Divum Order

> "It is fascinating how, the farther we ascend into the skies, the more our wars for personal glory seem like the trifles of ants, unable to recognize the insignificance of their actions. Perhaps that is why God has judged us so poorly."
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## Overview

Vaile's new call to move beyond humanities categorizations and to reach the Kingdom of Heaven themselves was not viewed positively by the Australian Government, whose recent "Iron Visa" policy was in direct conflict with Vaile's ideas. Yet, among a population in a crisis of faith, Australian persecution only helped the ideas to spread. Though it is hard to pinpoint the exact causes of this branch, one of its beliefs - that all those good in Humanity could still be saved, even without a consecrated graveyard, if Humanity reached the Kingdom of Heaven - appealed greatly to certain individuals who had lost much of their family to the waves. Australia's execution of Vaile also did nothing to help their cause, making him into a martyr.

New airship technology played a crucial role in the faiths development. A crashed Corsair, repaired by members of the faith, became the headquarters for what was to be called The Divum Order, or the Order of the Sky, which used both awe and military force to establish itself across Perth as the leading player following Australia's collapse. It also helped to establish the tradition of the leadership ruling from the clouds, which today lies in Heaven's Gate, an airship of the highest caliber that is said to be the closest humanity has ever achieved towards reaching the Kingdom of Heaven.

The religion today has generally been called **Astrumism** (after it's connection to the stars) or Astrum Christianity, though it has also been called **Vaileism** after Vaile himself. There are some important principles that define the belief:

1. That Jesus's ascension was actually a call to rise up to the heavens, and was ignored by humanity;
2. That God flooded the world to change the course of Humanity, and help them reach salvation;
3. That Humanity must reach the Kingdom of Heaven, using the gifts of Intelligence, Compassion and Free Will;
4. That all good Souls, of all creeds, will be saved by reaching the Kingdom of Heaven.

A number of interesting characteristics in Astrumist society have developed from this. For instance, Astrumist pilgrimages tend to be by going into the sky, rather than a specific holy site, as it is said that rising as high as you can above the clouds gets you closer to god. This also applies in death, where an industry of civilian airships have developed around taking the dead into the sky to preform funeral rites. Scientists and engineers tend to be some of the most favored in Austrumist society, as their existence is vital to the advancement towards reaching the Heavens.

There is also a notable tolerance towards other religions. To Astrumists, by reaching the Kingdom of Heaven, they will save all good souls of all creeds, even those that are lost. They can even be especially honored, as long as they help towards the final goal. A Sipelebegu by the name of Iman Fengge, who was vital to the creation of the Divum Order's airships, is an example of one who was particularly awarded for their contributions.

The Divum Order is run from a twenty-four member theocratic council in Heaven's Gate, lead currently by Apostolic Callum Enlai. While anyone can be on the council, membership is elected by among members of the church, who are chosen based on their contributions towards reaching the Kingdom of Heaven. The voting base is rather selective, currently making up around 12,000 people or ~0.65% of the total population, but it's makeup is rather demographically accurate, save for representing people of a certain mindset more than others. While the council tends to live on Heaven's Gate, some members do live on other airships, in order to prevent the collapse of the government in case of crisis.

Demographically, while White Australians hold the plurality of the country, mass immigration means that those of a SEA ethnicity are expected to take that plurality in a couple years. Immigrants, or those born outside of the country, also make up around half of the entire population. While not particularly important to the Divum Order, as those that tend to immigrate come from missions or tend to be integrated, the makeup of the country may have an impact on other people's perceptions. Religion wise, Austrum Christianity is the clearly dominant faith, yet other faiths do exist in the country. Accurate demographics on faith, however, are hard to come by, as a significant public pressure in the country - even with Astrum's tolerance - simply due to the government control over media, it's theocratic nature and highly integrated social practices.

## History

The end times were here. The great cities and monuments humanity had built were nothing but dust, taken by the unforgiving waves that held no signs of ending their crusade. People were flung from their homes, forced to flee into inhospitable land under a government more focused on stopping "outsiders" from entering the country then caring for their people. Broken and dismayed, Pastor Vaile looked into the sky, searching for the answers. Why had God forsaken them?

It was here that the truth was revealed by God. God had not forsaken humanity; nay, They had given humanity all the tools to reach the Kingdom of Heaven. Intelligence, Compassion, Free Will. What had humanity done with it? Fought for Greed, lived in Selfishness and embraced Hate. When Jesus had ascended to Heaven, it was a message to follow him, not to wait for his return. Jesus may have died for humanity's sins, but humanity was to reach the Kingdom of Heaven themselves, in order to truly rise to God. This was Judgement Day - but not out of hatred to humanity, no. It was a Final message on the insignificance of the land, and the need to ascend to Heaven, not only to save ones own Soul, but save all the good Souls still trapped on Earth.

So Vaile spread God's own words, to move beyond the confines of our creed, and to reach for the Kingdom of Heaven, and leave the sinking Earth. The Australian government, still controlled by Greed, Selfishness and Hate, tried to crush this message. They slaughtered Vaile in the public, claiming to work for them. Yet the Truth of Vaile's message grew, and as the Australian government fell into itself, the Truth began to guide the lost people of Perth towards the stars.