Lunarism Faith

### Overview

The Lunarism Faith is an old religion within Drevhall that is devoted to The Silence. As ancient records attest, the faith itself existed for quite some time, faded away for an age or went to ground, and then experienced a resurgence. Some researchers describe it as ‘The Religion of the Dead’ or the ‘Faith of Souls’ due to its powerful associations with death and souls. Despite its associations with grim domains, the religion is known for being neutral and rather uplifting and peaceful, due to its principles and its tenets. It does not preach for violence or harm against others, rather it speaks of the understanding and acceptance of death and the importance of one’s soul. Thus it is common for undertakers, crypt masters, gravekeepers, healers, and wanderers to take up this faith religiously. Followers of this religion are commonly referred to as ‘Lunarists’.

### History

Out current knowledge of the Lunarism Faith is woefully incomplete, as our records of it are scarce aside from some that have been translated from the books found within the Silent Sanctum, located within the Moonlit Grove in the western parts of Drevhall.

The origins of the religion are unknown, as the evidence about its past gathered from the ruins of the Silent Sanctum remain silent on that point, but what is known is that the religion dates back to ancient times. From there, it grew. The followers began to devote themselves to the art of the gravekeeper and undertakers, tending to the dead wherever possible. It became common for Lunarists to wander the lands, assisting the people in maintaining the dead and condemning the undead back to rest. The religion also took inspiration and insight from other religions, such as how the Lunarists began to deem the Silence as ‘The Condemner’ due to what the True Believers of Gamagin follow in the trials of the True Believer's path. The Lunarists soon came to believe that the Silence took the opposite domains to the Elemental Gods in order to maintain balance - Moon and Night to balance with Sol, Ice to balance with the Deep One, Death to balance with the Earth Goddess, and Endings to balance with the Air God. The faith also relied on how their Goddess would view the other gods to form their own opinions on how their faith would treat the other religions.

However, the Lunarism Faith began to dwindle in numbers, due to how people outside the religion mistook the religion as a dark cult - the Lunarists faced constant terrorising and torment. One book indicated how followers of other faiths began showing hostility towards them, out of different beliefs and concepts.  Another book found within the ruins in the Moonlit Grove explained that many villages went as far as to attack followers of the faith, accusing them of practising Necromancy and darkened arts. Some compared them to being like the illagers. Temples and shrines were burned, as were good natured Lunarists who sought to help others.

Any remaining temples and shrines were sealed away by the remaining Lunarists, so that they would not be damaged any further - numerous texts and books tucked away from prying eyes. Others were damaged beyond repair with time or by those who despised the religion. Perhaps the faith could re-emerge in an age where it could be accepted.

### Beliefs

Overall, the religion is centrally about the understanding and acceptance of death, realising that one’s own demise is imminent and thus life should be lived to the fullest. The faith isn’t about converting others or preaching against false gods - but to grant reassurance to the living and peace to the dead. It is a religion that values the importance of one’s soul and of life’s experiences, be it good or bad. It’s about understanding why mortals have to suffer, big or small, in their lives. What it means to suffer from something and how to rise back up from it, to learn from past experiences and to grow from it. The Lunarism Faith does not expect a follower to worship through prayer, for the Silence may not listen, and even if she does, makes no reply, though a fair amount of them still pray. The faith believes that through one’s actions and living one’s life accordingly is a form of showing one’s devotion to the Silence. To follow Lunarism is to value what it means to live and to accept suffering, while respecting those who have fallen and to protect those who remain. It isn’t to abstain from conflict or to relinquish oneself from certain things, but more so to understand why death is a vital part of the world. These are the overall beliefs of the faith, though each Lunarists can have their own smaller beliefs and interpretations - so long as they do not sway far from the faith or cause issues.

The Silence is considered the main goddess of the faith, the one who holds domain over death, the moon, ice, night, and of judgement. The religion often focuses on such domains, with their own philosophies and beliefs tied to them - such as keeping watch over the dead, serving as the judges and overseers, and even basing some of their life lessons around ice. The Silence is considered the  patron of the religion and held in high regard, even though she does not answer the prayers of her own followers. Most Lunarists instead focus on living a good and noble life, in the awareness that they will one day die and will be judged by the Silence. Thus the Silence is always regarded with clear respect and honour by Lunarists, and taking actions that are against her are heavily frowned upon. However, those more zealous and misinformed would deem her the one true god, or consider her a patron of both Death and Undeath. While the Silence is her main name, she is also referred to by a series of other titles in the Faith: The Judge Divine, The Condemner, Lunar Incarnate, and Matron of Winter.

Other gods and religions are acknowledged and often respected by those who follow the Lunarism Faith - so long as such faiths do not go against the Silence’s domains.  The other gods are never dismissed or seen as unimportant but are instead respected as gods too, just not ones followed by the faith. The faith considers their stances on each one based on how the Silence is believed to have viewed them, along with how each one has acted in accordance with the world. The same applied to its followers. Those who followed the Earth Goddess and Gamagin would be welcomed into Lunarist temples and shrines, due to the faith’s belief that the Silence either respected or paid little heed to the two gods. Followers of Sol and the Air God would be met with some uncertainty - due to conflicting beliefs and past interactions. Those who followed the Deep One were met with disgust, due to the Deep One’s actions against the world and how the followers sacrificed lives to their god. Any other gods is a matter of debate, solely depending on whether such gods go against what the Silence stands for.

#### Tenets

The Lunarism Faith follows eight main tenets that help keep the faith structured. . These tenets have since caused Lunarists to maintain a relatively neutral and guiding mindset, focusing on either living their lives to the fullest or aiding those around them. However, while other religions expect their followers to follow the tenets strictly, the Lunarism Faith takes a different approach. The religion instead allows its followers to decide whether or not they fully commit to the eight tenets, as some may feel as though they can live a meaningful and good life through following only some of the tenets. Yet to truly be considered a Lunarist, you must follow the first four tenets, as the rest are considered optional.

1. Fear not death and the suffering it will bring - for it is the inevitable necessity of the world. Though the thought of fading from life is terrifying, it is to remind you to enjoy the simple moments in life. Let this end fuel you to give your every action meaning.
2. Know that to live is to suffer and to suffer is to live - there is no paradise or world without pain. You may bear all wealth and coin but know there's greater joys to be found, even within suffering. For we cannot bear wings to paradise, henceforth we shall walk.
3. Do not tempt the Goddess’ wrath and scorn - for your words shall be judged upon your demise. Live your life well, for you only bear one. Know that death will follow for wherever there is life, and those who spit upon it shall face death unrelenting.
4. Seek not undeath or immortality and do not be tempted by such, for it is an accursed path that brings more suffering than needed in your life. For where such thoughts emerge, so does Her only blade. For wherever the Judge’s Omen walks, only death will surely follow.
5. Be not afraid to walk into the harshest colds, for winter’s bite harms us plenty but we can endure. Though the coldness is cruel and unrelenting, there is beauty in the snow and it is through it that we can find the strength to keep moving forward. [Optional]
6. Wander in the shadows to find your way, for light can often blind those who stare into it too long. Do not fear what lurks in the darkness, nor the blackness in your heart. Do not avert your gaze from the truth of mortal nature - for mortals are neither light or dark, but both. [Optional]
7. When in doubt or in need of guidance, remember to look to the moon  - for She will not lead you astray in the night. Though Her domain is distant and far, let it remind you that she is watching over you and the world. Find reassurance in the night, for Her light there to guide. [Optional]
8. Pray for those who have fallen and respect their lives for what they were. Oversee the dead and tend to their rites, but also care for the living and those who mourn for the life that was lost. Be it friend or foe, remember they too walk the path of suffering. [Optional]

#### Holy Symbols and Representations

Lunarists often carry with them soul lanterns, which they believe serve as a means of attracting the dead and permitting its followers to send any souls trapped in the land of the living to the Silence. Other holy symbols can include jewellery or tattoos that bear or take the shape of the Lunarism Faith symbol - A crescent moon with a cyan crystal in the middle. Priests and followers typically wear white, grey, black, and cyan to symbolise their devotion to the faith, along with wearing steel masks with leather goggles and masks to protect one from any diseases on dead bodies. It is common to see Lunarists bearing sickles and swords that bear the Silence’s symbol on them, though many avoid using simple scythes due to how ineffective the weapon is outside of farmwork. Additionally, those of the faith often take care of and tend to crows and bats, as both are seen as sacred animals to the religion and the Silence. It’s common to see small sanctuaries set up near Lunarist Shrines to help take care of such animals. Poppies and Cornflowers are used by the religion as a sign of remembrance, hope, and patience - being used in funerals and in everyday life as dyes and decorations.

#### The Judge’s Omen

The Judge’s Omen is one of the most renowned titles and legends of the Lunarism Faith, deeply ingrained in the religion’s beginnings. No one knows what exactly the Judge’s Omen is, as  there’s been no clear sightings of an individual or item going by that name.  Some say it is a weapon wielded by the Silence’s Chosen, ever alight with the crimson glow of the Blood Moon. Others say it is a mortal who is the only mortal ever deemed worthy to be the Silence’s Chosen themselves. It has been a matter of debate between Lunarists for some time. What many can agree with is that the Judge’s Omen is the Silence’s blade upon the mortal world, the hand that judges all who they pass. The blade that hunts those who tamper with immortality or the Silence’s domains. The inevitable for those of undead nature or of cruel intent. Yet also the guiding moonlight for the faith and its followers, a loyal weapon to be used only to protect the living. It is even said that the Judge's Omen shared the main tenets of the Lunarism Faith to the earliest followers of the faith.

The Judge's Omen even has a legend connected to it: When someone who interacts with the Silence’s domains reach a point where it is too destructive or deep, the Judge’s Omen will appear. It is said that the moon shall turn crimson, signalling the goddess’ wrath. And with this eclipse, the Judge’s Omen shall come to those who deserve condemnation. Whether it’s through any usages of undeath, such as Necromancy, immortality, constant mass killing, and so on. This weapon or person is said to appear to such an individual. In doing so, they will strike the individual down into a most agonising death, condemning them to the Silence’s judgement at Journey’s End. And with such done, the Judge’s Omen moves on to another target. This is said to ensure balance is kept within the world, to ensure that mortals do not tamper with death itself, as such a domain is a core principle of Drevhall.