The Way

The Way is a small non-theistic sect that mostly exists on the fringes of the Radiant Gods temples. The Way has no temples of their own, no central locations nor hierarchy, and consists almost solely of wandering monks who travel far and wide for employment. Most often they are offered positions at temples as teachers of self-defence, or seldom (but not unheard of) as philosophers who act as the devil's advocate to combat rigid orthodoxy within a temple. Most such followers of The Way will take up such a position for a few years before they excuse themselves and take up wandering again. Some will settle down during their mid-life to raise a family, only to take up wandering as soon as the children and partner can fend for themselves. It accepts all sentient beings as disciples, but among the acknowledged masters/teachers the majority is Human.
The Way is considered difficult to grasp as there are no written or oral gospel. The Way consider verbal teaching as well as all written texts to be apocryphal at best and inherently flawed/unable to convey core tenets. A disciple can only learn the true meaning of The Way by non-verbal teaching, paradoxical self-contradictory tales (that are all emphasises as apocryphal by the teacher) and introspection in the form of meditation, and martial arts exercise that perfects the body so as to best free the mind from wordly needs.
If there are any core tenets of The Way, they can be loosely described as:

• "Form is void, void is form. So are your thoughts, feelings, volitions and mind."
• "Pain and pleasure are equally shackles that bind the soul to existence. True/Ultimate enlightenment is to achieve independence from all shackles and transcend existence."
• "Pain Begets Pain, Pleasure Begets Pleasure. Pain Begets Pleasure and visa versa. For the non-enlightened the least worst option is to practice moderation in all things to avoid becoming slaves to Pain nor Pleasure, while also cultivating their outer way (body) and inner way (mind) in the hope of achieving enlightenment."
• "Mortals are the most blessed of all sentient creatures, they contain equal capacity for Pain and Pleasure, but as a result has the most free will, something that makes them closest to achieving enlightenment."

Most of the temples connected to the Radiant Gods consider The Way to be mildly heretical, but mostly as harmless cranks or useful enough to not stamp out. The last tenet is what priests of both Radiant and Tyrant gods find the most heretical, as the implication is that Gods (and all Demons) are somehow equal(!) to each other and lesser(!) beings compared to mortals. It is unknown how the temples dedicated to the Tyrant Gods deal with the followers of The Way, but one thing is agreed by most who have come in contact with a follower. The sect produce martial artists of renown that few others can match and they know how to teach self-defence techniques.

Form is void, void is form. So are your thoughts, feelings, volitions and mind

Type

Social, Brotherhood