Temporalism

Temporalism is a religion located in COG. Temporalist Monks preach the Law of Constant Irregularities. It consists of 6 points, called "spokes". Only by following these "spokes" and incorporating them into your life will you have your epiphany and learn how to obtain "solidity", becoming as a stone in the stream of time.

Beliefs| The Six Spokes
Temporalists live their lives by the fundamental Law of Constant Irregularities as shown by the Six Spokes.


 * Spoke I - Logic. Logic must dictate everything the monastery does. All decisions shall be made based on statistics and what would be best for the monastery as a whole.
 * Spoke II - Time. The great equalizer, time is to be understood as fluid. A minute is the same as an eon in the eye of a clockwork monk.
 * Spoke III - Knowledge. Without our past, we do not know our present. Temporalist monks keep records of everything they deem fit to be recorded, from important events to harvest statistics to even the amount of sand blocks dropped from the great hourglass.
 * Spoke IV - Constancy. A Temporalist monk is unwavering in purpose. Once committed to an action, they do it to the best of their abilities. They stray not from their duties, lest they become broken and removed from the clock.
 * Spoke V - Toll. The ring of the clock shall be heard far and wide. A Temporalist monk shall try to convert all to the faith, even those with hardened hearts. There are no ears deaf to its toll.
 * Spoke VI - The Law. The law of Constant Irregularities is the belief that everything that can happen, will happen. In the flow of time, nothing is absolute, and what might be fact one day is fiction the next. Only those who learn to work as a part of the clock of the universe may anchor themselves and become truly real. All others may as well be fake; they could just have appeared a moment ago.

Although these lay down the foundation of the Temporalist faith, those who follow are encouraged to challenge, build upon and interpret these tenets in their own ways.

Organization| The Ticking Machine
Every Temporalist has a part in the faith and from simple belief to administration of a monastery contributes in the march of progress and order.


 * Keys- Like the winding keys required to keep the clock running, keys lend their power to Temporalism through simple belief. Keys are commoners and pilgrims who believe in Temporalism but do not devote their lives in a Monastery.
 * Cogs - Teeth of a gear, small but necessary, cogs are Keys who have come to a Temporalist Monastery to become a monk. They do not yet have the full responsibilities of senior monks, but instead go through training and apprenticeships.
 * Gears - Large and small, slow and fast, gears come in all sorts of forms. Gears are Temporalist monks who do not have a specialization. They cook, gather, build, craft, and perform all sorts of duties around their monastery, filling in as needed in service.
 * Mainsprings - The power behind a clock; stored potential energy ready to be released. Mainsprings are warrior monks. They train for combat in the defense of the Monastery and its residents, and to fight on behalf of friendly communities who need help. Escapements are elite Mainsprings who hold authority over others, much like guard captains. Mainsprings not on guard duty are expected to help with gathering resources.
 * Hands - For both clocks and humans, hands are essential not only in function but also in expression. Hands are missionaries, traders, cartographers, diplomats and more. They are the public face of the Temporalist faith, and vital to outside communication.
 * Sprockets - As sprocket gears connect axles to further parts machine, Sprocket monks connect Temporalists to their inner selves. Recordkeepers and preachers, they are philosophers and great thinkers who interpret the Law of Constant Irregularities. They assist in the upkeep of the library and give lectures on their most recent discoveries.
 * Pendulums - Pendulums keep time in the clock; steady and constant. Administrators and councilmen, pendulum monks are primarily involved in organizing events and making decisions for the good of the monastery.