Baphometism

Baphometism is a polytheistic religion of the Crimean Goths featured in Shrouded Piety. Baphometics believe in a variety of nature-based deities, most notably Baphomet, creator god, who is said to have planted all other gods as seeds in what resulted in Earth's creation. By the 4th century CE, the Crimean Goths would mostly convert to Christianity, save for a cult of personality attached to Suri Yaktosh, who would instead follow in her footsteps in becoming 'half-converts'—Baphometics who tried to combine Christianity and Baphometism.

## Sects

### Gothic Baphometism

*"Baphomet is the creator god of our people's old faith, said to have been born by the natural elements of the earth, and therefore king of said elements."* *―King Goltz-Plut, Order of Yaktosh - Prologue*

Baphometism is most present in Shrouded Piety, especially Order of Yaktosh, beginning in the story's prologue as the story centers around a Gothic Crimean population that is attempting to move beyond its pagan path and adopt Catholicism as its new state religion. Consequentially, Suri's resistance to fully abandoning her old faith leads to her exile down a well, only for her to be rescued by the Knights Templar centuries later. Since the Crimean Goths—notably Suri—have already become 'half-converts' or Christians by the time the story, there is very little representation of Baphometism as an independent religion. The key components of Baphometism is that the creator god, Baphomet, created the lesser gods of nature with the duty of maintaining a healthy nature in the world. Baphometics would regularly praise Baphomet and the lesser gods through nature rituals and song, both for the sake of giving praise as well as wishing for favorable weather conditions.

It is implied that Baphometism is an export from Europe that traveled with the Goths on their migration to the Crimean peninsula.

### Half-Convert Baphometism (Christian Syncretism)

*“This Baphomet is an angel?”*

*Jacob answered, “A sworn deputy to God, just as Suri is. The Grand Master and his council lack the foresight to see the obvious reality that Suri is no less Christian than any of us. She is punished for serving God’s most trusted seraph in Heaven—Baphomet.”* *―Suri Yaktosh and Jacob 'the Knight,' Order of Yaktosh - Chapter 8*

By the 4th century CE, the spread of Christianity has reached the Crimean Goths and effectively left the entire population abandoning Baphometism, either fully or at least as an independent religion. While most became Christians, others became 'half-converts,' a stubbornness spearheaded by Suri Yaktosh due to her fears of Baphomet, and spread throughout her cult of personality. The half-convert in this century simply contends that while Christianity is the true faith, the Baphometic faith is equally true, and therefore compatible with the Bible. In reality, there are very few ways of merging Christianity and Baphometism together, with the latter in fact having contradicting material in its theology that would disqualify it from working with the Christian faith. Despite this, Suri Yaktosh maintained without research nor valid arguments that this was indeed possible, and her cult of personality followed suit.

By the time of her liberation by the Knights Templar in the 13th century CE, Suri is the last of the Baphometics, almost a thousand years later still clinging onto her faith in Baphomet. During this time, however, a development in her half-convert belief is reached when she—together with a rising cult of personality among Templar knights—reach a new conclusion that Baphomet is a high-ranking angel of God, thus justifying Suri's half-convert theology, and consequently, restarting the cycle all over again of influencing a whole population to follow her belief system.

## Historical Account

Baphometism is a fictional system of belief, as is the notion that the Crimean Goths had any connection to Baphomet. While the deity, Baphomet, has a place in history, its role and prevalence in the world of Shrouded Piety is significantly inflated. The Knights Templar would be accused by the Catholic Church of having worshipped Baphomet, and whether true or not, Shrouded Piety adopts the narrative that Baphomet played a role within the order through Suri Yaktosh's influence.