House of the Pale Father
Structure
The 'House of the Pale Father' is an organized religion spanning most of the world, with each individual 'House' in a city simply being referred to as a part of a greater whole. Within an individual 'House' there is the Priest-body, ordained Priests who deal to the spiritual needs of the people, as well as acting as minor beacons for Nythrion's power to be focused through. Due to the fact that they deal with the passing of individuals and work with other temples in order to ensure the safe passing of souls, each 'House' has a number of dedicated administrative staff, usually comprised of devout lay-members and priests. These administrative workers deal with the other temples and politics within the 'House', as well as all the paper work required. Lastly there is the 'Lantern Watch', commonly referred to, derogatorily, as 'Guard Dogs'. This small faith-militant group operate within specific bounds, protecting the 'House' and maintaining its sanctity as well as keeping the nearby areas clear of rogue souls and various 'soul-eating' outsiders/hunting down arcane abominations.
Culture
The House of the Pale Father prefer to take a more laid-back approach to life, as they know that all life comes to an end, though that is not the end of existence. To the Priests of Nythrion, life is the first of two stages of existence, and should be protected to ensure that an individual lives a long and fulfilling life, but everyone needs to be prepared for the eventuality of its end. In addition to this they have an inversely strong warning against the misuse of arcane magic, it is Nythrion's gift and should be respected as such.
Public Agenda
Publicly the House of the Pale Father exists to aid people in living a fulfilling life, to prepare them for the eventuality of death and, when that death comes, to ensure that the souls of the deceased are properly guided to the Soul Forge. Most Houses also cannot stress enough that the House of the Pale Father is in no way associated with the Lunar Sentinels, and disavows their actions as heresy.
Assets
In many cities across the world there are individual 'Houses' of the Pale Father, though they also maintain a few larger 'academies' for the training of Priests, Lantern Watch and mages.
History
Officially the House of the Pale Father, as it exists today, did not come into being until after the end of the Crusade of Bronze & Bone, though a more disorganized version of it has been around for some time. After the Crusade many of the disparate groups of Nythrions followers would commune with each other and reorganize into a larger, unified force to share resources and spread a more unified message. Given that many of these groups were already sharing the same or similar messages, this merging worked quite well, to the point that within a few years the Houses were able to open new 'Chapters' in other cities, spreading quite quickly, especially in the various devastated areas. Due to the fact that the Houses were focused more on preparing for the Afterlife rather than the Mortal world, it managed to slip into areas with dominant faiths quite easily, especially when it was made clear that they were not trying to compete, just offer solace to those who have lost loved ones, and to offer a path to their own Afterlives.
Within the first few decades the Houses came into small conflicts with the Lunar Sentinels, an order of militant Nythrion priests that were more hard line than the Houses, spending their days traveling in search of wayward souls, undead to destroy and wizards to slay. Somehow both groups had come to a different conclusion of Nythrion's message around both of these topics, with the Houses seeing the undead as victims while the Sentinels saw them as objects of mockery. Some of the older Houses that had, in the past, let various groups of the Sentinels take up lodging in their House continued to do so after the merger, while others would turn them away, leading to frustration and confusion. Eventually, after a small brawl got out of hand and left a few priests of the Houses dead, a unified approach was agreed upon in the way the Houses were to deal with the Sentinels: they wouldn't. To the Houses the Sentinels were violent, stubborn and misguided, and if they would not listen to the Houses, then they were not welcome.
Within the first few decades the Houses came into small conflicts with the Lunar Sentinels, an order of militant Nythrion priests that were more hard line than the Houses, spending their days traveling in search of wayward souls, undead to destroy and wizards to slay. Somehow both groups had come to a different conclusion of Nythrion's message around both of these topics, with the Houses seeing the undead as victims while the Sentinels saw them as objects of mockery. Some of the older Houses that had, in the past, let various groups of the Sentinels take up lodging in their House continued to do so after the merger, while others would turn them away, leading to frustration and confusion. Eventually, after a small brawl got out of hand and left a few priests of the Houses dead, a unified approach was agreed upon in the way the Houses were to deal with the Sentinels: they wouldn't. To the Houses the Sentinels were violent, stubborn and misguided, and if they would not listen to the Houses, then they were not welcome.
Mythology & Lore
The House of the Pale Father teaches that when the Universe came into being, it was Nythrion who gave up much of his own form and power to bridge the gap between the Universe and the Soul Forge. This sacrifice cost him so much power that Terminus, the moon of Ioral, seems to lose light over the course of every two weeks, until a night without any access to him at all. It is said that the light from Terminus is actually a gift given by Telsin, some of her own light to help guide the souls of the dead towards Terminus and their final resting place.
Firaemel, the strange vine that grows in graveyards and seems to respond to the light of Terminus, is a gift from Ylros when Nythrion agreed to have Terminus's movements affect the seas. It is said by the Preists of Nythrion that during the long millennia were Ylros was not worshipped it was Nythrion who comforted her, and that his gifts of new forms to the Nythrai was meant to aid in the ending of the Bloodplague, which it did.
Firaemel, the strange vine that grows in graveyards and seems to respond to the light of Terminus, is a gift from Ylros when Nythrion agreed to have Terminus's movements affect the seas. It is said by the Preists of Nythrion that during the long millennia were Ylros was not worshipped it was Nythrion who comforted her, and that his gifts of new forms to the Nythrai was meant to aid in the ending of the Bloodplague, which it did.
Tenets of Faith
- Life is but the first step; Live it to the fullest, but do not forget that there is life after death
- Magic is his gift to us, to shape the world we live in and defend ourselves from the worst of the universe; despite this there are things we should never use it for, there are limits to what is acceptable
- Undeath is a perversion of the life that once existed within that body; for the sake of the resting essence that once dwelled within the animated remains must be returned to their rest
- Soul consuming creatures must be stopped at all costs, their actions trap essence and disrupt the 'Eternal Flow'; pity these creatures but do not spare them, for even their essence will eventually be touched by his light
- Every life has its time, and though we may have the power to return some to life; once the soul has left for Terminus, their essence is bound of the Soul Forge, and we will not bring them back
- Those who use Nythrion's gift are blessed under his gaze, tapping into the powers he bestowed for our benefit; be mindful of their use of such power, however, for those that consume souls in their pursuit of power are little more than Demons of the Flesh
- Trapped essence is a fate worse than death, and such poor entities must be aided in their return to the Soul Forge; such entities are dangerous however, and caution when approaching is advised
- Aid those mourning the dead, for the lives lived were beautiful things; ensure that the faithful understand that while the pain will last they cannot wallow in misery, as that will do little to return the dead
Ethics
Virtues
- Passive practice of magic
- Aiding in the 'Soul Sink' rituals
- Redeath of Undead
- Destruction of Essence consuming entities
- Growing Firaemel
- Aiding trapped Essence to return to the Soul Forge
- Freeing those trapped, enslaved or guiding the lost
- Defending the living from those that would end their lives prematurely
- Respecting the remains of the dead, no matter the faith
- Offering guiding prayers to those that have passed
Sins
- Raising of Undead
- Consuming of Souls, in any way
- Attempting to return the 'long' dead to life (after a day or so)
- Using Arcane magic to create abominations
- Trapping Souls
- Trapping those who have done no wrong to you
- Enslaving anyone
- Desecrating the remains of anyone
Worship
Taking part in the biweekly Soul Sink Ritual, a night long effort that ensures that the souls of those that die while Nythrion is gone are not lost to the prowling entities that seek to consume them. This is the most major commonly practiced form of worship by the House and its Denizens.
Small prayers offered before conducting dangerous tasks, in the morning or even before casting spells are all common forms of minor worship.
Small prayers offered before conducting dangerous tasks, in the morning or even before casting spells are all common forms of minor worship.
Priesthood
Priests of Nythrion can come from any stage in life, from any species, and are chosen by existing Priests, who can feel the gaze of Nythrion upon them. These individuals are then either sent to an Academy to learn or apprentice themselves to a Senior Priest at a House. Either way they spend up to four years studying and then must pass two final tests, a written exam on theology and a vigil on the night of the full moon. After the vigil is complete, and Nythrion feels that the Priest is ready, a small pendant will form in front of them, a symbol of Nythrion made of a strange metal that seems to be made of the night's sky.
Full Priests of Nythrion carry one of two options of Lantern-Staff, the traditional Lantern Staff with an iron or bronze magical lantern hanging by a chain from one end, or a sun rod hidden within a staff that can be revealed to provide light. Either way, these staffs are only used by the clergy of Nythrion, easily distinguishing them as Priests of Nythrion at a distance. While most Priests tend to wear flowing robes highlighted with cyan, some wear traveling robes or simpler clothes, it depends on the Priest.
Full Priests of Nythrion carry one of two options of Lantern-Staff, the traditional Lantern Staff with an iron or bronze magical lantern hanging by a chain from one end, or a sun rod hidden within a staff that can be revealed to provide light. Either way, these staffs are only used by the clergy of Nythrion, easily distinguishing them as Priests of Nythrion at a distance. While most Priests tend to wear flowing robes highlighted with cyan, some wear traveling robes or simpler clothes, it depends on the Priest.
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