Cult of the Wheat King

The Cult of the Wheat King is a religion created in the world of Abexilas by Ulisse Don II, who came and inherited beliefs from the world of Eldham that were commonplace within the land of Prosede. From these, he developed the Cult of the Wheat King and its beliefs, after the Wheat King himself came down to him shortly after landing in what would be called the nation of the Valdic Union in the world of Abexilas. The main themes within the Cult of the Wheat King are Monotheism, a natural divinity of Wheat specifically, the 3 forms that the Wheat King takes that all coexist, and an impending war between the Heavens and its armies, and the Demonic Horde, led by the High Demon Absifontas.
== Creation of the faith ==
After the Great Valdic Voyage, Ulisse Don II had landed in the world of Abexilas, in the nation that would become known as the Valdic Union. A little while after Ulisse Don II had landed, he had an encounter with the Wheat King in his ethereal form. Before this moment, Ulisse Don II had held the beliefs of his forebearer, Ulisse Don I. While not related to him in any way, Ulisse Don II felt an extreme connection with Ulisse Don I. That is why he has the name he does now.
After this encounter with the Wheat King, Ulisse Don II had set out to create the Cult of the Wheat King. He was not sure what to do at first, but he was sure that the Wheat King would guide him. But the most important thing of all to Ulisse Don II was that a single phrase continued to ring true to him constantly. So much so did this continue to ring within him, that he wrote it down:
From here, Ulisse Don II would go on to write several books, all relating to the Cult of the Wheat King in some shape or form. The topics would range from theology to philosophy and so much more. 3 books in particular stand out among all the works that Ulisse Don II had created though. They were the first 3 books that Ulisse Don II had ever wrote, and the outline they basic history and beliefs of the Cult of the Wheat King.
== Deities of the faith ==
There are many deities in the Cult of the Wheat King, with some being better than other, in terms of whether they are deserving of worship or not. the Cult of the Wheat King believes in angels, and demons, as well as a single God, who is 3 separate, coexisting forms, that all partake in the same essence. The essence is simply known as, "The Wheat King in His Essence." 
=== Wheat King in His Essence ===
The Wheat King in his essence is a being that is long gone. While the entity is all but defunct, the essence still lives on, as it is eternal. Upon splitting his essence in 3, creating the 3 current deities of the faith, the entity that was known as the Wheat King was long gone, with their physical body and consciousness largely disappearing for all intensive cases. It is still debated between theologians and scholars today whether the essence is still alive or not. Otherwise though, not much is known about the Wheat King in His Essence other than his properties, and why he split. 
As for why the Wheat King in His Essence split, it was shortly after he had created the worlds and put his people upon them. While trying to gift his people the divine crop that is Wheat, the Wheat King in His Essence appeared to His people in his true form, unintentionally killing them, because they could not comprehend the essence before them. Upon the other people in the worlds seeing this, they forsook the Wheat King in His Essence. Saddened by this, the Wheat King in His Essence split himself into the 3 entities we know today, leaving only His essence behind. Let it be known though, that the Wheat King in His Essence was not mad at his people, for he understood that they simply were disillusioned. This did not curb his sadness though...
==== The Watcher ====
The Watcher is a being that only resides in the "Eternal Field," which is essentially Heaven for all the people that die in the worlds. At many points, the Eternal Field is also referenced as "The Heavens." The Watcher decides the fate of all souls who come to face him after death, deciding if they will either live for eternity in peace within the Eternal Field, or if they will slowly wither away with time in the "Fields of Death." Let it be known, that while the High Demon Absifontas tries to lead souls astray to where they will end up in the Fields of Death, Absifontas has no actual control over the realm. The Watcher does not interact directly with the worlds, but simply judges the souls that come to him. The only recorded interactions with the Watcher has been through dreams and premonitions, such as Ulisse Don II's encounter where he was spoken to by what is assumed to be the Watcher, which appeared to him as a light in the sky with a disembodied voice.
==== The Harvester ====
The Harvester, otherwise known as the Wheat King in the Flesh, or occasionally, shortened to just, the Wheat King, is a divine being that has both a mortal body, and a divine spirit, allowing him to do many things that ordinary mortals would be incapable of doing. The Harvester always takes on the form of a male, typically muscularly built, and once grown up, grows a beard and wavy hair that goes to his shoulders. 
The Harvester is tasked by the Watcher, his father, to go to all the worlds, and to cleanse the evil within them. He does this by various means though; because violence is largely frowned upon in the Cult of the Wheat King, the Harvester will typically try peaceful means, trying to unite the kingdoms of the worlds into one entity unified under the Wheat King. Although, if he is provoked, typically by death, the Harvester will instead choose to rule with what many would call an iron fist. While peaceful methods are still preferred, the Harvester will typically only resort to violent means in worlds that are more well-known for violence against each other's people.
There are two ways of which the Harvester leaves worlds: He will leave in a blinding flash of light while gathered with his highest and most trusted companions, or he will live to the end of his life, with his body being left in the world which he left, and his spirit leaving. Upon leaving the body, it will not deteriorate like mortal bodies, but it will stay in the same condition it was left in upon its spirit leaving, for all eternity to come.
==== The Spirit ====
The Spirit, is the simplest of the 3 beings. The Spirit is an unembodied entity that lives within each living being naturally. It only leaves its host upon the host blaspheming against the Wheat King with full knowledge and control over their actions. Let it be known that if the blasphemy is committed without knowledge of the Wheat King, or if it is done without control over the individual's actions, such as being under duress, the Spirit does not leave the body, and the individual is forgiven as long as they seek further knowledge of, or forgiveness from the Wheat King after the fact.
The Spirit does not interact with the host in any way. The only interaction that the Spirit has with another entity is with the Watcher, who may call the Spirit from an individual back to him after the individual blasphemes against it.
=== Heavenly Council ===
The Heavenly Council was a group of angels that were created by the Watcher shortly after the Wheat King in His Essence split himself in 3. Their purpose is to assist the Watcher in his duties. Not much more is known about them other than this. The only other thing known about them is that when the prophesized War of the Fields occurs, they will gather into an army to fight back against the Demonic Hordes led by the High Demon Absifontas. They will also, on that day, take the souls of any other people who were not already taken up into the Eternal Field prior to the beginning of the war. The Heavenly Council and the army of angels that will follow them will all be led on the frontlines by the High Angel Kidemonas.
==== Kidemonas ====
The High Angel Kidemonas is the guardian of the Watcher, striking down Absifontas when he tried to act against the will of the Watcher. Kidemonas is also the being that is prophesized to finally kill Absifontas upon the day that the War of the Fields begins. Not much else is known about the being, although some believe that he is also the guardian of man, protecting them from evil spirits when they are spiritually attacked.
=== Demonic Hordes ===
The Demonic Hordes are an unorganized group of demons that were all either conjured from Absifontas, or recruited from the ranks of the angels. Demons are known for attacking the people of the worlds, both physically and spiritually. Spiritually, they will tempt man to blaspheme against the Spirit and the Wheat King as a whole, dooming the people of the worlds to a horrible fate in the Fields of Death. Albeit rare though, sometimes the demons will attack the people of the worlds physically. These attacks are only substantiated by rumors though, with people saying that they were attacked without warning by the demons, battering and bruising them in an attempt to get them to blaspheme by force. Otherwise, the only other thing known about the Demonic Hordes is that they will clash with the Heavens and its armies during the War of the Fields. It is also prophesized that they will inevitably lose the war and disappear into nothing on that day.
==== Absifontas ====
The High Demon Absifontas, also known as the Defying One, previously an angel in the Heavens, is the one who first defied the Wheat King, trying to kill him before being struck down by Kidemonas. He is the ultimate tempter of man and corrupted the souls of many by gifting the people of the worlds corrupted crops like carrots, potatoes, and much more. This is why it is forbidden for those of the faith to harvest anything except wheat.
== Practices and beliefs ==
The practices and beliefs of the Cult of the Wheat King has been built upon the words of the Arbiter(s) of the Cult of the Wheat King, as well as the literature that surrounds the religion. The Arbiter of the Wheat King is the one who decides what the beliefs and practices of the religion are. When a new Arbiter comes after the death or disappearance of a previous Arbiter, they are only able to change previous beliefs and practices if they have sufficient justification for the change, or if the previous beliefs/practices are blatantly heretical.
=== Religion ranks and organization ===
Each part of the organization structure has their own role, and each subsequent rank looks over all those in the previous ranks. The organization structure can only be changed by the Arbiter of the Wheat King. The following will detail the roles that each rank serves in order from highest rank, to lowest:
==== Arbiter of the Wheat King ====
The Arbiter of the Wheat King is the leader of the Cult of the Wheat King. The are the final decider on all religious matters, with some caveats, like when they wanted to change the previous rules/beliefs/practices of a former Arbiter. In these cases, there must be good justification and consultation with the Wheat King's Most Faithful, who are a rank below the Arbiter, acting as his consultants and High Priests. For all matters regarding inter-religious debate, it is common for the Arbiter to be the representative for the Cult of the Whet King. However, it is possible for the Wheat King's Most Faithful to also act on behalf of the Arbiter if they are given their blessing to do so.
The position of Arbiter of the Wheat King is held for life.
==== Wheat King's Most Faithful ====
The Wheat King's Most Faithful is a council of multiple individuals that rank just below the Arbiter. Each member of said council is appointed directly to it by the Arbiter himself as he sees fit. Other than consulting the Arbiter on certain matters of the religion and its people though, they act as High Priests, allowed to give their blessings to the faithful, and to ordain marriages and other binding agreements of the soul. Any person can achieve this position, but typically, Arbiters pick people like Prophets to become part of the council of the Wheat King's Most Faithful. However, one is allowed to reject the request to join the council. They cannot leave the council anytime afterwards after they join though.
The position of the Wheat King's Most Faithful is held for life.
==== Prophets of the Wheat King ====
The Prophets of the Wheat King are a larger group of individuals compared to the council that is the Wheat King's Most Faithful. They all act independently on an operational level, but can sometimes be tasked to the same region/nation. The primary role of the Prophets is to spread the word of the faith, and to recruit people to convert from that faith, from that point, they will be taken to somewhere to be officially converted, and then eventually accepted into the religion. Prophets can be appointed by both of the 2 formerly mentioned ranks, and are usually picked based on several characteristics such as zeal, knowledge of the faith, and charisma.
The position of Prophet of the Wheat King is not held for life, and can be retired from after some time, or promoted to a higher rank in the organizational structure.
==== Followers of the Wheat King ====
These are the lowest members of the hierarchy, but also the most important, as they are the backbone of the religion. Anyone who is part of the Cult of the Wheat King is also a Follower of the Wheat King. The role by itself is nothing special, simply signifying that you are a member of the religion.
The position of Follower of the Wheat King is nonpermanent, and can be forsaken if a person leaves the faith. While frowned upon, it is still allowed, and members can still return to the faith and regain their status as a Follower of the Wheat King after taking the appropriate steps.
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=== Common religious beliefs ===
Much of the beliefs of the Cult of the Wheat King are established by the Arbiter and writing of the faith. Although, it should be known that there is still yet much that is unknown to us about the faith, in terms of that which lies beyond our worldly selves. From here, many speculate, but it is important to remember that this speculation - though not proven true or false - is not dogma, so it mustn't be taught as if it were, for this is potentially a heresy. What will follow are some of the common beliefs of the Cult of the Wheat King. It will only include that which is dogma though.
==== Story of creation ====
In the beginning, it is thought that the only existent being was the Wheat King in His Essence, being an uncreated being, existing before even existence itself. From this point, all that is known of creation is that which the Wheat King has decided to reveal to the people of the Worlds: In a single moment, all of creation had been born from the Wheat King in His Essence, creating the Eternal Field, the Fields of Death, and the Worlds.
The Eternal Field is the place where those who reach it obtain true communion with the Wheat King, for that is where He resides. The Eternal Field is described as an infinitely spanning field of golden wheat that sways in a faint breeze, with the Wheat King emanating a bright light at the center of the field. The Eternal Field is a place of pure bliss, where those who reach it finally reach a point of completion, contentment, and peace, as they no longer are affected by the evil that infected many of the Worlds.
The Fields of Death is the antithesis of the Eternal Field, being described as an infinitely spanning field of dead stalks of wheat set within a dark void. It is said that after falling from the Heavens, Absifontas fell into the Fields of Death, then making it what is essentially his, "Base of Operations." The only way someone makes it here is if they blaspheme against the Wheat King while having true knowledge of the Wheat King, and not doing it out of stupidity or ignorance. After someone reaches the Fields of Death, it is said that they will lay there until they experience all possible feelings and emotions, both known and unknown. They will sit there and think every thought, all up until they have felt all there is to be felt, and thought all there is to be thought, eventually fading back into nothingness, with their soul seeping back into the soil of the dead field, sprouting another stalk of wheat.
The Worlds were crafted by the Wheat King in His Essence, and are infinite in their number, ranging from worlds like Eldham and Rathnir, to the worlds of Kylorne and Abexilas, with many more in between. At their inceptions, they were simply empty, only being comprised of their environments and wild creatures. Because of this, the Wheat King in His Essence had decided to populate each world with its own people, where they had used the resources and world given to them for good, creating bastions of culture and living in harmony for many ages. Upon the fall of Absifontas and his subsequent temptation and corruption of man, the Worlds had regressed from the bastions of culture and harmony they once were, eventually devolving into conflict and disrepair, with some even being wiped out entirely by their own kind, leaving only a wasteland.
==== Fall of man and rise of Absifontas ====
One day, an angel within the Heavenly Council, Absifontas, had grown prideful and wished to dethrone the Watcher. Blindly, he rushed up towards where the Watcher was in the Eternal Field, attempting to attack Him. But, before Absifontas could reach the Watcher, another member of the Heavenly Council, Kidemenos, had struck Absifontas down before he could reach the Watcher. After this, Absifontas fell down from the Heavens, past the Worlds, and landed in the Fields of Death. Unable to return to the Eternal Field, but still capable of creating chaos, Absifontas decided that if he could not directly attack the Watcher, then he would attack His creation. As such, he decided to take advantage of the jadedness man felt towards the Wheat King already from many of their companions perishing after the Wheat King in His Essence tried offering them the holy crop of wheat. Absifontas went on to create other crops, such as carrots and potatoes, and then infused them with some of the evil he harbored within himself, then "gifting" it to the people of the Worlds, so that they may tempted away further from the Wheat King. This led to the people of the Worlds creating new gods and philosophies to worship and spread, forsaking the Wheat King.
==== War of the Fields ====
It is prophesized that in the end of days, the Worlds, the Eternal Field, and the Fields of Death will all merge into one, with the armies of the Heavens, led by the Harvester, fighting against Absifontas' Demonic Hordes, as those left from the Worlds will be left to witness the end, including those faithful to the Wheat King. It is said that when this time comes, those who take refuge in their fields shall be granted mercy, even if they die, so long as their faith in the Wheat King is genuine, or if they do not know of the Wheat King, then their god.
It has also been prophesized that during the battle, Absifontas will be slain for the final time by Kidemenos. After all is said an done. the forces of the Heavens will be victorious, and all will be one again, with the Wheat King in all His forms merging into the essence once more, while all the realms that He created merge into one as well. All will be like the Eternal Field of the War of the Fields, with those who survive living a life of eternal peace, being able to build a heavenly civilization alongside the Wheat King in His Essence after coming back into communion again.
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=== Liturgical and personal faith practices ===
== Literature ==
When it comes to the literature of the Cult of the Wheat King, there is no one holy scripture or writing, but the history and ideas of the Cult of the Wheat King are divided among multiple books. Each book ranges from prophecies, to Eschatology, to Philosophy, and History, and so much more. The following books are the current official books of the Cult of the Wheat King. They will be arranged in order of when they were published:
Canon Literature of the Cult of the Wheat King
Name 	Page Count	Genre
The Wheat King's Prophecy 	16 	Prophecy
The Legend of the Wheat King 	53 	Legend / Theology
The War of the Fields 	33 	Eschatology / Theology / Prophecy
The Legend of New Prosede 	32 	Prophecy / History
An Open Letter to the Followers of False Gods 	30 	Commentary
An Open Letter to the Sons of Man 	31 	Commentary
The Life of Saint (St.) Alan, the Slayer of Beasts	34 	Legend / History
Ulisse Don I, the King of Wheat 	30 	History
Common Practices of the Faith 	32 	Liturgical / Theology
Death with Dignity 	43 	Theology
A collection of all the texts in a pdf document
Category:Valdic
Category:Religions
Category:Abexilas
Category:Eldham
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