The Cult of the Open Road

"The Great 95 runs both north and south, so too do the will of the gods run contrary - so do not expect an easy run through life"

- Saint Grakken, HighPriest of the Open Road

Many years ago, before the great undead horde and the raider invasion before that there was a wandering Diesel of questionable morals but with a great heart. Grakken was his name and he was wise beyond his years. His rally track routes often took him all around the Wastes but he was often found around the old settlements of the east coast.
After many years, many bongs and enough hooch to kill a dozen regular strains he sat down on a rusty car hulk in the Holy Potomac Scrapyards and began to reflect on life. He'd seen a lot of things, after all, and he knew that once he passed on into what comes next all that knowledge and experience would be lost. Legend has it that he found among the rusting shells, a nearly pristine hood from a Ford GT and from the purple haze of his mind he knew what he had to do.
Grakken took his toolkit and unbolted the hood of the old Ford and used his blowtorch to cut it into three panels. Then he rolled up a doob as big as his forearm and sat down to scratch the tenants of a new faith upon it with three nails pulled from his ride's tires. For three days and three nights he labored. Through blazing sun and acidic downpours. Then on the dawning of the fourth day, he sat upon the Mountain of Rust with satisfaction that his wisdom would outlive him. They say the spliff he smoked that day was beyond the kin of mortal strains.
Then Grakken took again to wandering, performing miracles of faith and bringing his message to the masses. Diesel Jocks (and other strains as well) all throughout the wastes began to see the Open Road as a promise and a test. They took up the red, white and blue 95 shield as their symbol and also began to travel. These days, you can hardly swing a dead cat without coming across that grand old shield or other such shields with smaller or greater numbers upon them. But the Great 95 is the greatest of all of these numbers.
It is said that in his wanderings, Saint Grakken lost some of the panels of the Ford GT. Others claim that Grakken merely hid the panels so that others may have to strive to seek out that wisdom rather than have it spoon fed to them. It is said that Saint Grakken and his Pit Crew visited the Bailey and had a raging kegger by Bailey's 95 Gate before he wandered off into the wastes. Luckily for those who follow The Open Road, the first Panel remains in a small chapel on that site for any pilgrim who may wish to visit. No one knows what became of Saint Grakken but the tough old Diesel is probably still out there, straightening curves and doing eight-balls to this very day.

I) The Road Provides and Tests Us

The Great 95 runs both north and south so do too do the will of the Gods run contrary, so do not expect an easy run through life. The Great 95 is the Will of the Gods made manifest. We do not need to know the names of the Gods or Goddesses for they make themselves known on The Road. Nor do we need to guess what the Gods want from us. If they wish to test us, they will. If they wish humor and entertainment, they will set an obstacle in our path. If they wish to show benevolence, they will provide.
The Great 95 is both Mother and Father, the only constant that the Gods provide for us is the Open Road and the freedom that comes with it.

II) Fuck with my Ride and you have an Enemy For Life

One's ride is freedom incarnate. Do not expect a Follower of the Faith to turn the other cheek if this tenant is violated but rather to become the embodiment of Nemesis.

III) Your Caravan is your Family

Only your ride is more important. The Great 95 allows for your personal freedom but we do not follow that path alone. Those that choose to accompany you through the journey and discovery of life should be cherished. They are your Pit Crew as you should be for them.

IV) Always Pay your Mechanic

Some religions have Priests to help your soul. Our soul is the here and now. We have Mechanics to watch over us. Some specialize in blood and meat. Some specialize in Iron. Both are important to keep you moving.
If you have nothing to trade, you owe them a Debt of Blood and should repay that debt as soon as possible either through Deeds or Goods. If one of the Faith cannot pay a mechanic and you have the means to pay for them, do so, and keep the Debt of Blood within the Faith.

V) Cash, Grass or Ass

No one rides for free. Dead Weight causes bad fuel efficiency and must be cast off in order to save us from an Empty Gas Tank. Dead weight can come in the form of useless junk or useless people. Cast them off and be careful that you do not become Dead Weight yourself.

VI) Personal Freedom at all Costs

Speed means Freedom of the Soul. The Question is not "When are you going to stop." but "Who is going to try and stop you." If you cannot drive where you want when you want as the Gods intended, what is the point of life?. It is better to Die trying to kill those who would enslave you than to live as a slave.

Type

Religious, Cult