Solonism

General.
Solonism is a monothestic religion created in the mid-west region of Eldham. The religion believes the Sun (Solon) is the creator and destroyer of worlds, and is to be both feared and praised.

Creation
Solonists believe that Eldham is the third attempt by the god Solon to create a perfect world-- the first two being Paxia and Jagdas. Solon's first trial was Paxia, which he disliked and decided to end the world inn flame. From the ashes of the Paxia, Jagdas emerged. This new world still displeased Solon, so it too was burned away. After this, Solon, not even waiting for Jagdas to stop burning, decided to create new world. Thus, Eldham was born. He didn't want to leave Eldham completely without help and knowledge from the Jagdas, so, using the first ashes from Jagdas, he formed the sunflower-- a flower meant to morally guide the people of Eldham. To this day, Jagdas, now commonly known as "the nether" still burns, constantly reminding the people of Eldham what they will become if they aren't pure.

The Great Fire
The faith believes that when the creature's of Eldham's Sin has overwhelmed the world, Solon will set the world aflame. It is debated when this day will happen--after a huge catastrophe, the end of his worshipers, just when he feels like it, or a myriad of other reasons. All that is known is, when the day comes, the sun will fall onto the earth and the sunflowers will wilt; the ground will quake and the air will be scented with the foul odor of smoke. And then all will be set alight and all that shall be left will be Ash. Which then will be promptly turned into a new world.

The Burning of Ampolo/The 6th Angel
A golden pillar of light struck the village from the sky like a flash of lightning. From it, the holy flames of Solon burst out of the the pillar, now apparent to have come from Solon itself, and melted the wooded structures of the town to ash. Not stone, not clay, not Iron was safe-- the fires raged and burned indiscriminately. Even the water was not safe; it too was set alight. Soon, what had been the busty city of Ampolo was but ash and smoke. There was nothing, silence, not even the birds chirped and then, as if nothing had changed, the village rose from the ash, perfect unchanged from before. Everything, everybody, had returned-- except for the mayor who was never seen again as he was the reason the town was cleansed through flame in the first place.

The mayor, a kind-hearted man was true and devoted to Solon-- worshiping him in a secret basement of his home. He let his village grow and prosper; removing all taxes from his town and keeping good relations with his citizens. He was so pure in-fact, that Solon was prepared to make him an angel. But alas, it could not be. After an assassination attempt on his life, the mayor grew distrusting of own citizens and decided, for his own safety, he must monitor them at all times. Using his basement alter, he called upon the angel Vasquel. He commanded that Vasquel make him a crown that could allow him to see through walls and watch his citizens. Vasquel responded, "It cannot be done, it should not be done." The Mayor, disappointed (and somewhat infuriated) that Vasquel refused to make the crown he taunted the angel, " We have found something the great Vasquel cannot do, it appears he has gone rusty and all he is good for is wine and cheese." The Mayor was smart, he attacked Vasquel's one weakness: his pride. The Angel worked to disprove the mayors statement by spending many tireless nights forging this object that could see through walls. Soon Vasquel had found the solution-- he plucked out his own eye, enchanted it, and planted it on a sunflower. The angel soon presented the item to the please mayor, who then congratulated him.

The mayor's tale might've ended in angel hood if it just stopped here, but alas human greed took hold. He began using his crown, now known as the The Eye of Vasquel/ The Third Eye to mine for resources such as gold and iron. Soon his town, was cursed with immense wealth, and greed and corruption followed. Solon, enraged, burned away the town and punished Vasquel in the hopes of destroying the evil mayor and his Crown. He succeeded in the former-- the mayor was removed from existance-- but he couldn't destroy his crown as it was made with a sunflower a flower that is illegal to burn. So, to this day, The Eye of Vasquel/The Third Eye remains in the world.

Rituals
Most Solonist rituals include either fire or lava as the Solonists believe that the flame is the beginner of all things and the ender of all things.

The Cleansing Ritual
The Cleansing ritual is a ritual undertaken to either relive the body of sin or an angel inhabiting it. In the ritual, the participant jumps into a pit of lava and is burned alive. It is believed that the lava, representing the flames of Solon, destroys the old (sometimes sinful) body and creates a new pure one. The cleansing ritual is often used as a punishment for criminals.

The Guidance Ritual
The Guidance ritual is a ritual focused on interpreting omens and advice from Sunflowers. The ritual, that can only be done by priests, begins when the priest takes a drink of Holy Water (The more consumed the more accurate the prediction is), an alcohol beverage, and stands in front of a sunflower. The Priest, temporarily channeling the spirit of an angel, will attempt to read a sunflower and write their prophesy into chat, the meaning of which is determined by onlookers. This is usually done before a war or battle to determine the success of it.

Marriage
Marriage, defined as a legal union between two people, is of pivotal significance in the Solonist Faith. Solonists believe that marriage is a merger of Souls and is an expression of Humanities love and kindness. The Ritual, which must take place during the day and in a temple, can only be conducted by an approved Solonist priest. In the Ceremony none but the priest and two future spouses are allowed to speak, and a sunflower must be present in the temple. The Priest will begin by having one of the spouses read the vows which (normally) are: "I, [name], promise to love, cherish, honor, and defend you. I swear on the Sun above I shall be faithful to you and only you till I am taken by Solons holy flames," but variations can be made. The other spouse will usually respond with the same oath or just saying "And I the same."

The Next part of the ritual is the most important part: The merging of the Souls. The Two spouses are moved into separate rooms each with a trapdoor over lava with (preferable loud) music playing. The priest will then count 3, 2, 1, and then both f the spouses are expected to open the trapdoor and burn together. If one Spouse either refuses to open the trap door or is 3 seconds late (approximately the time it takes for someone to burn in lava) the marriage is called off and the spouse burned in the lava is greatly humiliated. After this, the priests declares the souls unified and then the afterparty begins.

Angels
Solonism also has other Celestial beings other than Solon, the Angels, but because they are ascended mortals they are not considered Gods. The 5 angels, mortals that Solon deemed Morally good enough to survive the great fires of Paxia and Jagdas, are constantly being reincarnated in Eldham and have their descendants walking among us.

Zelaqil
The First Mortal Angelified. Born in a small Paxian town, Zelaqil was the first faithful in Solon. Not much is known about him aside from his extreme ambitiousness.

Chandia
Born in Paxia, not much is known about her either. It is said that she once starved herself to protect her village from famine and, when she was at death's door, Solon granted her immortality for her sacrifice. The truth behind this story is debatable.

Jugrad
The First Angel Born in Jagdas, Jugrad was a valiant knight of the Kaihyo Shogunate and Loyally defended the Shogun from rebel forces. His sword, the Netherbane, was rumored to be able to slice a mountain in half.

Murandel
Born in an unknown town in Jagdas, Murandel dedicated his life to travelling around Jagdas in a quest for knowledge and truth. When all he he saw was sin and misfortune on his journeys, Murandel decided to Isolate in a cave on his quest for purity. Living in the cave, all he consumed was fish from a nearby river and he would only talk to a small singular Sunflower outside the cave. After he achieved angel status, Murandel reincarnated into a mortal body and, when it died, laid it beneath the sunflower. Soon, with the added nutrients, the sunflower grew and grew and then seeded till a valley of sunflowers emerged. This sunflower valley is located in the modern city of Soliana.

Vasquel
Born in the later period of Jagdas, Vasquel is arguably the least pure of the 5 angels. But what he lacked in pureity, he made up in intellect-- he invented cheese, alcohol, and many other useful items of the modern age.

Angel Reincarnations
Angels often reincarnate themselves into mortals in Eldham. When an angel has chosen a vessel, the vessel is given the soul of the angel and their old personality is revoked. When the Angel decides they wish to leave (or if they are commanded to), the soul of the angel shall be removed and the vessel body will be thrown into lava as part of the cleansing ritual.

The Angelic truths
Each and every time an angel ascended, Solon would reward the people of the world by whispering guidance into the sunflowers. They are:


 * 1) Thou shall love all people, no matter race, culture, or religion
 * 2) Thou shall not lie, cheat, or steal
 * 3) Thou shall not slay without warrant
 * 4) Thou shall not burn a sunflower
 * 5) Though shall not grief and destroy and lands.

The Afterlife
Solonists believe that after life, is death, and then reincarnation into a new body. All death's work like this, falling, being killed, drowning. The only death that is permanent is by burning in Solon's flames, which will happen to all during the great burning. The only way to avoid a permanent death is to A, delay the burning through improving the overall purity of the creatures of eldham, or B, being yourself so pure that you are angelified.

Organization
The Sunflower Church, headed by Rai Solonec, is an organization that represents all Solonists of Eldham.