Celestine of the Steel Realms

Posted on September 18, 2015 in Steel-Realms

Celestine of the Steel Realms the Uplifted, those given divine insight; The demi-divine principals of inspiration, knowledge, blood and power that emphasize a Gestalt approach. Their many Celestials children are much more human like. They are known to ally themselves momentarily for common cause with many of the gods of Helca. Routinely, they collaborate with Mitrabraeth the Giver – an Angel of The Radiant Spirit of the Lightbringers.

The modern age is heavily defined by the clash of faiths in the “Affray of Darkness and Light” in which the entities play a variable role.

Role: The Uplifting Beyond Light and Darkness; Primary foe of the Unholy Trio and opponent to the Lightbringers who would rule over humanity, Ally to the wyld, abiding hatred of the Lich Lords and undead.

Because of the divine nature of the Lich Lord’s Cold Bargain, any undead in their service can be detected with Sense Grace.

Motto: “The Striving for Knowledge is Divine”

Known as ‘The Celestine’ these entities are sometimes referred to as demigods or godlings. Also referred to as ‘Dark Angels’ (a reference to the black wings many can manifest – though this causes an association of them with the Dark Church so such references are not encouraged), they are from a time before The Blood of Saemon and have persisted since then. Little is truly understood about these older powers – even though the earliest record legends of any veracity mention them and others by name or name variants repeatedly. It is unknown exactly what powers they do possess, and gods themselves or not. The gods of light and darkness have long since usurped any preeminent status they may have had and proven that their power seems stronger (although not enough to rid themselves of them). These entities have never truly had an extensive formal Institution of Faith, except in regional areas related to the tribes they once led. The High Celestials/Ascended Celestials came in the before-time. There are only about 20 now, but once there were hundreds. Over time, their ranks dwindled as they clashed with each other, and heroes among the Nakrian tribes rose up to throw off their rule. Then came the Blood of Saemon, in a great exodus from their dying world. Far to the north, they brought with them some of their enemies; monsters of which most are now dead. From their place, the three gods of darkness came (Everdark, Sun Stealer, and their sister Gloombringer), pursuing the people of Saemon and appearing to ascend to a new moon in the sky, now named “The Interloper”. Massive was the war raged between the Blood of Saemon and Unholy Trio and their Orrish minions. Hundreds of thousands died, perhaps millions in the battle of the Valley of Sighs. The Celestials fought against the bringers of darkness, though not for the Blood of Saemon. Seeing the devastation, unable to reach the gods of their world, the great mystics of the Blood of Saemon summoned the Grey Host and Lightbringers. Aerna (mother and hearth maiden), Ikribu (the maker, the patriarch), and Balthazaar (law-giver). Three of light to match the three of darkness. By now, the reek and aura of death was stealing over the world. The Celestine entities on Helca never agreed to The Godspeak Accord. Nominally, the Tenets of the General Liturgy are followed by the Laity of Congregations and those of higher Grace and the few Institutional Ranks alike.

Celestine Manifestation

Duality: Within their own culture in their place of origin, once it was taboo to directly manifest, to step back from the immortal world of the divine back into the physical world where the ravages of time are felt acutely. Their adoption of a bestial duality kept their perspective anchored in the iVerse, but their presence free to roam as the divine essence it had become. All possess a deep seated belief in the fundamentals of the great primeval duality expressed by many esoteric traditions of Helca. Although few worship them openly, their ancient shrines and holy places remain active – for nearly all know of them and venerate to some extent out of tradition, this is even encouraged by the Green Church.

Schism: There are several “demons” among the celestine outlook. Unlike others, those considered demonic are considered lacking; they are bereft of some quality and are said to be possessed by ‘baa’ which seeks the life force of others in some way (usually in the drinking blood or consumption of flesh) – they seek not those to venerate them, but to consume and feed their own power at any cost. They have no formal clergy but are strong enough to reward those who sacrifice in their name individually. Among these are Shezmu (of the Outer Dark).

Sphinx Blood: Assume all full blooded first generation Celestine of Helca have shared in the Blood of the Dream-Sphinx and have associated powers.

Celestine Doctrines

Ascendant Doctrine: The Celestials all believe that all life is a passage from one from of existence to another. Their promise is that in following them, they will guide the way to the next ‘house’. Each stop on the passage to god-hood is seen through the metaphor of dwelling in a house – and that they themselves are living proof of the ascendancy of the soul.

Promise of the Afterlife

Pools of emerald green mark the way through the Amenti/underworld (duat). It conforms to the standard Afterlife processes and manifestation.

Testament to Faith

Core Principles and Goals:

Common Covenant/Tenets: What values, observances, vows and activities will all those of the faith have? An oath of loyalty and service to the community is usually exacted. All celestials stress individualism, self-reliance, discipline, the search for knowledge and experience, testing the limits and proving oneself, cleanliness, and pride.

Finding Faith – Discovering and cementing the faith/follower relationship:
> [Initiate] Trials: These are trials that a character may be part of in order to prove their bond to their faith.

1. Affirmation of Authority
2. Affirmation of a Vow

Common Practices and Customs

Accouterments and Equipment of the Celestial Pantheon

Celestine Allies

The Green Church, Animal Archetypes, and Darupet.
Ezrilus
Delleth

Wyld Faith and Green Church of the Steel Realms

Posted on September 18, 2015 in Steel-Realms

>Motto: “Within nature is found all opportunity, bounded by what it deems appropriate to each species – live naturally in all things.”

The Green Church believes that while there may be temporary balance and shifts in it, the natural state of the world is predator and prey for such species as humans and the role of the church is to advocate for the long term balance as part of a thriving ecosystem. Those subscribing to the Wyld Faith sees this relationship and themselves and nature as the predator and corrupt and unnatural civilization as the prey – looking to cull the weak and diseased.

Duat Heka – House of the Dead is a common knowledge to the inhabitants of Helca. All know it as the doorstep to the afterlife – though it is portrayed in different ways by different faiths. Its name is written in different cultures as Death’s Cathedral, Hall of the Dead, Souls’ Passageway, Archway of Light, House of the Dead, the Greathall of Souls, and others.

Because of the divine nature of the Lich Lord’s Cold Bargain, any undead in their service can be detected with Sense Grace.

The Druids of the Wyld Faith are guardians of the sacred spaces – Briarwoods and Beastwoods. These are also fortifications for them and the Wylde Horde. The Fellowship of the Green Chain are NOT part of the collection of the Druids of the Wyld – they exist as independent operators and have no interaction with the Green Church/Wyld Faith.

Faith of Claw and Branch

The faith of claw and branch is the heart of naturalism in the Steel Realms. It consists of primary divine entities, animist spirits of all kinds, and local demi-gods of the natural elements. Duality is key to nearly all aspects of the naturalist faith. Aligned with this is the Faerie Faith in the Steel Realms.

The modern age is heavily defined by the clash of faiths in the “Affray of Darkness and Light” in which it plays a significant part.

Promise of the Afterlife

The Wyld: It conforms to the standard Afterlife processes and manifestation. All the followers of the pantheon powers believe in the general “Return to the Wyld” in the afterlife. The ‘wyld’ is a place of startling natural beauty and breathtaking events where game and food is abundant, life thrives in an unending cycle, and all predators and prey alike are blessed with the forgetfulness of pain and violence. Nature provides all bounty, and the followers wander its endless path alone or with loved ones, engaged in crafts, cooking, brewing, etc. and all social and personal needs are met. The Wyld has endless valleys, crags, lakes, and lands with their own local

Green Church

The Green Church is the organized branch of a formal Institution of Faith (within civilized places – towns, cities, etc.). Green church interfaces with modern civilization directly. They advocate for a balance and safe access to with careful managed resources. The entities of the Green Church/Wyld Ways all agree to abide by the Godspeak Accord. Nominally, the Tenets of the General Liturgy are followed by the Laity of Congregations and those of higher Grace and Institutional Ranks alike.

Wyld Faith

Those who live in the wilds away from civilized places (rangers, druids, etc.). They advocate for nature and preservation of wild uncivilized spaces. It is civilized populations that need to be managed, not natural resources, in their view. There is the full pantheon of Wylding Entities, but there was also a time before Claw and Branch, the “Time of Above and Below”, of “Sun and The Dark” – when the Elemental Dualities were the primary Wyld Entities alone on Helca.

Testament to Faith

Core Principles and Goals:

Common Covenant/Tenets: What values, observances, vows and activities will all those of the faith have? An oath of loyalty and service is usually exacter.

Zero Tolerance for Undead

Loop of Life Ideal

The Life Loop (common the Wyld Faith) is a symbol that represents life is a cycle – birth, conflict, development, age, and death. All phases are natural and promote the greatest diversity and greatest opportunity to excel and express themselves.

Universal Pilgrimages and Sacred Places/Places:

Finding Faith – Discovering and cementing the faith/follower relationship:
> [Initiate] Trials: These are trials that a character may be part of in order to prove their bond to their faith.

1. Affirmation of Authority
2. Affirmation of a Vow

Common Practices and Customs

Sacred Spaces

Accouterments and Equipment of the Green Church

• Druids of the Wyld
• Entities of the Wyld Faith
• Powers of the Wyld Faith
• Sacred Places of the Wylden
• World-Tree of the Wyld
• Records
• Reliquary of the Wyld Faith