Spiritual Enlightment

Spiritual Enlightment is a teaching and, in some way, lifestyle of Middle and Northern Deyah.

Followers
Followers of Spiritual Enlightment are Kingdom of Aden (majority of the populace and Lords), parts of Marina, Antaria and Zerrikania.

Basic Principles
- there IS a higher power out there, controlling our fates, but through very subtle means, not directly. It does not require us humans to worship it, but it does help us to help ourselves.

- each and every life has a meaning, a goal; a person's life ends when his/her purpose has been fulfilled or if his/her death serves to help the realization of purpose of other individuals. No birth nor death is meaningless, everything is connected - even if we humans think otherwise.

- however, beside your life's goal - which is set even before birth - you are completely free to do whatever you desire. After all, there is always more than one path leading to the same goal. (ie.: you kill a boy's mother OR you save her from bandits - both can help to 'inspire' the boy to become a warrior himself, even though the attitude of the two approaches is radically differing).

- since everyone has a purpose in the great scheme, you shouldn't classify anything or anyone as 'pure good' or 'pure evil'. Things are sometimes not what they first seem to be. If a poor farmer kills his decadent overlord out of desperation, and this brings actual relief to the community, can he be called a criminal ? But on the opposing end, let's say, the murdered overlord taxed the peasants so heavily to pay a ransom for her wife who was captured by enemy troops. Is he a bad person then?

- this relativity of goodness and evilness, however, does NOT mean that there is no need for a structured society, nor does it excuse a person's malicious behaviour - remember, there is always a different road to take. The farmers and their overlord could have decided to talk sensibly instead of ending the 'conflict' in tragedy. Both ways could have brought relief to the farmers.

'''- the best way to live (either individually or as part of a community) is to follow a 'universal moral code'. '''There are certain unwritten 'guidelines' which are present in each and every society (ie. respect your elders, help those in need, don't kill/rob others, etc). Knowing these guidelines sets examples you should follow yet at the same time allows you to live freely without causing too much harm to others

. - the aforementioned guidelines also reinforce the belief that humanity is indeed guided by a higher power to some extent - they are so common values that it is unlikely that each and every civilization developed them on their own; it is more likely these values are 'artificially' encoded in the subconsciousness of humanity.

- fates and goals are even. Sure, a king may send thousands to their deaths if he pleases - but remember, if the common folks decide not to help their king then that sovereign is powerless. A ruler's true power lies in aligning the fates of those below him/her with his/her own destiny.

'''- in death, you ascend into some mysterious beyondness of which we mortals have only clues at best. '''Reincarnation or becoming a lost soul (ghost) is possible, but very rare.

Clergy
Spiritual Enlightment has no centralized clergy; it is more of a loose network of free-thinkers following a mutual moral code. Although this religious movement has its own temples, clerics and champions they have no upper leadership, and as such are in many ways quite independent and self-sufficient. Gender, social standing or ethnicity doesn't matter, anyone can be a follower and preacher. Due to this fractured organization, there is more than one variant of Spiritual Enlightment, some are more strict in worldview, others more liberal, but the basics are the same in each case.

Faith Troops
"You have wasted life and now life shall waste you, oh tyrannic one. For you see, a leader's power lies in its subjects - subjects who you have neglected, oppressed, robbed of their freedom of both action and thought; you have tempted Fate, now Fate will show its hand. You can either die by my spear in a duel now, or face the crowd you enraged yourself. Make your choice."

(Boundless Ranger enlightening a Marinan general before killing him in a duel by impaling him in a single move)

The Faith Troops of Spiritual Enlightment are lordless knights and wandering champions who dedicated their lives to uphold the 'universal moral codes' of humanity. They are completely independent and hold no close allignance to any faction, however if they foresee great disasters (ie. Zerrikanians organize large-scale raids to capture thousands of slaves) they will band together and offer their services to the threatened faction. These boundless knights, rangers and other folks are often quite intellectual and social personalities, their charisma backed up with dedicated faith and outstanding martial skills. Their armors and weapons are often richly decorated, but these decorations are not religious, merely artistic.

Quotes
Tell me, friend, what was it like to decide what you want to be ? And how did it feel when you became what you wanted to be ? A glorious, satisfying inner warmth... does that sound familiar ? Some people set their standards too high, only to fell from the heaven of dreams into the rocky ground. Others set up lowly goals, and feel stupid after a while. And those without any goal, are the worst, for a mind without purpose tends to wander in dark places - which is worse than death itself. Very few are those who have a goal they can achieve, and find enjoyment in it for the rest of their lives. Blacksmiths proud of their creation, peasants happy for having a hovel and a family, soldiers addicted to the heat of battle - all the same in a sense: they found their purpose in life. This purpose may or may not influence the life of others. But in either case, you my friend, must respect life, as well as your ability to take it. Do you need Gods to believe in ? No, friend, forget the Gods; millions suffer, countless innocents, and the so-called "Gods" do nothing. Because they don't exist in the first place. Now, don't call me "Faithless", because I'm not; I do believe in the existence of a higher power. But this power teaches us a different moral. It teaches us to stop waiting for someone to help us, and instead start to help ourselves. Yes friend. Stop believing in corrupting lies, and start believing in yourself. Follow the speech of your heart. And, if doubts arise within you, just remember my face. Remember this Boundless Knight, who serves no-one, and as such, serves everyone. Remember the man who saved you from the bandits, remember how good he feels to know he does what he's supposed to do. I'm glad you've listened, my friend. But know this: I've shown you the path, but you have to walk on it on your own. You may cross paths with others, for either good or ill. But whatever happens: believe in yourself. Now, I must depart. Farewell, my friend.

- Uron Halester, Boundless Knight (preaching to a peasant after he saved him from bandits - preaching recorded by Uron's squire)

'''Kingdom of Aden, near Ribongard castle, 1224. August 15.'''