Teghneism
The Teghneist faith is monotheistic in nature and believes in Teghne, the sole, all-powerful god who is ever-present across all the planes, save the Abyss. The Teghneists believe that the gods of the Colossean and Mekonite Pantheons are power-hungry Shrouded Ones who proclaimed themselves deities to gain more authority over the peoples of the Material Plane.
History
This was the main religion amongst humans before the exile to Colossia, until the Five supposedly presented themselves to the Colossean Imperator, prompting their pantheon to spread throughout most of the continent. It is still the faith of Nicilia and many in Lotium, as well as the main religion of the humans and dwarves of Dukhala. There are Teghneist minorities, underground or otherwise, throughout most of Colossia and Dukhala where they are not the majority.
Mythology & Lore
Teghne has always existed, and created Ura and the rest of the universe from nothing. Teghne first created the Heavenly Realm, then the Plane of Radiance, then the Astral Plane, then the Four Elemental Planes, then the Material Plane, which was a combination of the four elemental planes and the Astral Plane. During the creation of the Heavenly Realm, the angels were also created. Life was created by Teghne on the Material Plane, and some of it was shaped by him to gradually evolve into humans, who were the first sapient race. The Solars, using the power granted to them by Teghne, also shaped some life, creating most of the other sapient races. The rest either evolved naturally or due to some other powerful magic at a later date. Demons and other beings of evil were created from life that was corrupted by the negative energy emanating from the prison where the First Demons are held: the bottom layer of the bottomless Abyss.
Tenets of Faith
Teghneism states that a person must avoid performing evils at all costs, and must do good whenever possible. It also teaches that the primary reason for the existence of the sapient races to to worship Teghne and follow his will, and so refusing to do so is seen as the greatest evil one can commit, though not one that can be punished temporally.
Upon death, followers of Teghne are cleansed in the Plane of Radiance, before being brought to the Heavenly Realm where Teghne and most celestials reside. While Teghne resides primarily in the Heavenly Realm, he is also present in the material world, and all other planes of existence. The souls of those who oppose Teghne, and thereby refuse his protection upon death, are usually dragged away by demons and brought to one of the levels of hell that were not conquered by the devils. Sometimes they remain in the material world for some time as ghosts or other undead beings, before either repenting and being brought to the Heavenly Realm, or losing what remains of their spiritual fortitude and being found by demons.
Worship
Teghneism centres around two primary objectives: the worship of Teghne, and the destruction of evil. The first is achieved by the faithful attending monthly, weekly, or daily services as they are able, as well as through private prayer and contemplation. Services involve prayers, singing, chanting, the Purging of internal evils, and the reading of The Truths, as well as providing opportunities for donations and other charitable works.
The second is achieved through several methods, the most common of which id the aforementioned Purging. This requires the presence of an ordained priest, as well as a sufficient amount of a pure material, usually silver. The priest will perform a ceremony at the beginning of each service, wherein the stain left by the worshipers' evil actions will be cleansed from them, and placed within the pure material. The now tainted material is then destroyed by the priest or another member of the clergy, usually through incineration. Other methods of destroying evil include bringing criminals to justice, banishing fiends, and performing charitable works.
Sects
The Finorrian Priesthood is nominally the supreme governing body of all Teghneists, but the Nicilian Priesthood is effectively independent of it. Both priesthoods view each other favourably, however, and consider each other legitimate. There are notable differences between them, however.
The Nicilians place less emphasis on the veneration of the Seven Solars than the Finorrians, although they still of course respect them. The Nicilians also see the open blue sky as being essentially an aspect or avatar of Teghne, which some Finorrians consider borderline heretical. The Finorrians, meanwhile, are hesitant to use Teghne's name in most cases, instead referring to him by other names, such as "The Almighty", or "The True One".
Founding Date
Time Immemorial
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Demonym
Teghneist
Government System
Theocracy
Permeated Organizations
Deities
Related Myths
Common Enemies
Teghneists and Opitareans are both at odds with the Pantheon of the Five, causing them to cooperate despite their differences.
Distrust
Teghneism and the Mekonite Pantheon have conflicting theological views
Rivalry
Teghneism and the Colossean Pantheon have been at odds for centuries
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