Well's Light
The Well's Light a religious order that believes in the Well of Chaos creation mythos. They forswear the use of magic - the only religion to do so - in hopes of preserving the Well's magic. While many claim that the religion was founded by Milesri Decraft herself, the true origins of the Well's Light date only to around 200 FE. It was then that Colaranessia, namesake of the Colarian Theocracy and the Well's greatest prophet, began to gather followers within the Sursorran Magocracy, mainly those who could not use magic. She preyed on their perceived weakness, telling them tales of the Well of Chaos, that they, they non-magical, could become the saviors of the land. For 25 years, she gathered support and evaded the Sursorran authorities. Finally, in 225 FE, she led a crusade on the city of Surson, high seat of the Sursorran Magocracy. When Colaranessia's forces emerged victorious, all traces of magic were erased from the city with ruthless efficiency. The city was destroyed and rebuilt into Colaria, the holy city of the Well's Light.
From Colaria, the Well's Light's influence spread, and much of the former Sursorran Magocracy came under Colaria's control, eventually becoming the Colarian Theocracy. While most of the believers in the Well's Light can be found within the Colarian Theocracy, small sects are based in most major cities throughout Kherik. As of 836 FE, the Well's Light is yet to touch the soil of Alviera.
Structure
The Well's Light's civilian order within the Colarian Theocracy follows a hierarchy of the Illuminated. At the top sits the Luminous One, whose commands are followed by eight Brightest, one in each province. The Brightest oversee the thirty-eight Illuminated, of which each is in charge of one city's Illuminators throughout the Theocracy. The High Justicar of the Keepers of the Well is seen as equal in stature to one of the Brightest, answering only to the Luminous One.
Outside the Theocracy, many small sects of followers of the Well's Light exist, each one headed by an Illuminator.
Culture
The Well's Light maintains a culture of embracing the mundane, holding that anything done without magic is inherently better than anything done using it. They preach that the use of magic is a crutch used by the weak and the lazy, an way to avoid doing the hard work that needs to be done.
Public Agenda
The Well's Light abhors magic and anything created or sustained by it. They are in constant skirmish with the Taidon Shogunate for the Shogunate's use of mages.
Assets
Thanks to the compulsory tithe enacted on every citizen within the Colarian Theocracy, the Well's Light is extremely wealthy. A large portion of this money goes to sustain the food and material needs of the Keepers of the Well, while the rest is often invested in trade through Sover. The Well's Heart, the great temple in the center of Colaria, is considered gaudy by many in its extravagance, though that is said to pale in comparison to the personal estate of the Luminous One.
Mythology & Lore
The Well's Light do not believe in a specific deity, but rather in the story of the Well of Chaos. Their holy book has extensive references to Milesri Decraft, the legendary hero who is said to have refilled the Well of Chaos, giving this world another chance at life. Those who subscribe to the Well's Light believe this story to the letter, often drawing interpretations that magic is inherently evil and must be stopped by any means to preserve the continuation of life. The story of The Draining of Abella is the most told throughout Colaria, with many copies even put into print for the wealthier members of the religious order.
Cosmological Views
The Well's Light believe that the world began as a swirling mass of magical energy. This energy eventually created a shell around it, protecting it. Eventually, some of this magical energy seeped through the shell, creating the early forms of life. As more and more of the magical energy seeped through, life was able to become more complex. As each life was created, magic was drawn from the Well to sustain it, and as each creature died, that magic was returned to the Well. All was peaceful as the cycle continued, until magic users began to appear. These people were able to draw directly on the Well's magic to accomplish unnatural feats. The only issue was, this magic was never returned to the Well. For ages, this was not seen as an issue, since the Well seemed infinite.
As time went on, the use of magic became more prevalent and more extreme, entire civilizations being supported and relying entirely on magic. More and more magic was drawn from the Well, never to be returned. This came to a head when Milesri Decraft revealed she could see the reserves of the Well of Chaos, and they were running dry. She led a campaign to stop the use of magic, but it failed. In a move of desperation, she tore open a portal to another plane and drew all of its magic into herself, then returned to Omnisia and killed herself, releasing all of the magic within her into the Well.
While her final act was successful and restored the Well of Chaos, it was too late. In the time that she was gone, the Well ran dry, and for a few precious moments, magic ceased to exist. Life ceased to be created.
The Well's Light is dedicated to ensuring that the cycle of life and death is not stopped again.
Tenets of Faith
- Magic is wasting potential life, and should never be used
- Death serves to restore the Well, and is a just punishment for using magic
- Everything that is worth doing can be done without magic
Priesthood
The Illuminators make up the largest portion of the priesthood. These are chosen from among the most dedicated youths. While most embrace their new life as members of the clergy, some resist, until they undergo the Ritual of Illumination, after which they, like their peers, become ideal members of the faith. The highest and most experienced among the Illuminators are chosen to be Illuminated, the leaders of faith within a city and its surrounding lands. Above the Illuminated are the Brightest, eight clergy who lead the faith of an entire province, and answer only to the faith's leader, the Luminous One. Unlike the Illuminated and the Brightest, the Luminous One is not chosen from among the clergy, but is instead chosen from a group of thirteen teenagers, the Lights, who are chosen at random and kept separated from society for their teen years.
When one of the thirteen Lights reaches age nineteen, they are removed from the program, and a new light is chosen from among the children in Colaria who turned thirteen that day. They are taken to the Luminous One's residence and spend the next six years of their life in total luxury, having every need and want attended to, except for leaving the estate. If the Luminous One dies, the oldest Light becomes the new Luminous One, and another Light is chosen according to the usual procedures.
Political Influence & Intrigue
The Well's Light has complete control over the Colarian Theocracy. Through the military and economic pressure they exert, they also have limited power over Sover and Hafford, and have been able to impose their beliefs onto much of the Thornterian Empire.
Sects
While all of the Colarian Theocracy is held within one system of beliefs and one group of teachings, those outside of the Theocracy do not have the same luxury. Most cities in Kherik have have a developed sect of the Well's Light, but their teachings often deviate from those within the Theocracy, ranging from outright hostility to magic to limiting the use of it in personal life.
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