ROT

ROT is the spiritual belief /Religious philosophy of the process of decay and how that decay drives the cycle of life and death. The core method of worship is to spread Mushrooms and Fungus. Other decomposers are also valid in veneration. ROT is decentralized, meaning; the branches of it that have their own practices and beliefs. Each branch still keeps the core method of worship no mater how radical the branch may be. ROT, the faith, is spelled with all capital letters to separate the title from the verb 'rot' (as in 'to decay'). Ultimately anyone who claims to follow ROT and intentionally spreads Mushrooms and Fungus is considered a follower.
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== Beliefs of ROT ==
=== Core Tenets ===
The ROTSWORD is the holy text of ROT. It outlines the following five tenets of the faith:
1.) All that truly matters is the veneration of the Rot.
2.) It is the Duty of the Rot Bearers to Spread the Rot. To spread the Fungus is to venerate it.
3.) Because the veneration of the Rot and Fungus is all that matters, there are no specific core holy items or iconography. These are to be determined by individual worshippers and communes. This work is the only exception.
4.)All things that Die shall Rot eventually. But to Die, one must have lived. Following this; it is as beneficial to the spread of the Rot to encourage kind behavior just as it is beneficial to the spread to kill others so we nourish the fungal body. To bear the Rot is to Love life and Death's cycle.
5.)The Fungal body is found in Mycelium, Red and Brown mushrooms (and their giant variety), warped fungus, and other fungal items. To spread the Rot is to spread these items where the bearer can.
The writings were created in ROTSPRING by the ROT prophet Deathpope in Eldham. The book is the only universal holy item in ROT as it establishes the five tenants of the religion. 
=== Abexilas ROT vs Eldham ROT ===
Currently, in Abexilas; an annotated second publication serves the role of the ROT's WORD. The original text was lost with the destruction of Eldham. The annotations within provide further context and current thinking from this iteration of ROT. Namely, the new publication provides insight on the cycle, "good work", and the decentralized nature of the religion. It is important to note that ROT at the end of the day is about the cycle, and the ROT's WORD outlines the method of worship. The current Abexilas ROT's WORD holds the five tenets within, and is currently accepted as a surrogate for the Eldham ROT's WORD's original writing. Abexilas' ROT and Eldham ROT are unique given their temporal and physical locale. Much of the thinking of the original Prophet was lost when the comet destroyed Eldham, and it is the speculation of scholars who were born/converted after his disappearance and assumed passing. Ultimately, ROT followers still follow the five tenets and strive to do "good work". The Abexilas ROT's WORD is also a living document, and is updated in editions with more current thinking for the religious philosophy. It is customary for the ROT priest who publishes the new edition to sign with the Prophet's name.
=== Cycle of Life and Death ===
Within tenet four is the outline for the 'Cycle'. ROT as a religion does not require the belief in any deities, rather; ROT places its veneration into the concept of cycles. ROT worships and spreads mushrooms and fungus as they are the mechanism to which dead things are decomposed. This decomposed product will then be used to supplement and facilitate life springing anew from the former body of the dead. Though Fungus is alive, it is unique in the classifications of living things (having its own kingdom). ROT emphasizes its unique role in this cycle, believing that it is key to life.
With this in mind, it is important to again note the decentralized nature of ROT. Some branches place more weight on the living portion of the cycle, placing importance of good health and good deeds, but other branches may take the aspect of death as the crux of their worship; killing in order to provide the fungus with "food" to spread.
=== Decentralization ===
As Tenet three states; the individual communes or branches all have their own individual icons and leaders. In practice what this entails is a diversity on what tangential beliefs each nation places importance in. An example of this disparity is ROTSPRING's ROT and of Skjoldbrodir's national faith: Nyr Nostikur. 
Within ROTSPRING's ROT there are no gods. It is purely the philosophy of the "Cycle of Life and Death", and is manifested in building large uncanny buildings and spreading the word of ROT. In Nyr Nostikur, ROT has been deified as the god of death "Rotna". This god judges the dead, but its worshippers still adhere to the prime motive of worshipping ROT through spreading fungus. The morphing of ROT to fit existing religions is not unique to Skjoldbrodir, many faiths inquire and incorporate the 'Cycle' into their own religions and traditions. Today, ROT is a minor religion in the growing nation of Gardinia.
A more practical consequence of this scattered design is that each group that follows ROT does so independently and does not speak for the whole of the ROT community. Ideas may be adopted by the majority, but to reiterate; there are no unifying values of ROT except the tenets outlined in the ROTSWORD. The Tenets themselves are focused on the spread of ROT and fungus, and are neutral in nature. Anything that spreads mushrooms and fungus is considered "Good work" .
Essentially, ROT is a flexible religious philosophy that encourages custom interpretations and interactions of those who follow it. 
== Places of Worship ==
A core practice of ROT is the creation of localized branches with their own beliefs and practices. Each branches furthers spread ROT anyway they see fit. A universal term for a follower of ROT is "a ROT bearer".
=== ELDHAM ===
==== ROTSPRING ====
ROTSPRING is the birthplace of ROT, it is located in the center of Eldham on a mushroom island. The island is a vassal of Skjoldrbrodir because of proximity and shared defense. The architecture of ROTSPRING is said to be odd, the buildings an amalgamation of Blackstone and fungus; the columns of the halls pulse and drip with living ichor. ROTSPRING had fallen into disrepair and was taken by the Swarm following Deathpope's disappearance. 
==== Respite ====
in the necropolis of Respite originates Warped ROT. This branch believes in the spread of warped fungus from the nether into the overworld. Using their extensive knowledge of warped fungus this branch has created many magical items and is even said to be able to foresee the future.
==== Halainthus ====
From the river town of Helianthus hails Heliantic ROT. Heliantic ROT believes in the spread of generic fungus and sunflowers. Using their extensive knowledge of the suns effects on decay the branch has created many cures and healing ointments.
==== Gardenia (Formerly Skjoldbrodir holdings)====
Skjoldbrodir had taken the faith of ROT and shaped it into something compatible with its nationalized relgion of Nyr Nostikur. ROTNA is the deification therein; Upon death souls are taken by Daudo to Rotna, their souls are judged for their mortal deeds and after they are sent to their eternal reward or damnation their corpses are taken by Rotna to succumb to the rot and bring forth new life from their death. Rotna was born from the rotting flesh and the blood of the gods who fought during Eilíft frelsi. Gardenia's holdings that continue to worship the Nyr faith have adopted these ideals into their religion. 
=== Abexilas ===
==== The ROT fort. ====
The ROT fort is the current base of ROT in Abexilas. It is located on the savanna of the southern continent of Rozakko'ra. The function of The ROT fort is to be a temple/tomb that houses the dead of all nations that want to house their dead within. The Priests of The ROT fort are dedicated to ROT and will do their best to facilitate the burial rites of the people entombed. The priests do not themselves follow any gods, but tend the temples and shrines of the people it hosts. The ROT fort is a neutral ground in the continent and serves as a religious embassy of all nations. 
==== Kingdom of Eldoria ====
Within the Kingdom of Eldoria the ROT fort is surrounded at all sides by Slurlankia. Due to the proximity of the city with the ROT fort, mutual aid has become the order of the day. With these close ties, the Knights of Slurlankia have all taken to the religious philosophy of ROT. 
Category:Religions
Category:Eldham
Category:Drakaes
Category:Traveler's Era