Faxemis Angelae

Faxemis Angelae is an ancient polytheistic religion from Rathnir, having started in western Haven and later migrated to Alteniquia, exerting its influence in the Archduchy of Azuria. Because of this the capital of Azuria, the city of Grandia, served as the headquarters of the Church until the creation of Faxemia and the destruction of the world. 
Faxemis Angelae has a very strict and well-defined hierarchy, the higher being the Kentis (or first servant), and the lowest being the unbaptised practitioner. It has 10 different ranks, being lead by the Kentis and a Council of Cardinals, with the help of Patriarchs, Bishops and Archbishops, Priests and Archpriests. Faxemis Angelae is a highly polytheistic faith, with various different deities organized in a strict hierarchy. 
== History ==
=== Origins ===
Faxemis Angelae is a religious tradition that was founded in November 2021 by a hermit monk named Théodred Onevior. Théodred is believed to have been chosen by the gods to be their representative on earth, and to have been tasked with spreading the religion across Rathnir. After spending centuries living a peaceful life on his farm near Alfheim, Théodred set out on a journey to find a suitable place to establish his religion. After many days and nights of travel, he eventually came across the Archduchy of Azuria and decided to settle there. 
Théodred spent the rest of his life spreading the teachings of Faxemis Angelae and establishing the religious tradition in Azuria. Over time, the religion grew and gained followers, and eventually became a dominant force in the region. Today, Faxemis Angelae is still widely practiced in Azuria and other parts of Rathnir, and continues to be guided by the principles and teachings of Théodred Onevior
The holy revelation marks the start of the Angelaean calendars, and is the most important miracle of the faith, being celebrated with a big festival. The hill which Faxemus chose to step on is considered sacred, and has been dubbed "The holy hill".
He sailed and walked across Rathnir, until he reached the gigantic desert of Yimmi-Audal, where Faxemus spoke to him once again, telling him about a land of sailors and merchants, where he sould settle. He walked through the desert for weeks, but it didnt seem to end. He knew the promised land was on the other side of the desert, but he didn’t know how to get there.
Fortunately, some days later, while singing a tune from his native land, he noticed he had finally left the desert. He road east, until he reached the town of Grandia, where he settled.
=== Early times ===
After settling in Grandia, Théodred made a great sacrifice to the gods to thank them for guiding and protecting him throughout his journey. He soon discovered the city's church, which he converted into the first Faxemis Angelaean church. One month after the creation of the faith, the first convert, Saint Pep the Lion of Bellum, joined Théodred. They became close friends and worked together to spread the religion throughout Rathnir. 
On Christmas Eve 2021, Bellum himself appeared to Théodred and Saint Pep. He told them ancient tales of salvation, answered their questions and invoked the four great angels: Saxhreask, Terenalak, Ataron, and Fasherak, who stood silently, listening to their master, as Bellum bestowed the title of "Lion of Bellum" upon Saint Pep, making him the rightful leader of the Bellumite Knights.
Inspired by Bellum's words, Théodred and Saint Pep set out to spread the religion of Faxemis Angelae far and wide. Saint Pep traveled throughout Rathnir, evangelizing and building churches, while Théodred remained in Grandia, constructing the grand Basilica of the all-powerful Faxemus.
Tragically, Saint Pep was killed shortly after completing the church in his own town by a group of angry neighbors. He became the first martyr of the Faxemis Angelaean faith and is now revered as a saint. Despite this setback, the religion continued to grow and thrive, thanks to the dedication and sacrifice of Théodred and the other followers of Faxemis Angelae.
His death, which took place on spring 38 P.R (3rd of June 2022), marked the end of the first period of the faith.
=== Eldhamite expansion of the Faith ===
After the creation of the Faxemis Angelaean faith, a mysterious player named Kayeda appeared in Grandia. She claimed that she had been guided by the gods to seek out a monk named Théodred Onevior, the founder and leader of the religion. Kayeda explained that she had stumbled upon a church in the Eldhamite city of Perdin that seemed to belong to the Faxemis Angelaean faith, and her patron angel, Arayl, had told her to seek out Théodred for guidance and direction.
Théodred was pleased to meet Kayeda and learn of the existence of a Faxemis Angelaean church in Perdin. He welcomed her into the faith and instructed her on the proper practices and beliefs of Faxemis Angelae. Kayeda became a devoted follower of the religion and worked to spread its teachings throughout Eldham. Over time, more and more followers of Faxemis Angelae emerged in Perdin and other parts of Eldham, strengthening the presence of the religion in that region. The church, dubbed Arayl's Garden, is a symbol of Faxemis Angelae's Eldhamite expansion, which is still taking place, and has already spread the religion to the eldhamite nations of Sylvania and Aristios.
== Mythology ==
==== Creation Myth ====
 First came Faxemus, the mind of the primordial nothingness. He stood alone, however. Spaceless he was, for there was no space; Timeless he was, for there was no time; Shapeless he was, for there was no matter; And so he brought forth Bellum. 
And so Bellum divided the world into two, the immaterial nothingness, and the thoughtless matter. Thus, Faxemus (Aka "The First") made its second creation, the material universe. 
And so Faxemus made its third and final creation, Avelinae (aka "The Father"), the last of the gods. The Father was tasked with making a planet worthy of having life capable thought, and which would be inhabited by the children of the Sky-Fathers. And so he did: he took a rib out of a pig and mixed it with a fragment of the Sun, and layed it to rest within a rose bush. And so, from the rose bush, named Leren, came forth the Hilenn (primordial humans). And uppon them Faxemus bestowed the gift of thought. 
==== The Fall from Grace ====
However, the Hilenn were corrupted by a dark spirit from the nothingness, called Noxetus (aka "The Unknown") 
And so they cast away the gods. Bellum came from the Heavens, and expelled the Dark Creature, but the damage had already been done. And so The Father had to abandon his children, as to not make them suffer. But he left them a prophecy: 
==== The Rising of the Cinder ====
However, the danger of The Unknown was still a thing, and so Bellum created the Cinder, who each held dominion over a part of the universe. 
But they were not happy, as they sensed the distribution of their talents was not fair. And so Bellum stripped away their powers, and made them rain uppon the Cinder; as such each of them would claim lordship over whichever talents they caught. And so it was. But the Cinder, however, took pity on the earthlings, for they were divided and corrupted, and so many of them descended from the Godly halls as to guide humanity to the righteous path. However Noxetus (the evil deity) was not pleased with this, and so he decided to declare war on the Cinder. 
==== The War of the Cinder ====
Noxetus, the dark force known as The Unknown, settled in the northeast tundra, building the fortress Qirinillonuy by bending the land to his will. His corruption spread, poisoning the air and killing life around it. Noxetus summoned Afton, son of Cindes, and granted him the power of necromancy, making him a feared necromancer.In response, the Cinder, led by Lux, queen of the stars, prepared for battle in the Golden Halls. Seven Cinder were chosen to lead the righteous: Lux, Mhuir, Eom, Vulkan, Bodhlah, Gaoth, and Gelh, making the number seven holy. They descended to the mortal realm in golden ships, rallying the Hilenn-born to their cause with promises of eternal life for those who fought against Noxetus. The legions of mortals, inspired by Lux, marched towards Qirinillonuy but were weakened by toxic fumes and fear. Lux encouraged them, reminding them of their divine purpose and the strength of their minds. They set camp near the dark fortress and, on the seventh day, divided their forces into seven, each led by one of the Great Seven Cinder. As they approached, they were met by Afton, who challenged Lux but was slain by her, his soul doomed to wander until the cleansing.Noxetus emerged from the fortress with an army of corrupted souls, towering over the battlefield with a void-forged sword and a shield that could shroud the earth. Despite knowing they couldn't win, the Cinder and their allies charged, led by Lux. She clashed with Noxetus, her light against his darkness, but his power was overwhelming. Three times he struck her down, but she rose each time, her resolve unwavering. Noxetus mocked the righteous, claiming victory was impossible against the abyss. Lux rallied her forces, declaring their duty to fight for the gods, even at the cost of their lives. Bellum, moved by their faith, rose from the Golden Halls and struck his shield three times;
== Theology ==
=== Realms ===
Bariteliath
Bariteliath is the Angelaean equivalent to paradise, it is where the gods reside, and where the souls of the righteous will go when they die. Also known as "The Golden Realm", Bariteliath was created by Bellum, following Faxemus' orders, being the first of the three realms to be created. Since the beings who inhabit Bariteliath are not constrained to a space, time nor shape, it is physically impossible for us to comprehend what life would be like in the Golden Realm. However, some saints have been said to have visions of Bariteliath, being granted divine comprehension, as to be able to understand its complicated nature. One such saint is St. Merenden who, on her deathbed, is reported to have seen the Golden Gates open, before passing away seconds later.
Even though Bariteliath is impossible to access trough any means other than death, which is believed to free our souls, many uneducated faithful believe it to be located above the sky. Thus, it is very common for Angelaeans to look up while praying, as a symbolic gesture of directly talking to the Gods.
The universe
The material universe is a hot topic amongst Angelaean scholars, because of the implications that it has. As per the official decrete of His Holiness Kentis Théodred:Infaiall
Infaiall is the Angelaean equivalent to hell. Much like Bariteliath, it is, in its essence, not a place, because the spiritual reality is not confined to space nor time, and is thus a state in which a being spends its eternity. This means that, to be in Infaiall, is not to be locked away in a helish prision, but to be distant from the Gods, who are the source of all life. However, since there is no space, this distance cannot be physical, for every spiritual being cohabits in the one Nothingess, but spiritual. To say that one is far away from the Gods in the spiritual realm does not mean that the physical distance is great, but it means that they hate the Gods, and thus choose to be emotionally distant from them. Thus, according to Faxemis Angelaean teachings, Infaiall is a place of great suffering and torment, as to be away from the Gods is to be away from the only true source of happyness.
=== Deities ===
GodsFaxemus
Faxemus, aka "The First" is, as the name suggests, the first of the three gods to arise. He is believed to be the conscious manifestation of the primordial nothingness, and thus he is the very essence and origin of everything that exists. Faxemus is said to have created the other two gods, Bellum and Avelinae, awakening them from the Nothingness, allowing them to partake in his essence, and the material universe, which is a part of the spiritual realm that was confined to a set of rules, thus erasing the spacelessness and timelessness to make all that is material.
Bellum
Bellum, aka "The Golden One" is worshipped by the Angelaeans as the God of War. He is the second of the three gods to awaken, and is, in his essence, the bravery and pure-strenght of the nothingness. Bellum is believed to have created the Cinder, which are the Angelaean equivalents to angels, although they behave more like the Ainur from Lord of the Rings. 
Avelinae
Avelinae, aka "The Father" is the third of the gods to awaken, being, in his essence the kindness and forgiveness of the nothingness. He is believed to have created the Hilenn, which are the primordial humans, by taking a rib of a pig, mixing it with a part of the sun, and laying it to rest within a rose bush. However, the children of Avelinae rejected him, and chose to live away from the very being that gave them life, and so he departed from them.
Evil entities
Noxetus
Noxetus, also known as "The Unknown", is an ancient being, who first appeared after the creation of the Hilenn (primordial humans), and who is believed to have corrupted them, leading them astray, and distancing them from the Gods, who were the very essence of their life. And thus the Hilenn were cast out to live a mortal life, as they had chosen, with only those who were close to the gods in their hearts being able to retake the gift that the gods had bestowed uppon them. 
The Unknown made a body for himself, and settled in the northeastern tundra, building a great fortress there, and waging war of the Sons of the Gods (Both Humans and Angels). And so the righteous united to fight against The Unknown and, with the aid of Bellum, God of War, were able to win the war, banishing Noxetus from the material world, and locking him away in the Infaiall.
Afton
An apprentice of the the Unknown, Afton is one of the Hilenn, who was corrupted by his twisted words. Tricked by Noxetus, Afton has taken the dark lord's side in the eternal fight. Known as the necromancer, Afton spawns legions of dark creatures in the night, who haunt those who are still loyal to the gods of old. Many have come to worship him, in fear of his retribution. For many years he roamed the lands of the living, harvesting the souls of those who dared to oppose him. But eventually, the necromancer's reign of terror came to an end, being slain by Lux in the War of the Cinder. 
The Cinder
Lux
Lux is the queen of The Cinder (angels), and the most powerful amongst them. She is lady of Light, Stars, and the Daytime Sky, and led the armies of the righteous in the fight against Noxetus. The Queen of Light, as she is called, is said to have killed Ataron, the necromancer, and faced Noxetus alone, fighting with such bravery and faith that Bellum awarded the victory to the righteous. She is said to have left her mortal body and ascended to the Golden Realm, to reside with the Gods, altough many miracles have been atribuited to her.
The Holiest Seven
The Holiest Seven is the name given to the angels chosen to lead the righteous in the fight against Noxetus. They are Lux, queen of the Stars; Mhuir, lord of the Seas; Eom, lord of the rain and thunderstorms; Vulkan, the Smith; Bodhlah, bringer of dreams; Gaoth, commander of the wings and lady of the winged beings; and Gelh, lady of the moon and the nightime skies.
The Minor Seven
The Minor Seven is the name given to the most important Cinder, right below The Holiest Seven. They are Ataron, lord of Fire, Lava and The Nether, Saxhreask "Fruit-Giver", lady of Crops, Fertility and Bees; Terenalak, lord of Creativity and Craftmanship; Fasherak "The Wise", patron of Wisdom, Intelligence and Theologians; Gehra, lady of Love, Beauty and Luck; Dohla, lady of Law, Order and Honor and Aor, lord of Stories, Writing, Poems and Songs.
=== Sins and Good deeds ===
The Faxemis Angelaen faith has a really developed system when it comes to sins and good deeds, which is written in the holy book "The God's Teachings", by Théodred Onevior. It is believed that sinning is a natural thing, and that everyone is guilty - [3] "we are all guilty of failing to follow the gods' teachings" [2] "Rejecting the god's teachings is a sin" [6] "to sin is to break the god's trust" and [7] "to break the god's trust in to live in darkness". The sins can be cleansed by doing good deeds, and by praying and sacrificing to the gods. 
Common Sins
* Griefing
* Lying
* Stealing
* Killing
* Being Greedy
* Being Lustful
* Being Lazy
* Being Narcissistic
* Hating
Good deeds
* Respecting life
* Being gentle to nature
* Fighting with honor
* Being merciful
* Being cheerful to give
* Being joyful to help and be hospitable
* Encouraging of friendship
* Promoting the religion
== Customs ==
Daily Prayers
It is not uncommon for Faxemis Angelaeans start and end each day with a prayer to their deities, asking for guidance, protection, and blessings. This could involve reciting specific prayers or simply expressing gratitude and devotion. Many converts make worshipping their patron angels part of their daily routine, some even going as far as building a small shrine inside their houses to facilitate prayer sessions.
Spiritual Retreats
Many Faxemis Angelaeans participate in spiritual retreats, which provide an opportunity to deepen their devotion and connection to their deities. Most retreats involve a pilgrimage to a holy place, the most popular being the holy island-town of Faxemia. These retreats may also involve meditation, fasting, or other practices designed to purify the mind and body.
Family and Communion
Family and community are central to Faxemis Angelaean life, and many customs and practices are designed to strengthen these bonds. In the Faxemis Angelaean religion people are known and judged based on their families and their position within those said families. Members of important families or members with high positions whithin their families are seen as more trustable by the Angelaean people.
Naming rules
Babies born in Angelaean households are to be given the name of one of their parents as a middle name, and the family name as the last name. They will also be assigned a colour, depending on their position within their family. 
The existing colours are:
* Yellow: Family Head
* Red: Oldest member within the family
* Green: Important member within the family who has brought honor to the family.
* Blue: Normal Family member
* White: Dead
* Black: Banished and hated by the family. Has brought dishonor to the family.
Example: Theodred Kronison (Father's name + son suffix) Angelae-Onevior (Family Name), the Yellow (Family Head)
This is due to the Angelaean People's way of keeping track of their family members. Families will build tree-like structures in their gardens, with each branch being a person. On each branch there is the name of the family member which it represents and a banner, which informs any visitors of said member's position within the family.
Talking to ancestors
Many Faxemis Angelaeans start their day by consulting their ancestors. This is usually done by building a small statue of dead family members, and placing a soul torch infront of it. Anyone who wishes to consult their ancestors may then come forward and offer the statue a dandelion, before kneeling infront of it to pray.
== Holidays ==
Avelinae's Day
Avelinae's day takes place on the 2nd Sunday of February; Also know as the life's day, the Avelinae's day is a day of respect, which forbids the consuption of meat and the usage of any kind of animal.
Bellum's Day
Bellum's Day, which takes place on the 15th of May, is known by it's pvp contests, ranging from fists fights to archery contests, and for the colourful decorations placed in towns and cities.
The Seasons’ Feast
The Seasons' Period (15th of July - 23rd of August), is a time of peace and relaxation, which most use to party with friends.
Faxemus' Day
Faxemus' Day, which takes place on the 8th of October, is by far the most popular Faxemis Angelaean holiday. Every Faxemus' Day, the worshippers gather up and organize a big event: The Faxemus' Festival, which celebrates the creation of the universe, and serves as a gateway for newcommers.
Revelation Day
Revelation's day (23rd of November) celebrates the creation of the church and the spreading of Faxemis Angelae. It is believed that, on the 23rd of November 2021, Faxemus revealed himself to Théodred Onevior, which lead to him travelling around Rathnir and founding the Faxemis Angelaean Church. 
Saint Harold's Day 
Saint Harold's day (17th December) celebrates the importance of Harold, the pig, from whose rib all of humanity came. Harold's day was, in its earliest days, most relevant in Kranga, but has grown to a global level over the years. 
== Symbology ==
The Faxemis Angelaean Symbol, aka "The Holy Tree" is highly symbolic:
The tree: The Faxemis Angelaean tree represents the belief that every faith in both Rathnir and Eldham stems from Faxemis Angelae. The trunk represents Faxemis Angelae, and the branches represent the other faiths. 
The golden star: Represents Faxemus; It is usually represented with a red circle inside it;
Blue star: Represents Avelinae; Smaller than the golden star;
Green star: Represents Bellum; Smaller than the golden star;
Red circle: Represents Liliath;
Althought these are commonly used, the stars' colour and shape may change, specially if represented inside the tree symbol. 
== The Church ==
===Hierarchy of the Clergy===
Kentis
Formally known as "The First Servant", the kentis is the head of the Angelaean church. According to the Teachings of Faxemis Angelae, the Kentis is the successor of the first of the three prophets, who were sent by the gods to guide the faithful, and thus is the Vicar of the Gods. The Kentis is believed to be exempt from error when making official decrees as it is believed that Faxemus directly inspires The First Servant in certain occasions. It is the responsibility of the Kentis to oversee the entire Angelaean church, managing the church's resources to ensure its growth. 
Cardinals
The cardinal council works like a council of higher priests, being responsible for the ordination of fellow bishops. Once a Kentis resigns/ dies without appoiniting anyone as the new leader, the cardinal council will become responsible for choosing the new leader. Being a Cardinal means, just like with being a Patriarch, being a Bishop, but with another function.
Patriarch
A Patriarch is the Bishop responsible for overseeing the religion in a nation. Nations may be awarded the right to have their own patriarch if the church grows to a size that justifies it. The Patriarchs are responsible for organizing nation-wide events, and are given the power to start the cannonization process of saints. They are allowed to research potential saints, studying their life and, if they find it fit, they are allowed to send them directly to the Kentis, who is the only one with power to veto it.
Bishop/ Archbishop
A Bishop is a clergyman with the authority of ordaining other clergymen, thus making them priests. The Role of Bishop is the highest among the church, with all the others, such as Patriarch and Cardinal, being just extra function that may be given to a Bishop. A Bishop controls a Cathedral instead of a Church, and is the only one allowed to ordain holy ministers. 
Priest / Archpriest
A Priest is a man or woman who has been ordained by a Bishop, and who either is responsible for a church or works with someone who is responsible for a church. 
Discipuli (aprentices)
People in the path of becoming part of the clergy
* Finis fidei: People in the 2nd stage of becoming a priest.
* Initium fidei: People in the 1st stage of becoming a priest
===Monk Hierarchy===
Head Monk
Responsible for the city's monastery and general of the troops with religious functions in his city/ nation. He commands the monastery, acting as it's leader. 
Substitutus
Head monk's replacement, that has the responsibility of distributing tasks among the monks.
Monk
Member of the city monastery 
== Temples and Rituals ==
For a temple to be considered as Faxemis Angelaean it must only worship the Faxemis Angelaean deities, have altar where the holy minister may perform services and sacrifices, and have a body of water, with a minimum size of 3 x 3, where sacrifices can be placed (normally inside a barrel that is set on fire). To be officially recognised as a temple, it must first be blessed by a bishop, in a Temple Blessing Ceremony.
The religion of Faxemis Angelae has 5 types of temples: Shrines, Undefined temples, Churches, Cathedrals and Basilicas.
=== Temples of the Faith ===
Shrines
It is very common for Angelaeans to have small shrines built within their own homes, as they're used as the main place of worship for local saints and ancestor spirits. Furthermore, shrines are also very commonly found in the wilderness, serving as a safe place for travelers.
Churches
Churches are the default Angelaean temple. They are overseen by a priest or an archpriest and hold holy ceremonies such as services, marriages and baptisms. Unlike what is commonly believed, the size of a temple doesn't determine its rank, as many churches are bigger than cathedrals. Churches, Cathedrals and Basilicas are overseen by holy ministers whose rank ultimately decides the importance of said temple. Cathedrals
A Cathedral is a temple overseen by a Bishop or an Archbishop. They will usually get their rank from the responsible clergyman, climbing up and down the ranks depending on its overseer. However, it is also possible for a church to become a cathedral on its own if a significant event takes place there, such as an apparition.
Basilicas
A Basilica is a temple held by the Kentis, the head of the faith, and therefore the most important of the temple. 
Unclassified Worshipping Sites
Although less common, there are also some worshipping sites which do not fall into any of the previous categories, such as the Saint Harold Statue in Fort Harold. These structures usually predate the faith in that area, and are normally just places of worship used by older faiths of the region.
=== Rituals of the Faith ===
SacrificesThe temple must be purified through placing redstone scattered throughout it, and in front of the doors overlooking the outside. Then the priest should go up to the altar and call the divinity to whom the sacrifices are intended. After calling it several times and saying prayers together with the worshippers they must say what they need from that divinity (protection, help, wisdom, etc.). Then put the barrel in the center of the water, put the sacrifices inside the barrel, catch fire to the barrel, and then call the divinity that you're worshiping to come and get your sacrifices
Baptism
A Baptism is usually done in (or near) a Faxemis Angelaean holiday, as to honor the gods. The ceremony takes place in an Angelaean Temple, and a clergy memeber must be present. The Baptisee should stand in the middle of the water inside the church while the minister starts the ceremony. Marriages
A Marriage is a union between two individuals, with the aim of producing offspring. It is done is a very similar manner to a normal service, although it borrows some parts from Baptisms and has some unique stuff too.
Priest ordination process
1st stage: The Discipuli shall be introduced to the clergy tools, to the holy books and to how rituals work. While in their first stage they shal build a chuch of their own.
2nd stage: They will be introduced to other clergy members’ texts and will conduct some supervised rituals. They must now write at least one theological book of their own. 
Last stage: They shall now swear loyalty to the gods and to the Kentis and go on a pilgrimage to a holy site.
Death Blessings
It is common for the deceased to be blessed before their funeral, as a way to clense them of their sins, and to pray that their souls may be worthy of entering the Angelaean equivalent of Paradise.
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