The Divine Balance
The state religion of the Sacred Reich of Vishy and some surrounding areas, The Divine Balance treats the Gods of T'sara as different parts of one entity, rather than focusing on individual Gods and their beliefs. By taking all of them into account, it is believed that one can find a Balanced and accordant life. It is, ironically, at times sacrilegious, focus more about improving one's life and character than in praising and celebrating the Gods themselves.
Structure
The organizational structure of The Divine Balance maps closely onto that of the government of Sacred Reich of Vishy, and in many cases, it's unclear as to where one starts and the other stops.
The lead church can be found in Aetern, the Capital city of Vishy. Here, the Prophet sits as both leader of the church, and the state. This is also where the central convent is, where all priests, deacons, and formal members of the church are taught.
The various diocese of the church aligns perfectly with the provincial regions of the government bureaucracy, to the point that in most documentation, the provinces are regarded and referred to primarily by its Diocese. Each diocese has a large church that manages
the churches and congregations.
The Balance has some factional orders or brotherhoods, that hold slightly differing views in the values and emphasis of the doctrine. These smaller orders are still obligated to attend seminary in Aetern first, but individual leading monasteries are dispersed throughout Vishy.
Assets
The wealth and assets of the Divine Balance are immense, their churches normally incredibly decorative with complex architecture. They have the entirety of the Vishy government to rely on for expenses, and the state is rarely reluctant to increasing taxation to the peasants to pay for the churches goals and initiatives.
Mythology & Lore
The Divine Balance puts heavy emphasis in the belief that all of the Gods and Goddesses were birthed at the same time. Rather than viewing them as children the Goddess Veserae, long since forgotten by the world at large. Rather, they believe that these ditties broke off from the same infinite divine energy. As they understand it, this was a purposeful event, and that the creators of T'sara did so in total concert and coordination with one another. In their understanding, the Gods granted the sentient of the world one instruction through multiple voices. This voice was not understood, and this dissonance caused the destruction of the world, commonly understood by the rest of the world as The Fey Crisis. Remembering the Gods words saved the world, and according to doctrine, all of the failings of the world are as a result of misunderstanding the Gods will.
Divine Origins
The Divine Balance began with The first prophet Brechane, a minor cleric to the Goddess Hjanda. It is said that she had a prophetic dream in her sleep, seeing the Gods not as disparate holy beings, but as different manifestations of the same divine force. Recognizing that the Gods never have the same appearance and voice when appearing to mortals, it was decided that this belief was possible. Understanding the beliefs of her current beliefs that Hjanda and the other Six Sisters cooperated to create the sentient beings of the world, she began to understand that this was one voice, creating different species to serve a different purpose on the world, taking the appearance of the being they created to encourage their belief and reverence.
As Brechane began to preach this new faith, she quickly began to gain followers. Traveling through the various city states, they were able to copy or confiscate texts from the religious temples. Brechane began to combine and synthesize the disparate works into one holy text encompassing all of them. This text would become the definitive work of the religion.
Brechane didn't want war, or power, but matters were taken out of her hands. Her followers in Aetern formed a coup, supporting the divine balance as the official religion of the city. From there, the zealots spread out through the neighboring city states to combine all of the holy territories under this new faith. She founderself humbled before the Gods, resigning these actions to the Gods will. Wahweth, after all, is the God of War, and conflict is described as being necessary.
Worship
Some rare detractors have noticed that it's been far too long since the ascendancy of the Prophet has been a surprise. Over the past centuries, all of them have been higher leaders within the church. This stands notably against how Brechane was a humble and low level cleric of Hjanda, as was her first replacement.
Priesthood
Although Brechane may have been the only true Prophet of the Gods, having divine message given to her by the Gods, all subsequent leaders of the Divine Balance have also been given this title. The tradition comes from Brechane's divine prophecy fortelling who should replace her, as she foresaw her own untimely death. Her replacement in turn chose their replacement, and each subsequent Prophet thereafter.
Priests of the Divine Balance are servants to the church for life; one of the rare ways in which the members of the church are separated from the bureacrats, nobility, and rulers of Vishy. They are volunteers, feeling a calling to serve; a pledge of one's life, not freely given, has no value and cannot be reliably trusted. Their pledges include vows of poverty and celibacy. The latter has been remarked as a curious and controversial choice, given that the Prophet Brechane was originally a cleric of Hjanda, Fifth of Six Sister, the Goddess of Families. It has been held in church doctrine since the pledges became a requirement that by entering the priesthood, one is accepting the church and it's members as it's family. Much is expected of those entering the priesthood. They are not only expected to minister the congregation, but to be teachers, accountants, record keepers, and more. In most communities, the schools are built on church grounds and operated by clergy members. As priests are present for every birth, marriage adoption, and death, they are required to keep log of these events for the Diocese. This has allowed for unusually strong ability to conduct historical and genealogical research in Vishy. In their poverty, and to show their emphasis to their namesake, priests wear simple robes in neutral, natural colors; most commonly brown. In ceremonies, priests will wear vestments of different colors to recognize the God or Goddess for whom the service is dedicated go, or whom governs the aspect of the ceremony. Bishops and higher ranks of leaders within the church will begin to wear increasing amounts of white with gold accents or filigree. This is both meant to serve as a mark of respect, and to show being closer to the divine spirit of the Gods and the desired Divine Balance.
Priests of the Divine Balance are servants to the church for life; one of the rare ways in which the members of the church are separated from the bureacrats, nobility, and rulers of Vishy. They are volunteers, feeling a calling to serve; a pledge of one's life, not freely given, has no value and cannot be reliably trusted. Their pledges include vows of poverty and celibacy. The latter has been remarked as a curious and controversial choice, given that the Prophet Brechane was originally a cleric of Hjanda, Fifth of Six Sister, the Goddess of Families. It has been held in church doctrine since the pledges became a requirement that by entering the priesthood, one is accepting the church and it's members as it's family. Much is expected of those entering the priesthood. They are not only expected to minister the congregation, but to be teachers, accountants, record keepers, and more. In most communities, the schools are built on church grounds and operated by clergy members. As priests are present for every birth, marriage adoption, and death, they are required to keep log of these events for the Diocese. This has allowed for unusually strong ability to conduct historical and genealogical research in Vishy. In their poverty, and to show their emphasis to their namesake, priests wear simple robes in neutral, natural colors; most commonly brown. In ceremonies, priests will wear vestments of different colors to recognize the God or Goddess for whom the service is dedicated go, or whom governs the aspect of the ceremony. Bishops and higher ranks of leaders within the church will begin to wear increasing amounts of white with gold accents or filigree. This is both meant to serve as a mark of respect, and to show being closer to the divine spirit of the Gods and the desired Divine Balance.
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