The Creator

Architect, Mother, and Offspring

Before the Sundering, it is said that a singular, omnipotent being watched over the world of Aerith. This entity, in its infinite wisdom, sought to create a world of balance and harmony. To manifest its divine purpose, it assumed three forms: the Architect, the Mother, and the Offspring.

• The Architect

  The Architect is the cosmic engineer, the shaper of worlds. Before the Sundering, the Architect's dominion was absolute. It is said that the Architect crafted the continents with precision, ensuring that life could flourish in every corner. The mountains, rivers, and oceans were all sculpted by the Architect's divine hand. However, when the Sundering shattered the land, the Architect's power was scattered, and the world was plunged into chaos.

• The Mother

  Counterbalancing the Architect's order is the Mother, the life-giver and nurturer. She is the embodiment of nature's bounty, ensuring the world is teeming with life. Forests flourish under her care, and the seas abound with creatures. The Mother is the heart of Aerith, and her love is felt by all living things. But the Sundering brought devastation to the natural world, and the Mother's power wanes as life struggles to recover.

• The Offspring

  The Offspring is the spark of creation, the force of change and innovation. Before the Sundering, the Offspring inspired progress and discovery, pushing the world forward. It was the spirit of exploration and the driving force behind civilization. Yet, when the Sundering struck, the Offspring's energy was scattered, and the world was thrown into a state of survival.

The Trinity, once a harmonious whole, was fractured by the Sundering. Their divine essence was dispersed across the shattered land, leaving behind echoes of their power in different cultures and beliefs. Some believe that the Architect still oversees the world, though from a distance, while others claim the Mother has retreated into the earth, healing the wounds inflicted upon it. The Offspring, it is said, sleeps, waiting for the world to recover before reawakening.

As Aerith slowly rebuilds, the memory of the Trinity persists. Some seek to rediscover the ancient ways, hoping to restore balance to the world. Others have forged new paths, creating religions and philosophies that reflect the challenges of their time. But all acknowledge the profound impact the Trinity had on the world, and the hope that one day, they will return to their rightful place.

Clerical Hierarchy

The worship of the Trinity has evolved into a complex religious structure across Aerith. To manage the diverse interpretations and practices of the Architect, Mother, and Offspring, a hierarchical system of clergy has emerged. This clerical order, while varying in structure from region to region, generally follows a pattern of specialization and authority. From the highest-ranking leaders to the most humble acolytes, the clergy play a vital role in shaping the spiritual landscape of the world.

High Orders

• Order of the Architect: Focused on knowledge, law, and order.
• Architects: High-ranking clerics with a deep understanding of cosmic law and order.
• Scribes: Responsible for recording and preserving sacred texts and knowledge.
• Engineers: Clerics with a focus on practical applications of the Architect's principles.
• Order of the Mother: Focused on healing, compassion, and nature.
  • Matrons: High-ranking clerics with a deep connection to the natural world.
  • Healers: Clerics dedicated to tending to the sick and wounded.
  • Guardians: Clerics who protect nature and its creatures.
• Order of the Offspring: Focused on creativity, innovation, and progress.
• Prophets: High-ranking clerics with a vision of the future.
• Creators: Clerics skilled in arts, crafts, and invention.
• Explorers: Clerics with a spirit of adventure and discovery.

Lower Orders

• Acolytes: Novices training for clerical roles.
• Deacons: Assisting clerics in various duties.
• Missionaries: Spreading the faith to new regions.

Additional Roles

• Patriarch/Matriarch: The overall leader of the Triune Order, often seen as a direct representative of the Trinity.
• Inquisitors: Responsible for maintaining doctrinal purity and rooting out heresy.
• Mystics: Clerics with a deep connection to the spiritual realm, often acting as intermediaries between the mortal world and the divine.

Other Cultural Interpretations of the Trinity

Elven Perspective

Elves, with their deep connection to nature and magic, tend to focus on the Mother aspect of the Trinity. They view Her as the primordial spirit of the world, the source of all life and magic. While they acknowledge the Architect and the Offspring, their reverence primarily lies with the Mother. Elven druids often commune with nature to seek her guidance, believing that understanding her will lead to a deeper connection with the world. Some elven scholars believe that the Sundering was a wound inflicted upon the Mother, and that healing her is the key to restoring balance to the world.

The Architect is often seen as a distant, almost aloof figure in Elven lore. They believe the Architect established the world's framework, but that it was the Mother who breathed life into it. The Offspring is viewed with a mix of awe and trepidation. Elves recognize the power of change and innovation but also fear its potential to disrupt the delicate balance of nature.

Dwarven Perspective

Dwarves, with their affinity for stone, metal, and craftsmanship, tend to focus on the Architect aspect of the Trinity. They view Him as the patron of their skills, the creator of the earth's mineral wealth. While they acknowledge the importance of the Mother and the Offspring, their primary devotion is to the Architect. Dwarven smiths often pray to the Architect for inspiration and skill, believing that their creations are a continuation of the Architect's work.

The Mother is seen as a provider, the source of life that sustains all creatures, including the dwarves who dwell deep underground. However, their relationship with her is more distant than that of the elves. The Offspring is viewed with a mix of respect and caution. Dwarves admire the spirit of innovation but also fear the potential for chaos and destruction. They believe that change should be gradual and controlled, in keeping with their methodical nature.

Windy Plains Perspective

The Plainsfolk view the Creator as a tripartite divine concept centered around the idea of balance, duality, and the ever-present creative force.

The Great Spirit

This is the overarching, cosmic force, akin to the Architect. However, unlike the distant, architect-like figure, the Great Spirit is more of an immanent, ever-present energy that permeates all things. It is the source of life, thought, and creation.

The Twin Spirits

Representing a duality inherent in all things, the Twin Spirits are the dynamic, creative force of the universe, similar to the Offspring. They are often depicted as brother and sister, or sometimes as complementary opposites.

• The Trickster Spirit: This spirit embodies chaos, change, and innovation. It is associated with humor, mischief, and the unexpected. This spirit is essential for breaking old patterns and creating new possibilities.
• The Harmony Spirit: This spirit represents balance, order, and cooperation. It works in tandem with the Trickster Spirit to ensure that change is harmonious and beneficial.

Together, the Twin Spirits represent the constant dance of creation and order, of chaos and balance, that is essential to the universe's ongoing evolution. The Great Spirit provides the underlying energy that powers this dynamic duo.

Known Heresies

The Solitary Architect. This heresy posits that the Architect is the sole deity, and that the Mother and Offspring are merely manifestations of the Architect's will. Adherents of this belief often focus on logic, reason, and the pursuit of knowledge. They may be seen as cold and calculating, disregarding the emotional and spiritual aspects of existence.
The Maternal Cult. In contrast to the Solitary Architect, the Maternal Cult elevates the Mother to supreme deity status. This heresy often arises in regions where people have suffered great hardship, leading to a fervent desire for a nurturing, compassionate figure. Adherents of this belief may reject the concepts of order and progress, focusing instead on harmony with nature and the cyclical rhythms of life.
The Firebrand Sect. This heretical group emphasizes the Offspring to an extreme degree. They view the Architect as a tyrannical overlord and the Mother as weak and ineffectual. Adherents of this belief are often revolutionaries, seeking to overthrow established order and create a new world. Their actions can range from peaceful protest to violent insurrection.