Way of the Will

The Way of the Will is an ancient religion first founded in the Republic of Volonté. It was first worshipped within the capital of Volonté, Warmbank. But has since the dissolving of Volonté and Warmbank, it has since moved to the city of Pioresná, currently being held by Volksrepublik Merkonis. The religion primarily follows a force known as The Will. Those who worship the Will try to interpret it's intent through refinement of items, with the primary way being the use of furnaces. A secondary way of worship is by breaking items down, such as gravel into flint or bones, bones into bonemeal.

History
The Way of the Will was a minor religion that was created near the end of the Republic of Volonté's existence, but has since grown in that time. The ancient Volonteans initially believed in the Will, but did not do anything to properly honor it's existence. In doing so, the religion was more a part of government and life as a minor thing for the populace to be driven by. After Volonté's collapse, the surviving ancient Volonteans continued to believe in the Will, which their faith had grown due to the ever changing borders around them, finding it to be one of their only comforts. In their growing faith the Volonteans were rewarded, with the Will making it's presences known to Basco Prola (bascoprola) while he was rebuilding and expanding the ruins of Warmbank. There he had wrote the first holy scripture of the Will, Comprehensions I. In the process, Basco had taken it upon himself to inform his fellow Volonteans of the Will's message.

The Eight Signs
Shortly before writing Comprehensions I, during the construction of what was originally supposed to be a furnace facility had quickly turned into a temple. While gathering materials, Basco Prola had fallen into a hole which was surrounded by signs that stated "WILL". Upon leaving the hole, he had been set upon eight Phantoms. Though while still within the circle of signs that stated "WILL", the Phantoms did not touch him. They merely swirled around him. Going back to build the facility, Basco was still not touched by the Phantoms. There, he placed eight stacks into eight furnaces, and upon the last furnace's fire being alit, the Phantoms all at once descended. Though instead of striking, the Phantoms merely disappeared, leaving nothing in their wake beyond the knowledge of the Will's presence. After the encounter with what will be known as the Eight Signs of the Will, Comprehensions I was written. Taking the disappearance of the Phantoms after the furnaces were being used, Basco determined that was a way to become closer to the Will. He then took it upon himself to constantly refine materials in an effort to get more messages from the Will.

Pilgrimage and Relocation
While worshiping, Basco Prola had found the last surface vein of iron around Warmbank. Finding this to be a holy sign, Basco wrote Comprehensions II and then took it upon himself to go on a Pilgrimage in order to become closer to the Will. While he was travelling across Eldham, Warmbank was deconstructed and destroyed completely, the only sign of it remaining was a plot of land used for farming and the Eight Signs of the Will. From there, Basco travelled to the last town of Volonté, Pioresná where he had reunited with the remaining Volonteans. In the process of the Pilgrimage, it was declared that there are other ways of refinement, that being brewing, composting, or even deconstruction of items such as gravel into flint were all valid ways of worship.

Modern day
In modern day, The Way of the Will current resides within the town of Pioresná, where the population currently resides and worships the Will. A new temple is in the works of being constructed. The Will has yet to make itself known after the Pilgrimage and the writing of Comprehensions II

The Will
It is believed that the Will is a force that has always been present within the world. It is what allows trees to grow, sheep to eat, and for the peoples to exert their presence upon the world through building of homes or construction of tools. Though, it is believed that the Will is incapable of contacting and exerting it's own presence upon people, due to the complexity of our souls. Thus in order to be closer to the Will, one must exert their own presence upon the world and their surroundings through refinement.

The Way & Refinement
Due to the nature of people's souls, it is near impossible for the Will to make itself known properly. Only in special cases is it capable of making itself known, and that was only done through great labor. Thus those who wish to be contacted by the Will need to undertake great labor through refinement. It is the process of breaking things down or building things up to a pinnacle state, where an item can not be used in any other way. It is believed that in doing refinement, you are capable of bringing your soul closer to the Will, and potentially even being favored by it. This is considered going the Way, and can require pilgrimages and long sessions of meditation in order to advance in the Way.