The Way

The Cycle is an ideological belief predominately held by the Nephinali. With its origins lost to history, little is known about how it came to be, but the Way has always been the main belief system of the kingdom of Nephinal. The main central tenets of the belief is the idea that the Room and all of reality work around a series of cycles. There are cycles for everything, from the birth and death of sparrowhawks to the natural course of war and peace throughout the Room. Many see this as the way of the world, a never ending chain of events that occur, in one way or another, after the other.

Structure

There is little organization for those who believe in the Way. It would be too taxing on resources and time to truly develop and sustain an organization dedicated solely to teaching, preaching, and spreading the faith. Instead, it is more of a cultural norm, held by each individual. However, there is some organization, of a sort, for the ideology. A type of scholarly priesthood reside in the Halls of the Way, a simple building, where they transcribe and copy texts, provide literature and pamphlets for the people, and help develop and codify the beliefs of the Way. Their major purpose is to study and record the numerous cycles in the Room, and find ways to apply them for Nephinal's benefits. Beyond them, those who educate and train the next generation of children are also, however briefly, taught and trained in the most important tenets of the Way, and teach it to the next generation.

Mythology & Lore

The Way is very secular considering all things, and thus has little in the way of mythology. Instead, according to its tenets, the Great Cycle was set into motion one the Room was built. Certain myths, most notably about Nephin the Great, due abound, but are mostly restricted to add-ons from the populous are a cultural heritage of the Nephinali.

Divine Origins

How exactly the belief of the Way was formed, developed, and created, is unknown, through that is not surprising as most things in the Room are as well. To the denizens of the Room, the Nephinali have always believed in the Great Cycle, and in the endless sequences of events that continue to go on. Of course, there have been a few individuals and events that have helped to shape and solidify the Way into its modern form. The legends of the mysterious Old Prophet speak of a wise man who helped Nephinal use their understanding of the cycles to boast their plant growth and economy. Gelladry Woodsmith was a famed scholar who wrote the The Great Cycle which remains the primary text of the Way, with the main principles of the belief codified and recorded. However, the greatest influence are the unnumbered and unrecorded oral teachers and speakers, who to this day continue to rear and educate the next generation in the truths of the Great Cycle.

Cosmological Views

To the adherents of the Way, the Room is a somewhat paradoxical place. By its name alone, the Room, it implies that there is more to reality than what even realized to its residents. Some believe that beyond known reality is something more, something infinite and vast and beyond comprehensive, maybe even pure uncontrolled magic. Others believe that there are more rooms, going on forever and ever, just waiting to be explored, and perhaps exploited. And finally, a few whisper of an old forgotten world, where the "sun" and "moon" would rise, and where there was only a vast open sky and endless fields. Besides what is beyond, internally all believe in several cycles which all interconnect into the great cycle. Everything within the Room has a certain way it runs, and disrupting its cycle can be catastrophic. For instance, the Sol has a cycle, regularly opening to reveal light and warm, then closing again. Other cycles are longer, such as the span of human life, from birth to death. One of the greatest cycles is the one of war and peace. War is inevitable within the Room, and all know it. Mig, once strong enough, will go out and take the Titan Fields, and feed itself for a time off the bounty of those fields. Somehow, Nephinal will survive, and then with Elevenia they will wage war again and retake the Titan Fields. So it has been forever, and so it will be forever. But a small number of those who believe in the Way ponder if there is more to their destiny than just that. They say that the Room was built to have its own life cycle, and that eventually the cycle will end, and then finally, the great stone walls will crumble away, and the Great Cycle of the Room will be complete.

Tenets of Faith

The major tents of the Way are centered around the belief in the Great Cycle, already described. Beyond that though, the government of Nephinal also influences the Way to inspire good citizenship and service. Those who believe in the Great Cycle, according the Way, should due their part to serve in and for it. Whether this be a simple farmer who plants and grows and harvests or a valiant Glider, all have their own duties and positions in the Great Cycle, and by adhering to those roles serves Nephinal and keeps the great path of the Room moving forward.

Founding Date

Unknown

Type

Religious, Other

Alternative Names

The Path, The Great Circles

Permeated Organizations