The Octan Faith
The Eight Gods of Men
The Octan detest order and chaos in equal measure; when one dethrones the other, the Octan will see fit to restore the balance.
-"The Chant of the Fool" Verse 8:8
The Octan is the dominant religion across most of Thamrysis. Following an eightfold godhead, The Octan was spread during the years of conquest that lead to the Sovereignty being formed and adapted many local belief systems that mirrored aspects of it. Most humans of the continent drew from a similar religious well, and local gods were perceived as aspects of the all encompassing Eight. Local religious deviancy (or organized worship of any of the Forbade) was forbade and rooted out. Today, The Octan is a powerful faith that has power comparable to the Sovereign themselves.
Structure
The Leaders of the Faith are traditionally considered to be the Vox Organum, a collection of fifty priests lead by the Vox Principalis. The Vox Principalis serves as the leader of the faith, chosen by the Vox Organum whenever a previous Principalis dies, or becomes too weak in mind or body to serve the gods’ will. The Vox Principalis serves as the final voice in any dispute about tenets or articles of faith. Politically, this position means very little in places like Hylimunde or Onera, but wields tremendous near autocratic political power in the Haisan Golden State.
Public Agenda
The Octan Faith serves to propagate worship of the Eight and create orthodoxy across Thamrysis in regards to the worship of these deities.
Assets
Resources
The Octani Faith has roots deep within the established noble families of the Heartland kingdoms and has grown rich from their patronage. The faith wields significant economic power, enacting a tithe of precious stones and gold from the Sovereignty to fund the growth and expansion of the faith that supports the Sovereign's claim to power. Most notably, much of Thamrysis' diamond supply lays in the hands of the Octani Faith.Militant Orders/Oaths
The Order Militant Ascendant is a militant order devoted to the loftiest ideals of justice, virtue, and order, and each member takes an oath of devotion to the Eight to serve faithfully their will. This oath binds them to one another, the faith, and the gods themselves. Most serve as pages or squires for other members of the order. While a king or lord or knight may make a warrior a knight, the only path into the Order Militant Ascendant is through the Faith of the Eight.History
In the time before the revelations of Misurin, the religious beliefs of the The Weinlands were a complicated mix of different belief sets, often different from one province to another. The original animism and ancestor worship of the early Hundred Kings had given way in Onera to the worship of The Senden in a variety of forms throughout the regions now known as Black Hills, The Weinlands, Norgarden and Southgarden. In regions like Westermarch, Sylvale and Hylimunde, the old faith of the Hundred Kings had mutated into various pantheons with unique deities and spirits (and in the case of Hylimunde, a Draconic ur-god). The coming of the Latizan brought religious structure and a worship of the state as a concept that influenced the religious beliefs of the conquered, and the mixed religious beliefs of the slaves brought by the Latizan were fractured and complex.
The First Prophet's Rebellion in 2480 ME
The beginning of the Octan faith's modern form began in 2689 AE, when a Haisan prophet named Misurin transcribed the "Litany of the Eight," over a period of 8 days that became the foundational holy document of the Octani faith. By the age of 20, the prophet had spread the faith throughout much of Sunhollow, preaching the worship of The Eight and expulsion of the heretical Forbade.
In 2701, The Companions of Misurin embark on a sacred quest to slay the Tyrant Dragon God, Rei. Misurin, a Haisani, a Sylvale, a Dwuerva, A Hyli son of Rei, A wein lord, A wein sellsword, A sude' wiseman, a crone from the swamps of the South. They travel through the Heartlands, across the Vein, into the Lowlands, and up into the mountains of Hylimunde. There, they slay Rei. The Sylvale companion dies at the hands of Rei's minions, the Sude' dies in the fight with Rei.
In 2838, The Litany of the Octan receives The First Coda, transcribed by the prophet Basilia of Haisan that outlines the precepts of the faith and the nature of The Eight.
In 2878, The first octomenical council, the Assembly of Tonos, meets in an effort to attain a consensus regarding the tenets of the growing Octani faith.
In 2997 AE, The Wein adopt the Octani and King Riven the Pious of Wein is named Sovereign of the unified Heartland. Riven takes a Haisan wife as Queen, solidifying the new Empire's connection to Sunhollow.
By 3000 AE, the entirety of the Heartland empire's noble houses has adopted the Octani, and it had become the dominant religion in the region.
Infrastructure
Leaders
The Leaders of the Faith are traditionally considered to be the Vox Organum, a collection of fifty priests lead by the Vox Principalis. The Vox Principalis serves as the leader of the faith, chosen by the Vox Organum whenever a previous Principalis dies, or becomes too weak in mind or body to serve the gods’ will. The Vox Principalis serves as the final voice in any dispute about tenets or articles of faith. Politically, this position means little in places like Hylimuyne or Onera but wields tremendous political power among the Haisan.Mythology & Lore
Show Spoiler
1:1 In the Beginning there was only the Black Egg, The Divine Something in the Absolute Nothing, from which hatched the Great Bird- Whose name was Hedrimit. 1:2 In the first instant of Creation, Hedrimit stretched out his terrible wings to the far reaches of the absolute Nothing to close it off, and give it Form. 1:3 Each of Hedrimit's Wings are named as thus- Future + Past. Each Feather is named as Eon, and the thousand fibers of one feather are named as Years. 1:4 So one wing stretches out unto forever, and one grows new Plumage as the Years Pass. 1:5 From the Ruins of the Black Egg a great Blinding Light Burned. This glorious One was called and is 10,000 fold named All-Father, who is the fire of the Sun, Holiest First, All Glorious Good, Whose Name is to be Known but Never Spoken. 1:6 From this Perfect Light crawled out on belly He Who Is Called The Fool, whose shadow was cast out from the Shattered Egg as the Sun shone the way out, and took watchful steps to guide the both. 1:7 It was then Hedrimit awoke, and seeing the fool dipped his scythe beak down to cut him from the black fabric of nothingness. 1:8 The Fool, born only now, was still clever and knew Time to be the greatest foe, so he stepped aside to dodge the wound, twice. 1:9 Where Hedrimit's Beak rent the fabric twice, the Heavens formed as a bridge over the Head of Time and spanned betwixt his wings. 1:10 In the Heavens all things are and were and will always be. 1:11 There are many places, as Fire and Water and Shadow and Gold and Dust. 1:12 All these poured out of the Heavens, stacked as so many coins. 1:13 The Fool saw Time and could not but watch the heavens. Thus, The Fool crawled up the neck of Hedrimit and past his snapping beak and onto the bridge of the Heavens. 1:14 The All-Father there burned as a guard of this bridge. He burns brightest at the Gate of Heaven. In the Heavens, his lights cast for the Fool to Navigate. 1:15 In the farthest distance the Fool saw a horizon in the light, and there a child of the All-Father, and he was like a cousin to the Fool, and he hid in plain sight always. 1:16 Then the All-Father made the All-Mother from the remains of the Black Egg, and with her made the Swain and the Maiden. 1:17 Below the Heavens Hedrimit lamented his now considerable hunger and sought some sustenance from the Black Egg, but there was only deadness within. 1:18 In this void of deadness the Crone was born, and she was pregnantand in her belly was the Moon. Her labor pains and screams cut the many Hells from nothing, and she passed the Neverborn Moon, and her death was cured, and she carries her child on her back. From her afterbirth all the demons and devils of hell were formed, and crawled into the hells to escape the light of the Sun. 1:19 From the shards of the egg came the Sage, all form and wisdom from outside of Time. The Sage wrought the scaffolding of the Heavens and craft the bridges between them, and built an abode for the gods from what remained of the egg. 1:20 The All-Father looked down on the many world of heaven and grew compelled to speak to the fool. 1:21 ALL IS WELL IN THE HEAVENS, GOOD AND WICKED AND NOON AND NIGHT BUT NEVER ALL AT ONCE.-The Chant of the Fool, Verse 1:1-1:21
Divine Origins
The pantheon of The Octan faith is built upon the common aspects of ancient human religious practices from Thamrysis and the pantheonic structure of the faith in the Senden given to early men by the Faen. It was Misurin, a slave and prophet from Sunhollow, that first heard the song of the Eight and sang it to those that would hear.
The Octan was adopted by King Riven the Pious of the Wyneil Empire, and spread during the years of conquest that led to the Sovereignty being formed and adapted many local belief systems that mirrored aspects of it. Most humans of the continent drew from a similar religious well, and local gods were perceived as aspects of the all-encompassing Eight.
Up until the Litany of the Octan was heard and transcribed by Basilia, organized faith across Thamrysis was inconsistent. Some regions worshiped a collection of deities, some communities followed one or two deities but recognized others and many practiced local versions of rituals and religious rites half-remembered from ancient history.
The Litany of the Octan
“The Litany of the Octan” is the holy book of The Octan faith, a text transcribed by the prophet Basilia of Haisan that outlines the precepts of the faith and the nature of The Eight. Up until The Litany was heard and transcribed by Basilia, organized faith across Thamrysis was inconsistent. Some regions worshiped a collection of deities, some communities followed one or two deities but recognized others and many practiced local versions of rituals and religious rites half-remembered from ancient history. The Litany is divided up into eight sections, each focused on a specific aspect of the faith, represented by the Eight gods who preside over the different sections of the books. The Litany is presented as a series of musical ideas, and the text itself is written in trochaic octosyllable meant to be sung, as the prophet Basilia claims to have heard it.The Books of the Litany
- The Chant of the Fool
- The Descant of the All Father
- The Aria of the All Mother
- The Melody of the Maiden
- The Canticle of the Swain
- The Ordo of the Sage
- The Evensong of the Witch
- The Chant of the Wanderer
Cosmological Views
The basic belief system of the faith is that there are eight gods who rule over the lives of men, and that these 8 deities are consubstantial, or of the same substance or essence. This essence pervades the lives of men and the world around us, and these gods are part of all human life, the world, and themselves at once.
Followers of the Octan faith recognize eight gods. To prevent local religions from depicting their old gods in the forms of the Eight, official depictions of the Eight are often highly symbolic, lacking facial features such as eyes or mouths, instead having only the most important features to identify them.
The All-Father: Depicted as a bearded man, he is considered ruler of the gods, the highest authority, and keeper of justice. He is often depicted with a crown, though this artistic embellishment varies from region to region. Rulers rise by his will alone.
The All-Mother: A woman with her hair kept up, queen of the gods and mother to all men, merciful and benevolent. She is the primordial creator, and the protector of life and the living.
The Maiden: A woman with her hair down in a gown exposing the shoulders.She presides over agricultural (and often human) fertility, arts and music, the harvest and the natural world. While the All-Mother represents procreation, the Maiden represents sacred beauty in all its forms. She is also the keeper of sacred laws.
The Swain: The swain is depicted as man with a youths hair and no beard, and is almost always depicted as having a sword (or other phallic weapon). The Swain is the warrior and the poet, the first to the line and the loudest in the chorus. He is seen as the destroyer of evils.
The Sage: Depicted as an elderly but strong man with worker’s clothing, the Sage is the builder and keeper of crafts and the forge. He is the master of the physical sciences and also the keeper of knowledge, such as mathematics.
The Witch: Seen as an elderly woman with hair bound in a cowl, the Witch is the keeper of secret knowledge, the grave, and is the keeper of the door that opens before life and the door opens into death.
The Fool: The Fool is depicted as an androgyne, possessing a mix of sexual characteristics, often in stark contrast (depending on the sense of humor of the local priesthood) Master of afterthought, lord of messengers, playmate to children, the fool is the deity who appeared first at the spark of creation and stumbled through the dark. They are the magician and idiot at once.
The Wanderer: Depicted as a masked and genderless form, the god of travelers and hospitality is the god who walks alongside the dead as they move to the next world and the god of dreams. Those that harm the homeless, the traveler or the guest harm the Wanderer itself.
Tenets of Faith
Social Rules
The laws of the Sovereignty and the laws of the faith are separate but often intertwined, and while all power of judgment lays with the local lords these lords are often heavily influenced by the laws of the faith. The faith considers murder a tremendous sin that can only be atoned for with the greatest effort. Adultery, prostitution, and incest are considered grave sins as well and are expressly prohibited. Slavery is considered an abomination against the gods, and polygamy is considered a form of ritualized enslavement that defies the Eight. Theft is specifically prohibited, and gambling is considered a form of ritualized thievery. Bastardy, or the having of children out of wedlock, is greatly frowned upon (and considered grave if it includes adultery), but marriage between the offending within a year (the name-day) of the child can undo the sin of bastardy. Highest among all crimes is the crime committed to a family member, be they blood relation or through marriage. Oaths made to the Eight are considered sacred, and an oathbreaker can be considered as “in sin” until their oath is fulfilled.Worship
Worship
Styles of worship
Octan temples are buildings with 8 walls, featuring 8 icons of the pantheon. In poorer areas, these icons might be as simple a crude drawings or the holy symbols of the deities in niches. In wealthier communities, these icons may be statuary or elaborate individual shrines. Many temples feature leaden glass to fill the room with color, and depict scenes from the Litany. Traditionally, the icons are in the corners of the octagonal building, and starting from the left are in the following order, clockwise: Fool, Swain, All-father, Sage, Witch, All-mother, Maiden, Wanderer. Prayer is usually performed facing towards the deity the supplicant desires help from, but looking upward into the octagonal raised roof (which comes to a center point) is considered a method of invoking all the gods. Services are lead by priests, known as Octanos/Octanas, and are primarily the chants and hymns from The Litany.Marriage
Marriage in the faith of the Octan is traditionally a simple affair. When a couple is to be married in the eyes of the eight, a wedding notice is posted on the door of the temple. The notice is put up to ensure that are no grounds for prohibiting the marriage, and if anyone knows any reasons the two cannot marry they are to come forward with the reason. If the reason is a valid one, the wedding would be prohibited. Some dates are considered auspicious for weddings, and others are avoided as unlucky. Wealthy brides are expected to weave and sew their own wedding garments, traditionally a white dress and a translucent, flame-yellow veil. Poor brides make do with anything similar enough. The bride and groom exchange small gifts the night before the wedding. On the day of the marriage, the bride dons her wedding dress, a floral wreath or crown, then covers her head with a flame-yellow veil. A male relation carries a lit torch and leads the bridal procession to the temple. The grooms party waits at the entrance to the temple, with an Octano/Octana (Octani is the gender neutral term) standing in the doorway to prevent entry. The couple stands before the Octani and shares vows to the Eight in turn while crossing their right hand (palm down) over their left (palm up) and holding the other partners hands. Tokens (usually rings) are exchanged and the two enter into the temple, permitted by the Octani, to appear before the gods within, joined. They exit, married.Birth
There are few religious practices associated with the time before birth. The Maiden and Mother may be prayed to in effort to insure a healthy and safe birth and child, but the state of being “unborn” is considered the land of the Wanderer, and it is said they preside over every birth until it is complete. Eight days after birth, a child is brought before an Octani and given their birth-name by their parents, they are anointed and presented to the gods. From there, they are considered part of the faith.Death
Octani often appear before the dying only at the absolute end. They often offer a chance for the dying to confess their sins and unburden themselves for the long trip to the underworld; it is said the Wanderer moves quickly as the terrain is all-too-familiar, and those burdened by sin may lose their way. A prayer to the Witch to open the door to the next world and a prayer to the All-Father to be just and All-Mother to be Merciful is spoken. A prayer to the Swain and Maiden to greet the dead and the Sage to build a place for them. The Fool is invoked to take away the suffering of death. All Octani are trained in the rites of burial. They may wash the corpse, anoint it with scented oil and herbs, and dress it – sometimes in clothing befitting the social status of the deceased, sometimes in a shroud. A funeral procession accompanies the body to the final resting place, usually outside the city walls. There it is either buried or cremated and given an urn burial, sometimes in a family plot that often contained a structure to house the dead. Upon returning from the funeral, the family is purified and the home of the dead is purified ritually by the Octani.Priesthood
Priests
Regardless of gender, those sworn to the Faith are plurally called Octani (which is also the descriptive adjective for the faith), though Octano and Octana are male and female titles, respectively. Upon taking their vows, Octani only go by their title and first name. Octani often lead worship songs, but not all Octani are known for their singing voices. Oftentimes, the best singer in a congregation takes the lead and the Octani simply keeps time.
The collective title of Octani is applied to various priests in different sects, orders, and monasteries. For example, "Octani Monastary."
Octani Mendicants do not charge for any of their services, so they are supported by donations of food, gold, and other material goods from their communities. Wandering Octans, recognized by their use of a white half-mask while on the road, may travel from village to village in especially rural or poor areas. They, like their permanent brethren, perform marriages, funeral rites, and forgive sins. While such an Octani is visiting a village, locals are instructed by the Litany to provide them with food and a place to sleep, and to leave them unharmed.
Clerics
Clerics are those that appear blessed by particular god and have an affinity towards one aspect of one of the Eight. Usually raised in the faith, Clerics are guided to understand their role as the avatar of a god’s will in this world and a representative of the church in all their actions. Clerics are not priests in the sense that they do not perform rites and rituals or occupy temples with the bulk of their lives. Instead, Clerics are charged with acting on the tenets of the faith and performing miraculous acts, as well as helping those in need. Clerics are often treated as outside the hierarchy of the Octans official structure, left to their own devices to do whatever the gods compel them to, though they are expected to obey the leaders of the faith should they be asked to.
This being said, the Octan faith can bring to bear swift justice if a cleric has been dubbed “false.” Clerics who set a bad example, commit crimes, etc are obviously possessed by an evil spirit, or worse, serve one of the forbidden entities. In cases like this, the faith can dub the Cleric anathema and call for their imprisonment or even death. In matters between the faith and Clerics, most lords remain neutral and do not interfere.
Exarch
Exarchs are high-ranking spiritual and administrative members of the Octani church, vested with responsibility for coordinating efforts and practices between many temples in geographical locations called Exarchies. An Exarchy may or may not align with political boundaries, and are determined by the Vox Organus. Exarchs can only be appointed by a member of the Vox Organus, the Vox Principalis, or Grand Exarchs.
Grand Exarch
Exarchs are high-ranking spiritual and administrative members of the Octani church, vested with responsibility for coordinating efforts and practices between many Exarchies in geo-political regions called Grand Exarchies. Typically, a Grand Exarchy will encompass up to a dozen Exarchies. An Grand Exarchy may or may not align with political boundaries, and is determined by the Vox Organus. Exarchs can only be appointed by a member of the Vox Organus, the Vox Principalis.
Granted Divine Powers
The All-Father:
Domains: Light, Protection
Symbols: An octagonal scepter, a sun surrounded by rays, an orb with spikes
Association: Ruler of the gods, all-father whose kingdom is the sky, the blazing light of the sun. Trusted authority, oaths. Justice.
Other Names: Otar the Lord of Gods (Haisan ), Eruer Suns-fire (Hyli), Saulyi (Onera)
The All-Mother:
Domains: Protection, Life
Symbols: A distaff, a hand sickle, a flat gold disc
Associations: Mother of the world, primordial creator, queen of the gods, protector of life, birth.
Other Names: Uraris, Queen Of Truth (Haisan), Oxena, Lady of the Loom (Hyli), Zimina (Onera)
The Maiden:
Domains: Life, Nature
Symbols: Sheaf of wheat, a five-petal’d flower (a poppy or rose), a bowl in an outstretched hand
Associations: Human and agricultural fertility, arts and music, harvest, the natural world, keeper of sacred law. Spring.
Other Names: Unara, the Unspoiled (Haisan), Sifona, Lady of the Harvest (Hyli), Medya (Onera)
The Swain:
Domains: War, Protection
Symbols: A sword, a feather, a helmet.
Associations: Tests of strength and endurance, poetry, friendly competition, devotion. Coming of age. Summer.
Other Names: Ostus, The Warrior (Haisan), Taine Strongarm (Hyli), Urkonis (Onera)
The Witch:
Domains: Death, Grave
Symbols: A broom, a lantern, a long veil. A black ring.
Associations: Keeper of the gates of birth and death, midwife and undertaker, knower of secret knowledge and life after death. * Winter and snow.
Other Names: Izris, the Crone (Haisan), Eynria, Lady of the Night (Hyli), Laima (Onera)
The Sage:
Domains: Knowledge, Forge
Symbols: A hammer, an apron, an open book with a flame.
Associations: Knowledge of crafts and building, keeper of the forge and library. Mathematics. Autumn.
Other Names: Barik, the Builder (Haisan), Hurgirn Stonecarver (Hyli), Devokah (Onera)
The Wanderer:
Domains: Tempest, Nature
Symbols: A mouthless mask, a bell, a double spiral.
Associations: The horizon, the open spaces, the homeless. Travellers, hospitality. The new moon. The world of spirits. Sleep and dreams.
Other Names: Ebbus, the Horizon Dweller (Haisan), Roddhyr (Hyli), Vaiviav (Onera)
The Fool:
Domains: Trickery, Arcane
Symbols: A chalice, a hand full of holes, a blindfold
Associations: Afterthought, messengers, dualities in harmony, secret truths. Children. The stars.
Other Names: Mersen, the Child (Haisan), Ingki of the No-Name (Hyli), Gabgan (Onera)
Sects
The Order Militant Ascendant is a militant order devoted to the loftiest ideals of justice, virtue, and order, and each member takes an oath of devotion to the Eight to serve faithfully their will. This oath binds them to one another, the faith, and the gods themselves. Most serve as pages or squires for other members of the order. While a king or lord or knight may make a warrior a knight, the only path into the Order Militant Ascendant is through the Faith of the Eight.
"For the Eight in turn."
Founding Date
2689 AE
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Alternative Names
The Faith, The Eight
Demonym
Octani
Leader
Permeated Organizations
Divines
Related Ranks & Titles
Notable Members
Comments