Verdun Sect of Unionism
A Unionist sect originating from the forests of Dragenthal and Calemberg. It is a mixture of the Alt-Regalian and other Regalisch cultural norms. The Verdunists (the term for those who follow the Sect) are a largely homogeneous sect, and accepts those who are truly adherent to the Church and the Lords of the Realm. Reverend Jürgen von Drachenburg is the present representative of the Sect within the Synod, and is willing to enlighten any who may be curious about the Sect. His interpretations of the Creeds are posted below in spoilers so that the page is considerably shorter. Posted after is a shorter synapses of the interpretations for any who wish to join in the Sect.
The Holy Creeds as interpreted by Reverend Jürgen von Drachenburg:
The First Creed: The First Creed establishes Unionism, and the divinity of the Emperor. We as mortals existing only by the grace and benevolence of the Spirit must obey the Holy Words of the Imperial Holiness. The Core Principles are unassailable, now and forever.
The Second Creed: Honor those placed above you, for the Spirit has done so for a reason. Virtue is not just merely supporting your liege and family, but embracing the precepts of Union, adhering to the Divine Word of the Emperor, humbling oneself. It is the duty of the high to aid the low and the duty of the low to support the high. Bearing children for the Great Way is one of the highest honors for women, and raising them as worthy Ailor is a sacred duty.
The Third Creed: The Third Creed establishes the Most High Herons of the Congregation on Aloria, and the Divine Mandate by which the Emperor rules all things. As with the first Creed, the third is above that of the common man and woman, and cannot be altered nor interpreted in any manner save by that of the Holy Emperor. The Herons are recognized as Blessed Ones who have greatly aided the cause of our faith.
The Fourth Creed: The exigency known as the afterlife, or truly known as the Everwatch is assuredly real. When all sentient beings become deceased, and pass away from this world, their soul shall be weighed on the Scales of Judgement. All that was said, done, and thought by them is known and was seen by the Imperial Spirit. It shall justly weigh the soul's worth; those Ailor who spent the life benevolently gifted to them by the Spirit with honor and faith, shall pass into the Everwatch: A palace so grand and beautiful, that no building can ever rival it. All those who pass unto it's halls shall serve the Spirit further, with no memory of the life prior, where there was once death, disease, hatred, ill faith - there is now life, health, love, and true faith. However, beware those who work machinations against the faith and it's faithful! They shall be judged in accordance to their life and actions, and they shall justly be returned to the world. There is hope for those of non-human disposition: True faith and service to Ailorkind and the Holy Regalian Empire will assuredly see them return to the world as human, a benevolent chance to fully be part of the Great Way. Those who are cast into non-ailor races are to be seen rightly as failures. They failed the Great Way and have been sent to rectify this failure.
The Fifth Creed: There exists certain numbered faiths that are but misguided ideals of what the Imperial Spirit is. There are some who worship the Dragons, unknowing that the Spirit created them as a means to further bless the Imperial Lineage with their blood. There are some who worship false gods from bygone eras, not cognizant that they worship aspects of the Spirit. There are some who worship nothing at all and yet intend to create an infallible deity by their flawed mortal hands. Those of these faiths are misguided children, many human and Ailor specifically; vast importance must be placed on spreading the truth to these children, whom deep in their hearts, know the Spirit only in part. The Great Way will further come when we as the enlightened bring this truth of the Imperial Spirit to them. To be a worshipper of the Void is the most grave sin against the Spirit, and it will not hold guiltless those who have engaged in such evil rituals.
The Sixth Creed: The sixth Creed of the Unionist faith is of immense import, for it dictates to us mortals the necessity of the Church and Unionist Divine. The Reverends and the men of the cloth below them are the Spirit's shepherds to the flock. The Reverends of Union must keep strong the faith in all our hearts, lest we succumb into vice, faithlessness, and even the void.
The Seventh Creed: Spiritual and Bodily Transcendence is a deeply held article of faith. The Unionist faithful cannot hope to achieve more if we stagnate. The attempt to ascend to a higher station is indeed a noble aspiration, however it may not always succeed. There cannot be change without some sacrifice, if one seeks to become a new, greater person, then they must be willing at all times to shed their vices, their sins, their weight which holds them back.
The Eight Creed: The Great Way is specified as "Such a time in which Humankind has irrevocable and unmistakable dominance over all the lesser races, and creatures, and ideologies over Aloria, and where the Spirit is believed in by the population of the world." Indeed this is the Word, and it is the truth. Only when all beings believe in the Spirit and adhere to the Church's teachings will Prosperity come. By any means necessary will the faith grow and develop within all the creatures of the world's hearts.
The Ninth Creed: The divinity of the Imperial Family calls for certain laws by which Imperial decrees may be enacted without hindrance. The Dragonblood of the Imperial Line is a gift from the Spirit, and so too shall it be respected. Such as the first and the third, the ninth may only be changed by direct mandate from the Imperial Seat. No mere man or woman may interpret what it is to say.
The Second Creed: Honor those placed above you, for the Spirit has done so for a reason. Virtue is not just merely supporting your liege and family, but embracing the precepts of Union, adhering to the Divine Word of the Emperor, humbling oneself. It is the duty of the high to aid the low and the duty of the low to support the high. Bearing children for the Great Way is one of the highest honors for women, and raising them as worthy Ailor is a sacred duty.
The Third Creed: The Third Creed establishes the Most High Herons of the Congregation on Aloria, and the Divine Mandate by which the Emperor rules all things. As with the first Creed, the third is above that of the common man and woman, and cannot be altered nor interpreted in any manner save by that of the Holy Emperor. The Herons are recognized as Blessed Ones who have greatly aided the cause of our faith.
The Fourth Creed: The exigency known as the afterlife, or truly known as the Everwatch is assuredly real. When all sentient beings become deceased, and pass away from this world, their soul shall be weighed on the Scales of Judgement. All that was said, done, and thought by them is known and was seen by the Imperial Spirit. It shall justly weigh the soul's worth; those Ailor who spent the life benevolently gifted to them by the Spirit with honor and faith, shall pass into the Everwatch: A palace so grand and beautiful, that no building can ever rival it. All those who pass unto it's halls shall serve the Spirit further, with no memory of the life prior, where there was once death, disease, hatred, ill faith - there is now life, health, love, and true faith. However, beware those who work machinations against the faith and it's faithful! They shall be judged in accordance to their life and actions, and they shall justly be returned to the world. There is hope for those of non-human disposition: True faith and service to Ailorkind and the Holy Regalian Empire will assuredly see them return to the world as human, a benevolent chance to fully be part of the Great Way. Those who are cast into non-ailor races are to be seen rightly as failures. They failed the Great Way and have been sent to rectify this failure.
The Fifth Creed: There exists certain numbered faiths that are but misguided ideals of what the Imperial Spirit is. There are some who worship the Dragons, unknowing that the Spirit created them as a means to further bless the Imperial Lineage with their blood. There are some who worship false gods from bygone eras, not cognizant that they worship aspects of the Spirit. There are some who worship nothing at all and yet intend to create an infallible deity by their flawed mortal hands. Those of these faiths are misguided children, many human and Ailor specifically; vast importance must be placed on spreading the truth to these children, whom deep in their hearts, know the Spirit only in part. The Great Way will further come when we as the enlightened bring this truth of the Imperial Spirit to them. To be a worshipper of the Void is the most grave sin against the Spirit, and it will not hold guiltless those who have engaged in such evil rituals.
The Sixth Creed: The sixth Creed of the Unionist faith is of immense import, for it dictates to us mortals the necessity of the Church and Unionist Divine. The Reverends and the men of the cloth below them are the Spirit's shepherds to the flock. The Reverends of Union must keep strong the faith in all our hearts, lest we succumb into vice, faithlessness, and even the void.
The Seventh Creed: Spiritual and Bodily Transcendence is a deeply held article of faith. The Unionist faithful cannot hope to achieve more if we stagnate. The attempt to ascend to a higher station is indeed a noble aspiration, however it may not always succeed. There cannot be change without some sacrifice, if one seeks to become a new, greater person, then they must be willing at all times to shed their vices, their sins, their weight which holds them back.
The Eight Creed: The Great Way is specified as "Such a time in which Humankind has irrevocable and unmistakable dominance over all the lesser races, and creatures, and ideologies over Aloria, and where the Spirit is believed in by the population of the world." Indeed this is the Word, and it is the truth. Only when all beings believe in the Spirit and adhere to the Church's teachings will Prosperity come. By any means necessary will the faith grow and develop within all the creatures of the world's hearts.
The Ninth Creed: The divinity of the Imperial Family calls for certain laws by which Imperial decrees may be enacted without hindrance. The Dragonblood of the Imperial Line is a gift from the Spirit, and so too shall it be respected. Such as the first and the third, the ninth may only be changed by direct mandate from the Imperial Seat. No mere man or woman may interpret what it is to say.
The Tenth Creed: It is not our place to question the divine benevolence of the Spirit and Emperors. The mysteries of Union may be many, but faith in Eternal Life through devotion to the Great Way is the one Truth we need.
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So what it all means (TL: DR):
- What is Virtuous?
- Nobles should support their subjects by ruling fairly and justly.
- Subjects must support their lords by tribute, taxes, and services in their levy.
- Those who are in positions of honor have a duty to those under them. They must give alms to the poor as they have much, and should conduct themselves with class, less they deface the Imperial Spirit.
- Noblesse Oblige is the frame of mind all nobility should hold.
- Nobles should support their subjects by ruling fairly and justly.
- Honor, Bravery, Sacrifice, and Duty are the four cardinal virtues.
- Impiety, Lust, Greed, and Slothfulness are the four cardinal sins.
- Stances on gender roles in society:
- All must contribute to the Great Way, Man and Woman each have distinct roles in service to the Spirit.
- The Imperial Spirit revealed Himself to Theomar, who was a man. It is this reason that men should be the public leaders of society, as they are able to handle the burdens of such tasks.
- Women are sources of kindness and homely values. They must be the teachers of the home, instilling values into the next generation to grown-up loyal to the Emperor.
- All must contribute to the Great Way, Man and Woman each have distinct roles in service to the Spirit.
- Stances on polygamy vs monogamy:
- Unionists should strive to conceive at least three children in their lives to always grow the Human population.
- Monogamy is preferred, as it symbolizes commitment to one's spouse just as one must show commitment to the Imperial Spirit.
- Multiple wives is a road to promiscuity, which places more value on individual pleasures than to the Imperial Spirit.
- Polygamy is allowed when a first wife in infertile and unable to produce one or more children.
- Widows and Widowers are allowed to remarry, as their commitment to their spouse ends with death.
- Unionists should strive to conceive at least three children in their lives to always grow the Human population.
- Stances on same-sex relations:
- Homosexuality is counterproductive to the Great Way, as it prevents the creation of Humans.
- Public homosexuality is damaging to society in that the next generation could be tempted into such actions, further preventing new Human life from being created.
- Homosexuality is counterproductive to the Great Way, as it prevents the creation of Humans.
- Stances on relations with non-unionists:
- The non-believers are ignorant of the truth and should be shown the faith.
- If they do not know the faith, they must be taught authoritatively, the lies they believe must be cast off like shackles from a freedman.
- Those that refuse conversion are a hindrance to the Great Way. They must not be allowed to grow their numbers, and if it comes to it, must be eliminated.
- The non-believers are ignorant of the truth and should be shown the faith.
- What the afterlife is like:
- The Everwatch is a Palace unlike any other. Each Human soul serves a position in this palace, and contribute to the Spirit's infinite knowledge. Memories of the formal world do not exist, as the Everwatch is so pure and holy that former existence pales in comparison. One forgets their former life.
- What actions are needed to be judged fairly in the afterlife:
- If an individual Ailor worked indirectly for the Regalian Empire frequently in their life, they may enter the Everwatch.
- The faith is active, and those who are stagnant insult the Imperial Spirit which never rests.
- Those who work to dismantle or undermine the Regalian Empire and Unionism are the greatest of sinners.
- If an individual Ailor worked indirectly for the Regalian Empire frequently in their life, they may enter the Everwatch.
- As what race those who are rejected are reborn as:
- Dwarves, Qadir, Sihai, Half-Races, Avanthar, Altalar, Cielothar, Sihndar, Isldar, Songskian, Orc, Maraya, Url, Varran, Allar, Slizzar
- There are no Kathar reincarnations as to become a Kathar would mean banishment to the Void
- Kathar, in fact, are a manifestation of sin in Aloria.
- Dwarves, Qadir, Sihai, Half-Races, Avanthar, Altalar, Cielothar, Sihndar, Isldar, Songskian, Orc, Maraya, Url, Varran, Allar, Slizzar
- What races constitute humans:
- Ailor
- What faiths are syncretic and acceptable under Unionism as lesser daughter beliefs:
- Dragon Worship was a predecessor religion as the Imperial Spirit has used the Feathered Dragons to manifest partial power in Cedromar. See Synodical Bull.
- Esrah Alwattah is skewed in that their quest for knowledge is, in fact, a quest to improve Humanity. Their artificial god is their flaw, as the Imperial spirit truly benefits from their technological research.
- Old Gods was not a foundation for Unionism, but rather the reason why the Imperial Spirit revealed Himself when He did.
- Dragon Worship was a predecessor religion as the Imperial Spirit has used the Feathered Dragons to manifest partial power in Cedromar. See Synodical Bull.
- What self-improvement both on a physical and spiritual level for the sake of Unionism means:
- Conquest improves the standing of the Regalian Empire to grow Humanity.
- Knowledge to pass to other Humans is valued.
- Heronization is the ultimate sign of spiritual improvement.
- Conquest improves the standing of the Regalian Empire to grow Humanity.
- Keeping oneself busy and working productively are sure signs of progress, however, leisure is welcomed so long as it continues to develop character and the body/soul.
- What is the stance on Herons:
- Herons are the ultimate sign of spiritual improvement, as such, they may have prayers directed to them as servants of the Imperial Spirit. Worship of them as equals to the Imperial Spirit is never permitted. It is believed that they are the hands of the Imperial Spirit and as such, due to the Imperial Spirit's benevolence, may intercede on the Spirit's behalf to aid faithful Ailor. The deceased Herons are regarded as the true Herons, those declared living Herons are merely venerated, not worshiped. The exception to this are members of the Imperial Family, they are to be venerated in a heightened sense - High Veneration. Criteria for Heronization is straightforward: Be an Ailor, be a Sancella Unionist, Do a great act or serve the Empire/Spirit your whole life, and be recognized by the Unionist Divine as a Heron. Iconography of Herons is permitted, often using techniques from the old Etosian Iconographers to create equally beautiful works. Patron Herons are not uncommon for the everyday follower. Above all the Imperial Spirit is to be worshiped the highest and most frequent. All are subordinate to it.
- What is the stance on Slavery:
- Slavery of Ailors is intolerable and those who hold Ailor in slavery will surely be condemned. Even if an Ailor is guilty of crimes, they cannot ever be put into the shackles of slavery; instead, they can be executed or made to pay with financial or humane indentured servitude. The enslavement of any other non-ailor race is permitted barring those of in communion with the Sancella. Any Sancella Unionist is off-limits from enslavement.
- What is the stance on Crime and Punishment:
- Any crime that results in the murder or violation of an Ailor should be met with the penalty of death.
- Any crime that results in theft or otherwise damaging the goods of a Unionist should be met with stiff punishment.
- Overall, punishment is favored over rehabilitation. However, minor crimes can be forgiven and rehabilitated.
- What is the stance on Magic:
- Witchbloods can be used to keep other magic users in check.
- All magic is a distortion of the world and threatens Aloria.
- How should Reverends live:
- Standard robes are favored along with frugal manners. One may wear simple jewelry such as a ring or two, but should never have ear-piercings or facial tattoos.
- Reverends are encouraged to have families so that they too can aide in bringing more Ailor to the world.
- Reverends should endeavor to speak in Alt-Regälisch if their congregation can understand them.
- What Rites are allowed to be performed by Verdunist clergy:
- Sancella Rite
- Imperial Dragon Rite
- Etosian Rite (This Rite does not exist presently although were it to exist, it would not be allowed but simply respected.)
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