Udarism

Udarism is an **Ascensionist** faith that first started in Penhira around its namesake sacred river, the Udarah, as a marriage of more local beliefs and the thoughts of a multitude of Sages. Udarists believe that the highest goal a person can aspire to is to become Pure and to ascend to the Heavens, so that they may be without worldly troubles and so that they may observe the Cosmic Order without worldly imperfection. To this end, they frequently bathe in rivers and wellsprings, seeking to attain a purity of spirit through rites of cleansing. They believe these natural and sacred sources of water are part of the Cosmic Order for this very purpose.

Udarists also believe that they can directly commune with the Pure through the heavenly bodies, with many of their greatest Sages claiming to have had visions, dreams or sometimes even direct conversations with the stars and planets, which sometimes take on the forms of prominent figures from history or loved ones. Because there is a pressure to seek such revelations out amongst the priesthood, some use certain drugs during their cleansing rituals or stargazing in an attempt to attain such. It should be noted, however, that even these experiences are by no means exclusive to their priests, as it is believed that any Udarist can go through such visitations.

Udarism puts a particular emphasis on their elders, as they believe that enlightenment is a sign of worldly purity. They too hold a great amount of reverence for their ancestors, as they are often seen as the most approachable of all the Pure in the Cosmic Order and many of them wish to see their loved ones one last time, to know they have ascended.

### Rites and Practices

The Cleansing: A rite where the Udarists gather in the waters to achieve inner purity through outer cleanliness. Sometimes Sages call upon the people to clean themselves more and more often in times of great strife, so that through inner purity the Cosmic Order may reflect outer cleanliness. Notably, Cleansings also serve as the rite of adoption for Udarists and it is expected for new members to have participated in them.

The Revelation: Revelation can take many different forms, but it is always a matter of religious importance, as Udarists believe any vision someone receives should be shared with the community. They encourage each other to gather every now and then to share these messages from the Pure with the community. There is no ban on sharing them at the dinner table or tavern first, however.

The Final Voyage: In their burial rites, the Udarists start with a Cleansing, both to help those left behind with the many feelings that can arise from the death of a loved one and to ensure that the body is as clean as can be. Afterwards they send the remains out on a boat. Traditionally, they’d let these boats down the Udarah, since none of them returned from the sea after they left the sacred river, that is, until the Cataclysm.

### Terminology

* **The Pure** - Those that can observe the Cosmic Order without worldly imperfections. This term mostly applies to ancestors who are believed to have ascended to the Heavens. The end goal among Udarism is to number among them.
* **Sage** - A term for theologians and the wise Caeli that kept watch over the people's spiritual well-being. Anyone can become a Sage, as long as the people agree they are one.