Serpent's Mantle

While the Harmonious Way preached balance and renewal, the Serpent's Mantle designated an Imperial Doctrine of Transcendence that took a more aggressive and expansionist approach. This branch of the Serpent’s Path interpreted the metaphor of the serpent shedding its skin in terms of conquest and domination. The military and noble classes who followed this doctrine believed that the Nakhasi Empire was destined to transcend its limitations through the conquest of other peoples and nations.

Mythology & Lore

The Serpent’s Mantle sees the serpent not only as a symbol of renewal but also of control and refinement. They believe the Nakhasi Empire itself was the serpent—shedding weakness through conquest and absorbing the strength of others. The myth of Mok Tun’s conquests is central to their identity, though they do not worship him as a god. Mok Tun’s immortality and strength are interpreted as proof of the power that can be gained through constant shedding of weakness, but his peaceful death is viewed as a tragic flaw by this sect, who believe he should have continued seeking transcendence through conquest.
For the followers of the Serpent's Mantle, strength and power were the ultimate goals. They believed that just as the serpent grows by shedding its old skin, the empire must continually expand, shedding the weak and absorbing the strong. Conquest was seen not only as a practical necessity but as a divine mandate—the Nakhasi were destined to dominate the world, and through this domination, they would achieve a form of transcendence, becoming more powerful and perfect with each victory.
This doctrine justified endless warfare as a means of growth. Conquering other nations and races was seen as purging weakness from the world, and by absorbing the strengths of their enemies, the Nakhasi believed they were shedding the old, weak skin of the world and replacing it with something stronger, more refined. The Imperial Doctrine gave moral and spiritual justification for the empire’s aggressive expansion, casting it as a natural part of the world’s order and the Nakhasi’s right.

Divine Origins

This sect emerged among the military leaders and nobles who had built their power through conquest. While originally part of the broader Harmonious Way, the Serpent’s Mantle split off, emphasizing that the serpent’s shedding represents the purging of weakness and growth through domination. They believe that conquest was not just necessary but spiritually imperative for the Nakhasi’s transcendence.

Cosmological Views

In the Serpent’s Mantle cosmology, the universe is a battleground where the strong must purge the weak to ascend. Life’s cycles are still acknowledged, but the Mantle sees these cycles as driven by power. Shedding and renewal are acts of aggressive transformation, where the strong cast off the weak to strengthen themselves. The natural order, to them, is survival and dominance.

Tenets of Faith

• Purge Weakness: The strong must continually shed what is weak—whether individuals, societies, or empires.
• Dominate to Transcend: True transcendence can only be achieved by proving oneself through conquest and growth.
• Strength is Virtue: Only through strength can harmony be achieved. Weakness disrupts balance and must be corrected.
• Perpetual Growth: Stagnation is death; constant growth and conquest are the only paths to true spiritual and societal strength.

Ethics

The Serpent’s Mantle operates under a might-makes-right ethical framework. To them, the greatest good is the empowerment of the strong, as they believe the strong have the right to dominate the weak. Mercy and charity are seen as weaknesses unless they serve a practical purpose in gathering strength. Their ethics revolve around discipline, personal power, and the constant pursuit of dominance over others.

Priesthood

The Mantle-Bearers serve as this sect’s spiritual leaders, though they are more akin to strategists than priests. They offer guidance on how best to apply the principles of strength and conquest to one’s personal life and governance. They often serve as military advisors, blending philosophy with tactics, and they hold regular ceremonies to “shed” the weaknesses of the past—often symbolic purges or rituals of strength.

Type

Religious, Sect