Church of Black and White

The Church of Black and White is an organized syncretic religion formed in Sylvania that worships Sylva, the Goddess of Balance. Many of the primary beliefs of the church are influenced by Nox Lucis, the state religion of Sylvania, and Ciarism, a religion brought to Sylvania by the Goblinos. Followers of the Church of Black and White are referred to as Sylvites.

Pantheon
Sylvites believe in a pantheon of 15 prime celestials, although they acknowledge the existence of many more celestials not included in the pantheon.

There are three forms of celestials that make up The Celestial Hierarchy. At the top of the hierarchy are the three true gods. The three avatars that represent these gods are also considered to be celestials, but are at the bottom of the hierarchy. Despite the various different forms they can take, all other celestials fall into the category in between: spirits. Spirits are lower in the hierarchy than gods, but higher than avatars.

Gods
The Church of Black and White recognizes three true gods in the world: Sylva, Illinik, and Zanathax. Church doctrine states that while these gods have an immense amount of influence on our world, they are kept occupied in a war against ancient elder gods. The gods will communicate with priests and other members of the Church, but will never appear physically. While the church acknowledges the existence of three gods, believers are only allowed to worship Sylva. Worship of Illinik or Zanathax is considered taboo and heresy.

Sylva
Sylva is the Goddess of both Balance and Paradox and the only god worshiped by Sylvites. Sylva's ultimate goal is to preserve the balance between things considered to be diametrically opposed: light and darkness, good and evil, hot and cold, etc... She leads her followers on "The Blessed Path" a way of life emphasizing balance.

Illinik & Zanathax
Illinik is the God of Evil, Darkness, Disease, Insanity, and Chaos and Zanathax is the God of Good, Light, Health, Stability, and Order. The powers of Illinik are at their height during the new moon, when the moon is barely visible while Zanathax is most powerful during the daytime, particularly at noon. Both Illinik and Zanathax assist Sylva in battling the Elder Gods, but they both do so begrudgingly. Illinik's ultimate goal is to destroy all light and kick off a new age of absolute darkness in the world. Zanathax, on the other hand, wishes to burn away the world and make it again, this time without the sin and evil of the current world. Fortunately for all those living, neither god is able to achieve their ultimate goal as Sylvites are dedicated to preserving the balance and preventing either god from getting the upper hand over the other two.

Spirits
Because the gods are not able to appear themselves, they send spirits to represent them on the mortal plane. While spirits are typically subservient to one of the three gods, they occasionally go rouge and appear to other peoples as gods themselves. Sylvites believe that these spirits are often worshipped by other religions and claim they are gods, despite only being mere spirits.

Aetherill
There are three primary spirits dedicated to carrying out the will of Sylva. Aetherill serves as a guide to Sylva's followers and often appears to reveal The Blessed Path to Sylvites in need. Aetherill appears as a large gray moth when he manifests in the mortal world, and communicates telepathically.

The Frozen Flame
The Frozen Flame is another spirit in service of Sylva. The Frozen Flame appears as a brilliant blue flame. The flame itself burns dimly and emits both heat and cold. The flame is paradoxical in nature and often appears to revive followers of Sylva who have died before their time. The spirit of the flame renews the life and repairs the flesh of those followers who have fallen.

The Ripple
The Ripple is the last of the main servants to Sylva and is simply a ripple that appears in pools of consecrated water. The Ripple has no cause and can be used to divine potential futures that might be important to Sylvites.

Valizimar
Valizimar, The Star Swallower, is a large demonic creature appearing as a cross between a man, bat, and wolf. Valizimar serves Illinik and is tasked with the destruction of all light. With every source of light he devours, Valizimar becomes more powerful. Because of the dangerous and violent temperament of Valizimar, even heretics that choose to worship Illinik avoid attempting to summon him.

Elkrosy
Like Valizmar, Elkrosy serves Illinik as one of his spirits. Elkrosy manifests as a disease that results in the decay of both the physical and mental health of those who it infects. The symptoms of Elkrosy include, but are not limited to: madness, hair loss, skin loss, loss of senses, and death. After being infected, very few people are able to be cured of Elkrosy.

Mycaluym
Mycaluym is yet another spirit in service of Illinik. Manifesting as a parasitic plant, Mycaluym grows out of control and suffocates all other forms of life. Growths caused by Mycaluym are extremely difficult to stop and often get out of control.

Luniach
Luniach, The Man on the Moon, is a spirit in service to Zanathax and appears to mortals as an old man in a blue cloak. Luniach is a manifestation of light in darkness and like Aetherill will sometimes appear to those in great need. While Luniach is never more poweful than Illinik, Luniach is most powerful when Illinik is weakness since both are effected by the cycle of the moon.

Polyhedron
The Polyhedron of Imparadoxical Material Perfection, or PIMP for short, is a powerful spirit in the service of Zanathax. Appearing as a floating cube, PIMP's purpose is to destroy paradoxs and put things in perfect order.

Therracrum
Therracrum is the third spirit that follows the will of Zanathax. Therracrum appears as a being made of pure light and his singular goal is to destroy all darkness in the world. Similarly to Valzimar, summoning Therracrum can have significant repercussions, and even the followers of Zanathax tend to avoid summoning Therracrum when possible.

Avatars
At any given time, there are three avatars. Each avatar is considered to be both a celestial and a mortal and are chosen as representatives of the gods in the mortal plane. Each of the gods has a singular avatar that is responsible for delivering their doctrine. Only avatars are able to become the High Scrivener of the Church of Black and White and lead the Sylvites on The Blessed Path.

Patrons
Many towns have patron spirits that are said to routinely visit or protect the town, for example, the patron spirit of Greywatch is the Frozen Flame.

The Blessed Path
The Blessed Path is a series of requirements all Sylvites are expected to fufill.
 * Accept that Sylva is the only true goddess worth worshipping, and must cast aside all previously worshipped idols.
 * Make a pilgrimage to a place of significant religious importance.
 * Sacrifice everything if it means preserving the balance.
 * Walk The Blessed Path.
 * Value compromise.
 * Admit when you are defeated and be humble when you achieve victory.
 * Find the balance within yourself.
 * Seek holy relics that would assist the church or Sylvites in their goals.

Sylvite Baptism
In order to baptize a new follower, a priest must preside over a baptism ritual. In the ritual, the new follower is expected to make a personal offering to Sylva by throwing the offering into consecrated flames. After making the offering, the new follower will then throw themselves into the fire, perishing in the process. Soon afterwards, the follower will be reborn by the spirit of the Frozen Flame and considered baptized by The Church of Black and White.

Organization
The Church of Black and White gives its members a variety of different ranks that determine their duties and responsibilities.

High Scrivener
The High Scrivener is the highest position in the Church of Black and White. At the beginning of every month, all scriveners will congregate to choose which of the three avatars to make High Scrivener. The High Scrivener is in charge of directing all of the activities of the church, planning large events and rituals, converting members and updating church doctrine. The High Scrivener can also excommunicate any individuals they deem as problematic.

Avatars
At all times, there are three avatars recognized within the church by the High Scrivener. One of the avatars will serve as High Scrivener, while the others are expected to serve as normal scriveners or as assistants to the High Scrivener.

Scriveners
Scriveners are priests that make up the Church of Black and White. Like the High Scrivener, priests can conduct rituals and convert new members to the church. Scriveners can also write new doctrine and propose it to the High Scrivener who can then decide whether to reject or adopt the doctrine into the church.

Believers and Baptized Believers
Believers and Baptized Believers are effectively the same positions, the only difference is that Baptized Believers have personally undergone a baptism. Because of this, Believers that are Baptized are allowed more insight into the church and are eligible to apply to become Scriveners themselves.