LINESII- Into the Darkness
- Thread starter Lord_Iggy
- Start date
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
Contempt said:
So why did you assume? Never assume. At least say that you think. The way you presented it was like it was facts.
EDIT: Agree with Kal, there. Let's just drop this.
~Darkening~
Weep, Mother.
Nothing was here
TerrisH
Mischief?
not very good, but created. here you go iggy.
Kentharu
Zebra Commander
what i mean, is that it is very unlikely that an empire like the Lengel would survive without having some sort of rebelion, you are a mixture of cultures that were put under your control by conquest, by attacking and killing stuff. im sure the Davar didn't appreciate being slaughtered, i think they would be more pissed by that fact that something that happened centuries ago
the fact that Davar people ARE scaried out of their witts prove they don't like the Lengel. because fear, can quickly turn into anger
simple isn't it
the fact that Davar people ARE scaried out of their witts prove they don't like the Lengel. because fear, can quickly turn into anger
simple isn't it
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
The Change of Dogma
Crystalism, faced with the New Theocracy and the impending invasion by the Lengels, experienced drastic changes in the common dogma of the religion. Crystalism had traditionally been separated into the Orthodox, the Neologic and the Nkondo branches (aside from the divorced Masra, which was independent of the Church since the schizm). The Church had long tried to bring back the Nkondo into the Church, the way it had done with the Neologic branch. After the Lengel invasion, this was successfully attained by the faithful migrating into Darkavia and northern Azania.
This new influx, as well as strengthened influence, led to changes in the principles of the faith being rapidly sucked up into the practice. The changes were not all new, as both the Neologic and Nkondo branches made greater impact on the reformation process. This was partly due to the Church as a whole having to adapt to the Nkondo, but it also proved an excellent oppertunity, together with the New Theocracy which demanded some form of reorganizing to create a rejuvenating drive.
The Nkondo influence had two major aspects. One was the empathis on female strength and pride, the other was the focus on the ordinary man, the peasant in the field - the bulk of the people. One opened the military and the political sphere for the women. The latter was a breakthrough, since the sexual unbalance in the formation of the organized Church had eventually barred females from entering the higher echelons of power altogether. (Generally, women had more spiritual roles, while men had more administrative duties. If you bothered to look, it's mentioned in one of my oldest stories)
While this did not have a dramatic effect on the political arena, the army saw a surge of female volunteers, not all of them ethnic Nkondi. Entirely female divisions were formed, as well as female officers being seen on more and more War Circles. This has allowed the Nkondi to not only keep some of their cultural traits; it has become an accepted sub-culture in Shalamari as well - if only for the fact that the survival of the nation rested on its military right now.
The reformation did also cause old Neologists in former Qal to dust off their old principles. Although nearly extinguished after the annectation and absorbtion into the Church, the Neo-Crystalists were not entirely wiped out. Still some radicals in the northernmost reaches of Azania practiced it, albeit not openly or even publicly. These sects were revealed just as Nkondi refugees began settling in this sparsely populated area, by the very refugees - who had to seek to the local temples out of the Nkondo branch being forbidden to raise their own. At first, the members of the sect panicked, but soon saw that the time of their discovery was most fortunate.
With the reformation of the Church, the doctrines were purposefully subjected to debate and change. This will to change called for openmindedness, and allowed the Neologic branch to introduce quite a few of their own ideas to the Church as a whole. Still, this was not as much due to the sect being widely supported, as the fact that the new aspects were healthy for the Church - and terribly useful. It had to do with the Neo-Crystalist focus on death and all beyond.
The result of this marriage was the concept of a glorious death, preferably in the service of the Church. The concept of Paradise was made, a spiritual state in the Netherworld which would naturally be far better than that promised to ordinary faithful. Paradise could be attained by a faithful religious practice, but it was guaranteed to all War-Clerics and Defenders of the Faith, which the Shalamari armed forces now were called.
What awaited one in the Netherworld was also redefined. As most Crystalist Priests avoided questions about the afterlife by putting empathis on living a faithful life, this was a matter that had been left quite open for many centuries. Not many dared to touch the subject due to this, but there were a few things to be said nonetheless: For one, the dead spirit would travel for a year to the Netherworld. This journey is filled with perils, and although other deities exits (other religions, that is), only The Red Lady can guarantee safe passage. This was elaborated on in the reformation.
Paradise, a special corner of the Netherworld where The Red Lady herself resided, was introduced. Here, only the most faithful (Crystalists, naturally) were allowed to enter. The other deities were also in the Netherworld, but these were a part of the obstacles that the spirit had to guide itself through (by faith) in order to reach its proper destination. In other words, every spirit has a last chance to convert to Crystalism, as well as to convert from it. (Needless to say, Crystalism is the only one that provides a blissful and harmonic afterlife
)
The essential influence it had on the practice of Crystalism was the military being sanctified, and more tied to the Church than the Circlemen (who still represented the Old Republic at large). The Priest became War-Clerics in times of war. Military benedictions were uttered with every salute. The soldiers became Defenders of the Faith, promised entry to Paradise in exchange of their selfless service in holy wars. Holy wars, like the genocide of Gerber, which was portrayed as a righteous cleansing of heathens that were not only misguided by a different religion, but also so tainted by it that they were altogether evil.
Lastly, the other domain of The Red Lady was revitalized; namely Love. Love for the Church and the goddess was held up as the foremost of a follower's duties. Then, the love for one's brothers in the faith. Along with glorious death, the idea of selflessness was born. To die heroically was good, but to die for another was better. The Shalamari army were guaranteed both, as they already enjoyed the nation's respect and certainly died in the service of Crystalism, along with all its blessings (and the reward that followed).
All in all, these changes worked to improve the Church and the New Theocracy, both through theoretic accountability, as well as on more practical sides. Stability was quickly regained after the initial phase of the reformation, as well as the final result being rapidly spread to all regions. Alas, this glorious revolution was overshadowed by the very nation faced with the greatest threat ever. It was uncertain wether the Church would be able to keep Shalamari together to triumph against its enemies. But the Church had regained much of its dwindling vigor again, and would surely survive even if the political embodiment did not.
Crystalism, faced with the New Theocracy and the impending invasion by the Lengels, experienced drastic changes in the common dogma of the religion. Crystalism had traditionally been separated into the Orthodox, the Neologic and the Nkondo branches (aside from the divorced Masra, which was independent of the Church since the schizm). The Church had long tried to bring back the Nkondo into the Church, the way it had done with the Neologic branch. After the Lengel invasion, this was successfully attained by the faithful migrating into Darkavia and northern Azania.
This new influx, as well as strengthened influence, led to changes in the principles of the faith being rapidly sucked up into the practice. The changes were not all new, as both the Neologic and Nkondo branches made greater impact on the reformation process. This was partly due to the Church as a whole having to adapt to the Nkondo, but it also proved an excellent oppertunity, together with the New Theocracy which demanded some form of reorganizing to create a rejuvenating drive.
The Nkondo influence had two major aspects. One was the empathis on female strength and pride, the other was the focus on the ordinary man, the peasant in the field - the bulk of the people. One opened the military and the political sphere for the women. The latter was a breakthrough, since the sexual unbalance in the formation of the organized Church had eventually barred females from entering the higher echelons of power altogether. (Generally, women had more spiritual roles, while men had more administrative duties. If you bothered to look, it's mentioned in one of my oldest stories)
While this did not have a dramatic effect on the political arena, the army saw a surge of female volunteers, not all of them ethnic Nkondi. Entirely female divisions were formed, as well as female officers being seen on more and more War Circles. This has allowed the Nkondi to not only keep some of their cultural traits; it has become an accepted sub-culture in Shalamari as well - if only for the fact that the survival of the nation rested on its military right now.
The reformation did also cause old Neologists in former Qal to dust off their old principles. Although nearly extinguished after the annectation and absorbtion into the Church, the Neo-Crystalists were not entirely wiped out. Still some radicals in the northernmost reaches of Azania practiced it, albeit not openly or even publicly. These sects were revealed just as Nkondi refugees began settling in this sparsely populated area, by the very refugees - who had to seek to the local temples out of the Nkondo branch being forbidden to raise their own. At first, the members of the sect panicked, but soon saw that the time of their discovery was most fortunate.
With the reformation of the Church, the doctrines were purposefully subjected to debate and change. This will to change called for openmindedness, and allowed the Neologic branch to introduce quite a few of their own ideas to the Church as a whole. Still, this was not as much due to the sect being widely supported, as the fact that the new aspects were healthy for the Church - and terribly useful. It had to do with the Neo-Crystalist focus on death and all beyond.
The result of this marriage was the concept of a glorious death, preferably in the service of the Church. The concept of Paradise was made, a spiritual state in the Netherworld which would naturally be far better than that promised to ordinary faithful. Paradise could be attained by a faithful religious practice, but it was guaranteed to all War-Clerics and Defenders of the Faith, which the Shalamari armed forces now were called.
What awaited one in the Netherworld was also redefined. As most Crystalist Priests avoided questions about the afterlife by putting empathis on living a faithful life, this was a matter that had been left quite open for many centuries. Not many dared to touch the subject due to this, but there were a few things to be said nonetheless: For one, the dead spirit would travel for a year to the Netherworld. This journey is filled with perils, and although other deities exits (other religions, that is), only The Red Lady can guarantee safe passage. This was elaborated on in the reformation.
Paradise, a special corner of the Netherworld where The Red Lady herself resided, was introduced. Here, only the most faithful (Crystalists, naturally) were allowed to enter. The other deities were also in the Netherworld, but these were a part of the obstacles that the spirit had to guide itself through (by faith) in order to reach its proper destination. In other words, every spirit has a last chance to convert to Crystalism, as well as to convert from it. (Needless to say, Crystalism is the only one that provides a blissful and harmonic afterlife
)The essential influence it had on the practice of Crystalism was the military being sanctified, and more tied to the Church than the Circlemen (who still represented the Old Republic at large). The Priest became War-Clerics in times of war. Military benedictions were uttered with every salute. The soldiers became Defenders of the Faith, promised entry to Paradise in exchange of their selfless service in holy wars. Holy wars, like the genocide of Gerber, which was portrayed as a righteous cleansing of heathens that were not only misguided by a different religion, but also so tainted by it that they were altogether evil.
Lastly, the other domain of The Red Lady was revitalized; namely Love. Love for the Church and the goddess was held up as the foremost of a follower's duties. Then, the love for one's brothers in the faith. Along with glorious death, the idea of selflessness was born. To die heroically was good, but to die for another was better. The Shalamari army were guaranteed both, as they already enjoyed the nation's respect and certainly died in the service of Crystalism, along with all its blessings (and the reward that followed).
All in all, these changes worked to improve the Church and the New Theocracy, both through theoretic accountability, as well as on more practical sides. Stability was quickly regained after the initial phase of the reformation, as well as the final result being rapidly spread to all regions. Alas, this glorious revolution was overshadowed by the very nation faced with the greatest threat ever. It was uncertain wether the Church would be able to keep Shalamari together to triumph against its enemies. But the Church had regained much of its dwindling vigor again, and would surely survive even if the political embodiment did not.
Kozmos
Jew Detective
Godammnit SS stop writing these damn stories and finsih SSNES properly FFS!
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
If you hadn't bumped it, it would never've been an issue! 
Kozmos
Jew Detective
I see all outside of this cardboard box!
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
Well, I am Climbing To The Light, so you will blind yourself forever if you try to look up after me. 
Kozmos
Jew Detective
Dont get all metaphorical with me.
See how I pwned a dude. http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=169168
And how I did so again. http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=179482
You could be NEXT!
See how I pwned a dude. http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=169168
And how I did so again. http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=179482
You could be NEXT!
Oruc
Reactionary
I feel sorry for that guy
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
AHAHAHA!!! The second one was hilarious! PWN'ED! 
EDIT: I guess he won't be buying that game after all?
EDIT: I guess he won't be buying that game after all?
Kozmos
Jew Detective
The forum has no explicit rules on videogame spoilers. Gotta love it.
Kentharu
Zebra Commander
you know, Masra is the dominant faith now according to population and power wise my mission is complete!!!
my mission is complete!!!
Oruc
Reactionary
hilarious? I thought it was quite childish
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
Kentharu said:you know, Masra is the dominant faith now according to population and power wise
Masra was accepted by a narrow margin back in its nascent period by the Yath al'Shanaal. Seriously, at times the Priests were bent on rooting it out. Luckily for you, and for Masra, the political situation weighed in heavier than the religious debate. That was why I demanded that you describe it back then, because the decision rested so much on how radically different Masra was from Orthodox Crystalism. So you really have all to thank me for that your rip-off religion still thrives.
EDIT: emu, of course it was childish! But that doesn't mean it can't be funny as well.
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