Church of the All-Encompassing Void

The Church of the All-Encompassing Void is a minor religion within the United States of Columbia, dedicated to worshiping the All-Encompassing Void, a deity who values purity and order.

The Church is not monotheistic, and cheerfully accepts members of other congregations, as long as they hold to the major tenets of the Church and work to be pure and orderly.

Approximately 5% of the population follows the Church of the All-Encompassing Void.

## Major Tenets

1. Be pure in body, mind, and soul. Only perform in a way that is orderly in action, thought, and intent.
2. Every rightful thing in its proper place, and a proper place for every rightful thing.
3. The All-Encompassing Void will devour all things, flattening all resistance under the endless might of the Void. In the realms beyond the maw of the Void, the pure will be exalted, and the impure will be purified in the torment of endless screams.
4. Be kind to children, especially orphans, and set them on the path of purity and order.

When asked about the arbitrary nature of the Void's tenets, priests of the All-Encompassing Void shrug and say, "The ways of the Void are mysterious."

## Structure

The Church of the All-Encompassing Void doesn't have much of a formal structure. The Void connects with some people who value purity and order, making them petty saints and elevating them into its priesthood. Priests of the Void are called Custodians. There are no formal seminaries, and religious instruction is a combination of personal revelation and the *Exalted Books of the Bee*, the collected works of the first prophet of the Void. Custodians are expected to construct a shrine to the Void and use it as a base of operations and preaching.

### Icons and Symbols

The All-Encompassing Void is represented by a simple black circle. Sometimes dark grey half-circles or circles are located within the circle, representing specific powers of the Void to believers.

Custodians wear white aprons with the black circle of the Void. Faithful believers wear similar aprons when attending service, and often wear white armbands with a black circle when going about their daily lives. Custodians also carry brooms as a staff of office, and will sweep up after themselves or anyone around them if nothing more pressing is happening.

### Shrines of the Void

A shrine is a simple building with minimal ornamentation. The floor is tiled in regular black and white squares, ideally of closely fitted marble, but otherwise of whatever the shrine's Custodian can afford. The walls are usually whitewashed, but may be wallpapered in pale colors instead. There is no altar, simply a lectern for the Custodian. The faithful kneel on thick and colorful prayer rugs while hearing a sermon, and there is another, thicker and more elaborate rug placed behind the lectern for the Void. A representation of the Void is usually painted on the wall above the most elaborate rug.

Shrines of the Void only have a single floor. Steps and stairways are forbidden, and any elevation changes are made through gentle ramps.

The Shrine is kept extremely clean, with the Custodian and members of the faithful tidying up every few hours.

### Schools and Orphanages of the Void

The Church runs a number of religious schools for young children that provide a basic education. Most of the Church's limited funds go to supporting the schools.

The Church also runs orphanages, which consume most of the remaining funds.