Faithful Sects

TOC
Key Glossary
1. Introduction
2. Sorcery Groups
3. Beliefs
4. Relics
5. Demon Magic

Key Glossary, also see Beliefs
Anti-Life: Sorcerers who use Tap spells.
Diabolists: Any sorcerers who summon spirits, demons, etc.
Gobi: Lich/Magus/Prophet of the Varamine sect and its derivatives

1. Introduction

2. Sorcery Groups

10 Apostles of the Prophet
Ten core followers of the Prophet who each formed a sect and whose teachings have broad influence over all the faithful. Names of Apostles: Benede, Caputin, Cascia, Gilame, Tolente, Vamari

Samahites (grey robes)
Skills: Admin, Folklore, Humanities, Law, Theology
Beliefs: Evangelist, Monastic, Papist,
(Followers of the Prophet Samah) = [Jesuits] They see the need for religion to add to the benefit of society and bring knowledge to the world. The study of are extremely popular. Spiritual shock troops of the counter-Reforomation and working for the Pope.

Benedines
Skills:
Beliefs:
(Benede) =

Caputins (brown/natural robes)
Skills:
Beliefs:
(Caputin) Still strictly follow the rules laid down by Caputin. The first monk who established the rules of monastaries, but who rules have been significantly modified by the many monastic orders descended from the Caputin Monastic Order. Over the centuries other monastic orders have derived from the Caputin Order, but all have relaxed the rules, but still seek the ideal Utopian society. Sins of the Caputins: ownership, killing, vanity, lust, arrogance, sloth. Example rules: vegetarian, communal property, castration, celibacy, dilligence, no individual ownership, no use of coin, no ranks, no conjuring, no enchanting of items (self ok), no proselytizing, no hair cutting or grooming, no bathing, no praise, no awards, no eating during day, etc. The Order is quite small with possibly no more that a dozen monastaries. Only the Abbots may leave the monastaries.

>is "remove curse" an exception to the No Enchanting rule? Several enchant spells have Caputin versions that are no longer "Enchant" spells by the definition of the religious doctrine and the Enchant skill they know is not the same Enchant skill everyone else has.

Cascians (red caps, usually white clothes)
Skills: Alchemy, Surgery, Medicine,
Beliefs:
(Cascia) = Hospitaliers,

Gilamenes (white robes)
Skills:
Beliefs:
(Gilame) = [Augustininans] Apostolic fraternal order (no coed groups) working toward community and the good of society. Order often sponsors schools, universities, and libraries. They hope to promote the spread of the Faithful through education and knowledge. Gilame learned the magic of the Faith with Varami years before Samah arrived and Gilame founded an early form of the faith, now called Monotheism, in Vercen. Once the Faith was established by Samah, and after some initial reluctance, many of the Verceni Monotheists became Apostolic Fathers and formed the foundation of the early Faith.

Tolentines
Skills:
Beliefs:
(Tolente) =

Vamarines (black robes)
Skills:
Beliefs:
Vamari = Undead right hand man of the Prophet. Sect of undead followers, grand pilgrimage/holy site at Manakara, now a port in the Goblin lands. Powers against creatures of Fairie. The members wear black robes and black hoods. Mummy, Lich, Vampire: Full Transformations of the spells. Otherwise each power is a spell. Once all spells are gained, transformation occurs.

Other Societies

Malatesta
Skills:
Beliefs:
Founded by Sigismundo Malatesta (headache) as a temple of diabolists by a tyrant and sorcerer from the island of Rimigi who travelled to the gates of hell. There is only one site of the Malatesta Sect of diabolist sorcerers, but many diabolists make the pilgrimage to read the sacred texts of Sigismundo. The temple houses the Four Silver Bowls of Hell, a relic revered by all diabolists. Malatesta Sect has close alliances with the local mystics, the Sisters of the Stone (The Dolmen) making them followers in very little of the Prophet's teachings. The temple has 4-5 Magi and about 100 monks and about 100 other people.

Black Hand
Skills:
Beliefs:
a secretive group of goblin killers. They hide in human society and in remote regions. They use intricate plans in an effort to drive away or destroy the goblins and in order to restore their lands to its former glory. The more religious believe that goblins have corrupted the faith with demon workship.
Spells: Tap [Characteristic], Transfer [Characteristic], SC Human to goblin, Reduce [Characteristic], Increase [Characteristic], Mystic Cloak

Goblins Societies
Must goblin sorcerers are not in a society other than their clan. The few societies are independent and not associated with clans. Most are these independent sects are located in out of the way places.

Fitsaboana (Treatment)
Skills:
Beliefs:
(Goblin Cascian) = non-violent and healers

Death's Head [Vono = Death]
Skills:
Beliefs:
(Goblin Varamine) = Believe in hun ritual sacrifice to gain power. Very anti-life, a group currently suppressed and out of favor.

Tuni Societies
Only a couple of Tuni societies are permanent and large. Most last a decade or two and lose their influence and support in the face of a new upstart, usually made of defectors or outcasts from other societies.
Wind and Gold: a large society of merchants and their allies
Spells: Sense Gold, Sense Silver, Sense Gems,

Newt Societies
Most Newt sorcery is passed down by the various guilds. All the societies have a branch in each city.
Sword and Spear: the society of the newt military, began during Old Empire times as a rebel group.
Spells: Dry Powder, Ward Powder, Damage Boost, Dominate Human

Teutanic Military Order
The Teutanic Military Order does not believe in summoning and making deals with spririts (Diabolism). They do allow for creation of a familiar and possible contact of Teutan ancestors to become the embodied ally of a Teutan sorcerer. Special Skills: Banish, Forced March, etc.

3. Beliefs

Alms: Must beg for food. Not allowed to grow food, tend animals, cook or prepare food, etc.

Apocryphalist: They believe the Scriptures and especially the Apocryphal Scriptures are not accurate representations of what the early Faithful said or believed. See variation, Modernist.

Ancestor Worship: Ancestor worshippers wish to bury or burn their dead, for they have access to the dead's power unless the ancestor's tomb can be prayed at. Because the huns enslaved or destroyed the dead buried in goblin lands, goblins have few ancient ancestors (that remain sane or free). Because of hun desecration before the Exodus, goblins now burn their dead. A version of Diabolist

Anti-Life: Sorcerers who use Tap spells.

Anti-Papist: People who believe the Pope is a power-mongering fraud

Consuption: display of wealth encourages the members of the faithful

Demon Summoner: summons and makes arrangements with powerful spirits. A version of Diabolist

Diabolists: Any sorcerers who summon spirits, demons, ancestors, etc. see Ancestor Worship, Demon Summoner, Spiritualist. Pacts with beings, instead of domination is schism withing Diabolists tradition.

Divinity: Samah was a divine being. Samah is a Goddess. Icons of her should be displayed and worshipped as if they were her. See Prophet.

Evangelist: Actively preach against the pagan gods and expand number of Faithful

Goblin: All goblins have the following beliefs unless otherwise noted: Ancestor Worship, Iconography, Soratraism, and Reliquary. Note: not all goblins are Diabolists, but Diabolism is integrated into the faith of most goblins.

Hermit: prefers life as an individual

Iconography: Polytheistic religions have extensive idolitry and iconography. Because of corruption and false idolitry, the faithful try to restrict idolitry and unsuccessfully frown on iconography. Although mystic traditions do not emphasize idols, pilgrimages, or iconography, most of these things have powers originating from the mystic tradition (and usurped or taken over by the gods or the faithful.) Idols and Icons have actual powers associated with them and can grant these powers to those visiting them on pilgrimage or owning them.

Idolitry: Polytheistic religions have extensive idolitry and iconography. Because of corruption and false idolitry, the faithful try to restrict idolitry and unsuccessfully frown on iconography. Although mystic traditions do not emphasize idols, pilgrimages, or iconography, most of these things have powers originating from the mystic tradition (and usurped or taken over by the gods or the faithful.) Idols and Icons have actual powers associated with them and can grant these powers to those visiting them on pilgrimage. Regardless of the position of the faithful hierarchy on idolotry and especially iconography, prohibitions on these are incompatible with the needs of the goblin method of faithful worship.[Tibetan-style]XX iconography is essential for the conversion of goblin demons into faithful apostles and other integrated figures.

Intagibility: against creation of physical magic items with personal Spirit, also called enchanting. Also against Iconography an Idolitry. Rigid Intagibility is against all enchanting, including self enchantment.

Modernist: A variation is the Modernist whose beliefs are that regardless of what these early beliefs of the Faithful were, new ideas are needed for modern times. Modernist beliefs are a variation of Aporcryphalist beliefs.

Monastic: prefers life as a group in isolation from local population

Monotheism: early form of the Faith, founded by Gilame and still very popular with the Verceni. Believes that there is one true god. Current version integrates most beliefs from Scripturalism. See Soulism.

Militant: Believes that since Focus is a key attribute of magical ability and martial activity and study can increase Focus, master of Faithful magic can best occur thru combined study with martial skills and special abilities. See Pacifist.

Reformation: against the beliefs of Consumption, Diabolism, and Papist. Goal of the reformers is to take the church back to the ideal of the church before the Schism.

Scripturalism: Integrates Literate Mystic traditions and beliefs into the Faith, by continuing the Literate Mystic tradition of elaborate ceremonies and rituals. The modern version of this belief are the Scripture Bearers, see below. The older tradition of Scripturalism relied on secret texts and integration of folk magic traditions into the Faith. The core details of this tradition became part of all early Faithful beliefs, but changed due to the Schism. Scripturalism as a separate belief and tradition disappeared in the rites of human Faithful, but see Monotheism. See Soratraism and Scripture Bearers below.

Scripture Bearers: Sayings of the Apostles and Apostolic Fathers were written down into the Scriptures. These are accurate representations of what these Faithful said and should form the foundation of the beliefs of the Faithful. A variation is the All Scripture Bearers, who believe the Apocryphal Scriptures should be included.

Soratraism [Soratra = Scriptures] The Goblin version of Scripturalism. When the goblins first arrived to Vercen lands from their Exodus, Scripturalism among the Vercen was very strong. When the goblins converted and adapted their old mystic traditions to the Faith, they began Soratraism which most goblins follow today. Almost all goblin faithful follow this. The goblin tradition integrates their old demon, ancestor worship, and school traditions into their Faith. Note: not all goblins are Diabolists, but Diabolism is integrated into the faith of most goblins. Mystic diagrams/magic items, sacred phrases/magic chants, and scrolls of sacred writings and geneology all characterize Soratraism. Unlike the human Faithful where sharing and cooperation were common (before the Schism), the goblin tradition has never been as cooperative. Instead of a few main Faithful groups of the humans, the goblins have many. Each goblin group is associated with a clan, a monastery, a school, a powerful religious leader, or other local and less encompassing focus. [Similar to Tantric Buddhism]. Most of the most powerful goblin demons became absorbed into the image of one of the prophets.

Soulism: belief that there is no one true god and that the teachings of Samah only speak about self-actualization. See Monotheism.

Spiritualist: a version of Diabolist

Pacifist: Believes that the sin of murder and the associated spiritual pollution is best avoidedby not combatting others. See Militant.

Papist: The Pope is Prophet's one true earthly representative, the only one best able to carrying on in the role of the Prophet. Against the Reformation of the church.

Patronage: (Patron Saints) Uses Saints (ex-mortals) and enchantments instead of spirits (demons)

Prophet: Samah was just a prophet, not divine or divinely inspired. See Divinity.

Reliquary: Relics are varied and can be from any being that has residual parts that still have power. Burning the dead is not popular in the holy lands, mainly from tradition but also because of the desire to have relics. The goblin tradition of burning the dead still allows Reliquary by mixing the ashes with clay, firing, and usually covering in metal with writing and designs. The classic example is making a gold medallion with fired clay core containing the ashes of the holy person.

4. Relics
Caputin Relic: Waterproof box with five sheets of degraded parchment written by the hand of Caputin. The five sheets have notes on the Holy Trinity spell which allows creation of a version more suited to the Caputin Monastic Order than the standard spell. The Relic was acquired inexpensively by Grandfather years ago and seen as of little special value until now.

5. Demon Magic
Demons are summoned to dominate, cajole, sacrifice to, etc. The power of the summoner vs. the power of the demon determines if it will be submissive or not. Make a table of demonic attributes (chaos feature). Demons are summoned like hero games characters are made: the mode disads the cheaper the cost. Non-random or more powerful abilities, like Stormbringer powers, cost more.
1. Cults have a limted form of demon summoning. Gods control the demons for followers, cultists spend POW to get demons from the god.
2. Socerers have the whole system. Sorcerers must control demons by themselves and demons are limited by their characteristics. Each special demonic power must be a spell cast at the same time. Each spell cost a certain number of summoning points (characteristics.)
3. Shamen get some other special attribute. Shamen can control more powerful demons (better spirit plane understanding, but cannot get some to the special demonic powers.
Demonic servants is an intergral part of "evil" society.

Demon Appeasement: new skill to know how to deal with demons who are more powerful than oneself.
Demonic Circle: spell used to contain a demon
Demonic Ward: protective circle used to prevent approach by demon
Banish Demon:
Demonic Mantra: used to stun demons, a prayer used to prevent attack by demons