Ortueism

Ortueism is the largest **religion** in the world by number of practitioners.

It began as a moral philosophy refined by the nomadic **Cassumite** tribes from the arid mountains of what is now the Osmaniyan Empire. After inheriting control of a powerful state in the region and expanding its borders through diplomacy and conquest, a subject of the Jovidian Empire gave birth to an unconsummated baby and named him Ilhaduel. He was the Son of the Living God, and came to **Anfang** to guide this lost tribe back to His Father. They refused and attempted to publicly murder Him, but in doing so they doomed their empire and were crushed militarily within a year.

Many survivors who had repented of their scheming, prideful ways carried the message of Ortues and His Son to the nations of Anfang, offering redemption for all in the arms of the Living God. This made Ortueism a global religion over the course of the first millennium, and became known as the Ortueization of Uropa.

## Etymology

The name 'Ortueism' comes from 'Ortues,' the name given to the Living God. It is based upon the Ancient Umbrian word for origin, beginning, source, and benefactor. It is a translation of the meaning behind the now-lost Cassumite term for the Living God, obscured in mysticism and myth.

## History

### Primal Ways

Before the Era of Kings, the Era of Chieftains saw the worship of an ever-shifting pantheon of powerful-yet-flawed beings frequently (though not always) depicted as immortals. Occasionally they were portrayed as Humans who ascended to godhood through heroic deeds, but usually they were the divine first Chieftains of the great (and likely anachronistically portrayed) tribes of yore. The Old Gods were given varied domains from which their powers and abilities flowed, and they were given sacrifices and prayer for help and guidance in relation to their domain. Later stories of the Old Gods grew increasingly fantastical, with projections for future events or tales of adventure largely unrelated to explaining natural phenomena.

### The Dawn of Ortueism

> Main article: **Life of Ilhaduel**
>
>

After the fall of the Jovidian Empire, people groups spread throughout the world to escape the chaos of the aftermath. Among refugees and captured slaves came many disciples of Ilhaduel, and they brought along accounts of his life and deeds and death and revival. They wrote down their witness testimony and sent letters to others who had escaped the chaos of the downfall of the Jovidian Empire, helping them to avoid swaying off course or being distracted by the unique temptations of the places they had moved to.

The missionaries managed to gain followers in some villages but many rebuked them or mocked them or even persecuted them. Progress was slow but steady until the signs and miracles that some performed and the correct prophecies other missionaries made had managed to attract the attention of various rulers of Uropan states. From there the word went up to the highest of courts and even Kings could see the Truth in their message, far more spiritually resonant than the tall tales about the Old Gods that had become ever grander and unconnected to daily life.

One by one the rulers of the nations of Uropa bowed their heads to the Living God, and for a time their realms flourished and prospered in spite of the harsh weather and crippling diseases. Even as their faith splintered into new branches, the overarching shared religion of Ortueism provided a common bond that kept large-scale diplomatic relations fairly civil. Until recently, that is.

## Symbol

The symbol of Ortueism is the Sword of Life, also known as the Planted Sword. It is the weapon that carves out kingdoms and protects the helpless, but also a reminder of the danger of turning against God and Kin out of pride and anger. It is also the symbol of salvation that grew out of unearned persecution, the making of something Good and Eternal out of an evil and fruitless urge to sever man's fealty to the Living God.

This symbol is often simplified into that of a simple sword icon with its blade pointed downwards. More ornate depictions of the Planted Sword might contain intricate scenes of people and animals within the branches on the top of the hilt, resting at the base of the blade, or burrowing around the roots underground, but these are purely for artistic embellishment.

## Beliefs

At the core of all branches of Ortueism lie a shared set of beliefs held by everyone who practices the religion. Any denominations that vary from these beliefs are denounced as heretical.

* Ortues created the world and Humanity on it (See **Initium Creation Narrative** for more)
* The betrayal of Sarupa, Ortues' firstborn daughter, with Mino the first Human created the other **Races** and marked them all with stain of sin
* The salvation offered by pledging loyalty to Ortues through His son Ilhaduel, who came and lived a selfless life among mankind to remind Humanity of its Heavenly Father and His desire to bring them back into communion with Him

## Branches of Ortueism

Beyond those core beliefs there is a lot of variation in how to go about worshiping Ortues, relating to Ilhaduel, and living on the Right Path as He taught. There are three main branches of Ortueism that have a collective difference in views, and the largest of the sources of disagreement relates to the theological understanding of how the Old Gods from the Era of Chieftains relate to Ortues in the modern day. Additionally there are two less-practiced branches of Ortueism, and their observers are not numerous at all within **Grienzland**.

### Synenolicism

> The Old Gods are Paragons of Virtue, subservient to the Living God.
>
>

Synenolicism is the oldest of the three mainstream branches, being only beat out by Kuptan Ortueism which was the first church founded after the death and return of Ilhaduel. Synenolicism was the form that the church took in Uropa, founded in the **Nation of Umbria** several decades after the collapse of the Jovidian Empire to the east. Many of Ilhaduel's followers came to Umbria as slaves or pursuing captured family members after the war between their nations had concluded, and they brought with them the story of salvation. Over the centuries since then, the Synenolic Church slowly formalized as a means of ensuring theological compliance across larger and larger stretches of territory. Over many generations, workers incrementally built upon the magnificent palace designated as the Pellucian, called the Golden City on the Anointed Hill, and from there the holder of the seat of the Blessed Father reigns as the head of the international Synenolic Church.

Synenolicism itself is also commonly called the Reverence of the Paragons, due to the teaching that the Old Gods known to Humanity from before the life of Ilhaduel were actually great prophets, leaders, and spiritual forbearers sent to prepare the world for the coming of its savior. Many uniquely virtuous and revered members of the Synenolic Church since the coming of Ilhaduel have been posthumously promoted to the position of Paragon as well, mixing in with the pre-incarnation members as equals. Though one Paragon in particular holds authority over all others in the eyes of Synenolics, that being the earthly mother of Ilhaduel, Annah the Mother of Absolution.

Proper observation of the Reverence of the Paragons places heavy emphasis on ritual and rites, and significant focus on prayer to the Paragons for intercession with the Living God on behalf of the one praying. There are several holy days that are rigidly observed and outward displays of piety are common and expected. Synenolic hierarchy is very structured from the Pellucian on down to national offices, and doctrine is tightly controlled though not immune to changes over the years. All religious authority is seen as being in the hands of the Blessed Father, who is capable of stating spiritual truths which all must abide.

### The Church of Unity

> The Old Gods were personifications of different aspects of the Living God, before He was known.
>
>

The second of the Uropan branches of Ortueism, the Church of Unity arose out of a conflict that had been simmering under the surface within Synenolicism for many years. Many saw the veneration of the Paragons as spiritually dangerous, seeing the creation of individual cults for the Paragons that threatened to split off and spawn their own independent religions. To stave this off, a council of priests came together and decreed that the Old Gods were in fact simply facets of the Living God, anthropomorphized representations of various elements of Ortues' infinite being. This caused a great deal of controversy that eventually lead to a traumatic split in the faith, with the Church of Unity forming as a result. The difference in theology created conflict that grew and intensified over the centuries and was often used as a justification for war between states, so now a significant amount of animosity exists between Synenolicism and the Church of Unity.

Enforcement of religious compliance is not seen as an appropriate application of government power by the Church of Unity, as a direct response against the means by which people were subjected to the dictates of the Pellucian under Synenolicism. Rather, religious membership and devotion to the Living God is viewed as a community obligation and opportunity, so as to foster bonds between neighbors rather than something to be mandated from above. Due to the more communal nature of the Church of Unity, the hierarchical structure is much looser, with elders meeting in councils to discuss issues. Rituals are standardized and doctrine is set at these councils, but each local church has some room for specific implementation to match the needs of their congregation.

In the Church of Unity, worship of the Old Gods is often considered inappropriate, as they are recontextualized as guides or inspirations for how people are meant to act within a righteous society. The Church of Unity has a doctrine of Worship Through Vocation, as working hard with a grateful heart is seen as a way of following the example set by the Aspects of the Living God. Naturally, Church of Unity practitioners do not respect the veneration of the Paragons, viewing that as placing dangerous emphasis on individual parts of the Living God, to the potential exclusion of His perfect Unity.

### The Heavenly Tree

> The Living God was the true identity of the Patriarch of the Old Gods all along, and the rest of the Old Gods are his Heavenly Lords and Ladies.
>
>

The latest of the branches of Ortueism to appear, Heavenly Tree started off as an attempt to reinvigorate elements of cultural heritage set aside during the Ortueization of Uropa. It first began with the renewal of tribal celebrations as a means of community bonding, but soon spawned a movement that sought to harmonize worship of the Living God with historical reverence of the Old Gods. Over the years, the church of the Heavenly Tree was formed, based around an understanding that Ortues is actually the Romanum name for Votun, the Patriarch of the Old Gods. And the rest of the old pantheon are said to be His attendants, created first in His image.

In the Heavenly Tree, all of the Primal Ways are seen as valid methods of worshiping the Living God and His Lords and Ladies. There is very little emphasis on unified structure and protocols, and more on local/tribal traditions. Practitioners of the Heavenly Tree hold great reverence for forests and nature in general, and they are recommended to pray and conduct ceremonies in their family or tribal "Sacred Hurst," a hallowed grouping of large trees planted by ancestors many generations ago.

Due to its emphasis on more primitive forms of worship of Ortues, the Heavenly Tree boasts a larger percentage of Non-Human Races than any other branch of Ortueism.

### Austericism

Even in the remotest parts of the Rossiyan Federation, **the Unnoticed Life** has competition. Also known as Ancentral Veneration, Austericism is a splinter branch of Synenolicism that recognizes a separate cast of Paragons based on the local folklore and historical figures of the Rossiyan people. The difference in character between this group and the Western canon based around the Nation of Umbria is noticeable, with more emphasis placed on the merit of suffering and hardship, and the schism is an uneasy one due to the distance and cultural divide.

In place of the Synenolic Blessed Father, Austericism recognizes the temporal authority of their own paternal leader figure, the Earthly Steward who rules in lieu of Ilhaduel. The Austeric Church still has some sway with the peasants in Rossiya, though its place is precarious as the nobility and intellectuals dismiss its relevance and deny that its practice has any place in a better future for the Rossiyan Federation.

### Kuptan Ortueism

The actual oldest branch of Ortueism, Kuptan Ortueism refers to the specific church of Ortueism that took root in **Hikuptah**. At the time, Hikuptah offered a welcoming harbor for refugees from the splintering Jovidian Empire. The **Fey Cats** who lived there were already second-class citizens living under the Humans who now ran the nation, and the latter sought spiritual truth after being freed from their former worship of the fallen Fey Cats. Many of them took to Ortueism gladly, and the Fey Cats in particular recognized the Living God as the one who had struck them down and stripped their spirithood.

While the Humans who practiced Kuptan Ortueism shared many similarities to the original Synenolic Church, it took on unique idiosyncrasies due to the influence of the Fey Cats who adopted it. Hoping to restore their lost spirit nature, Fey Cat practitioners of Kuptan Ortueism began to pursue Pneuosis, an ancient term meaning roughly "spiritification." Their thought is that by following Ilhaduel's example while praying and meditating upon the nature of the Living God, they may gradually purge their minds of the sin that made them fall, and eventually be reunited with the Heavenly Lord as spirits once more.

There are nearly as many paths toward Pneuosis as there are seekers of it, but the shared elements often include a strict and secluded lifestyle either in solitude as a hermit or a small religious community such as a convent. Frequently, in addition to intensive meditative practices, Pneuosis-seeking sects often practice taking mind-altering substances during prayer, complete abstinence from pastimes, lengthy fasts without food, living in poverty after giving everything to the poor, and so on.

In modern times, there are very few practitioners of Kuptan Ortueism in Hikuptah today due to religious persecution there. But many who fled Ifrania brought their religion with them, and while the other Branches of Ortueism look upon the Kuptans with suspicious eyes, they have yet to take a harsh stance on it. That is, except for the Earthly Steward of Austericism, which declared Kuptan Ortueism as forbidden.