Abexilan Pavlovism

Abexilan Pavlovism, known to its followers as either Pavlovism or The Hand of Pavlovich, is a continuation of the Pavlovist faith extant on Rathnir and Jagdas. Many aspects of Abexilan Pavlovism, such as its monotheistic faith, inclusion of saints and reverance of animals (especially pets) are carried over from earlier versions of the faith. In other regards, however, Abexilan Pavlovism represents a significant divergence from its Rathnir and Jagdas counterparts; among the most significant differences are the alterations to the creation myth and the changes in the commands for Pavlovists to follow, placing a greater emphasis on the protection of nature rather than just pets. 
The causes for this significant break in the Pavlovist tradition are complicated and not fully understood by either non-Pavlovist scholars or the believers themselves. One of the most credible explanations is evidence pointing to the existence of a Pavlovist community on Abexilas prior to the arrival of Pavlovists from Rathnir. These believers, divorced from the traditions of Rathnir, developed a unique canon interpreting the stories of the faith differently and even adding new beliefs. The implications of the destruction of Rathnir and Eldham, worlds believed to have been created by Pavlovich, have also played a major role in altering the faith, with Pavlovists believing that they have a new mission to prevent the fall of this new world just as the last two did. 
==Origins and Creation Myth==
===Jagdas, Rathnir and Eldham===
Abexilan Pavlovists still believe in parts of the traditional Pavlovist creation myth - Pavlovich, the one true god, created his world in a state of natural harmony. The people of Jagdas were supposed to look after the animals of the world as, in the time before great kingdoms, animals protected them as they existed in the wild. However, as these people rejected this sacred bond and instead began abusing their animals, Pavlovich sent down the first of his followers to cleanse the world of evil. For a time, they lived in a Kingdom on Jagdas, but the world fell soon after due to unrelated events. After the destruction of Jagdas, these followers travelled to Rathnir. Although they collapsed soon after they arrived, some of the followers travelled north, where they integrated into the Order of the Aurora and converted them to the faith.
===Abexilas===
The origins of Abexilas in many ways echo the origin story of Rathnir, as per the revelations of the Nameless Saint. In the origin stories of boths worlds, Pavlovich created the world in order to provide his followers a place to flee and start anew following the corruption of the world that came before, with some time where the two worlds overlapped chronologically. However, the interference of other great beings, known to Pavlovists as 'Demons', resulted in the world becoming overrun with Lycans and Blighted, hampering the development of peaceful kingdoms. On Rathnir, the Escharians and the pre-Pavlovist Auroran Order defeated these monsters after a long war. 
On Abexilas, the world was reclaimed through the actions of the Nameless Saint, who Pavlovich revealed his truth to over many nights as he protected the Saint and their fellow villagers from attacks by Lycans. The Nameless Saint spread Pavlovich's truth all over Abexilas, inspiring soldiers to fight to reclaim the world. With Pavlovich's Hand guiding them in this war and with his gift of silver weapons, they succeeded in bringing peace to the world.
It is unknown how much time passed between the Nameless Saint and the start of the Voyager's Era. It is generally accepted to have been a considerable amount of time, as no pre-Voyager's Era Pavlovist communities survived to see the migration from Rathnir and Eldham. Fortunately, one literate group preserved the revelations of the Nameless Saint in a number of sagas based around each of the saints. When refugees from Rathnir finally arrived, these texts were rediscovered, prompting a mass conversion in the Realm of Taurëmár, now the only Pavlovist nation on Abexilas.
==Practices and Beliefs==
Pavlovism is a monotheistic religion, although it is notable for not believing in the omnipotence of their god. This is especially true of Abexilan Pavlovism, which believes that Pavlovich is in a state of weakness following the creation of the new world and it is the purpose of his followers to guard the world while Pavlovich regains his strength. 
===Holy Texts===
In previous eras, Pavlovism was an entirely oral tradition. Occasional books on Pavlovism were published but the primary canon of the faith was centred around the stories passed from generation to generation, tracing all the way back to Kolossyisk. The oral tradition still survives on Abexilas, but has also been supplemented with the addition of the Sagas, the texts discovered by the people of Taurëmár. The Sagas are not definitive holy texts as the majority are not the direct word of Pavlovich or his saints, instead being passed to the writers by an order of holy knights several generations after the death of the Nameless Saint. As a result, they more serve as a codification of the traditions which already existed as opposed to direct revelations. At certain points in the Sagas, most notably chapter 4 of the Deingelun, however, the writers do claim that the text is the direct word of Pavlovich or of his saints. Some credibility is lent to these texs by the fact that they, despite predating the Voyager's Era, contain many accurate references to Jagdas and Rathnir - stories which the native Abexilans are not believed to have been able to know without some form of divine intervention. 
Of the Sagas, only the Deingelun, The Saga of the Nameless, is available to be read by the public as of now. Apart from the Deingelun, which was recently translated, the sagas are entirely written in Aréte, a language which few within Taurëmár and none outside can read. No printed editions have been created either, further limiting their audience to the Taurëmári elite. The Deingelun records the story and revelations of the Nameless Saint and is generally regarded as the most important of the sagas, as it claims to contain the direct commands of Pavlovich to his followers.
===Virtues===
Modern Pavlovism dedicates itself entirely to the protection and preservation of the world and all of Pavlovich's creations that exist within it. In order to accomplish this task, Pavlovists are instructed in the Deingelun to created Ilenarés - Often translated as 'sacred communities'. The basic component of these Ilenarés are families and their pets, the bond between them being referred to as the 'sacred bond'. Through this sacred bond, Pavlovists aim to preserve the natural harmony of the world as Pavlovich created all life with a part to play in a natural order. Those who cast away their companions now that we have entered the age of great realms will soon bring destruction upon themselves, for they will collapse the harmony of the world.
===Sins===
Generally, Pavlovism is lenient in terms of its sins. As Pavlovists revere all life, they generally believe in tolerance and acceptance of others for the sake of cultivating a peaceful community which does not destroy others unnecessarily. Most actions that are explicitly forbidden within Pavlovism tend to center around the corruption or destruction of the world and of living beings, as well as the corruption of the Ilenaré. 
Harming animals remains reviled in Pavlovism, and offences against animals are treated with the same severity as offences against people. The punishment for murdering an animal is death, and Abexilan Pavlovists still practice the concept of a 'Dog War', in which the killing of a pet by a foreign citizen can trigger a war if the offender is not brought to justice. Bringing needless harm to other people is also considered sinful, for it prevents the creation of a harmonious Ilenaré.
Acts which destroy the land are also considered sinful. Irresponsible deforestation or destruction of the terrain is a sinful act in Pavlovism as Pavlovists aim to keep the lands they inhabit healthy. While warfare is permitted under some circumstances, unjust wars of aggression go against the Truth of Pavlovich, being destructive to both land and life alike. Wars of conquest are especially sinful and those who attempt to forge great empires through war are mentioned in the Deingelun as being especially evil.
Pavlovists are instructed to obey the laws of non-Pavlovist communities, provided they do not directly contradict Pavlovich's Truth.
===Treatment of Lycans and Blighted===
Abexilan Pavlovism takes a much less hardline stance towards so-called 'Lycans' than Rathnir Pavlovism. While Lycans remain reviled, Abexilan Pavlovists largely understand the word to be synonymous with werewolves. As such, species of human-animal hybrids such as Faun and Vulpur are accepted as fellow creations of Pavlovich, as opposed to Rathnir Pavlovism which sought to destroy any mix of human and animal.
Abexilan Pavlovists, however, maintain a strong stance against any deemed to be 'Blighted' - denoting any beings that exist in a state between life and death. Reinforced by their committment to the defense of all life, beings such as zombies, vampires, re-animated skeletons or other such undead are seen as affronts to Pavlovich's creation. 
===Treatment of Other Religions===
The Deingelun states that, while Pavlovich is the only true god, the deities of other faiths are accepted as existing but with their status as deities being denied. These 'gods' are referred to in the Deingelun as the Ancient Ones - beings that were not the creation of Pavlovich and although less powerful are still capable of influencing Pavlovich's creations. Worshippers of these faiths are generally tolerated through the example of the many non-Pavlovists who contributed to the defence of Pavlovich's creations, from the Soleannen Escharians to the non-Pavlovists of Aurora.
Some of the Ancient Ones, on the other hand, were given the title of 'Demons' for their desire to destroy Pavlovich's creations and worship of them is forbidden. There is no definitive list of all the Ancient Ones believed to be Demons, but it is generally accepted to be any who bring destruction or are associated with the void, which Pavlovists believe to be the final resting place of all who are unworthy of Nebesa. Examples of deities widely accepted as Demons include Entropy, Segra and Gruh.
===Saints===
Four of the seven major saints of Abexilan Pavlovism are carried over from Rathnir: Rapolas, the Saint of the Wild; Bozhidar, the Saint of Health; Xalian, the Saint of the Afterlife and Nikephoros, Saint of Smithing and Victory. In addition to these saints, three more are referenced in the Deingelun. 
Sections of Pavlovists on Rathnir believed Miri to be a saint but her status one of the major saints of Pavlovism was solidified by her presence in the Deingelun. She is revered as the Guardian of the Battlefield and Saint of the Home and is one of four saints who existed in the early years of Rathnir, prior to the end of the Southern Incursion. She is described as the wife of an Escharian Soldier who was killed during the Incursion and whose village was attacked by Lycans. When the soldiers of Escharia were defeated and the Lycans began to close in on their village, Miri is said to have led her people to the top of Mount Gentumar where they mounted a last stand.
Aurelian's status as a saint was also confirmed by the Deingelun, in which he is referred to as the Saint of Leadership and the Ilenaré. 
There is no canonical confirmation of what the Nameless Saint is the saint of, but oral tradition tends to consider the Nameless Saint to be the Saint of Abexilas.
===Afterlife===
Current Pavlovist beliefs on the afterlife are largely identical to those of the earlier world. Pavlovist tradition states that there are two afterlifes - the Void and Nebesa. The Void exists below the realm of the living, sealed by a great plate of bedrock. This understanding of the void as an afterlife, combined with the Pavlovist reverence of all life and rejection of all undead as 'Blighted', is largely the explanation for Pavlovism's strong opposition to all who worship the void or attempt to connect the two realms. The other afterlife is Nebesa, an immortal paradise which the Ancient Ones are incapable of interfering with. This afterlife is reserved for Pavlovich's true followers, who will spend eternity by his side and among his saints.
=== Places of Worship ===
Within Abexilan Pavlovism, almost all Pavlovists primary place of worship is within structures referred to as Temples. However, Pavlovist worship and prayer is generally accepted in any serene and peaceful place. Pavlovist Temples are built and kept according to specific guidelines. These guidelines are as follows.
# All Temples should be built in the shape of a circle.
# All Temples should have a dome roof, in which some portions should be built of valuable ore.
# All Temples should house at least one tree of any variety within the confines of the temple.
# All Temples should have places for worshipers and their pets to rest. 
# All Temples must include at least one Symbol of Pavlovich within the confines of the temple 
# All Temples must have at least one Druid that tends to the temple, maintaining it's cleanliness and integrity.
By following these guidelines, Pavlovist temples are able to be sanctioned by the Archdruid of Pavlovism, and serve as an official place of worship and communication with Pavlovich. 
=== Hierarchy ===
Following the fall of Naverechniya, the vast majority of Pavlovists on Rathnir were subject to the hierarchy of either the Order or Kingdom of Aurora, As a result, the majority of Pavlovists were subject to a strict church hierarchy in which the interpretation of the Monarch, Grandmaster of the Order and their appointed Druids held considerable influence over the faith. The best example of this strict hierarchy is the treatment of Lycans by Rathnir Pavlovists, a practice which traced its origins to the pre-Pavlovist Order but became an unquestionable tenet of the faith through the Aurora's influence. 
With the end of Aurora, Abexilan Pavlovism has become a much more decentralised faith. Though some individuals are generally viewed as figures of authority, such as the Sereor of Taurëmár or the few Aurorans remaining in the new world, there is no authority on Abexilas with as much control of Pavlovism as the Auroran government once had. As a result, personal interpretation of Pavlovist teachings is considerably more prevalent on Abexilas.
Category:Lore
Category:Religions