceive due to a variety of reasons. By utilizing Amandaros's power to enhance the body, couples may conceive children.
Vices
The greatest Vice of Kithemon is to become demonically possessed. The most important tenet of Evintarian Unionism is to always remain in control when enhancing the self through the Occult and becoming corrupted with extra-dimensional essence and demonic infestation is considered a spiritual failing. Additionally, making bargains with extradimensional entities such as Arken and Spirit Dukes is seen as a sin, as they are notorious for manipulating the desires of their summoners, often to the latter's detriment. The greatest Vice of Amandaros is to be an incel. To lash out and blame others for one's inability to find and sustain a healthy romantic relationship is considered a failing to Evintarians, as it incorrectly places the blame on others, rather than introspecting to find the critical faults in oneself and addressing them. One who is unable to self-reflect and grow as a person is one who impedes on furthering the Great Way.
Legacy
Kithemon an Exist entity from another realm that possessed an Aetosian man named Nikolaos. He is considered divine because many of his advisory words and their revealing of corrupt individuals have helped and even saved the entire Aetosian state on numerous occasions, believing him to be well and truly a patron of the Evintarian faith's holy birthright. While Kithemon as an entity is not fully understood, the Evintarians know for sure that he is not a hostile or death-inducing entity and thus welcome his ability to detect mind control and possession of individuals, allowing the faithful to perform exorcisms to cast out the demonic infestation. Amandaros was once a Spirit Sovereign of the Void, serving under Armas, before they abandoned the cause of their master. They possess a primary 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. Amandaros is the final Unionist God that produces Godborn.
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.
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.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
Yvasi (left) and Eredicos (right) and the Ordial and Primal Gods of the Evintarian Cult, respectively. They are paired together as a God-Pair due to the opposite natures of Bintaar and Aloria. Yvasi is the God of Self-Love, and helps believers become their true self. Eredicos is the God of Elder Wisdom, and embodies the veneration of ancestors. Together, the two represent guidance, mentorship, authority, venerability, and eruditeness. They are represented by the mask of anonymity, the banner of command, and the staff of rule. Their main holy place is the House of the Patrilineal Divinity in Aetosil. 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.
Virtues
The Virtue of Yvasi is to self-actualize into one's true identity. Evintarians believe that everyone is born defective or imperfect, and that one must search for that perfect state. By discovering one's flaws, and finding ways to overcome said flaws through enhancement, the faithful may evolve to compensate for the flaw of creation. The Virtue of Fredericos is to reflect on the actions of one's forebears, using traditions and past knowledge to aid in solving the problems of the present and future. While the challenges of today are never the same as those in the past, one can still use the accomplishments and reactions of one's ancestors to determine what methods solved previous problems, and which ones didn't. By understanding history, Unionists may understand the future and avoid making the same mistakes.
Vices
The greatest Vice against Yvasi is bigotry on matters of identity. All people deserve to be the person they believe themselves to be, and obstructing anyone in their process to achieve their true self is considered a spirutual and personal failing. Not everyone's path to self-actualization is the same, and may not be easily understood, though it is critical to understand that every path is valid, and being obstructionist only aims to create rifts in society that do not have to be there. The greatest Vice against Eredicos is to betray one's family, and to forsake the lessons of one's ancestors. To Unionists, the family is the foundation of society, and its members build each other up by fostering a strong support network. To betray this support network is to undermine the very foundation of society, which impedes the Great Way. Furthermore, ignoring the actions of one's ancestors opens up the possibility to make the same mistakes, which can be costly to those who do not learn from history.
Legacy
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. 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.
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.
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 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.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
Nicholas (left) and Aarthes (right) are the Leadership Gods of the Guided Cult, the teachers of responsibility and careful design to those in positions of power. Nicholas is the God of Political Design, whereas Aarthes is the God of Architectural Design Together, the Leadership Gods represent foresight, calculation, intellect, responsibility, and counsel.
They are represented by the scepter of regality, government buildings, and the Regalian State Banner. Their main holy place is the Golden Seed Temple in Axford, the capital of Anglia. Rituals belonging to the Leadership Gods 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.
Virtues
The Virtue of the Leadership Gods is to use one's speech and charisma to deescalate a situation, rather than resorting to combat as the first option. A good leader recognizes that not all battles need to be fought, and often a diplomatic overture will suffice in finding common ground. By resorting to violence, one earns a reputation for being unreasonable, perpetuating a cycle of violence. As such, the Leadership Gods advocate for the use of words to settle disputes, and only resort to combat when all other options have been explored. In doing so, Unionists believe that one becomes better known as a negotiator and one who they can trust to make sound decisions, and thus a leader that they can trust and follow.
Vices
The greatest Vice against the Leadership Gods is to disrupt the order and stability of the state. A society that best furthers the Great Way is one which is not embroiled with petty conflicts over trivial matters, as being obstinate or contrarian earns one no favor in wider society. Those who strike out against authority with malicious intent towards will often shoot themselves in the foot, with only themselves to blame for their own misfortunes. A poor leader is one who refuses to act in good faith and compromise on certain aspects, and instead becomes obstructionist to the decision-making process. Being too rigid leaves one open to being ignored by sounder minds, causing one to lose their right to advocate for themselves when the time is proper.
Legacy
In Life, Nicholas was known as the Glorious Arch-Chancellor, Nicholas Kade. Known as the most competent head of government in Regalian history, his record-long tenure saw the Empire enter into a golden age of prosperity, owing to his political tact. Taking a diplomatic approach, Nicholas was able to negotiate the end of the Skagger Wars and integrate Drixagh into the Regalian Empire, as well and oversee the inclusion of the Ithanian Sovereignty and Aetosian Theocracy into the imperial fold. Throughout his life, Nicholas was accompanied by Aarthes, his Fin'ullen Archon bodyguard. Following the death of the Arch-Chancellor, Aarthes retreated from public life to reside in his master's old Estate in Anglia, where he would occasionally talk about how Nicholas made his decisions. Nicholas's divinity was not immediately declared, as he never manifested as a spirit following his death. The Emended and later Guided Unionists would declare him a God, believing that his legacy coupled with his Dragonblood status was proof enough of his divinity in life.
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 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.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
Morgan (left) and Narsil (right) are the Tyrant Gods of The Guided Cult, the warnings to blind faith and unquestioning obedience. Morgan is the God of Tyrants, whereas Naril is the God of Corruption. Together, the Martial Gods represent selfishness, greed, cruelty, wroth, pride, hyper-competency, and self-assuredness. They are represented by the cobra-hooded head, snake-forked tongue, and snake-hair head. The Tyrants lack a holy place, as they are not worshipped specifically and instead used as a warning against hedonism and sin, even in competent people. 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.
Virtues
The Virtue of the Tyrants is that sometimes, underhanded tactics are also able to further the Great Way. Sometimes, working in the light is too slow or too ineffectively, and that Spies, Saboteurs, and Rogues can also use their skills to the glory of the Empire. This does not mean that criminal behavior, gang activity, and the like is considered morally correct to Guided Unionists (after all, obeying the law is virtuous). Rather, they assert that covert and underhanded tactics can sometimes bring about quicker progress to the Empire than going through the socially-accepted channels, and that espionage against foreign rivals and enemies is a necessity for Regalia to be well-informed in making decisions.
Vices
The greatest Vice against the Tyrants is to use the Emperor, Faith, or Law to justify cruelty and evil. Unionists trust the word of the Emperor, because he communes with the Everwatcher, and that his Laws are made with good intentions for all people. However, those in positions of power who represent the Emperor may use that authority to twist the words of the Emperor to carry out great evil, using the people's faith against them. Likewise, those who manipulate the Laws, or find unintended loopholes, will use them to enrich themselves at another's expense. The faithful are warned to hold those in power accountable, and to be skeptical of anyone claiming to speak for the Emperor without investigating their merits.
Legacy
In Life, Morgan was known as the Sun Chancellor, Morgan Kade. Remembered as highly competent, but extremely morally corrupt, Morgan used the aftermath of the Purple Bleeding to force Emperor Justinian I to surrender religious prerogative to him, making the Chancellor kingmaker. What followed was a line of Ivrae Emperor who were Morgan's puppets, each being replaced whenever the Chancellor grew tired of them. To enforce his grip over the Empire, Morgan relied on Narsil, his Snake-Marken bodyguard who painted himself gold, to inform the Chancellor of any threats to his power. For over four decades, Morgan and Narsil ruled as tyrants, using intrigue and tyranny to keep the nobility and government in line while funding lives of opulence and hedonism. Eventually, Morgan would be executed by Emperor Vilgemar, who always hated being told what to do. Immediately after, the Imperial Guards hunted down and killed Narsil in a back corridor of the Imperial Palace, ending the duos reign of tyranny. As with the other pair of Dragon Gods, Morgan or Narsil has never manifested, though their actions coupled with Morgan's Dragonblood status were seen to be the acts of the divine (as who else could play kingmaker to the Vessel-God, but another God). The Emended and later Guided Unionists would accept this stance on divinity, teaching 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.
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.
Celestina and Eòin are the Anticipating Gods of the Armageddon Cult, the teachers of going good without material reward.
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.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
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
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
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
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.
Belialus and Sablael are the Devils of Unionism, the Supreme Evils of the world, and the greatest threat to the Great Way.
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.
For expanded lore, click here.
Description
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
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
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
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.
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 Religion. While the above sections will provide enough information to get a clear picture, there are some nuances and subtext to the Religion that are not apparent on first inspection, but that may be very useful for super-pious Characters. This section will tackle niche subjects in greater detail and discuss various additional pieces of information available for the faithful.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
