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This page exist to provide further information to the core Unionism page, relating to various important facets of faith which are nonetheless secondary to core information about history, each Cult, and the various gods. This page is considered Expanded Lore, meaning it is not required reading for a roleplay experience on MassiveCraft but can be used to add additional depth and content to Roleplay.
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Stance on Affinities and Afflictions
Broadly speaking, Unionism is a faith which built its core preaching belief in the supremacy of the mundane, and a rejection of extra-dimensional entities, diseases and more. Purism is a notable underline of Unionism as well, specifically geared toward the more aggressive rejection of such groups, but there are also facets of Unionism which favor such elements of the world. The following list briefly outlines Unionist beliefs when it comes to the various Affinities and Afflictions.
- Vampires are rejected by Unionism, the twisting of the Armageddon Cult’s beliefs not upheld within the lawful priesthood. The degree of dislike for Vampires has waxed and waned over the decades, but despite the Persevering Gods standing for even their rights within the Regalian Empire and Unionism, very few faithful will ever stick their neck out for a Vampire.
- Mortisphages have no relationship to Unionism whatsoever, and are a condition only recently accepted as real. Mortisphages have been lumped together with the Undead as both derive from an Ordial source, and so are rejected. This is the case even for Evintarian faithful, though some may be tricked by malicious Mortisphages pretending to have positive traits.
- Undead have long been rejected by all Unionist factions, their continued survival deemed anathema to Unionist belief. As a result, the Undead are considered kill on sight in the streets of the Regalian Empire, save for a few extremely rare instances. Most religious Undead thus keep to the fringes of society, and found sewer or graveyard temples and shrines. Even Burning Choir Undead, uniquely attuned to Unionism, suffer this fate, though some Silent Sisters enjoy their company when guarding graveyards.
- Spirits are not accepted by most Unionists, broadly rejected as Demons and evils from dark entities thanks to the repeated activities of the Void. Evintarians have a more open mind to such entities due to their unique viewpoint, but still, they are not ignorant of the threats they might face when in communication with them.
- Arkenborn, like Arken, are broadly rejected in Unionism. Not only have several Arken been linked to Fornoss and the Velheim, historic enemies of Unionism and the Regalian Empire, but recent years have also seen Arken engaged in a range of plots regarding the capital city and the Empire. The Armageddon Cult in particular stands vehemently opposed to Arken and their offspring, but only should those offspring embrace their demonic parent.
- Godborn, from Unionist deities, are broadly respected but further relationships vary based on the specific Godborn. Nolvan and Caan’s children get the broadest range of reactions based on cultural denomination, and the other Godborn have varied reactions based on their parent, and loyalty to said parent.
- Archon are viewed as strange by the other groups of Unionism aside from the Guided Cult, who eagerly embrace them. They see Archon as key elements of Unionism, the servants of notable gods and a connection to the ancient past worth respecting. The full scale of their connection to Dragons, and Draconism, does mean that some Unionists have begun to respond with hostility toward them.
- Marken are broadly viewed as similar to Vampires, but are doubly rejected due to Markenism explicitly being a curse brought upon someone for rejection of, or crimes against, a god. Tamed Marken, however, such as those kept by the Lothar, are more accepted. The crimes of Narsil, the kept Marken of Morgan Kade, does complicate the perception of these relations though.
Temples and Sanctuaries
Unionist temples are probably some of the most diverse religious structures that exist within Aloria, being spread across many different terrains, among many Heritages, and existing in many different contexts. Alongside them are other religious buildings which serve as support, with a Sanctuary being the most common. At the heart of all Unionist temples is their central worshiping room, often circular, which serves as the core of the building, if not its only part in more provincial settings. This round shape allows for worship to both face inward and outward, inward when the need arises to hear a speaker, and to pray as a group, and then turning outward, toward the walls, where images, icons and representations of the many Unionist gods are positioned so that people can pray more individually. Many of the largest temples separate these spaces, creating an aisle flanked by two sets of seats facing forward through a rectangular space that connects to the circular part of the structure. The circular structure has the more traditional setup, of seats then turned inward, but leaves more room clear on the walls to allow people to walk the circle or semicircle. Candles are burned around the aforementioned imagery of the gods, but material offerings are something rarely seen in most Unionist temples, as they largely lack that concept. Donations of supplies and the like are more common. As for Sanctuaries, these structures first emerged as isolated cloisters, inhabited by the Pious Brothers, but eventually expanded out for use by the Silent Sisters. The Sanctuary, at its core, is a space for solemn religious contemplation, with cells for the monastics who operate from it to live and sleep, simple kitchens and eating areas, while everything else is given over to their daily tasks or dedications. Some Sanctuaries are small, attached directly to Unionist temples, but other times are large, and sit out in the countryside or upon a mountain overlooking territory they claim as their own, as part of an Everie. Sanctuaries are also traditionally the places where those seeking safety from pursuit can go, though many Unionist temples also uphold the same core concept.
Sermon
The Unionist sermon evolved out of public readings of the text of The Creed to the illiterate populace, changing with time to allow for greater individual interpretation, and a degree of malleability with the material to engage the audience in a core message. While initially, there were many standard sermon styles, the past two centuries have seen a greater deal of individualization, with Everians being left on their own to create sermons that suit the requirements of their faith population. Broadly, the Unionist sermon still has three recognizable elements: The Calls, The Metaphors, and The Envisioning. The Calls are a series of standard calls and responses from one’s audience, to demand they pay attention, and follow along with what is being said to them. They are simple lines referring to the Everwatcher, Emperor, and the different gods and many faithful Unionists learn such chants by heart from a young age. The different Cults each have their own unique Calls as well, for gods and matters specific to their ideals. The Metaphors are taken from the idea of relating to the listening audience, by using stock characters, and to avoid pointing one’s finger at an individual in the local community for any particular fault or crime (though the culprit can occasionally be obvious). For instance, The Noble, The Shepherd, The Paladin and The Washer are commonly used in allegorical stories meant to teach a lesson, or to offer some personal anecdote from a religious figure on an encounter from their past (real, imagined, or constructed). The final element of the sermon is The Envisioning. This is typically the end of one’s sermon, and involves mustering all the energy one has to loudly proclaim one’s wishes for their congregants, what they envision that the group will go out and do as the Everian has taught or wished. There are few Unionist sermons which do not end in some sort of fiery rhetoric or last word being spoken. Sermons are usually read in temples as part of regular services, or can be a tool of proselytization either abroad, or in military camps.
Atonement
Due to the diversity of Unionist gods, and the division of the different Cults, penance for crimes against the faith, lapses in following one’s beliefs, or the desire for greater faith in Unionism takes on all sorts of forms. The most common form of penance is simple reflection and prayer, done to help amend minor breaches one might have committed by mistake, or have imagined they have, in affront to their gods of choice. Such practices are often done alone, but can be aided by faith organization members, if not the Everian themselves. However, more serious actions, or repeated lapses in faith adherence, often calls for firmer discipline. These can involve donations and charitable work, the requirement to seek out a reinforcement of one’s faith through pilgrimage, or other activities. But there, there are those deemed sinners, who break the rules of faith, and the bonds of their community. While Unionism is an overall very pliant Religion, capable of being bent or having multiple interpretations, local communities and certainly, the individual Cults, do set out their own expectations in line with their cultural background. Below are listed examples of religious punishments undertaken by each Cult of Unionism.
- Core Unionism is likely best known for its physical punishments, as they originated many of them prior to the formation of the Cults. The best known is self-flagellation, though this is rarely practiced in the modern day. The most common instead is Holy Piercing, the practice of blessing a blade, and striking an individual a set number of times with the implement. The blade, due to its holy nature (and sometimes helpfully dulled before), doesn’t leave much damage aside from bruises and welts, though it can appear as though it is running someone through or cutting into them. With each strike, the victim is meant to think of a Unionist god, be that the one who they slandered/betrayed, or the deity overseeing the action.
- The Evintarian Cult punishment is called the Binding of Shame, simple loops of cloth bound around the accused’s wrists and ankles and meant to represent the shackles of a prisoner. Paraded around like this, they are expected to perform community service and other minor tasks like sweeping the streets and cleaning fountains to show that they are working off their sin by contributing to the community.
- The Guided Cult draws their atonement practices from the customs they developed while they were shunned and persecuted. Their best known is called the Seeking of Blessing, and is essentially a personal pilgrimage. Loaded with a heavy pack which can literally have rocks and all other assorted junk, a penitent must walk from an agreed upon point to a relevant Unionist shrine while reciting prayers along the way. They are generally observed by an Archon to ensure they do not drop their heavy load or seek an easier pack, who also serves as helping absolve the sinner once they reach their destination.
- The Armageddon Cult is perhaps the most forgiving of all Unionist groups regarding the affair of penance. However, when someone has gone too far, the Cult possesses the Demon Mask to punish them. Created in the image of Silent Masks, but with more monstrous features and made of dark-colored metals, these are locked onto a person’s head for a set period of time, with the key being in the possession of the Everian who doled out the punishment. While many are only locked up for a short period, forced to endure the mockery and scorn of others, there exist instances of those who kept the Demon Mask for longer periods in extreme self penance, or other incidents involving possession or corruption by fallen individuals.
Trivia
- Unionism's greatest strength has been its ability to absorb other Peoples, through the adoption of gods which relate to their identities and sensibilities. There is a growing worry, however, that the Regalian Empire's more extreme elements will make future integration efforts much more difficult.
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