The Vel Tuturi
The Vel Tuturi is a monotheistic religion. Their god is known as the Vel Ghiti, whose name they believe means "*Pure Savior*". Worship is the primary focus of their religious activities.
There are strict rules as to the behavior of the faithful.
They believe the afterlife is a state of enlightenment that cannot be attained while one is still alive. It is believed that once a member of the Vel Tuturi Church dies, their soul becomes part of the collective consciousness of faithful souls that the Vel Ghiti protects. They also believe that only members of the Vel Tuturi Church are allowed into this collection of souls - the faithless souls are lost to time, barred from joining with the faithful.
Worship is primarily done in group prayer at a local church. Prayer is very solemn, though not without passion or celebration.
There are not many holidays, and what few holidays they have are dedicated to celebration of heroes, martyrs, past battles, prophets, and major historical events. These events tend to be solemn. Some holidays even require the faithful to go on a pilgrimage to a holy site.
There are strict rules as to the behavior of the faithful.
They believe the afterlife is a state of enlightenment that cannot be attained while one is still alive. It is believed that once a member of the Vel Tuturi Church dies, their soul becomes part of the collective consciousness of faithful souls that the Vel Ghiti protects. They also believe that only members of the Vel Tuturi Church are allowed into this collection of souls - the faithless souls are lost to time, barred from joining with the faithful.
Worship is primarily done in group prayer at a local church. Prayer is very solemn, though not without passion or celebration.
There are not many holidays, and what few holidays they have are dedicated to celebration of heroes, martyrs, past battles, prophets, and major historical events. These events tend to be solemn. Some holidays even require the faithful to go on a pilgrimage to a holy site.
Three Deadly Sins
Faithlessness
The most well-known of the Three Deadly Sins. Heresy is a crime punishable by public execution. These executions are either individual executions, in which the one being executed has done something bad enough to warrant individual humiliation, or group executions. Group executions are more commonly for a group of heretics, whether they were found together or not.Sloth
The Vel Ghiti is believed to not be fond of those who are lazy. The Vel Tuturi believes that a worshiper's life should be filled with honoring and praising the Vel Ghiti, and with converting as many heretics as they are able to. This is the lesser of the Three Deadly Sins, though it is not without its punishment.Cowardice
The Vel Tuturi look down upon cowards who are unwilling to do whatever it takes to obey the Vel Ghiti's every command. The heroes of the past are celebrated, while the cowards are forgotten or scorned.Five Holy Virtues
Faith
Those who devote every waking moment to honoring the Vel Ghiti are seen as the examples for their communities and families. They are often rewarded, often with favors from the church.Humility
A good member of the church will understand their place, both in society and in the grand scheme of things. They won't brag about their accomplishments, nor will they claim to be of a higher rank than they actually are. They will bow their head to an authority, and they will guide those of their rank and below them in honoring the Vel Ghiti.Diligence
Just as the Vel Tuturi are displeased with the slothful, the Vel Tuturi are impressed by the diligent. The harder a member of the church works to be a good worshiper of the Vel Ghiti, the more likely they are to be rewarded by the clergy.Loyalty
The longer someone is a member of the Vel Tuturi Church, the higher the church's opinion of them is. The church values members who have stayed with the church for their entire lives, and has no fondness for those who attempt to turn their backs to the church.Bravery
Some of the holidays of the Vel Tuturi are dedicated to the heroes and martyrs of the past. Those who are willing to do whatever it takes to honor the Vel Ghiti are seen as upholding the beliefs those heroes died for, and thus are honored as heroes themselves.Structure
The clergy consists of both males and females, though it's primarily made up of males. Their rank is decided through divine revelation. The clergy members serve as connections to the Vel Ghiti, as well as historians. Each rank has a different set of clothing to distinguish them from the rest of the church members. This clothing is primarily used for days of worship or for holidays.
At the top is the High Priest. He is the head of the Vel Tuturi church, and is technically above Actrein's three kings.
Below him are the six Bishops. Each Bishop is the regional head of the main regions. To the Bishops, the Kreshniva Protectorate is part of Saiba, and the Tratia Archipelago is part of Stonad.
Below the Bishops are the Regional Ministers. There is no set number for how many Regional Ministers there are under each Bishop, but there are always at least four. They often act as regional police, enforcing the Vel Tuturi's laws. If someone is accused of herecy, often a Regional Minister is the one who brings the heretic into Vel Tuturi custody.
Below the Regional Ministers are the Priests and Priestesses. Usually one church will only have one Priest or Priestess, who leads the worship in that specific church. Priests and Priestesses are often the examples of how to lead one's life. When not conducting worship, they are often guiding and advising the other members of the church.
The members of the clergy often live very luxurious lives, especially the High Priest. They are also encouraged to have as many children as they can.
At the top is the High Priest. He is the head of the Vel Tuturi church, and is technically above Actrein's three kings.
Below him are the six Bishops. Each Bishop is the regional head of the main regions. To the Bishops, the Kreshniva Protectorate is part of Saiba, and the Tratia Archipelago is part of Stonad.
Below the Bishops are the Regional Ministers. There is no set number for how many Regional Ministers there are under each Bishop, but there are always at least four. They often act as regional police, enforcing the Vel Tuturi's laws. If someone is accused of herecy, often a Regional Minister is the one who brings the heretic into Vel Tuturi custody.
Below the Regional Ministers are the Priests and Priestesses. Usually one church will only have one Priest or Priestess, who leads the worship in that specific church. Priests and Priestesses are often the examples of how to lead one's life. When not conducting worship, they are often guiding and advising the other members of the church.
The members of the clergy often live very luxurious lives, especially the High Priest. They are also encouraged to have as many children as they can.
Public Agenda
Simply put, their agenda is for everyone to be a member of the Vel Tuturi, or else dead. In the eyes of the Vel Tuturi, if you aren't one of them, you're of no use to them or their deity.
Assets
They have the Actreine Empire's military. Suffice it to say that attempting to literally fight the Vel Tuturi is a fool's errand.
History
According to their history tomes, the Vel Tuturi have been around for several thousand years. They believe that their predecessors were persecuted by the predecessors of the Cult of Three Divines for several generations, until one day there was an event they called The Great Rebellion, in which the worshippers of the Vel Ghiti overthrew the tyrants at the head of the Cult of Three Divines. They believe this is the reason for the Vel Tuturi's vendetta against the Cult of Three Divines.
Demography and Population
The Vel Tuturi technically owns all of Actrein, as the Actreine Empire is a theocracy run by them.
Ceremonies
Coming of Age Rites
Coming of age rites are held for young Actreines around the age of 29. These ceremonies gather up any of those who have turned 29 since the last coming of age ceremony.During the ceremony, all of the young adults must state their intended profession. Once this is done, they are given a task. This task may be complex or simple, difficult or easy. It all depends on the individual who is being given the task. Completing the task marks the individual as being an adult.
To welcome the successful into adulthood, they are given the official brand of a member of the church. This is an occasion of pride and celebration, in which the symbol of the Vel Ghiti is branded onto the individual's left cheek. It is also a symbol of the individual's promise to remain a member of the church for as long as they live.
Marriage
Marriage is another milestone in the life of an Actreine. It represents the Actreine maturing into an adult, and often is seen as an opportunity for the church to gain more members from the union.While it is not mandatory, marriages are very common shortly after the coming of age ceremonies are completed. During the marriage ceremony itself, there is an exchange of necklaces between the two Actreines being married. The necklaces symbolize the pair's bonds to each other.
While divorces do occur, they are rare. There is a symbolic action one must do to signify that they wish to no longer be married to their partner: they must take the necklace and destroy it. Once this has occurred, there is no going back. To do this is to say "This necklace you bought me has no worth, and neither does this marriage."
Death Rites
The ceremony surrounding an Actreine's death is equal parts solemn and celebratory. On the one hand, it's believed that the Actreine's soul is going to join with those of other faithful. On the other, their family is mourning their loss.The official ceremony is performed by the clergy of the local church, in which the body is cremated and mixed into a large jar containing the ashes of those who have passed before. This is a symbolic gesture, conveying their wish for the recently deceased's soul to join the collective consciousness.
Major Symbols
- Tree - reference to the Vel Tuturi creation myth, in which the Vel Ghiti created Actreines from a tree and a shard of ice
- Serpent - the symbol for any false gods or heretics
"We have not always been the rulers of the world. Once upon a time, we were trampled beneath the feet of the Tridomatrics. They enslaved us, mocked us, abused us. Until one day we could take no longer, and we rose up to attack them."
"And in His name, He guided the Vel Tuturi to drive the worshippers of false gods from the land, and to lead in His will. And He was glad."
Vel Ghiti: Pure Savior
It isn't known specifically why, but making direct eye contact is a very major taboo. The only exception is with couples. In any other environment, direct eye contact is seen as a challenge and as a display of arrogance.
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Subsidiary Organizations
Divines
Location
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Comments