Order

Order is a religion considered unorthodox by most theists as it enshrines contradiction as proof of concept. It is most common in south-eastern Avalor with its followers ranging across the entire globe.

## Order

The Arrow of Order, symbol of the religion

### Founder

Pocket

Order was founded at the beginning of time when several nomads banded together under the need for structure and stability among the discord of the world. They were lead by the Patriarch of Order, Pocket, who relayed several visions of a monotheistic faith lead by Order. The Church of Order then immediately sought to found a capitol for their religion, later founded as the City of Polis, the first city on Avalor (Which shows just how old Order is). With a theocratic capitol for the faith secure, it would begin spreading town to town using missionaries.

As the faith expanded the Church understood it required a structure to stand on instead of being open to interpretation. And so The First Reformation began, with a complete overhaul of the faith and its ideals while also staying to the true meaning of contradiction. At the end of this reformation the Patriarch Pocket announced his official resignation and appointment of the Patriarch Lvancais in his place. Pocket, according to the records of Polis, was not found dead but instead disappeared on a path heading north just one hour after he announced his abdication (He returned a year later, yet never spoke of the time absence).

Lvancais I was notably more radical and absolutist than Pocket. He emphasizes the want for absolute Order devoid of any compromise and as such has been devoutly denouncing any false religions in Ordelic territory. The largest target of these righteous denouncements is Breadism, which Lvancais I has directly said "sold their souls to the creatures of chaos and destruction". Lvancais organized the Invasion of Seligard which resulted in a decisive Ordelic victory. Lvancais I died shortly after this from natural causes, and appointed the current Patriarch Liemed I, formerly Viserys Lovsson II

## Figures

### Order

The deity of Order, referred to as just 'Order'(with more emphasis while speaking) cannot manifest in the physical world. This means that it can only directly communicate to people through dreams, lucid states, artifacts, hallucinations, and rituals. Records from the archives of Polis do say that Order never directly interfered in the world in the past, yet did use his Apostates to assist his followers when called upon (often in dire situations).

### Apostates

If you live a faithful and prominent life following Order you have a chance at becoming a Saigonnt, Order's version of Saints. After one is Sanctified and eventually dies they are judged directly by the godly manifestation of Order if they are worthy of becoming an Apostate, which would constitute service even after death. If the person is judged righteously, and the person agrees, they become an Apostate of whatever they despised and opposed the most in life. Apostates are able to interact in the physical world, yet only do so when commanded by Order. Here are the current Apostates:

* The Apostate of Corruption, Orieul.l
	+ Represents Justice and Fairness, often manifests before the innocent or guilty to judge them, also before those who are about to make rash decisions. Entire body appears as if it was a statue of marble(eyes too, which have no pupils), including clothing which is a toga bearing a silver upwards arrow on the right shoulder. Carries a Splendored Blade with no tip on their right side.
* The Apostate of Peace, Gadrul.l
	+ Represents War and Destruction, often manifests to destroy direct oppositions of Order with divine intervention as well as assist/bless military commanders. Clad in golden and pure white battle armor outlining a slim human body, the helmet only has a single golden arrow in the center. Carries two Splendored Blades, one of which is significantly longer and thinner than the other.

## Main Beliefs

### Theology

Order is a religion widely considered unorthodox and abnormal by theists. It is monotheistic, focusing only on one God not multiple deities. This one God, however, is built around the idea of absolutes with subjective ideas being heretical. Despite this, contradiction of the faith is seen as holy and proof of concept. An example of this is one of the translated Pillars of Order (more on this later) which reads 'Stability is Unpredictability'. Notably this phrase can be reversed and its meaning that 'with Stability comes Unpredictability so they are interchangeable' does not change. Contradiction brings about a want for absolutes, and since Order is an absolute it brings about a want for order. The core of the faith is Order as it is a ground to base your own faith off of. If you cannot find Order in the sea of subjectivity then you are damned to insanity, so it is needed that you are able to control your thoughts and your interpretations of god (using Order to do so).

The Church of Order condones dozens of different interpretations, some contradicting each other, all as canon. To many different sections of the faith the central church, located in Polis, is a sort of decision maker for disputes and ideas on peoples interpretations of the faith. The church has done this job unbiased since the beginning of time, often siding with the side that is the closest to the original faith as possible.

### Pillars

Apart from contradiction being a cornerstone of the faith, Order has three Pillars of Order that make up the structure of the church. These pillars are always written in High Ordelic, the official language of the church, and as so far only one of them has been translated. They are,

> STAIBGONLOI.S SGONT GODRUXEIXP.S (STABILITY AND UNPREDCTABILITY)
>
>
> FGONDEIS SGONT CMEDNFGONR.MED
>
>
>
> MEDRDGODRU.EI IET VEHHAIMEDS
>
>

High Ordelic in general is only used for ceremonial events and spoken by those in the upper ranks of the church in holy places. It is also used in other ceremonial events such as masses, diplomatic invitations, and speeches.

## Symbols and Practices

### Practices

All followers of Order must declare their willingness to follow Order to join the faith and, in their lifetime, take a pilgrimage to the City of Polis. Followers are allowed to associate with those not in the faith as well as even backtalk the faith in their free time, yet they must declare their loyalty and take a pilgrimage in order to be in the faith. Both of these things are Sacraments of Order.

### Sacraments of Order

* The Sacrament of Conversion
	+ Order does not believe in baptism as children are unable to understand what God really is from so early on. Because of this, when someone is ready to follow Order they will simply announce the phrase 'I, (Person), am a proud follower of Order' to the world.
* The Sacrament of the Pilgrimage (Self explanatory, take a pilgrimage to Polis)
* The Sacrament of Consultation
	+ This involves meeting with a Prior and discussing your beliefs about Order, checking to see if any of them are straying from the faith. It, in a way, is confession but not for your sins, instead to discuss your beliefs.
* The Sacrament of Branding
	+ Once a person believes they are ready to go down a more spiritual path they may take the Sacrament of Branding by going to their nearest holy place. There, upon asking a Prior, you will be branded with a flaming sword anywhere you choose on your body. The sword is designed to display an arrow after branding, which makes this sacrament permanent on your body. This is only for those who believe themselves fanatical followers of Order.
* The Sacrament of the Prior
	+ To become a Prior you must undergo all past sacraments and this one. All that is known is that it is done in stages of trials, all mental none physical, to see if you are worthy of becoming a Prior. Once done you are a Prior and free to preach the word of Order with the authority of Polis.

## Symbols

The main symbol of Order is a single upwards facing arrow, this is featured in several areas in holy places and even on the robes of Priors (priests). Other symbols include things that are completely stationary, such as mountains and (in some cases) books.

It is important to note that the arrow is viewed as the most basic symbol of order, as the God is up to interpretation. Because of this, followers are encouraged to depict Order as whatever they wish (yet the usually come back to the arrow as the central piece.)

All Priors of Order have robes they can wear that show the arrow among other things, yet most choose not to wear the robes. Fanatic Priors, mainly those in Polis, choose to wear blindfolds with their robes. It is said that those who wear blindfolds have seen Order in his true form, and once they take off the blindfold they will die due to his radiance, so they shield their eyes.