One of the major themes running through the Moralinth game is that of faith versus industry and how that struggle for supremacy is played out in the world of the common citizen of the Empire.
To quote the book directly:
" Belief. Technology. Magic. These three opposing paradigms make up Moralinth society in an unspoken but implicit fashion with each effecting the other in a combination of obvious and subtle ways.
To most citizens of the Empire there are only two forces at work, the competing agencies of The Church (representing faith) and The ITC (representing technology). Only the tiny fraction of the population who have The Spark are aware of the third, hidden power: magic. "
Faith and organised religion play a large part in the history of The Known World, though the institution that is referred to as The Church finds its once absolute power threatened in modern times with people taking an increasing interest in the ways of science and industry.
The Multi-Faced Pantheon
The main religion of The Estanian Empire (and if one were to ask members of The Church, the only religion), The Multi-Faced Pantheon is an ancient institution that it said to have its origins planted back in the earliest recorded civilisations. The Multi-Faced Pantheon teaches the ways of eleven Deities who exist in an interlocking pantheon (hence the name), but has undergone many changes since it was first formed into an organised religion over six millennia ago. Teaching the ways of the Multi-Faced Pantheon are the men and women of The Church, an extremely powerful, wealthy and influential movement who pre-date The Empire and are entwined with the rise and fall of civilisations.... the Estanian Empire included. Run by a single leader known as The Prime, The Church operates through three branches:
The Clergy are the priests, healers, philosophers and governing body of The Church.
The Holy Order are the militant arm of The Church, defenders of the faith who are in less immediate demand in recent years than they have been in the past.
The Inquisition are the secret police of The Church, rooting out corruption and destroying heresy in all its forms.
Reach of The Church
The Church can be found in every Enclave in every nation of The Known World. From small shrines dedicated to a single God to massive gothic cathedrals paying homage to the entire pantheon, the presence of The Church reaches to all of The Four Borders and sometimes even beyond them. As a spiritual, political and economical powerhouse, The Church has influence in all major aspects of everyday life in the Enclaves up to and including local government. An ancient alliance between The Church and The Empire exists that sees each Imperator that sits upon the Imperial Throne first ordained by The Prime (the ultimate leader of The Church). The Clergy - being the pubic face of The Church - are an ever-present sight upon The Enclaves rivalling members of The Watch with the regularity they are seen by the average Imperial citizen on a daily basis. Houses of worship are one of the more common public buildings in each district, a constant that has existed in the various villages, towns and cities long before the arrival of The Blight.
The higher one moves up the hierarchy of The Church, the move opulent and detached the lives of the Faithful become, with those within higher positions of power rivalling aristocrats in their level of resources, personal power and privileged lifestyle.
The Gods of the Multi-Faced Pantheon
The eleven Gods of the Multi-Faced Pantheon, as they are known today are:
Khaphothis, The Lord of Contracts
(Ka-poth-iss)
Especially revered in the lands of Timicias, Khaphothis is seen as an ancient God of civilisation, law and dutiful obedience. Most of the oldest texts with regards to this God show him as a mediator of sorts between his divine brothers and sisters, an intermediary that reminds them each of their purpose and binding oaths to one another. This same belief structure is gospel among Khaphothis’ followers and faithful, and the power of an oath, deal or contract is seen as divine in those who revere this deity. Among his most vocal followers are those of the law-makers, bankers and many within The Watch or any organisation that is oath-bound or duty-bound.
DIVINE PORTFOLIO:
Holy Colour: Yellow
Holy Animal: The Scarab
Holy Depiction: Khaphothis is usually shown as a hooded man whose face is obscured. Carrying an oversized tome wrapped in golden chains that swing from it and trail along the ground.
Yatomo, The Bringer of Truth
(Yat-O-mo)
The Goddess Yatomo is not especially revered in any particular nation but tends to be respected and seen as a guiding force in the pantheon regardless of the centre of worship. She is seen as a deity of truth and honesty and teaches that nothing good can come of hiding the truth – even if it may seem like the kinder option. Those seeking to understand something whether it is mundane or existential tend to turn their prayers toward the Goddess for answers or more commonly, the strength to find the answers themselves. Yatomo encourages belief in oneself as part of her teachings, preferring to give hints and guidance so that her worshippers can make discoveries themselves. Popular among those who wish to solve mysteries or uncover hidden truths, Yatomo is seen as a patient and maternal deity. DIVINE PORTFOLIO:
Holy Colour: Blue Holy Animal: The Hound
Holy Depiction: Yatomo is shown as a striking woman in her physical prime with bright blue skin and always naked. A representation of having nothing to hide, Yatomo is most commonly depicted face-on, with an expressionless face and piercing eyes.
Natoth, The Wise (Nat-oth)
If ever a deity was a representation of The Church’s competition with the power of industry and science, it would be Natoth: God of mysteries and philosophy, miracles and wonder. Through his teachings Natoth presents the context needed to make such things as scientific progress possible – that the world needs some mysteries left unsolved or the populace runs the risk of giving up dreaming, and hoping, and wondering. Somewhat unsurprisingly philosophers and free-thinkers find the teachings of Natoth especially appealing, with the questioning nature of the texts something that also appeals to specialist scholars and even occultists. Natoth teaches that the universe is far larger than mankind can hope to fathom, but that the quest to do so is the pinnacle of human existence. It is written that Natoth has a cordial sibling rivalry with his younger sister Yatomo, who prefers all secrets to be unmasked, but the two have enough respect for one another to appreciate that both opinions are valid. With Yatomo being the (apparently) younger of the two, she will often refer to his judgement – unlike her twin-brother Rarkan. Natoth is worshipped all over The Known World but is especially popular in the nations of Amus and Lyryris. DIVINE PORTFOLIO:
Holy Colour: Purple
Holy Animal: The Cat
Holy Depiction: Natoth is most commonly shown as a tall, gaunt man dressed in fine robes with four over-long arms folded across his chest. In place of his face is a swirling vortex of stars and in the majority of his imagery he is seen floating above the ground.
Xix'yx, The Dreamer
(Zix-ix)
By far the most mysterious of all the Gods (which, considering the likes of Rarkan) is actually saying something), The Dreamer is a deity with no direct connection to its followers beyond the occasional dream-like state, vision or portents. Clearly the deity with the most alien mindset in relation to the human mind, Xix’yx has priests and followers who dedicate their entire lives to deciphering its teachings. For most, The Dreamer is a clear and present reminder than the Gods are far above humanity and have complex plans in action that only they can hope to understand. People often turn to Xix’yx to understand the meanings of their dreams, and many a leader through the years have tried to unravel prophecies built around them to fully manifest their own destinies. An androgynous God, The Dreamer seems indifferent to humanity and while not antagonistic, is among the more difficult to understand and learn teachings from. Priests of The Dreamer are often highly philosophical and quite introverted compared to priests who focus on the other Gods. DIVINE PORTFOLIO:
Holy Colour: Green
Holy Animal: None
Holy Depiction: Xix’yx is never depicted in any form, save for an absence of an image.
Graomar, Keeper of The Dead
(Gray-o-mar)
Although a death God, Graomar is not seen as a being to be feared but rather a guide to the afterlife and the paradise that represents. Though Malik may be the judge of mortals, it is Graomar who chooses to take those worthy souls to the afterlife or commit them to purgatory. Through his teaching this God promotes respect for the dead, the importance of the cycle of life and the graceful acceptance to the end of one’s journey. Especially popular in regions were life is harsh and short (the extreme north and extreme south for example), Graomar is heavily called upon by anyone who deals with life and death situations such as priests, midwives, doctors, morticians and even members of The Watch. Additionally, those with terminal conditions or find themselves unexpectedly at the end of their lives take solace in Graomar’s words, finding peace in their remaining time knowing that the Keeper of The Dead will soon be with them. Churches and places of worship dedicated to Graomar are often clean and tranquil places, with little opulence to cloud the mind or misdirect the soul. This pragmatic approach is popular with most but can come across as clinical or spartan to those used to a more lavish lifestyle. DIVINE PORTFOLIO: Holy Colour: Black
Holy Animal: The Crow
Holy Depiction: Graomar shows up in religious texts and paintings as a gargantuan man (often between two-hundred to one thousand feet in height depending on the artist) wearing nothing but a midnight-black robe. The hood always drawn down, his skin is like alabaster and his eyes are dark. Bald with granite-like skin, he is often shown with his arms outstretched as if welcoming mortals into his divine embrace.
Aethusa, Lady Winter
(A-thoo-za)
It will come as no real surprise that Aethusa, the Lady of Winter is highly revered in the cold northern realms, but she is also among the most popular of the eleven Gods in the Multi-Faced Pantheon. A Goddess of beauty and winter, she is popular with artists, poets, musicians and anyone with romantic tendencies. Seen in a somewhat maternal role within the pantheon, Lady Winter teaches about the dangers of frost as well as its beauty, warning others to recognise that the two can often be one and the same. Though never an unpopular deity by any means, Aethusa gained increased appreciation when it became apparent that cold conditions were excellent for slowing the spread of The Blight. Her faithful pointed to this as a gift from the Goddess herself, and the Church were fast to agree. Though Lady Winter is worshipped all across The Known World, she is held is special accord in the northern nation of Terrarctana who see her as their guiding force in the stark, frigid conditions. DIVINE PORTFOLIO:
Holy Colour: White
Holy Animal: The Snow Fox
Holy Depiction: Shown as either a maiden or a mother, Aethusa is unmistakable with her floor-length, loose white hair that trails behind her. While her clothing style changes from depiction to depiction she is almost always in white or very light blue, and an ornate necklace around her neck holds a gem of a frozen heart.
Nalgrem, The Righteous Lord of Battle
(Nal-grem)
While many Gods of the Multi-Faced Pantheon preach peace and spiritual enlightenment, it is a well-understood fact that mankind are often creatures of conflict and that war, violence and domination through strength are constants that are unlikely to completely vanish. For each person who tries to avoid conflict or – in their eyes – rise above it, there are those who understand those people need protecting from that which cares nothing for their beliefs. Nalgrem promotes tactical, efficient warfare both defensive and offensive, and is beloved of any who have to deal with conflict in their daily lives such as members of The Watch and especially The Holy Forces. To this God battle is something that should be fair and organised, yet thrilling and aggressive. Where possible, a cause should be fought for to give the battle more meaning, and that battle for the love of bloodshed should be left to the animals. Of all the facets of the pantheon, Nalgrem and Malik are by far the most uncompromising and unflinching in their views, and where Malik is represented in The Church by The Inquisition, Nalgrem is seen as the guiding code for The Holy Forces. DIVINE PORTFOLIO:
Holy Colour: Brown
Holy Animal: The Rhinoceros
Holy Depiction: Depending on the culture that represents him in art, Nalgrem is either shown as a blond-haired, golden-gilded, plate-armour-clad champion, or a hulking warrior with little to no armour and an oversized axe caked in blood. Both depictions show him as intimidating and poised to strike.
Rarkan, The Lord of Whispers
(RaR-kan)
Twin brother to Yatomo and her polar opposite, Rarkan is a God of secrets who teaches that the truth in the wrong context can be harmful. His way points to the fact that there is much that humanity is simply not ready to understand, and that some secrets must remain exactly that – secret. His clergy are lore-keepers of long-forgotten truths and weavers of misdirection, who give riddle-laden sermons, but also act as confidants and oath-keepers. Revealing a secret is one of the greatest sins to Rarkan, and something followers do only in the direst of situations – not so much because of fear of reprisal from the God, but more because Rarkan teaches that the fabric of reality hinges on powerful secrets, meaning that any secret revealed weakens the overall fabric of reality. Despite the somewhat peculiar tenants of the faith, Rarkan is surprisingly popular among many people, especially those in positions of power such as Imperial Government DIVINE PORTFOLIO:
Holy Colour: Cyan
Holy Animal: The Spider
Holy Depiction: Rarkan’s physical appearance changes from artist to artist, but he is always shown as alluring but androgynous and with glowing cyan eyes. The Lord of Whispers is always found in the most desirable clothes and commonly depicted with a collection of concubines.
Malik, The Just
(Ma-lick)
Also known as ‘The Judge of Man’, Malik is a stern but fair deity who expects the same from his priests and his followers. Justice trumps all in the mind of this unwavering God, even over matters of good and evil. Revered by The Inquisition (whose leader claimed that Malik ordered him to create the organisation), Malik is highly respected across The Known World for his incorruptible attitude and fair (if harsh) treatment of those who break laws, subvert oaths or endanger justice. Much like Aethusa and the nation of Terrarctana, Malik is held above all other gods in the nation of Antea, a nation which does not fully support the inclusion of Elyon, The Lightbringer as the eleventh God of the Pantheon. It is said that Malik is indifferent to his brothers and sisters save Nalgrem, whom he shares a certain affinity with due to his unrelenting belief structure – something which Malik respects if not necessarily agrees with. DIVINE PORTFOLIO:
Holy Colour: Grey
Holy Animal: The Panther
Holy Depiction: Each and every depiction of Malik is recreated in painstaking detail and is, by law, required to be identical to the last (save for changes in scale as needed). Shown holding a morning star in his left hand and a scale in his right, he is standing to attention as if on military parade and is dressed in a grey studded leather armoured suit. In every depiction he is looking down in judgement on those around him.
Dimitri, Lord of Healing
(Dim-ee-tree)
A complex figure in The Multi-Faced Pantheon, Dimitri is seen as a god of passion, healing and carnal pleasures. Due to the somewhat restrictive views on such matters in Moralinth society, most of the clergy tend to focus on the healing aspect of his divine portfolio or extend it to birth and midwifery. Blood is seen as holy to worshippers of Dimitri - often referred to as “lifeblood” – and the frivolous spilling of blood is seen as sacrilege. For obvious reasons this means that there is some religious contraction in the practices of Dimitri and Nalgrem, as one deity is concerned with prolonging the power of blood and the other is more concerned with spilling it. Dimitri is considered a fertility god and his priests commonly bless marriages or assist in childbirth problems, and as such are quite family-centric and promote community. Despite being at seemingly opposite ends of the life and death cycle the legends state of a powerful kinship between Graomar and Dimitri, which continues to this day. Priests of Dimitri see people brought into this world and priests of Graomar ease their passage out of it. Those who are more comfortable in their skin such as prostitutes and confidants are especially favoured by Dimitri, and many feel protected by this god’s grace. DIVINE PORTFOLIO:
Holy Colour: Red
Holy Animal: The Snake
Holy Depiction: Always dressed in red, with blood-red hair and eyes to match, Dimitri is usually drawn either sitting upon a throne (in more recent times) or in the middle of some sort of sexual act (in earlier depictions). The god of healing is never depicted in anything less than perfect physical health, an inspiration of the human form that attempts to mimic him.
Elyon, The Lightbringer
(El-e-on)
The most recent addition to The Multi-Faced Pantheon, Elyon The Lightbringer is a God whose true origin is completely unknown and still something of a bone of contention in The Church. When the Cult of the Lightbringer sprung up three-hundred and twenty-seven years ago, The Church was in a tentative predicament with many of its faithful turning more toward science and forsaking the word of the Gods. The Cult preached an understanding, compassionate and progressive God that accepted all things – including the ascension of industry – making it almost impossible for most common citizens to find criticism with. The oldest records have Elyon described as a “re-awoken” god who had been slumbering for millennia and that has come to his people in their time of need but goes into little further detail. Due to the Cult’s popularity The Church brought Elyon and his followers into The Multi-Faced Pantheon rather than fight against it, something which proved highly beneficial in the long-term. Today Elyon is seen as the eleventh member of The Multi-Faced Pantheon by the average imperial citizen, who rarely differentiate the various deities in the first instance. Inside The Church however, there are still pockets of resistance toward The Lightbringer, despite the will of The Prime and their holy edicts on the matter. The Inquisition specifically – and by extension most of the nation of Antea – do not recognize Elyon as one of 'The Ten', and the followings to The Lightbringer in that region are small and secret affairs. DIVINE PORTFOLIO:
Holy Colour: Orange
Holy Animal: The Dove
Holy Depiction: Elyon is only ever depicted as a glowing outline in the approximate form of a humanoid, complete with large, bird-like wings spread out behind him. No features are ever shown.
Hierarchy of The Church
The Church is heavily-regimented in its organisation, which each member having a role to play in the overall running of the institution. Each bracket of power and responsibility is roughly equivalent to its governmental and military counterpart, though we will not be going into that much detail in this blog. Instead, here is a rough summerisation of the levels within The Church, working from the bottom:
Acolytes: The lowest rung of The Church, when an Imperial dedicates their life to the service of the Gods, they undergo a rigorous training period which determines their role to play within The Church. At they end of their training, an Acolyte usually becomes a Priest. If they show especially impressive natural martial capabilities they may be enrolled in the Holy Forces. On rare occasions an individual is gifted with the right intuition or skills to become useful to The Inquisition, though individuals who join this secret arm of The Church leave their old lives and identities behind them.
Priests (Clergy): Those who have proven themselves worthy of spreading the sacred word usually become Priests: individuals who carry out many different roles in a community from midwife to undertaker, counsellor and arbiter of disputes. Of all members of The Church, Priests have the most direct contact with the common man, and can often be found working under a Cleric at a church or temple. Priests live simple lives, devoid of most material clutter and distractions.
Clerics (Clergy) & Holy Soldiers (Holy Forces): A Priest who has proven themselves after years of faithful dedication can sometimes become Clerics: individuals given a fair degree of influence and power within their community and is the role that most Acolytes aspire to when first joining The Church. A Cleric is given a house of worship to preside over, and though their lives are not nearly as fanciful or lavish as higher members of The Church, all of their financial, material and spiritual needs are met by The Church. A Cleric will usually reside over a congregation of a couple-dozen to a few hundred depending on the area in which their house of worship is located, and those with larger congregations may has a selection of Priests as assistants. Acolytes who advance into The Holy Forces get access to equipment and training that even the most hardened member of The Watch would be jealous of. The near-limitless resources of The Church afford these faithful soldiers with specialist training, weapons and armour of a quality unlike any other, and all their needs catered for. Expected to follow a strict code of behaviour to promote the good name of The Church, these men and women of The Holy Forces are sometimes referred to as Paladins by the Imperial citizens of the Enclaves.
Inquisitors (Inquisition): The Inquisition is a special case within The Church. As a secret police designed to root out and destroy heresy, they are rightly feared within The Church and without. Little is known of the men and women who join this elite force, as their oath of secrecy means they do not share such information with outsiders. As part of the agreement between The Church and The Imperial Government, no single person except The Prime and The Empress are above the jurisdiction of an Inquisitorial Investigation, and it is Imperial law to not interfere or block an investigation in any way. The average citizen knows virtually nothing about The Inquisition, save rumour.
High Clergy (Clergy) & Holy Officers (Holy Forces): High Clergy is a loose term to describe all higher members of the Church including such titles as High Priest, Bishop, Arch-bishop, and others. High Clergy is the highest rung of The Church that most can ever hope to achieve, as beyond this point all positions of power are pre-defined by The Prime and most are not privy to his inner-workings. Members of the High Clergy live exceptionally comforted lives, often able to pass down the majority of their day-to-day religious work to Clerics and Priests while still enjoying the lavish lifestyle afforded to their position. Living in impressive homes and with many resources at their disposal, High Clergy often have a lot of pull in local politics and many are directly responsible for some of the largest houses of worship, such as cathedrals. Decorated members of the Holy Forces who have proven their worth are sometimes promoted to Holy Forces Officers (or Champions as the common folk call them), and represent the very best of the army of The Faithful. Like High Clergy they are have massive personal wealth, but unlike their Clergy counterparts they are usually men and women of action who have little time to dally on such materialistic pleasures.
Cardinals: Each of the three wings of The Church are run by a Cardinal: individuals of immense power and influence who answer only to The Prime and The Empress (and the highest levels of The Inquisition) and who have little reason to fear any real threat. Surrounded by opulence akin to kings of old, the three Cardinals hardly ever interact with the common man on any sort of basis, going through an army of intermediaries to deal with such matters.
Cardinal Viskar Themer is the head of The Inquisition.
Cardinal Erdentis Savros is the head of The Clergy.
Cardinal Bephan Daschmer is the head of The Holy Forces.
High Inquisitors (Inquisition): Rare and extremely feared, only a handful of High Inquisitors exist: men and women of such fanatical, unshakeable faith that they would carry out extreme acts in the name of The Church without hesitation. Some consider the High Inquisitors to be nothing more than rumour, but sadly they are all too real. Zealots in the very real sense of the word, it is said that even one Cardinal Daschmer was investigated by High Inquisitors (and later acquitted), and if that is true then nobody is truly beyond their reach. The identities of the High Inquisitors are considered redacted information.
First Prime: The undisputed leader of The Church, the title of First Prime is a holy responsibility, for it is said that each Prime is chosen by The Gods themselves, and that The Prime is considered a partially-divine being, having been 'touched by the will of The Gods.' Seen by all to be living saints, The Prime is on par with the Empress as far as political influence goes and part of the reason that an alliance exists between The Church and The Empire is that neither side would survive the fallout that would come with such a schism should they turn on one another. When a Prime reaches the end of their lives they pick a successor who is usually (but not necessarily) blood-related to them. The current leader of The Church is First Prime Dellasin II.
The Battle for supremacy
This interplay between the groups is represented as a constant, subtle back-and-forth woven into the story of each game by The Narrator. Players will experience the ever-present foundation of The Church embedded in everything they come across, but also be subject to exciting new discoveries with technology, improvements in science and medicine and of course the rather fantastical Clockworks.
It is in this latter example that magic is most obvious (to those who known to look for it), as the Clockworks who toil in the Enclaves or seek lives of their own are powered by the very energies that Adepts, Occultists and Dark Scholars research and follow. The fact that most laymen assume the Clockworks are in fact incredibly complex machines is only partly true, but it does provide an intermingling of both technology and magic.
Although people rarely think of it on any conscious level any more, these three forces of faith, technology and magic can be summarised in the minds of the average imperial in this manner:
The Church represents tradition; the old and “proper” ways that have held true in Imperial rule since its founding. Through the guidance of The Multi-Faced Pantheon, the Estanian Empire has ruled justly and overcome all challenges to remain leaders of The Known World.
With its strict hierarchy from the lowest acolyte all the way to The Prime, The Church is seen as a benevolent and compassionate group for the most part, teaching the ways of the Eleven Gods to the people. In matters of heresy or corruption they are considerably more militant, with orders such as The Holy Forces and The Inquisition pulled into play as needed, but even with these often fanatical groups the majority of citizens understand that their primary role is to protect them from dangers unseen and dangerous. The Church is heavily ingrained in both Imperial Government and also the various noble houses of aristocracy, making them firmly entrenched in the foundations of the Empire as a whole. Indeed, The Prime demands as much respect and wields as much power as The Empress herself, though the former deals more in matters of the soul and the latter in matters of state. Conjoined through ancient alliance, though the rise in technology is certainly a worry for The Church, it is understood that while the Empire still stands, The Church endures.
Technology represents progress and innovation; the new and developing ways that are bringing The Empire and its people into a new golden age of industry. Long past distant memory when magic left the world and the people of Moralinth were left to fend for themselves and develop new skills, the ascent of industrial advancement achieved many great leaps in scientific, medical and engineering fields. Further bolstered by such power-house organisations as the Imperial Technical College (ITC) and the Estanian Rail Network (ERC), the rise of technology is seen as an attractive alternative to religion in many people’s eyes. When The Blight erupted across the world, The Church seemed powerless to stop its advance, and while modern science has done little to stop the actual corruption itself, the engineering and architectural skills needed to quickly design and build the massive Enclave Walls are seen as just one of many major successes for pro-industrials.
Overall technology is seen as the way forward in many citizen’s eyes: it represents a forward-thinking attitude that is always reaching for the next discovery and promotes extroverted tendencies, whereas many see religion as looking backward, and inward on oneself. Of course, most technophiles are well aware The Church is not going anywhere any time soon, instead preferring to concentrate on their research and studies than on what traditionalists think of their theories. That is not to say that all technological pursuits are seen as without fault or error, many experiments turn out badly and have caused considerable backlash throughout society. The Clockworks for example, while heralded as amazing achievements of industry, were the cause of many deaths during the Clockwork Revolt, something which is still within living memory for many.
Magic is the third and hidden pillar of this ideology triumvirate; the secret and ancient ways that are now only just beginning to re-awaken in the world. With just a tiny fraction of the population being able to perceive and interact with The Dark, magic is seen in a similar fashion as it is on Earth today: something of fable and myth by most, and as powerful force by a rare few who are rarely given any real credence by the majority. While there are some people who still believe in magic, most are either ridiculed for their beliefs or in the worst-case scenarios reported to The Inquisition as heretics. This animosity toward the spiritual leads most who believe in magic to work from the shadows to avoid persecution and keep to secret groups or cabals. Some older families continue ritualistic traditions of their ancestors but for most this is simply just tradition: virtually none possess the ability to actually cast magic as is written in their older family texts.
The one truly accepted form of ‘magic’ is that of magicians – parlour tricks and illusions done for entertainment for the upper classes. Activities such as seances and card readings are becoming more popular, though even these run the risk of going amok if a sparked individual is involved.
Though this general disbelief or disdain for magic is present throughout the majority of the Empire, the nation of Lyryris is a clear exception: promoting magic as a natural part of the world order and a force as powerful and tactile as both faith and industry. The magical nation has its roots deeply entwined with its ruling class (known as The Maji) and as such although there are no more sparked individuals in Lyryris than anywhere else, magical traditions are still observed and practised on a daily basis.
For the most part however, magic – true magic – is seen as little more than superstition by the vast majority of Imperials and is easily dismissed as fancy or the feverish interpretations of an addled mind.
For those with The Spark the existence of magic is very real indeed, with all the wonders and dangers that come with it.
Hopefully this sneak-peak into the faith of the Imperials has been insightful, and an interesting parallel to how faith was viewed in the late 19th Century of our own history.
Happy Gaming!
- Adam
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