Perfected Path

"The imperative to pursue perfection, to improve exponentially, to advance the species generation over generation, is hard-coded in our DNA. Surely whatever creator you believe in put it there for a reason?"

— Pathguide Supreme Neoran King

Leaders

The faith is co-led by Neoran King and Lyra Vega, winners of the last Great Crucible competition.

Structure

The Pathguides Supreme are nominally in charge, but they're largely figureheads served by an array of accountants and attaches. The Pathguides at all levels advise their charges, pursue perfection, and serve as an example. Upon retirement, the Pathguides Supreme organize a new Great Crucible.

Divine Origins

Perfected Path are the logical extension of the Old Earth Darwinists, Eugenicists, Raëlists, Aum Shinrikyo, and other similar philosophies. They believe that the purpose of life is to attain physical perfection (or as close as they can) and improve the species generation over generation.

Tenets of Faith

The Primacy of Perfection: The attainment of physical perfection is the ultimate goal of human existence.
Exchew Cybernetics: Do not sully the body with inhuman additions such as cybernetics.
Eugenics and Selection: The selective breeding and genetic engineering of humans is necessary to accelerate progress towards perfection.
Self-Transformation: Individuals must take an active role in transforming their own bodies and minds to achieve perfection.
The Rejection of Imperfection: All forms of imperfection, including disability and disease, must be eradicated.
The Hierarchy of Perfection: Those who have achieved a higher level of physical perfection hold a higher status in society.
The Obligation to Improve: Each generation must strive to improve upon the last, achieving greater levels of perfection.
The Unity of Perfection: All perfected beings are interconnected and part of a greater whole.
The Eternal Pursuit: The pursuit of perfection is an ongoing and eternal process, with no end goal, only continuous improvement.
Reinforcement of Beauty Standards: Beauty standards that arose naturally did so as a genetic imperative. People are supposed to become more beautiful as part of their advancement.

Ethics

Exalted Traits

DX > 11, ST > 11, HT > 11, Acute Senses (Any), Ambidexterity, Appearance, Arm DX, Arm ST, Catfall, Charisma, Combat Reflexes, Daredevil, Discriminatory Hearing/Taset/Smell, Double-Jointed, Eidetic Memory, Enhanced Move, Extended Lifespan, Fearlessness, Fit, Flexibility, Hard to Kill, Hard to Subdue, High Manual Dexterity, High Pain Threshold, Lifting ST, Longevity, Mathematical Ability, Perfect Balance, Sensitive Touch, Trained By A Master, Unfazeable, Voice, Disciplines of Faith, Overconfidence, Stubbornness, Vows

Reviled Traits

DX < 9, ST < 9, HT < 9, Cybernetics, Addiction, Alcoholism, Combat Paralysis, Dwarfism, Easy to Kill, Fat, Gluttony, Ham-Fisted, Hemophilia, Klutz, Laziness, Low Pain Threshold, Low Self-Image, Pacifism (Total Nonviolence), Skinny, Social Disease, Squeamish, Unfit, Very Fat.

Common Intolerances

Cyborgs, Clones, Dwarfism, Gigantism, Bioroids, Necroids, Uplifted, Aliens

Priesthood

Guides and Pathguides run gyms, sports teams, beauty pageants, genetic clinics, and matchmaking services. Rather than just preach their religion, they are expected to guide their adherents to self improvement and physical awakenings, and to see that the next generation is an improvement.

Political Influence & Intrigue

The Perfected Path has difficulty making inroads into pol. While they are strongest with military groups, their staunch stance against cybernetics makes them unpopular with commanding officers.

Sects

Evolutionists believe in selective breeding and genetic engineering, focusing on future generations and guided evolution. This is the mainstream sect.

Eugenicists are extremist evolutionists who seek to not only breed better humans, but also to prevent substandard people from passing their lesser genes on. This is the oldest sect of the Perfected Path, started by Ghary Megieren in the rising days of the First Terran Empire.

Competitors believe that physical competitive sports are the best way to strive to greater heights. This is the most popular sect from the outside; other religions find it easy to coexist with Competitors.

Warriors are extremist competitors who believe that war, struggles of life and death, are the best way to ensure that only the most perfect survive to spawn. This is the most popular religion of Mars.

Continua Incremental Perfectum

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Demonym

Pathfinders

Leader Title

Pathguide Supreme

Notable Members

• Lyra Vega
• Neoran King

Related Species

• Temple of Perfection