Illegonity

Illegonity is an age old religion, with two opposing gods and a family of lesser spirits. Their main teachings revolve around duality, ancestry, and tradition, and these teachings are often passed on through religious community events and readings by spiritual leaders. Illegonity's teachings come from an ancient tome said to have been given to Illegos, the daughter of the God of Light, as a means to bring civilization to the world.

Illegonity features individual priests as the heads of religion in each realm. Their holy symbol is two pillars, II, standing for an ancient form of Illegonic secrecy.

Illegonics view magic as a way to connect with their ancestors, so new forms of magic are strongly frowned upon.

## The Gods of Illegonity

The two gods of Illegonity are the God of Truth and the God of Lies. According to the Book of Truth, written by Illegos. The God of Truth brought light and life into existence, while the God of Lies corrupted them into the material world. Because of this, the God of Lies is thought to be a deceiver and although equal of power with the God of Truth, must be shunned at all costs.

## Theosis

Theosis is a transformative process whose aim is likeness to or union with the God of Light, according to the Book of Light.

As a process of transformation, *theosis* is brought about by the effects of *catharsis* (purification of mind and body) and *theoria* ('illumination' with the 'vision' of Light). According to Illegonic teaching, *theosis* is very much the purpose of human life. It is considered achievable only through a synergy (or cooperation) between human activity and the God of Light's truths.

## The Twin Pillars of Illegonity

The Twin Pillars of Illegonity, or just the Pillars of Illegonity, are a common symbol for the religion or at least the symbol of the Patriarch of Laelyra.

The symbol is meant to depict the method of praying created by Illegos, who was then executed shortly after giving her final "Twin Gods" sermon. Although the Twin Pillars have not always been considered the ultimate symbol of the Illegonics, it has always been considered a symbol.

Historically, the Twin Pillars were first adopted by Illegonics in the Eifrit Empire. Due to the outright oppression of the Illegonics by the traditional polytheistic religion of the Eifrits, Illegonics were driven to practicing Illegonity in secret. The pillars were used first as a hand sign that would indicate a new member was an Illegonic and not an Eifrit. After a century of oppression, the symbol was integrated into jewelry, clothing, and art.

With the Exodus of the Alkhafia creating a crisis in the Eifrit Empire and expanding teifling kings, the Illegonics were able to form their own state in the form of the Hallowed Lands of Laelyra. The first Patriarch took the Twin Pillars as the coat of arms for lands, which has been kept on since.

The Twin Pillars was designated symbol by the Merian Emperor Isidoro, at to the Council of Illegos. The created the Merian System of understanding belief systems. The first religion studied with it being Illegonity, linked to the Twin Pillars.

## The Spirits

Illegonity is an assimilating religion. As its followers absorb those of other religions, they often take their local deities and convert them into the spirits, or helpers, of the God of Truth. This has lead to Illegonity spreading rapidly.

However, if a certain local deity is too unsavory for the Illegonity, it is not uncommon for it to be painted as a visage of the God of Lies, thus shunning it from worship.

Some spirits include:

Udarin, Spirit Of The Rivers

Kavtia, Spirit Of Miracles

Egton, Spirit Of Commerce

Tanos, Spirit Of Beer

Dizlos, Spirit Of Peace

Yteus, Spirit Of Beer

Ides, Spirit Of Wisdom

Esnas, Spirit Of Animals

Qiros, Spirit Of Loyalty

Vohion, Spirit Of Secrecy

## The Merian Empire

Illegonity spread throughout the Merian Empire quickly. It easily absorbed local deities into the menagerie of spirits allowed beneath the two gods. Once it became obvious to the ruling elite of the empire that Illegonity was impossible to be rooted out, it was accepted at the Council of Illegos.

From then on, the Merian Empire spread the Illegonic faith by the sword. This would ultimately lead to the oppression of many minority faiths, most notably Copranitists, who were massacred on the Day of Blinding.