Baltazarism

The Chapel of the Holy Father and Holy Mother

It was then when I lay dying to the sand that it happened. A phoenix flew over me and there walking hand in hand through the sparkling water drops, I saw them!
It was a man, yet no such man ever walked this earth! And a women, yet no such women ever walked this earth!
They where both perfect in all ways. They kissed me and told me that they where the Allfather and Allmother.
"You have been chosen Baltazar", they said. "To do what?" I asked.
"You know what" they answered.
"Why me?" I ten asked. At that they laughed.
"Because you where born to do this!" Was the answer the gods gave me.
I knew then, as I know now that all that they said was the truth.
/A segment of The Song of Divine Love

Baltazarism is a faith brought into being by a man called Baltazar of Nerzurt. More commonly known as the Prophet Baltazar. He was by all accounts one of the early Khainar mystics. But unlike most of contemporary's he not only looked to the west, he waked in to the desert to the west. A walk that by his own account almost cost him is life.
When he returned he preached about six virtues and two gods. The number of virtues was not something of greater note. Many mystics of the time preached about as many as 17 virtues or as few as three. But that he spoke of two gods was indeed odd. Rakh'Guals had a single god and the Old Empire had three large clans of gods.
But Baltazar claimed that this gods where all masks borne by the Allfather or Allmother. Or at times by the demon lords of the world just beyond life. Demons that he once been the gods servant, whom had turned from their true path out of greed and pride. Only three years after his return from his walk in the Rakh'Gual desert he completed his holy text The Song of Divine Love, and his following grew to be around one thousand souls at the end of his life.

Public Agenda

To spread the word of Baltazar and teach the people about the six virtues, the five sins and the two true gods.

History

(Coming soon)

Mythology & Lore

The Baltazariens have a number of myths that are often told by their priests and priestesses. Most of them are about the wonders of Baltazars youth and walk in the desert. But there are also myths about the servants of the gods and the demons whom roam the Valley of Mists.

The Creation of the Cosmos

(Coming soon)

The Angles

(Coming soon)

The Holy Phoenix

(Coming soon)

The Demons of the Valley

(Coming soon)

Cosmological Views

Baltazariens believe that the cosmos can be divided in to three planes of existence. All this planes are equally important and all serves different purposes. The three planes are; the Earth, the Valley of Mists and Eden.

The Earth

The earth is the mortal plane where we all live. Its role in the cosmos is to teach the souls of mortals the good of the six Virtues. According to Baltazarism it is also the place where unworthy souls ends up after the Allfather deny them entry into Eden. It is a world of life and death, and the place where all change in the cosmos come from.
It is also seen as one of the two centers of the cosmos. Whit out which all of creation falls out of balance.

Eden

This is in essence Baltazarisms paradise. It is a plan of pure joy, love and pleasure. The holy home of the gods and the source of life and all the good things that comes whit living. Its role is to create more life and souls that are sent to the Earth to grow. Said souls will then one day return and add their experiences to the blessed dead. And as the blessed dead love one another more new souls are born and sent to the Earth and the cycle starts anew.
It is also seen as one of the two centers of the cosmos. Whit out which all of creation falls out of balance.

The Valley of Mists

If the Earth and Eden are the two worlds that most balance one another this is the pillar on which they balance. The valley of Mists are the realm of dreams, nightmares and restless dead. It serves as a barrier between the two other planes of existence. Whit out it life and death would lose their meaning and the cosmos would fall in to chaos and destruction. But it is also the root of all evil in the cosmos.
For in this plane bitter demons lurk trying to claw their way out of the realm of dreams and mists. They lurk here as the gods put them here after they neglected their true purpose which was to rule the mortals justly in the Allfather and Allmothers names.

Tenets of Faith

The Chapel has six virtues, ideals that all Baltazariens should strive towards. But there are also five demon sins, dark deeds that give power to the demons in the Valley of Mists. It is believed that if to many where to commit such deeds the greater demons would break free of their prison and bring about the end of the world. Tho Baltazariens try to fight this dark deeds by living by the virtues.

The Virtues of Baltazarism

Wisdom

My children most seek wisdom. For wisdom is the path to understanding. And understanding is the gate to peace. And only in peace can mankind find their true greatness and glory.
/The Holy Father

Humility

My children most be humble in the face of creation. For they are only a small part of creation. And tho their place in it is of the greatest importance so is all other things. The sun may be greater then the moon, but whit out the moon the sun is noting. So it also is whit mankind and the earth.
/The Holy Father

Courage

My children most have courage in their hearts. For the wicked and evil will always be. Therefore my children most have the courage to stand up and fight for that which is good! For that is what it is to be my champion. You most stand and face that which has the power to be cruel and stop it from spreading, be it whit words or whit a sword.
/The Holy Father

Generosity

Those whom seek my love and favor should give of their wealth to others. Those whom give to the poor, I shall love. Those whom aid the weak, I shall love. Those whom tend to the sick and those whom care for the dying, I shall love. But most of all shall I love those whom love their children and keep them from harm.
/The Holy Mother

Love

Those whom seak my love and favor, must first give of their love. For every time you show love to your kin, my love for you shall grow. Every time you show love to you neighbors, my love for you shall grow. Every time you show love to your spouse, my love for you shall grow. But most of all my love for you shall grow, every time you show love towards your children.
/The Holy Mother

Restraint

Those whom seek my love and favor most learn restraint. For those whom care more for their gold then their fellow man, I can not love. Those whom seek only to fill their own belly's at the expense of others, I can not love. Those whom love only whit their bodies and not whit their hearts, I can not love. But most of all, those whom do not care about the children of this world I truly could never love!
/The Holy Mother

The Demon Sins

Ignorance

Once she was called Bliss. And she held all darkness from the hearts of man. But deep whit in her fear grew. And that fear soon turned to anger and hate. And those Bliss transformed in to Ignorance, the bringer of fear and hate of the unknown. Where she had once been a beautiful maiden of peace she was now a blind demon who would rip and rend all whom came near her.
/Description of the she demon Ignorance

Fear

Once he was called Caution. And he kept mortal man to risk their lives needlessly. But in time he grew greedy and started to hoard human life. Under his wings men would forsake their loved ones only to save their own skins. Under his guides men would bow their heads to injustice and side whit the strong be they hero or tyrant. Where once he had been strong and handsome, he was now a demon spider spinning weds of fear despair.
/Description of the demon Fear

Greed

Once he was called Thriftiness. And whit his aid man held on to their wealth until it was needed. But in time he forgot the worth of all things not materiel. And as he forgot about love and compassion gold, food and carnal lust became more and more important to him. Those under his rule started to be cruel to their fellow man to win more gold. He was now leading men to hate one another over the things their fellows owned that they themselves did not. Where once he had been a tall and proud figure, he was now a bent beast grasping whit bone clawlike hands and eyes that glowed whit avarice.
/Description of the demon Greed

Hatred

Once she was called Strength. She gave man power and ability to overcome the hardships of the world. But in time her power planted the seed of contempt whit in her. That contempt grew in to disgust towards the weak. And that disgust in turn grew to hatred. The men that followed her came to see their weaker fellow man as lesser beings. Lesser beings whit whom they could do what ever they wished. And so they murdered and raped under her evil council. Where once she had been a glorious maiden of light, she was now a wicked mistress of pain and war.
/Description of the she demon Hate

Pride

Last to fall was the eldest of the Children of Light was the one called Ability. He was the greatest of his kind and under him men learned to be their very best. He showed men how to read, count and build. Under his watchful eyes man built the Great Tower. And as his siblings one by one fell to darkness he helped the gods to imprison them in the Valley of Mists. But even as he did this Ability started to believe himself greater then all. And to the horror of the Father and Mother he proclaimed himself lord of all things. Those the Holy Father came to him dressed in the Warriors guise and asked him to step down from his dark tower.
But Pride, for he was now pride, only laughed at his father and called him a fool for coming alone. And then the Holy Father had to smite his son whit his power. And cast him into the Valley of Mists. Unlike the rest of his kin Pride is still as handsome and alluring as he always was.
/Description of the archdemon Pride

Ethics

(Coming soon)

Worship

Most followers of the Chapels teachings do their best to be good folk in accordance whit the will of the gods. That said most people don't see their everyday life as a form of worship. Instead the Baltazarians go to the local chapel at least once a week to worship the Holy Father and Holy Mother.
There are also a number of rituals and ceremonies that are seen as more active worship.

Wedding Rites

(Coming soon)

Blessing of a Child

(Coming soon)

Oath to the Gods

(Coming soon)

Funeral Rites

(Coming soon)

Priesthood

It highly depends on which form of Baltazarism you follow. Monarchical Baltazarism or Orthodox Baltazarism. Tho there are some similarities, such as the fact that all chapels have two holy leaders. One priest, that represents the Allfather. And one priestess, that represents the Allmother.
Both forms also see the Patriarch and Matriarch as the highest leaders of the chapel. But there it, more or less, ends. Everything from how one a Patriarch or Matriarch is chosen to what their role in the faith are. Those the two teachings have their own ways of doing things.

Orthodox Baltazarism

(Coming soon)

Monarchical Baltazarism

(Coming soon)

Sects

The Faith of Baltazarism was divide because of the Prophet Baltazars sons not seeing eye to eye. And the followers of what was then a small cult split in two as a result of their bickering. At the heart of the conflict are the three holy texts of the faith. One of which all agree is holy and the other two sparking much debate and even wars.
The Song of Divine Love - Written by the Prophet Baltazar himself. It describes the Allfather and Allmother and the visions the Prophet where given by them. Outlining the core beliefs of the Baltazarien faith and its values. A text that all agree is the word of the true gods. In it the Prophet speaks about the Patriarch and Matriarch, two holy figures that would speak the gods words on earth after the Prophets death.
This many Baltazariens toke as a prediction that the Holy Father and Holy Mother where to live on earth whit their followers. But nearly as many believed that it only meant that a high priest and high priestess should keep spreading the holy word of Baltazar. Those when Baltazars firstborn son toke up the mantle as Patriarch and claimed to speak whit the Allfathers voice some took offence by that.
Non more then his own younger brother. The priest Alderune.
The Crown of Light - Written by Baltazars youngest son, Alderune. It declares the worship of his elder brother Siaman, the First Patriarch, to be a false practice. It also proclaims that the Holy Father and Holy Mother shall chose a king from among there followers. Those whom criticize Alderune say that his outrage was more about jealousy of his brother then theological. And that he planed to replace the power of the Patriarch whit that of a king.
But there are references to a king figure in Baltazrs own texts. And those whom follow Monarchical Baltazarism say that Alderune was only trying to turn his brother back from a path of greed and darkness. Regardless this was the text that would define Monarchical Baltazarism and be the beginning of the Alderian culture.
The Crown of Demons - Written by Baltazars oldest son, Siaman. It denounces "The Crown of Ligh" and Alderune as heretics. It also proclaims that the Holy Father and Holy Mother are reborn to the earth whit in Siaman and his wife, and that they will do so again and again till the end of time. The last of the holy texts and written in protest of his brothers texts.
It began the Orthodox Baltazarism a version of the faith that centered around the rebirth of the gods on earth. Where Monarchical Baltazarism allows and even encourages theological debates this brand of Baltazarism demands total faith in their highest holy leaders. Only a few years after his death Orthodox Baltazariens started to chose children to be the new Patriarchs and Matriarch believing they would be more pure of heart if they where taught that they where the Holy Father and Holy Mother on earth from birth.

Father protect and guide us, Mother love and forgive us

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Alternative Names

The Chapel

Demonym

Baltazarien

Leader

Baltazar

Permeated Organizations

• Duchy of Green Valley
• Kingdom of Dellim

Deities

• Allfather
• Allmother

Divines

• Allfather
• Allmother

Notable Members

• Alderune
• Baltazar
• Siaman

Related Ethnicities

• Alderians
• Imperatoria
• Khainar
• Lionatrians