Aetherianity

Aetherianity is the continuation of the orthodox teachings of the Villager Lore which is the ancient faith of the Testificates pre-dating the arrival of the marked ones (players), in combination with divine insight from witnessed events revolving around GONF, his journey and teachings of peace and forgiveness, and his eventual crucifixion and ascension.

The Codex Aetherni
The Codex is a compilation of religious texts, scriptures and various books which take many forms including stories, prophesies, sermons and histories among other works which together form the holy book of the faith. The first book of the Codex is known as the "Player's Book" which was written by kidnapped librarian Testificates who were forced to recount all their ancient religious beliefs.

The Codex itself is divided into two sections known as the "Old Testificate" which encompasses various ancient texts dating far before the arrival of the marked ones (players) onto the world - many texts of which have been lost to time; meanwhile second section, known as the "New Testificate" encompasses various expanding canon works revolving around GONFISM and his teachings in the realm and his crucifixion and ascension along with the ascension of other figures who had followed in his footsteps and teachings.

Cosmology and Beliefs
The faith revolves around the belief that anyone can achieve ascendance through the good works and deeds they do throughout their life and through belief in GONF and the faith.

Old Testificate Deities:
Within the Old Testificate there are two gods and two dualities:

Hrma: The Sun God who passes judgement on all souls and those entering into the afterlife

Henu: The Moon God who is locked in perpetual struggle with Hrma in a constant shift of day and night.

Dualities:
Hmar: The Earth Force - representative of all worldly desires and actions

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam: The Sky Force to which represents an a divine struggle between the Gods in the firmament of the sky

Within the New Testificate there is one central deity:

New Testificate Deities:
These are those figures which have followed in the footsteps of GONF and achieved ascendance to the highest Aether and are worshipped under him

GONF: Central deity to the New Testificate - believed to have descended to the world sent by Hrma due to the sudden arrival of the "marked ones" and mass destruction being inflicted upon the Testificates. Spread teachings of peace, humility, and forgiveness before being crucified and ascending back to the heavens.

Souls and the Afterlife
XP is seen as the lifeforce of all creatures and only those with lifeforce are considered living creatures thus trees are not living among other things. Those that follow the faith, GONF and his teachings ascend to higher realms, the highest of which is known as the 5th Aether, while those that do bad through their life are judged and cast into the lower realms, each one being progressively worse than the last. The final realm is ruled by Emen who tortures all those who enter upon his realm for eternity to which there is no redemption from this realm.

The 12 Realms
These are the realms in which the devout believe they either ascend to or descend to depending on their deeds in life and their belief in GONF and his teachings. All souls enter the void realm (9th realm) upon death to which they are judged by the sun god Hmra until they are seen as worthy or unworthy to enter into the higher Aethers.
 * 1) Fifth Aether (Highest Realm)
 * 2) Fourth Aether
 * 3) Third Aether
 * 4) Second Aether
 * 5) The Aether
 * 6) The Sky
 * 7) Rathnir/Eldham
 * 8) The Earth (Praxia, Jagdas, other worlds)
 * 9) The Void
 * 10) The Nether
 * 11) The Second Void
 * 12) The End (Lowest Realm - no return)

Those deemed unworthy are made into nether mobs and if one continues to be unworthy they are sent into the lowest realm as an Enderman and cast out for eternity with no hope of redemption - tortured by Emen

The 10 Wisdoms of The Almighty
These are words stated by the Almighty within the "Player's Book" of the Old Testificate which was stated to Ovo by the Almighty upon witnessing each of the 12 realms which in which are ways to live:


 * 1) You must live without anxiety. Peace with the self, is peace with the world.
 * 2) You will not judge, for how you judge, you weight yourself. You will not judge, for how you act when judged, you will be weighted.
 * 3) You will not dwell on idle thoughts. For idle thoughts are chattering monkies, and paper cluttering the mental home. You will not dwell on idle thoughts, for you must give the monkey focus, and only fold the paper neatly.
 * 4) You will not desire. The void of the soul is what you lack, but you as Almighty are everything. You will not desire, a craven stomach fills then empties but a tightened stomach feels no pressure.
 * 5) You will not trust the mind's view for all you know is incomplete, your eyes will never see behind you. You will not trust the minds view, imperfect information is only guessing but doing shows all what is true.
 * 6) You will not compare yourself, for it is a tool and defense of ego, the cruel labels which namely build you. You will not compare yourself, is a flower the seed or the water or sunshine? It knows itself as these, and what its not.
 * 7) You will not obsess or addict, for when the ends are finally reached, they are different than expected. You will not obsess or addict, for an anchor of a craving satisified is not worth means which take your life.
 * 8) You will accept your smallness, while the sun teethers on a knife's edge, the clouds are firmly bound to the sky. You will accept your smallness, your lifestate is the Almighty's blood, and their blood flows both fast and slow.
 * 9) You will forgive others for your sake, when one lights a fire in your home, would you stay there just tend it? You will forgive for your sake, their violent doing may make mistrust but it is just their weight to bear.
 * 10) You will pay your dues to the world, for you were born and come from pain, to give your extra frees all debt. You will pay your dues to the world, not all debts and yolks are fair, but to live to better life is always balanced.

The 8 Pillars of GONF
The 8 Pillars of GONF are based around the Book of GONF and his central teachings in his life as these are taught to the devout as pillars to live by alongside the 10 Wisdoms of the Almighty.

1) Kindness - Be kind to others and they may be kind to you as well and this kindness will spread

2) Humility - Be humble even when others are not

3) Generosity - Be generous to others, give to others in need of assistance

4) Public works - One must earn their way into the higher Aethers through their good works to the faith and others in their life

5) Justice - Bring justice to all and work against injustice in the realm

6) Penitence - Penitence must be served to have forgiveness, all may have a chance at penitence

7) Forgiveness - All can have a second chance through the faith and all deserve forgiveness for sins and crimes

8) Trust in GONF - Trust his word, trust the faith, follow the church

Ascendant Saints
Achieving Ascendant Saint status is a possible goal for all those who follow the faith though becoming one can occur in a variety of different ways from person to person. Saints are mortals who are the embodiment of the faiths teachings and through their good works, heroics, tales and acts in life have achieved Ascendant Saint status in which they are worshipped as a quasi-god and are given their own altars within the Temples.

Testificus (Pure_Frosty): To which the Book of Testificus is written - the first Testificate cleric to follow and worship the words of GONF and to who had stayed by his side and recorded the actions and deeds of GONF to that day and many others - he who spread the word of GONF to villages far and wide.

Meiddaura Kul (Meiddas): First Baghra of the Bai Federation of old, the poem of the Idyllrus Pyrus serves as a tale for the devout about a man who had transformed his nation with bountiful fields of harvest for all to feed from and his ascendance after continuous acts of selfless service to others within his nation. A mortal turned ascendant and most associated with a peaceful agrarian lifestyle, the harvest, and agriculture.

Hierarchy of the Clergy
Pontifex: The Pontifex is the spiritual leader of the people, the Gods representative in the world and infallible when speaking on the faith and morals. The Pontifex may serve until death, with the succeeding Pontifex being chosen by a council of all clergymen attending through weighted votes based on their position.

Archbishop:  Archbishops are assigned to oversee the faith and its administration in They are selected by the Pontifex and oversee a minimum of two other Bishops. Generally Archbishops are assigned to oversee the faith in an entire nation with multiple towns.

Bishop: The Bishops are local leaders of the Faith, Bishops are assigned to capitals of other nations and generally assigned to oversee the faith in the entirety of a nation. They are picked by the Pontifex and a council of current Bishops and Archbishops. The Bishops have the ability to manage and promote the clergy below them and induct people into the faith as Laybrothers.

Abbot:  Members of the clergy who lead the faith in a single Church & Town and can administer all main religious ceremonies including marriages and others and who have Laybrothers under them who are in training to become Abbots.

Laybrothers: Starting members of the clergy -people  who seek to learn more about thefaith and take part in the Church as well as move up the ranks of the clergy. They are learning more about the faith and being taught by other members of the clergy. They are usually given missionary work to spread the faith.

Special Roles
Grand Intercessor: Responsible for overseeing the Pillarmen in military and inquisitional matters - only assigned during a period of inquisition.

Inquisitor: Responsible for investigations during a period of inquisition

Pillarmen: Those that take the oaths of a Pillarmen dedicate their life to the protection of the church and it’s values militarily, they uphold the Pillars.

Mass
It is traditionally performed by an Abbot or higher and it can be done in a variety of ways such as traditionally within a Temple or even a circle of people in a forest.

Clergy are instructed to say mass in an engaging and short form way. The faith has endeavored over centuries on how to best capture the attention of the people. Clergy frequently interact with their people using examples that are personal to the locals or asking someone to confess and be rid of their guilt in front of everyone.

Prayer
Prayer is a direct communication with the Gods, GONF and the Ascended Saints. Some prayers can be simple utterances and silent thoughts, while others are sung or highly ritualized. The purpose of praying ranges from requesting help to beginning for enlightenment and insight from specific ascendants.

Universal Prayer
The faith grants me the power to pass Justice,

Through Justice comes Penitence,

From Penitence comes Forgiveness,

Through Forgiveness may I rest peacefully in the Realms,

From I, your faithful servant

Confession
Confession is a sacred and strictly confidential practice between one person and a clergymen. Clergy often encourage people to confess their sins and crimes in public, but the more common is done privately. Confession can either be done on a purpose-made confessionary in a temple or by asking a clergyman to talk in a secluded spot. The clergyman listens to a person's sins and provides advice on how to redeem themselves and be forgiven.

Baptism
Baptism is the primary rite which is bestowed upon converts to the faith and those who receive a second chance at forgiveness. With Baptism, whatever a person's crime against the state, sins against their god or gods, or all else is forgiven and they are made anew and washed clean using fire and water and through the taking of the transformation potion which is said to represent the captured blood of GONF.