[quote=@ArmorPlated]

<Snipped quote by Anders>
Nothing has been said concerning how they'll be treated by gods and their followers, which is what I'm interested in. If they shun gods and their ilk, are they hunted? If non-believers formed a nation, what would happen to it?
[/quote]

Probably poorly, if they know what the character actually does.  They might get lingering indicators but the gods dont know everything.  Nothing is stopping someone from learning dark magic, except for the taboos against such practices which is more of a cultural stigma.  

Demons use necromancy, and demons are always feared by [b]everyone.[/b] for attempting to copy their magic, they are feared and are hunted because it is viewed as evil.  There are inquisitions in nearly all stellar empires to root out such corrupting and unnatural magic, imprisoning ot killing the individual.  Use caution when practicing the unholy.  

Its risky but theres you can, just keep it hush.  And remember, all people and aliens are different.  Their culture may hate an atheist or an unholy practitioner but a person might be indifferent or even interested.  The trend though, its seen as something different, and different is generally bad.

Again, this is a job for mortals.  Some gods and spirits of justice, purging, light, holiness will hunt with these crusaders but mostly their contributions are blessings and holy relics.

Nothing stops you from being an atheist.  Some cultures care alot to the point of hostility to fix the person, others do not.  You dont get any benefits and sometimes you get bad luck.  

If they made a nation, ironically the gods would probably ignore it.  Who wants a place where everyone doesn't do what they are supposed to?  The ingrates.  Flip side, religions and witch burners would target the nonbelievers if they were not strong enough to defend themselves as a type of holy war whenever it became lucrative to do so.  Without a divine patron the crusaders view these pious acts of forceful conversion or genocide as more or less consequence free.

More info to come about factions coming soon.