The Street Gospel

Not all who wander are lost...

The The Commonwealth of Alternative Religion protects many religious movements, not just the 12 cults. Smaller cults pop up all over the world from time to time, some defying the definition of what a cult is.
The members of The Midnight Riders are known for many things, Their supernatural vehicles being the most famous. Not many know that within this organization is a secret faith, a cult of nomads named The Faith of Ways.
Those who know The Street Gospel divert from traditional religions, even among their peers in The Commonwealth. The road is their bible, the cracks in concrete readable only by those who know how. Their wanderlust is a pilgrimage, the act of navigation serving as a holy sacrament. Their faith is painted everywhere they go, graffiti on railroad cars and bathroom stalls.

Writing in Tongues

The Gospel is a religious system centered around a strange language of symbols used by vagabonds. It is a language that can reveal crucial information, or hidden secrets. The religion and the language are one and the same, as both are needed to use the benefits offered by either side of the coin. It's not enough to know the language, you must believe. It's not enough to believe, you must also know the language.
Through a series of symbols, those who know The Street Gospel can communicate with one another, ward locations from threats, practice rituals, and some say these symbols can change the roads themselves. The symbols vary from person to person, ranging from simple and efficient to complex and artistic. No matter how different a symbol is, its meaning will always be understood by those who know the language and hold true to the faith.
The meaning of the symbols can vary, as can the abilities some can bestow. Each character in the ever expanding alphabet offers new possibilities, and new combinations. The resulting ability or meaning changes when combining different symbols, leading those who practice exploring more than just the roads they travel.

Dictionary

3 Words.

Gifts of The Gospel

There are many gifts those who use the language gain. The gifts are based on the name of the character and its meaning. For example: the character referred to as Journey's End means lethal danger, but the context of where the symbol is found cab change the effect of the symbol.
On the side of a building, Journey's End can mean their is a lethal danger in the building or area. As a tattoo, it can be a warning that you are that danger, and can give the nearer increased strength and resilience. The context is the most crucial part of the language.
This effect can be expanded or specified my using other symbols. Using Journey's End with Good Samaritan on the side of a building could mean someone who is friendly is actually not, and likely to kill you. Using the combination as a tattoo, however, can give you super human strength, so long as you are defending someone.

Fun Fact: Laylines and Roadside Attractions

Those who know The Street Gospel have a deep connection to the road, deeper than other The Midnight Riders. They feel the road, hear it speak as they drive over it. They know that the destination is not as important as the journey, and they make frequent stops, often without realizing why until they think about it.
The Street Gospel speaks to those who know it, and these people often find themselves crossing paths with many strange and wonderous places. They stumble on forgotten ruins, tourist attractions, and ghost towns. The map owned by a member of the faithful will be littered with markings of these special locations.
Studying the map, one may find the world's biggest beer bottle, standing at 45 feet. One may find The World Famous Clown Motel. One will find ruins harboring ancient evil, and places of power scattered all over the world. These places are ideal for the ritual context of the language. The rituals don't work as well without them.

The Formula

Those who know it naturally understand the language, but those who don't use primers to help give a rough idea of what the symbols mean. The first step involves identifying each part of the message. A message must have at least 2 parts: The primary character, and the context. Accent characters can be added to further specify or alter the meaning of the primary character.
The primary character gives the central message. Accents change that meaning and can be added next to the primary, or blended into the primary character. Primary and accent characters are interchangeable. Characters can act as either. These characters are different for everyone who writes them, and each writer usually ends up making a primer for their versions of the language.
The context is where and how the message is diplayed. There's a big difference between being blatant versus secretive, or putting it on a wall versus the ground. Contexts are the key to understanding the language as a whole. Below is an example of a message, and the contexts it can be used it.

A Final Note

The language and the faith are two different things, but they are both so heavily interwoven that few see it that way. No one really knows what it is about the symbols that makes them so special, nor do they understand the obsession with travel and roads.
There is a symbol that is universal among those who follow The Street Gospel. No one can make a change to it and it function the same way. They call this symbol "The Mark of The God of Roads," or "The Mark of The Nomad." While they have no deity, and even lack core beliefs compared to other religions, many believe this being does exist, an inter-dimensional wayfarer who left behind the language, like breadcrumbs to ensure he never visits the same place twice.
No evidence supports this, but it's curious how simply looking at this mark will bestow the gift of being able to read The Street Gospel. Moreover, even after drawing it and seeing it hundreds of times, no one can even begin to describe the symbol, or how to draw it. It is simply known by those who know it.