Faith of The One

The Faith of The One is a religion of Northern part of Deyah.

Followers
Followers of The One are Empire of Antaria (official state religion), parts of Aden and Marina. After creation of the Second Empire the Faith of The One became official religion in significant part of Calradia.

Basic Principles
- There is a supreme divine being we call 'The One'. The One created the world and everything within it, including good and evil. Humans are test subjects towards an end known only by The One, but through preachers and prophets The One made it clear that he/she (gender unknown) expects humankind to brace whatever test he/she puts upon them.

- Every challenge you face in life, every decision and hardship is part of a test that you must face either alone or together with other individuals. By passing these tests you can become a better person: you become humble, brave, self-sacrificing etc.

- In the afterlife, you will be judged based on your 'results' in life. If you are deemed a good person, you can enter The One's realm, but if you were evil in life great hardships await in the afterlife until you have repented for all your misdeeds.- individual life is worth little in The One's eyes (regardless of title, race, etc), only by becoming part of a community can one strive for greatness.

- Goodness can only be based upon a structured society that is free of slavery and the social classes are in balance (this does not require democracy - absolute monarchy is a-okay so long as the monarch and the nobility don't oppress the peasantry too much). Such a society also requires a firm ideology and moral code (which were laid down by the prophets). Societies where there are great injustices, lack proper moral codes or have twisted ideologies are decadent and eventually crumble, or worse, corrupt other nations with their sick views.

- Everyone is born 'neutral', there are no pre-destined goals in life (unless someone is born to be a prophet). Individuals have to be guided and taught of what's good or bad. Once the individual learns his/her lessons, he/she is very difficult to persuade to follow different views and morals. As such, the religion of The One has to be spread through very violent methods if necessary. Mercy and forgiveness are remarkable signs of goodness, but rarely pay off.

Clergy
The One's followers in Antaria have established the Church of The One centuries ago, and it is a well-organized insitution. If someone joins the church, he/she can steadily advance through the ranks if he/she displays sufficient skill and devotion, but there are restrictions (ie. women are not allowed into the highest positions) and people from poor/foreign families are often discriminated. The Church is led by a Patriarch who is elected from the ranks of the highest ranking clerics and is also a member of the Antarian royal council. Since The One's religion is also somewhat militaristic, it is a custom in Antaria that each battalion of the regular army has a priest to accompany it. The church also maintains a small militant wing composed of veteran elite troops.

Faith Troops
"I dare you, you misguided man, try and block my strike ! Raise your shield in the belief it will protect you ! And then scream in agony as my blade effortlessly cuts through steel, flesh, and ultimately, your darkened, sinning soul ! For through me, The One shall strike you down !"(Guardian of the One, threatening a Zerrikan nobleman while dueling him, and then turning his threat into reality)

Faith Troops of The One are characterized by their richly ornamented armours and weaponry, silvery and shining, inscribed with blessings. They are generally highly religious veteran soldiers, who claim to have witnessed divine visions or experienced miracles (such as unnaturally fast recovery from mortal wounds). They consider themselves to have 'picked' by The One him/herself to perform great deeds in the mortal world and thus show good example to ordinary people. They are zealous in their cause, caring greatly for their comrades but showing no mercy to foes.

Quotes
BOOK OF TEACHINGS

Part 4.: About The One's nature and servants (Page 176-179.)

You ask, my good friend, human-brother, what is what I believe in ? Who or what is the "thing" I serve ? To what do I devote my short mortal life, my very existence ? And why ? I have two words of answer for you: THE ONE. "The" One. The "One". It is everywhere. It is everything. The One made the world out of nothing but its own will, The One made earth, home of animals; water, home of the fish; wind, home of the birds; and fire, to enlighten the whole world with its light, and to be wielded by men as a tool of creation and un-creation. The One gave man consciousness, and trusted it to safeguard all creation. Alas, just as The One made all that is good, The One also made all that is wrong as well. Why ? To put humanity to constant testing. In every day and hour, minute and moment, you are watched, you are challenged. Sometimes, your challenge is but a long day of work. Sometimes, it is a fight to the death in defense of your loved ones. And so on, and so forth. Those who hide from the challenges, shall be judged as cowards before The One. Those who face and pass them, or die trying, shall be judged as good servants. Those who are tyrants, shall be slaves, and those who aid others, shall be kings. The One watches, The One knows. And I, my good friend, human-brother, I am but a servant, who was sent back, to spread The One's will. I fight against all things wrong, and set lives right. I shield the weak, and help them in their struggles. I obey the just rulers, and aid them in their fine efforts. I challenge evil, and overthrow it. And all of this just for The One, to spread true faith, to align peoples. Each day, more men follow us. And one day, the children will gather the fruits of the work of their ancestors. Until this time comes, I will not rest, nor shall my faith-brothers. "The" One. The "One". It is everywhere. It is everything. If you have no faith in The One, then, my good friend, human-brother, you have no faith, at all.

- Arathus Lazares, Guardian of The One (preaching installments from the Book of Teachings during an initiation ceremony)

'Empire of Antaria, Marthos city, Temple of The One, 1224. February 13.'