Kiarism

**Kiarism** is a religion native to Selten that has gone through periods of success and utter scatter, having gone up to fourteen thousand years mostly extinct until the reformation of the Order of Kiari. Kiarism worships what is seen as the younger sister of both Rhya and Soria, **Kiari**, who is the embodiment of the blood of life. While not necessarily the creator of life in the twin galaxies, Kiari is understood to help both of the guardian souls maintain it, by granting the necessary vessels for it to function. This vessel, blood, is one of the primary focuses of Kiarism's worship.

Kiarism, while showing its reverence towards Kiari, also shows reverence towards Rhya and Soria as well. It's an intended design of the religion that believing in both Kiarism, and either Rhyanism or Sorism, is not mutually exclusive; one simply would need to find the room for Kiarism in their personal pantheon.

Kiarism also acknowledges Dukorism in its texts and practices, though not nearly to the same extent as Rhyanism and Sorism, in part due to having limited historical contact with the religion.

## Essential Tenents

1. **Supremacy of Rhya and Soria:** Kiarism makes it clear in its texts that Kiari is only the younger sister of Rhya and Soria, both viewed as female in their interpretation, and that disregarding the twin-mother souls is heretical. Those that discount *both* of the twin-mother souls are viewed as dangerous; and will find little patience from practitioners of Kiarism. Since, ultimately, the twin-mother souls are viewed as the elders of Kiari and as the creators of both Aoshtai and Selten in their entirety; Kiari merely assists them.
2. **Religous Organization:** Kiarism is organized into various guilds, associate chapters, and other bodies that are under the stewardship of the Order of Kiari. The Order of Kiari is viewed as the ultimate authority of all spiritual matters, and of all matters related to Blood Psionics; any attempt to undermine this is viewed as heretical and dangerous.
3. **Leadership of the Magis:** The most psionically inclined, and in-tune, members of the Order shall lead the religion in a Grand Magi Council; their word is seen as having a near ultimate authority on the direction of the religion. However, the concept of pluralism is also important among Kiarists, the rights and opinions of life being seen as sacrosanct; as a result, a lower Consultative Council should be maintained to interpret the decisions by the Magis.
4. **Sisterly Bodies:** The Patriarchate of Lessos and the Church of Soria are seen as sister organizations that share the common goal of seeking, and worshipping, the divine fundamentals of this reality.
5. **Sanctitiy of Blood Psionics:** Blood Psionics is viewed as one of the main ways to dabble in the divine of Kiarism, tuning oneself to the blood vessel of life, and through that life energy itself. Practicing blood psionics for the pursuit of humanitarianism is viewed as divine, and self-defense as righteous; however, practicing the art for wanton violence or unjustly violating the rights of sentient beings is viewed as the highest order of heresy.
6. **Sanctity of Life:** Life is viewed as sacrosanct, in particular the life of sentient beings, and it must never be unjustly encroached upon by a practitioner of Kiari.
7. **Charity:** Practitioners of Kiari are expected to donate 10% of their yearly earnings to charity organizations of their choice, in a bid to help sustain and care for life in the cluster. Further, at minimum practitioners are expected to volunteer with these organizations every five years for a period of one month.
8. **Humanitarianism:** Directly participating in the reduction of life's suffering in the cluster is viewed as a holy cause. Because of this, the Order of Kiari and their associate guilds are obligated to provide humanitarian assistance however they can; whether it be through hosting medical expeditions or assisting ships in distress.
9. **Go in Peace:** Practictioners of Kiari are expected not to act in a belligerent fashion for no good reason; disorder is seen as detrimental to life.
10. **Glory of Society:** Society is seen as one of the ultimate manifestations of life, almost a biological system in of itself, and as a result is generally held in an incredibly high regard. Disorder, acts of unjust rebellion, and other anti-social acts are disparaged. However, if a society is particularly cruel, then they can lose the glory of life; in this case then they are viewed as a malevolent force.
11. **The Great Evil:** The Void is viewed as the penultimate evil to all life. Understanding is given to those tainted by it who are benign, but willful worshipers/harborers of the void and entities from said place are to be shown no mercy, they are to be destroyed.
12. **Life is a Cycle:** Ultimately all will die eventually, and when this happens their life energy shall be allocated to points beyond; but their blood vessel of life shall remain, and it will be reintegrated into the natural cycle and be broken down, to later be used again.

## Symbolism

The main symbol of Kiarism, Kiari's Rising, has multiple meanings. The rising phoenix is Kiari herself, helping uplift all life along her bloodied wings; while the circle above her head is the twin galaxies of Aoshtai and Selten collided together as one, representing the combined glory of both Rhya and Soria as their galactic spirits. As well though, the circle also represents the life blood of all who live in the twin galaxies, and the sanctity of it.