The Trinity of the Far East

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The Trinity of the Far East

Better known by some simply as The Trinity (it will also be referenced from here on by this name), the Far Eastern variant of The Trinity faith was established by followers Cid Neill and Enlaw Lawson in the region of Cutnipaniel in the realm of Soliferum after the Exodus. The Trinity differs from the faith it grew from in one major way: It does not adhere to what the Old Alowcans referred to as “Denarial’s Way.” It was decided that by so closely following the goddess Denarial, one was found lacking in their devotion to Khagister and Alluran and as a result blasphemous. Followers of The Trinity believe that only in embracing the full pantheon can a faithful soul remain true.

History of The Trinity

---Records of Alowca's Trinity can be found here: Trinity

Recent History

Despite maintaining a small noble following, The Trinity lost most of its noble and peasant support as Kindara grew in power and foreign influences moved in. The last temple of the Trinity closed its doors in Ortedail after the last Priest of The Trinity, Lord Enlaw Lawson, retired from service at an old age. With the last temple closed, The Trinity still has very small pockets of followers in remote villages throughout Kindara, but the religion has been otherwise abandoned.

Ancient History

The religion known as The Trinity first appeared in the coastal realm of Alowca in a region of the world best known as The Colonies. Ages ago, ancient Alowcans based their everyday lives around The Trinity until finally it was used as a foundation for the formation of the Theocracy of Alowca in the modern era. The Trinity of the Far East, while sharing its roots with the ancient form of The Trinity once worshipped in Alowca, formed around a reinvention of the faith after the Exodus.

The event that would come to be known as the Exodus took place long ago when the nation of Alowca was nearing her end as a pure, faithful realm. Hordes of barbarians surrounded the nation, beating back her defenders, and sat perched and prepared to rape the land of any riches it had. Spurred on by visions of a new promised land that would deliver them from the coming end, a few volunteers banded together and left for the Far East never to return. A storm came upon the fleet of faithful while they sailed, separating them, and groups landed in the realms of Soliferum and Taith Aenil. Disoriented, but determined to survive, the faithful weathered the hardships of their new homes. As time passed, however, they found their new home not as receptive to their faith as they had hoped and many lost their way on the path and fell to the shadows. News that Alowca had survived the war only to fall to corruption from within took the faith of many more until only the true remained.

Solfierum became the new home of The Trinity from that moment on. The goal to establish a new realm that could reinstate a theocracy guided by the Trinity never left the faithful, but time would soon show that it would be beneficial to coexist and wait for the gods of The Trinity to determine the time was right. Under the guidance of Ecclesiarch Cid O’Neil and High Clerics Enlaw and Lissot, the faithful quickly established a network of temples and began spreading the word until The Trinity had become the dominant faith in all of Soliferum.

Though it weathered constant attack from outside sources, both mortal and supernatural, The Trinity remained strong. At its height, the regions between Cutnipaniel and Dsinanas boasted a nearly 100% conversion rate to the Trinity while regions surrounding them included The Trinity as a majority while cohabitating with other peaceful religions. The cities of Osaliel and Ortedail became bastions of the faith leading Osaliel to be chosen by the Ecclesiarch as the Center of the Faith and the location of the Home Temple: The largest and most magnificent of temples dedicated to The Trinity in the Far East.

During the last great war with Soliferum, the Trinity was singled out by the realm's enemies and attacked from all angles. When the war had finally reached its end and the dust had settled precious few temples remained and those that did were mere shadows of their former selves. Even as peace fell over the land the temples were torn down by the conquering armies or simply left to rot and collapse.

The Trinity then capitalized upon the explosive growth of Kindara finding new followers among her nobility and finding themselves welcome once again in the homes of many of the peasants who had been turned following the collapse of Soliferum. With the founding of a temple in Masahakon and once in Toupellon, the religion appeared to be on the rise once again. However, without the charismatic leaders that once led the faith, the religion's influence waned until it had been all but extinguished.

Gods

The ancient texts of The Trinity (of which direct quotes can be marked by slanted writing), of which some were taken to the Far East by Cid in the Exodus, say this:

Khagistar - The name, in ancient Alowcan, means "the creator". Khagistar created this world out of the remnants of a previous one, of which little is known. It is supposed that the previous world was destroyed because the people there somehow failed the will of the gods.

  • Khagister is seen by the followers of The Trinity as the father figure in the pantheon. He is revered for having a hand in all life and all things. He rules from his place in the great beyond, where all faithful go upon dying, and His influence can spread to the mortal world as well. Many who study primarily in the path of Khagister believe He is to be as much feared as respected and worshipped for He can unmake our world at any time should He find us lacking and start anew as He has done in the past.

Alluran - In ancient Alowcan, this god's name means "the beginning". Alluran is the god who sits in judgment of those who pass away. This reference to a beginning, as opposed to an end, is of utmost importance to the faithful. All who perish must pass through the Gates of Alluran and meet his judgement in his Hall. A favorable judgment from Alluran results in the spirit being allowed to pass on to the next world (spiritually speaking), whereas an unfavorable one condemns the person to return to this world in the form of the Undead.

  • While Alluran is known as the great judge of all our souls His judgment does not extend into the mortal world. Instead, believers are tasked by Alluran to act as His arbiters in all matters in life and to provide the codes and laws necessary for a follower to remain pure and to pass Alluran’s judgment in the afterlife. Members of the higher council of The Trinity, particularly the Ecclesiarch, are expected to spend their lives writing, revising, and enforcing the codes of The Trinity as fits the duty of their ranks.

Denarial - Denarial means "the way" in the ancient Alowcan language. Denarial is a heroic figure in Alowcan society and indeed for all faithful. It is believed that Denarial was the first person in the world to earn Alluran's favour and pass on to the next world after her death. As a reward, Denarial was welcomed into the ranks of the Gods so that she could watch over all those after her who moved on to the next world after her.

  • The story of Denarial is known by all faithful and is considered one of the most remarkable stories of The Trinity’s history. Starting off as a mere peasant girl, Denarial tended Her farmlands with Her family and lived a faithful life. When Her village came under attack by hordes of infernal ogres and beasts She took up a mace and charged into the battle, slaying the main bulk of the beastly forces and turning the tide of the battle. It is said that the only armor and strength She had in those moments were those granted to Her by Khagister and Alluran and for Her faith Denarial was rewarded with godhood.

Believers in the Trinity now see Her as the conduit to The Trinity. Due to Her mortal origins, many believers (especially among the peasantry) pray directly to Denarial in hopes that She will carry the message to the other gods. The more militant arms of The Trinity also look to her example and inscribe prayers of devotion to her on their weapons and armor before going into battle. The official mandate of The Trinity church, as handed down by Ecclesiarch Cid, states that Holy War is mandated in the name of Denarial.


Beliefs

The beliefs of the followers of The Trinity are many, but below are some of the most important concepts.

  • Khagister calls to The Order to create homes for the Trinity and places of worship amongst the people.
  • Alluran calls for The Order to create the worldly laws, based on The Trinity's own laws, for the people to follow. The Priests of the Order can act as a judge in disputes that followers bring to the priest.
  • Denarial calls for The Order to live their lives in complete devotion to The Trinity.

Birth Practices
A child that is brought to the Order will be blessed by a priest. The priest then tasks the parents to teach the child the ways of Trinity and have the child return when they come of age. Then, if deemed ready, they are blessed a second time.

Burial Practices
Followers of The Trinity upon death are to be blessed by a member of The Order (although in circumstances when a priest may not be present the family can ask a priest to give the blessing to the deceased). Then their body is to be burned as to prevent it from being corrupted by evil and risen into the ranks of the undead or monsters.

Carrying Arms
Since the Trinity has been for a majority of its existence a militant faith, it is not uncommon to see a Priest of the Trinity armed with a simple dagger or short sword. Many times those inducted into the Priesthood have already lived their lives as soldiers and are not willing to part with their weapon or to stop all training in its entirety. While no longer the focus of their lives, old habits die hard.

Holy War
Followers of The Trinity believe that Holy War is an acceptable and important part of life. It is a well known fact that daemons, monsters, and the undead stalk the earth in some form and must be combated. It is also a well known, but unfortunate fact, that their fellow man can become corrupt and blasphemous. In these instances Holy War may be waged in the name of The Trinity to purify a people or land.

  • War Practices: It is common practice for the faithful that go into war to inscribe prayers to the Trinity across their armor and weapons. Ritual blessings by members of the priesthood are also usually observed and many times blessings written personally for a soldier can be affixed to their armor by a priest. Banners woven with images taken from Trinity lore are also flown by units that are formed from faithful soldiers. It is also common for those going into battle, whether it be in a holy war or otherwise, to speak prayers before, during, and after the battle in order to ensure their purity is intact. During a Holy War, members of the priesthood, particularly those of the higher ranks, have been known to walk into battle carrying a prayer book that they read aloud from while charging into the fray.

Daemons, Monsters, Undead, and other Supernatural Beings
It is the official stance of the church of The Trinity that Daemons, Monsters, Undead, and other Supernatural Beings are indeed real and can have a very real and evil effect on our mortal world. Their effect on humanity through possession or corruption is also widely recognized. In some places they are a matter of every day life while others are blessed with infrequent visits from such creatures. The priesthood of The Trinity are believed to have in their possession a text that details a wide variety of infernal beasts and the means by which they can dispatch them. The highest authority on this matter is believed to be the Ecclesiarch.

The Last Elder Council

These are the faithful responsible for the majority of the decisions made on the matters of faith and the church.

  • High Cleric Enlaw

--Since the death of the Ecclesiarch the position has remained unfilled and the High Cleric remains the ultimate authority.

  • Priestess Letta

Former members included: Prophet Lysander, Prophet Oberon, Prophet Edmund, Acolyte Lazarath, Brother Celeborn, and Sister Felicie.
----

Ranks

Acolyte: A devout follower of the Faith. While they are not necessarily initiated into the Priesthood of the Trinity they may involve themselves in spreading the word. The Priesthood may sometimes rely on these people as the source of income for the Church, allowing for maintenance and travel.

Prophet: The title of Prophet is reserved for those who have shown absolute devotion to their faith no matter the situation. They are stalwart believers in the Trinity and trusted members of the Church. A Prophet may not necessarily ever become a Priest.

Priest: As the name implies, a Priest is someone who has been inducted into the Priesthood of the Trinity. They concern themselves with spreading The Trinity, preaching to those already faithful, and maintaining parts of the church.

Martyr: Since The Trinity does, at times, operate as a militant faith, it is only natural that it bears ranks for its militant members. Martyr, while not an official rank and one that can be shared with other positions, is a rank given to someone who has dedicated themselves to serving The Trinity on the battlefield. A Martyr believes that death on the battlefield while serving The Trinity is one of the greatest honors any faithful can receive.

High Cleric: The second highest rank that can be achieved in the Priesthood. The High Cleric is busy with much of the same tasks of a Priest but is also allowed entry into royal chambers and to have meetings with High Nobility. High Clerics also frequently have duties studying other religions and the Trinity's own origins and texts.

Ecclesiarch: The highest position available. The first Ecclesiarch was the founder of the Trinity in the Far East. The Ecclesiarch has almost identical responsibilities to a High Cleric save for a few differences. The Ecclesiarch is charged with keeping records and maintaining all texts and artifacts related to the Trinity. They are required to know the full history and the many intricacies of the faith and to then pass this knowledge on to their successor.

Former Temple Locations

  • Ortedail (Medium Temple - 4)
  • Azohib (Small Temple - 3)
  • Sozon (Small Temple - 3)
  • Dsinanas (Primitive Temple - 2)
  • Masahakon (Small Shack - 1)
  • Todtpiz (Small Shack - 1)
  • Upasael (Small Shack - 1)

The primary temple of the faith once sat in the religious district of Osaliel (Magnificent Temple - 6). The Osaliel Temple was considered the center of the faith and the location where most of the holy artifacts and stored and main decisions are made. Upon the fall of Soliferum, the temple was ransacked and nearly destroyed by the military forces of C'thonia. What remained of the temple eventually collapsed and left the faithful no choice but to abandon it. Currently, no temple stands in Osaliel.

Standpoints on Other Faiths


The Order of the Elders
The actions of Order priests, noble followers, and peasant followers have led the Ecclesiarch to denounce their sect as Evil in the past. The Order of the Elders were considered a violent, greedy, false faith governed by men and women who consort with evil entities and daemons. The former Royal Family of Nighthelm and their relatives were well known members of the Order and also confirmed devil worshipers who possessed men. The current Order is less known for violently attacking any who refuse admission to their faith.

The Guardians of Twilight (Vanquished)
Another violent and daemonic cult that grew out of a schism in Soliferum. They worshiped the creatures of the night and claimed to have intimate knowledge of both the good and evil of the world. The members of the Twilight cult were known to have practiced necromancy and methods of controlling a person's mind for nefarious deeds.

  • After a series of Holy Wars and purges this cult is known to be almost totally destroyed.

Unknown or Ignored
These are the faiths that have either been deemed no threat and may be left to their own devices or The Trinity officials have no real knowledge of them.

  • Adgharhinism
  • Magna Aenilia Ecclesia
  • The Church of Sartan
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