Throne Worship
Though extra planar travel is quite difficult one plane is quite well known, the infinite tower of Etemenanki and the silent heaven Ayin at its top. It is from these two planes that all angels, archons, and inevitables issue forth. In ancient times Kin believed the angels to be servants of the gods, but upon visiting their heaven this was found to be untrue. All gods are barred from Etemenanki and Ayin, but the angels make no effort to remove mortal travelers. They will readily guide Kin about and reveal to them any knowledge desired. Chief among these they will show pilgrims the vast and empty heavenly throne. There was once a great god who guided all of creation, but he has either left this universe or died. There the revelations conflict and the angels fall into conflict with one another.
In response to this revelation the Highlanders have determined they must create a soul worthy to claim the empty throne. To this end they pursue spiritual perfection and worship the Empty Throne and the one who will one day claim it.
History
Alcohol and particularly wine is sacred to Throne Worshippers. It is always present but taboo to sell it for any reason. Community vinyards and brewries are open to all community members in good standing, and monastic breweries will gift weekly stipends of wine to any who keep to their tithes and religious duties. However outsiders must be gifted alcohol as a sign of supreme respect.
This draws back to their origin myth. It is said that at one time all beings lived in the All Father's vineyard, a paradise free of pain or hunger. One was allowed to eat any fruit save for the grapes from which the All Father made his sacred wine. In time each of the elder races, dragons, giants, angels, were gifted wine by the supreme god but humans were passed over. They grew jealous, stealing the fruit for themselves and brewing their own wine. Though it was but a crude imitation of the heavenly nectar it still filled them with satisfaction and pride.
Upon discovering the theft the All Father summoned forth those first humans "My children who would not wait for the rites of adulthood but seize them for you own, you have chosen the path of hardship. You are the greatest of my children, but from this day forth all that greatness must be earned with your own hands." They were then banished from the vineyard and the passages which allowed elder races free access were closed.
Observance
One who seeks to claim the Throne of Heaven is known as a pretender god. They may take any philosophy but must pursue it without any hesitation, doubt, or half-measures. The pretender god must pursue his philosophy with perfection in all ways and serve as its foremost exemplar. None thus far have been found worthy. Those who fail in their quest for godhood are after death imprisoned within Etemenanki. Their souls struggle still in doorless cells, observable only through small thick windows. Their arms are fused to their stomachs and their mouths are sealed shut.
Those who merely worship the throne and a potential future god follow the philosophy of angels. This involves keeping ones self clean physically, mentally, and morally. The Throne worshipers bath each day and cut their hair once each week. Desire dirties the mind and as such Throne Worshipers try to avoid any desire that cannot be satisfied quickly and without harming others. Last to maintain moral cleanness they must do onto others as they would have others do onto them. Failing to do good is of similar weight to performing evil.
Related Ethnicities
Dominions (video game)
Kill Six Billion Demons (Webcomic)
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