[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/A6GtG69.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/cfyGHQL.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/7vEG25C.png[/img][/center] [center][color=E8D290][center][h1][color=gold]Part 1[/color][/h1][/center] [sub][@Rodiak] Nahir [@Silverpaw] Wulfric [@FunnyGuy] Lorenzo [@Helo] Leo [@Apex Sunburn] Sjandehk [@Potter] Kira [@JJ Doe] Riona [@Lava Alckon] Farim[/sub] As the last notes of the music fades into a silence, a palpable sense of anticipation sweeps through the congregation. The stained glass windows throw a dramatic spectrum of colors across the faces of the awaiting folks amongst the pews. At that moment, the side door near the altar creaks open, and a new figure with a well-kept dark beard steps into the space. His ceremonial robes rustle softly as he moves to the front. He raises his hands, signaling for quiet. It is Father Aldric Vorn. [color=#f5f5dc]"My children," [/color] Father Aldric's voice resonates through the room, his tone deep and clear. [color=#f5f5dc]"Before the arrival of our sovereign, it is our sacred duty to invoke the divine favor of the gods who watch over us. Please, rise."[/color] As all stood, a collective rustle then sweeps through the pews. Father Aldric waits a moment, before he announces, [color=#f5f5dc]"Let us call upon our gods, that they might bless this gathering and our beloved king."[/color] [i][color=#f5f5dc]"In the light of Zivitas, we find grace,"[/color][/i] Aldric begins. [sub][color=gold]"Zivitas, bless us with your light."[/color][/sub] The congregation answers. [i][color=#f5f5dc]"Under the protection of Triumpheus, we find victory,"[/color][/i] [sub][color=gold]"Triumpheus, guide us to triumph."[/color][/sub] [i][color=#f5f5dc]"With the wisdom of Imperis, we uphold order,"[/color][/i] [sub][color=gold]"Imperis, grant us your justice."[/color][/sub] [i][color=#f5f5dc]"Through the bounty of Amora, we cherish love,"[/color][/i] [sub][color=gold]"Amora, fill our hearts."[/color][/sub] [i][color=#f5f5dc]"Beneath the gaze of Aquena, we navigate life’s currents,"[/color][/i] [sub][color=gold]"Aquena, steer our path."[/color][/sub] [i][color=#f5f5dc]"From the forge of Duedon, we draw strength,"[/color][/i] [sub][color=gold]"Duedon, fortify our spirit."[/color][/sub] [i][color=#f5f5dc]"In the storms of Tempestes, we seek shelter,"[/color][/i] [sub][color=gold]"Tempestes, calm our fears."[/color][/sub] [i][color=#f5f5dc]"Through the forests of Vena, we hunt our aspirations,"[/color][/i] [sub][color=gold]"Vena, lead our pursuits."[/color][/sub] As the final echo of the chants fade, the grand doors at the entrance of the church swing open with a dramatic boom that seems to shake the very foundations. As everyone turns their head to watch in unison, they find an orchestra seated in the back of the church. In the front, a choir begins to fill the stands to the left. The anticipation in the air could be cut with a knife as the sounds of the orchestra fill the congregation's ears. First arrives a train of ten holy torchbearers, arranged in five pairs. Each holds aloft a massive torch, the flames dancing wildly, casting flickering shadows around them. Their synchronized steps echo through the church, matching the increasing intensity of the orchestral music. The light from their torches bathe the church in a golden glow, setting a dramatic backdrop for the rest of the parade. [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uSqN2z_fvc&ab_channel=PotatoFarmer[/youtube] [color=f9ad81][i] Hail Edin, chosen by divine grace, In his glory, behold the gods’ face. Triumpheus! Aquena! Imperis! Amora! Glorius! Tempestes! Hear the heavens declare his rule just and wise, Vena! Duedon! Zivitas! Their powers arise! [King Edin's voice fills the room, but his location is unknown] Behold me, the reflection of divinity, My reign, a testament to the gods’ affinity. Triumpheus. Aquena. Imperis. Amora! Glorius! Tempestes! From cosmic battles to peaceful reign, Vena! Duedon! Zivitas! Echo again! In Edin’s light, the kingdom thrives, His name sung by the gods, through our lives. As the gods chant my name, so does eternity, In the echoes of the cosmos, my legacy.[/i][/color] Behind the torchbearers, a group of beautiful women in flowing gowns gracefully enter. They carried baskets overladen with flower petals. With each step, they toss the petals into the air. The sweet fragrance of roses lofted through the church. The atmosphere then shifts again with the thunderous march of the golden knights. Clad in shimmering armor that clink and clank with each heavy step, they raise their swords high. At this point, King Edin's voice is heard through the air as he joins in the song, but he is not seen physically. The most unexpected performance follows: a troupe of dancers, their faces obscured by oversized, paper-mâché masks resembling King Edin’s head. These dancers, clad in flowing, ethereal fabrics, begin a ballet performance, weaving through the knights and flower maidens. The juxtaposition of the eerie masks with the delicate grace of their dance create a bizarre spectacle. As the last dancer spins out of the aisle, the congregation is left in a state of awe, their applause thundering through the church. The culmination of this theatrical procession set the stage perfectly for King Edin’s grand entrance. There, in the threshold, finally appears King Edin, though not merely walking as a common man might. No, he sits upon a magnificent chair, a throne carried aloft on the shoulders of eight men dressed in crimson and gold. The throne itself is gilded and encrusted with jewels. King Edin sat imperiously upon his elevated seat, his head held high. His crown, outrageously large and elaborate, is set with towering plumes of red and white feathers and glittering gemstones that caught every flicker of light. This crown, dramatic in its size, seems almost a burden to bear, yet it rests securely upon his head. Behind him, more attendants follow, their sole task to manage the majestic, fur-lined red cape that flowed from his shoulders. This cape is so extensive that it requires the hands of six attendants to ensure it does not brush the ground. Each attendant holds a portion of the fabric, their steps measured to avoid any misstep that might mar the regal display. As the bearers carry King Edin down the aisle, everyone rises to their feet in unison, a wave of murmurs rolling through the crowd. The sight of their king, elevated above them, is overwhelming, though Edin himself seems to refuse to look upon anyone's face at this point in time. Upon reaching the front of the church, the bearers gently set the throne down with practiced ease, allowing King Edin to rise. As he steps forward, the bearers and attendants neatly arrange his cape behind him, ensuring that not a fold is out of place. Standing before his people, King Edin raises his hands ceremoniously, and a massive applause follows. [hider=The Primitus Religion][color=D0A933][h3][u][b]The Caesonian Pantheon - The Primitus Religion[/b][/u][/h3][/color] [color=D0A933][u][b]The Origins[/b][/u][/color] The universe as we know began from one immensely powerful being. Perhaps it had always existed even before existence or perhaps it came to be in a way not yet known. The being looked a solid formation of a galactic pattern and had limbs to move itself about. It was a reflection of the surrounding space. Legend had it this being, in its loneliness, it created the stars, the planets, and later all the creatures that inhabit them. The stars twinkled from above the same way they did on its body. With the power to create as it so chose, the being occupied its time creating more and more planets and galaxies. As much as it had the ability to fill the physical void around it, it longed to fill the void within. So what if it made beings like him? The God decided to create more Gods, ones that could provide the company it longed for. The lonely god began to mold and shape the universe, creating new gods with unique abilities and personalities. They were all different, but they were all united by their common creator, the lonely god. As the new gods discovered their powers, they began to question their creator, who they decided to call Primitus. The gods asked Primitus what their purpose was and he told them companionship initially, and the Gods seemed disappointed, so Primitus pondered another moment. Subsequently, he added that they were to help him create a perfect universe together, utilizing each of their unique gifts. Primitus became known as the God of Gods and Creation. Originally, only nine gods accompanied Primitus: [color=D0A933][u][b]The Original Nine:[/b][/u][/color] [b]God of Victory and Luck - Triumpheus God of Water and Currents Aquena God of Law and Order - Imperis God of Love and Harvests - Amora God of Pride and Inferno - Glorius God of Storms and the Sky- Tempestes God of Hunting and Forest - Vena God of Metal and Forging- Duedon God of Light and Life - Zivitas[/b] As the new gods settled into their roles and explored their abilities, they began to develop distinct personalities and ideologies. They each had their own vision for how the universe should be governed, and they weren't always in agreement. At first, their disagreements were minor and easily resolved, but as time went on, they grew increasingly contentious. For example, Glorius, who believed in feeling superior to others, clashed with Imperis who championed diplomacy and compromise. The lonely god, who had created them all, watched as his creations argued and fought. He knew that their disagreements were only natural, but he also knew that if left unchecked, they could lead to chaos and destruction. To avoid this, the lonely god decided to establish a council of the gods, where each god would have a say in the decisions that affected the universe. They also established a code of conduct to ensure that their disagreements would be handled peacefully and respectfully. They then relocated to a realm that was separate from the physical world. This realm is often referred to as the "heavens" or the "cosmos" and is where the gods reside, watch over and govern the universe. It is often depicted as a beautiful, ethereal place that is beyond the reach of mortal beings where the Gods reside in a beautiful huge temple and experience infinite sunlight. One day, Primitus realized that darker Gods with different specializations to have a truly balanced universe. Creatures that were created needed to have an end or the world would overpopulate. If people had no hate or sickness, then they could not know love nor health. More importantly, they needed Gods to watch over the negative aspects of reality that the other ones would not. Thus, five more Gods were created. [b] God of Deceit and Greed - Avēre God of Plagues and Decay - Sapreon God Calamity and Chaos - Claedo God Of Beasts and Hate - Fereo God of Death and Darkness - Obitius[/b] These gods were different from the others. Avēre had a strong desire for control. He believed that only one god should rule the universe and that god should be him. He began to spread his ideology among the other gods, trying to convince them to join him in his quest for power. Fereo and Glorius were easy to sway, while Claedo did his best to keep Gods on both sides angry with each other in the pursuit of war. At first, the other gods were resistant to his ideas, but as he continued to gain followers, the council became divided. Some gods were tempted by the new god's promises of power and control, while others remained loyal to the council and the principles of balance and harmony. The division among the gods soon escalated into open conflict. The gods who supported Avēre formed an alliance and declared war on the council and the other gods who refused to join them. The universe was plunged into chaos as the gods fought each other. The Great War of Gods was said to last many, many years and they even dared to leave the heavens, meaning planets and creatures were destroyed during the chaos, hence why Eromora is the only planet habited by life in the galaxy. Primitus watched in horror as his creations destroyed each other and the universe he had created. He knew that he had to intervene to stop the war and restore balance to the universe. He appeared before the fighting gods and spoke to them, reminding them of their purpose and the importance of balance. He urged them to put aside their differences and work together to restore harmony to the universe. He also reminded them that the universe was not just theirs, it was also the home of many other creatures and their well-being was also at stake. None of the Gods listened except for Zivitas while others like Imperius and Amora had never been involved in the first place. Zivitas was the first God Primitus ever made and he was the only one bestowed with the ability to create life. He had been devastated deeply by the war and made a plea to the Gods who wanted to fight to cease. But Claedo did not want the war to end and had a counterargument manipulative enough to start some of the fighting back up. At that moment, powerful incoming blasts came from all sides and Primitus knew it might kill some of his precious children, so he threw himself in the middle and took all the hits, destroying himself in the process as his body was consumed by the bright light. The war finally ended. Even Claedo had not wanted to see his creator die. It was the God's sacrifice that brought them back together as they realized the depth of his love. Additionally, the overwhelming feeling of remorse and grief made continuing the fight impossible. Zivitas had been told a final message before Primitus's death in gratitude for his consistent kindness. He let the Gods know that Primitus was not sad to die as he knew that he would never be lonely knowing all of them would remember him forever and that Zivitas would take on a leading role from now on. The God of Love and Light, Zivitas, who had always advocated for unity and cooperation among the gods, was entrusted as the new leader by the remaining gods. He vowed to honor the memory of the lonely god and never let war tear their council apart again. However, it was clear now that nothing could make some of the Gods fit in. The following Gods agreed to be sent to a different realm where they could do things their way and all of the Gods were able to move forward without animosity. [b]God of Deceit and Greed - Avēre God of Plagues and Decay - Sapreon God Calamity and Chaos - Claedo God Of Beasts and Hate - Fereo God of Death and Darkness - Obitius God of Pride and Inferno - Glorius[/b] Any other Gods that were created going forward and could not adhere to the code would be sent to this dark realm. This realm is referred to as the "underworld," "hell," and sometimes as "Obitus's realm." Any souls tainted and showing signs of evil Obitius agreed to take to his realm while Zivitas would take souls of good to the heavens, utilizing winged-humanoid beings called angels to help carry souls to and fro. With the council restored, the gods worked together to repair the damage they had caused, and the universe was once again at peace. Unbeknownst to all but Zivitas, the energy of the lonely god Primitus remained despite not existing as it once did. Primitus felt no need to regenerate. It was content that his creations had learned the importance of cooperation, balance and empathy for others. Additionally, some believe that there are many, many Gods as this point as the original Gods were able to reproduce with each other. The beliefs of these Gods vary. [color=D0A933][u][b]The Connection to the Danroses[/b][/u][/color] Caesonian people believe that their country is a holy country created by Zivitas. It was said that the Danrose family, the ruling family for generations, were hand-chosen by the gods themselves as the perfect souls to lead the kingdom. Each eldest son is born with the most perfect traits due to Zivita's influence. The people of Caesonia looked up to the Danroses as the embodiment of perfection, and they were considered to be the closest thing to gods on earth. King Edin Danrose puts great effort into keeping this belief alive. [color=D0A933][u][b]Principles of the Heavens[/b][/u][/color] The Principles of the Heavens prescribe a code of conduct for the inhabitants of the world. These principles include: Loving one's neighbor as oneself Caring for the natural environment Protecting the purity of the oceans and lakes Living a life that brings honor to both the Gods and one's family Adhering to the laws of the King to maintain order in the world Giving thanks to Tempestes for providing rainfall to nourish crops Seeking the blessings of Vena when taking the life of an animal during a hunt Emulating the hard work of Duedon to attain rewards of equal magnitude Paying homage to Zivitas for the light that the sun bestows upon all. [color=D0A933][u][b]Principles of the Hells[/b][/u][/color] There are also principles from the Gods of the hells, ruled by Obitus. It is expected that though those under Primitus understand the need for balance and acknowledge of the good and evil within us, it is expected that Primitus followers avoid these rules in order to live in the Heavens, otherwise you will be taken to the Hells by the angels upon death. Practice the art of deception and manipulation, as your own interests and happiness should come first. Embrace self-interest: Your life is a gift, and you have the right to do whatever it takes to live it to the fullest, without concern for others Reject Consequence: The world is unpredictable and uncertain, and you owe nothing to anyone. Consequence is a weakness, and those who embrace it are doomed to suffer. Embrace Violence: Use your superior strength and power to defend yourself and dominate the weak. There is nothing inherently wrong with violence. Welcome Death: Embrace the mystery and darkness of death, and revel in the unknown. The end of life is a natural part of existence, and should be accepted and celebrated. Embrace Pride: Be proud of yourself and your actions, no matter what anyone else thinks or says. If you are living life on your own terms, then that is all that matters. Embrace Negative Emotions: Feel free to hate, be angry, or experience any other negative emotions that come naturally. Emotions are a natural part of life and should be embraced, not repressed.[/hider][/color][/center]