One of the key features of the faith, is the pilgrimage of the eternal path. The final journey of the faithful.
Every religion has one opus maximus that will lead its followers to their eternal salvation and place in paradise. To the faithful of Nemiisae, their spiritual journey has one clear goal they have worked toward and believed in wholeheartedly their entire life. No matter what sphere of Menor'cressian society one may hail from, everyone is equally held up to the same tenants and ideals of the divine prophet. They will be judged before the gates of Neyan’catual, if deemed worthy and pious enough they will be rewarded for their opportunity to follow in the footsteps of their holy mother and ascend the eternal path on pilgrimage to the promised land.
The way is barred by the tower guardians, silent sentinels that bare the mark of the divine. Their purpose is to protect the tower, defend the clergy and only allow access to those the High Priest has deemed worthy of ascending the Eternal path. In order to secure passage into the sanctum of the tower and await their calling to ascend the eternal path, one must have completed all eight lessons of
Nemiisae. Only by doing so will you be granted entrance to Neyan’catual to begin your final journey.
The pilgrimage is deemed to be the most honourable thing a follower of Nemiisae could undertake, a rarity in
Dral'azie society where concepts such as honour are typically hollow and meaningless. Those from all walks of life approach this rite on an equal level, surrendering all worldly possessions and status to ascend the eternal path in a humble state of poverty. This is perhaps why the Nobility would over the course of the centuries become more and more disillusioned by the whole idea. Accustomed to their creature comforts unlike the rest of Menor'cressian society.
The purpose behind this final journey is interesting. While the modern cults devoted to Nemiisae have perverted it into some debauched blood ritual, the original meaning was far more benign. Undertaking a final journey into the unknown, accepting there would be no return to your former life all in the hope of salvation from their grim reality.
The Calling.
Described as the moment that a pilgrim finally feels themselves being drawn, as if summoned to ascend the eternal path and prove their worth to the goddess. The holy texts speak of this phenomena being a moment of divine providence, where the divine mother is telling one of her children that the time has come for them to climb the tower and join to join her.
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