Fallanism
Fallanism is the main religion of the Boshaari people, especially colonists from Aistanar, where it is the state religion, overseen by the Chantry of the Void. Effectively, by sheer numbers of adherents, it is the largest religion across the Circinus Stream, with several off-world branches across most colonies - though it finds little appeal with the Hiderid or Hhrot. Fallanism has existed in some form for thousands of years, having developped across Boshaari worlds in the Pyxis Globula before being brought by exiles during the Great Jump.
Fallanists believe that the truth of the universe was revealed by an ascended wizard known as Fallarie, the Inheritor. She is believed to have undergone a revelation and transcended into an universal, transcendent, benevolent force for good and order. Omniscient but not omnipotent, the Inheritor's mission is assisted by holy emanations called Æsimar. Much of the Inheritor's truth was spread across the realms of Meridia some nine thousand years ago by prominent early believers and disciples, which nowadays are referred to in a collective sense as the Sophia Æsima.
Fallanism places significant importance on the concepts of good and evil. According to Fallanist beliefs, the forces of Creation (metta), representing good and order, are in direct and eternal opposition to the forces of Destruction (Eametta), symbolizing evil and chaos, within a self-creating universe. Long ago, Destruction was on the brink of ushering in the End-Times, where they would achieve a final victory over creation and rewrite the universe in eternal entropy and chaos. However, the Inheritor's ascension occurred to shift the balance, in the eleventh hour, in favor of creation and order. With the End-Times postponed, the cosmic battle continues, until the faith of the believers allows Creation to overwhelm Destruction and usher in a new, perfect universe. This dichotomy is central to Fallanism, which holds that both order and chaos exist within all things and people.
Fallanists worship the Inheritor but also revere many other deities called Æsimar. They represent good and order as they assist the Inheritor's noble task. A full, exhaustive list of Æsimar is nearly pointless as lore, practices and oaths change from area to area, though several major Æsimar as well as the Sophia Æsima know universal worship. They can generally be classified as several types :
Not all such emanations are good nor orderly. There are other such beings, the much maligned Erinyæs, who would reject the Inheritor's order and impose evil and chaos in its stead. People generally distinguish between demonic Erinyæs, who are agents of chaos and destruction, and devilish Erinyæs, who represent negative but generally abstract concepts.
In historical truth, the Sophia Æsima were very early disciples of the Inheritor and key instruments in the establishment of Fallanism. Chief amongst them was Finali, a Paladin of justice, who received visions of the Inheritor and made it her life goal to spread Her word.
According to the Iendinqua, the collection of texts that describe Fallanism's rise to power, Finali drifted across the ancient Boshaari realm, recruiting allies to her cause. She was initially not well received by the established powers that were, which forced her to compromise. On her holy quest, she was joined by other disciples : first Lurea, Syl, Mol and Jorra, then others, such as Ruby and Ekko. Soon, entire shrines converted to the Inheritor's faith, notably the Great Shrine of Ardlussa, which once worshipped deities of astronomy and divining before supporting Her cause.
In modern days, some of these historical figures are worshipped as Æsimar in their own right, notably Syl (the protector Æsimar of the Arkblazer Order) or Lurea. Alltogether, they are often portrayed as a collective spirit, with entire yanna dedicated to them.
Alongside the cosmic struggle of Creations and Destruction, of Æsimar and Erinyæs, Fallanists put particular emphasis on elements, each represented by a varying pantheon of elemental Æsimar. Fire (Nolleth) and Water (Fallon), Earth (Niri) and Wind (Azdia), bound by the power of the Void (the Sophia Æsima). Bound in harmony, their presence purifies the soul and brings about Order. Dissonant and fickle, they sow discord and sow Chaos.
There are many afterlives promised to the Boshaari after death. Good afterlives might include the celestial or elemental planes associated with specific, noteworthy Æsimar. By contrast, those led astray might find themselves toiling through eternity in an Erinyæs' demonic or devilish domain.
The fate of all Boshaari, alive and dead, is said to hinge on the outcome of the cosmic battle waged by the Inheritor : in the End-Time, one side will win and rewrite the universe in an image that is determined by the choices people have made whilst alive - hopefully, the final defeat of evil and a restoration of the world to a perfect state. The Law of Cycles states that the End-Times have come many times, but that faith in the Inheritor has managed to buy time for a future final victory (perhaps, most recently, the destruction of many worlds in the Pyxis Globula during the Oberon Incursion)
There is no single canonical text, but rather a compilation of writings held sacred. The Aiméparmà details the origins and creation of the world, and that through the Inheritor, first to understand such divine reality, the faithful can break free. The Olweni Hilvilinna or 36 Tenets are a collection of writings which specifically seek to legitimize the rise of the Inheritor to divine enlightenment. There are a few other texts of note : the Æralindëfan or Book of Rites is a registry of ancient hymns - in reality six core books and a few minor ones - used in various rituals. The Æsimari Parma describes the origins and divinity of key Æsimar. The Laondë Parma is a compilations of rituals and commands to be used in following the Path set out by the Inheritor. There are also the four books that make up the Iendinqua, the fundational story of the disciples that would become the Sophia Æsima.
In the modern day, the trials of the Boshaari during the Great Jump were recorded in the Colámari Parma, which is being canonized.
Fallanism is not entirely uniform in philosophy nor theology. The ultimate goal of a follower is to become one with a chosen Æsimar and further order and happiness - which dictates one's afterlife and their contribution to the cosmic battle. Core teachings involve following the Noble Path (good thoughts, deeds, and words), practicing charity, engaging in life ethically, and showing altruism for altruism's sake. Many other practices change from one Æsimari tradition to the next, but as many are beings of nature, there is also a strong ecological component guiding one's actions.
For most adherents, these guiding principles are sufficient. However, many also choose to follow the oaths and rituals of a particular Æsimar linked to their profession, community, personal beliefs, or local shrine.
Public spaces known as shrines (yanna) are often the dedicated homes of a specific Æsimar. Like the spirits they house, yanna can be of many different kinds, but typically will involve an interlocking and confusing maze of buildings built around a holy rotunda called sanctuary (corda) at its centre. Smaller Yanna dispense with the maze or use something else than a rotunda, such as a hollow tree, but all feature the corda. Within are sometimes two altars : one to a local Æsimar as well as one to the Inheritor.
Around the corda, sometimes enclosed by the maze of buildings is a garden or forest grove of offerings where practitioners leave candles and small objects. There is often a main entrance that offers a straightforward approach to the corda. Many buildings serve for different functions : storage of relics pertaining to local folklore, wedding halls, schools, offices, priest accomodation, and so on.
Yanna are often adorned with wooden and stone icons of Voidhares, the dual-faced messengers of Æsimar, and beloved creatures of the Inheritor.
The initial design of Yanna evolved over the millenia, but many of the core features possibly harken back to the specific design of the Great Shrine of Ardlussa, in the ancient Kingdom of Meridia, which started as a temple to Alyssa, the Æsimar of Wisdom. It was a beacon of Boshaari faith and culture that became the home of the disciples that would become canonized as the Sophia Æsima - and, in time, grew to be one of the greatest halls of worship in ancient Boshaari culture.
The Chantry of the Void oversees the staffing and maintenance of shrines, and promotes the practices of Fallanism. Each shrine is led by a head priest called a summoner (nahamen). Shrines are often organized in circles - sometimes by geographical location but more often depending on the specific Æsimar or type of Æsimar worshipped. There are several ranks of priests (airimen) below the nahamen, who undertake most tasks on yanna grounds.
The Chantry has many Bureaus, each focussed on one aspect of Fallanism, and enjoys many privileges in Boshaari society. Nevertheless, in the Circinus Stream, the Chantry is generally happy to leave much of the power in the hands of shrine officials.
Fallanists are not expected to attend formal ceremonies. The core daily ritual is the Iyamì, an ablution done at home after sundawn which involves the washing of hands and the recitation of sacred hymns. Iyamì must also be performed upon entering shrine grounds.
Key life events are often ritualized. A child's first visit to a yanna will be marked by the touching of its Hearthstone. Funerals are often marked by mournful dances, and weddings by joyful ones. New adherents are not expected to undergo a specific ritual, but an applicant seeking to join a yanna or bind their oath to a specific Æsimar generally do.
Fallanists generally observe four staple festivals at equinoxes and solstices which also end up structuring the Boshaari year. These are :
The events leading to the Great Jump inflicted deep trauma upon the Boshaari, as the Oberon Incursion brutally destroyed their ancestral lands and forced the survivors on an irreversible intergalactic voyage. Once the Ark completed its journey, the colonial government worked diligently to restore stability and provide aid to the Boshaari refugees. Nonetheless, even to this day, a collective sense of survivor's guilt continues to linger due to the profound devastation suffered by families, communities, and entire nations.
Amid the struggle to rebuild their lives and forge new homes and families, many Boshaari have sought solace in Fallanism. Remarkably, the Great Jump has significantly influenced this ancient faith, giving rise to a transformed perspective. Within orthodox Fallanism, the Great Jump is interpreted as a symbol of the Inheritor's rebuke of an almost complete victory of evil over good - a solemn reminder of the dark forces that lurk beyond. The Embassy Ark, once a vessel of refuge, has now evolved into a place of worship, and numerous Boshaari shrines have emerged there. According to populat belief, the Ark itself holds a divine blessing from its very own Æsimar: Shaelarin, the Wanderer, whose shrine is embedded deep within the Ark's hull.
The trials, tribulations and hymns of the Boshaari survivors during the Jump were recorded in the Colámari Parma, a book which is becoming part of traditional canon.
The Pilgrimage is a festivity held every five years at the height of Yelairé. It was instaurated to foster a sense of community and faith amongst all Boshaari colonies, and at such many Boshaari are expected to attend and converge on the capital city of New Eldelyn. Various secular and religious festivities are held, including the Sun Chariot Parade where people wear disguises and mingle in masked balls. The tradition of the Pilgrimage was restored only a few decades ago, but finds historical roots in the trials and tribulations of the Sophia Æsima.
Theology
Fallanists believe that the truth of the universe was revealed by an ascended wizard known as Fallarie, the Inheritor. She is believed to have undergone a revelation and transcended into an universal, transcendent, benevolent force for good and order. Omniscient but not omnipotent, the Inheritor's mission is assisted by holy emanations called Æsimar. Much of the Inheritor's truth was spread across the realms of Meridia some nine thousand years ago by prominent early believers and disciples, which nowadays are referred to in a collective sense as the Sophia Æsima.
Fallanism places significant importance on the concepts of good and evil. According to Fallanist beliefs, the forces of Creation (metta), representing good and order, are in direct and eternal opposition to the forces of Destruction (Eametta), symbolizing evil and chaos, within a self-creating universe. Long ago, Destruction was on the brink of ushering in the End-Times, where they would achieve a final victory over creation and rewrite the universe in eternal entropy and chaos. However, the Inheritor's ascension occurred to shift the balance, in the eleventh hour, in favor of creation and order. With the End-Times postponed, the cosmic battle continues, until the faith of the believers allows Creation to overwhelm Destruction and usher in a new, perfect universe. This dichotomy is central to Fallanism, which holds that both order and chaos exist within all things and people.
Æsimar
Fallanists worship the Inheritor but also revere many other deities called Æsimar. They represent good and order as they assist the Inheritor's noble task. A full, exhaustive list of Æsimar is nearly pointless as lore, practices and oaths change from area to area, though several major Æsimar as well as the Sophia Æsima know universal worship. They can generally be classified as several types :
- Celestials (Yanva Æsima) directly link to the Inheritor and generally represent abstract concepts like justice and innocence.
- Elementals (Amara Æsima) link to nature, towns and communities, places of beauty, and the Elements. In classical lithurgy they are more neutrally aligned, and may be the syncretic remnants of a former faith.
- Historicals (Nìara Æsima) are ancient saintly figures said to have been chosen by the Inheritor after death, who generally oversee crafts and mundane concepts (e.g. Lurea is the much known Æsimar of historians and bards)
Not all such emanations are good nor orderly. There are other such beings, the much maligned Erinyæs, who would reject the Inheritor's order and impose evil and chaos in its stead. People generally distinguish between demonic Erinyæs, who are agents of chaos and destruction, and devilish Erinyæs, who represent negative but generally abstract concepts.
Sophia Æsima
In historical truth, the Sophia Æsima were very early disciples of the Inheritor and key instruments in the establishment of Fallanism. Chief amongst them was Finali, a Paladin of justice, who received visions of the Inheritor and made it her life goal to spread Her word.
According to the Iendinqua, the collection of texts that describe Fallanism's rise to power, Finali drifted across the ancient Boshaari realm, recruiting allies to her cause. She was initially not well received by the established powers that were, which forced her to compromise. On her holy quest, she was joined by other disciples : first Lurea, Syl, Mol and Jorra, then others, such as Ruby and Ekko. Soon, entire shrines converted to the Inheritor's faith, notably the Great Shrine of Ardlussa, which once worshipped deities of astronomy and divining before supporting Her cause.
In modern days, some of these historical figures are worshipped as Æsimar in their own right, notably Syl (the protector Æsimar of the Arkblazer Order) or Lurea. Alltogether, they are often portrayed as a collective spirit, with entire yanna dedicated to them.
Elements
Alongside the cosmic struggle of Creations and Destruction, of Æsimar and Erinyæs, Fallanists put particular emphasis on elements, each represented by a varying pantheon of elemental Æsimar. Fire (Nolleth) and Water (Fallon), Earth (Niri) and Wind (Azdia), bound by the power of the Void (the Sophia Æsima). Bound in harmony, their presence purifies the soul and brings about Order. Dissonant and fickle, they sow discord and sow Chaos.
There are many afterlives promised to the Boshaari after death. Good afterlives might include the celestial or elemental planes associated with specific, noteworthy Æsimar. By contrast, those led astray might find themselves toiling through eternity in an Erinyæs' demonic or devilish domain.
The fate of all Boshaari, alive and dead, is said to hinge on the outcome of the cosmic battle waged by the Inheritor : in the End-Time, one side will win and rewrite the universe in an image that is determined by the choices people have made whilst alive - hopefully, the final defeat of evil and a restoration of the world to a perfect state. The Law of Cycles states that the End-Times have come many times, but that faith in the Inheritor has managed to buy time for a future final victory (perhaps, most recently, the destruction of many worlds in the Pyxis Globula during the Oberon Incursion)
Canon
There is no single canonical text, but rather a compilation of writings held sacred. The Aiméparmà details the origins and creation of the world, and that through the Inheritor, first to understand such divine reality, the faithful can break free. The Olweni Hilvilinna or 36 Tenets are a collection of writings which specifically seek to legitimize the rise of the Inheritor to divine enlightenment. There are a few other texts of note : the Æralindëfan or Book of Rites is a registry of ancient hymns - in reality six core books and a few minor ones - used in various rituals. The Æsimari Parma describes the origins and divinity of key Æsimar. The Laondë Parma is a compilations of rituals and commands to be used in following the Path set out by the Inheritor. There are also the four books that make up the Iendinqua, the fundational story of the disciples that would become the Sophia Æsima.
In the modern day, the trials of the Boshaari during the Great Jump were recorded in the Colámari Parma, which is being canonized.
Practices
Fallanism is not entirely uniform in philosophy nor theology. The ultimate goal of a follower is to become one with a chosen Æsimar and further order and happiness - which dictates one's afterlife and their contribution to the cosmic battle. Core teachings involve following the Noble Path (good thoughts, deeds, and words), practicing charity, engaging in life ethically, and showing altruism for altruism's sake. Many other practices change from one Æsimari tradition to the next, but as many are beings of nature, there is also a strong ecological component guiding one's actions.
For most adherents, these guiding principles are sufficient. However, many also choose to follow the oaths and rituals of a particular Æsimar linked to their profession, community, personal beliefs, or local shrine.
Shrines
Public spaces known as shrines (yanna) are often the dedicated homes of a specific Æsimar. Like the spirits they house, yanna can be of many different kinds, but typically will involve an interlocking and confusing maze of buildings built around a holy rotunda called sanctuary (corda) at its centre. Smaller Yanna dispense with the maze or use something else than a rotunda, such as a hollow tree, but all feature the corda. Within are sometimes two altars : one to a local Æsimar as well as one to the Inheritor.
Around the corda, sometimes enclosed by the maze of buildings is a garden or forest grove of offerings where practitioners leave candles and small objects. There is often a main entrance that offers a straightforward approach to the corda. Many buildings serve for different functions : storage of relics pertaining to local folklore, wedding halls, schools, offices, priest accomodation, and so on.
Yanna are often adorned with wooden and stone icons of Voidhares, the dual-faced messengers of Æsimar, and beloved creatures of the Inheritor.
The initial design of Yanna evolved over the millenia, but many of the core features possibly harken back to the specific design of the Great Shrine of Ardlussa, in the ancient Kingdom of Meridia, which started as a temple to Alyssa, the Æsimar of Wisdom. It was a beacon of Boshaari faith and culture that became the home of the disciples that would become canonized as the Sophia Æsima - and, in time, grew to be one of the greatest halls of worship in ancient Boshaari culture.
Priesthood
The Chantry of the Void oversees the staffing and maintenance of shrines, and promotes the practices of Fallanism. Each shrine is led by a head priest called a summoner (nahamen). Shrines are often organized in circles - sometimes by geographical location but more often depending on the specific Æsimar or type of Æsimar worshipped. There are several ranks of priests (airimen) below the nahamen, who undertake most tasks on yanna grounds.
The Chantry has many Bureaus, each focussed on one aspect of Fallanism, and enjoys many privileges in Boshaari society. Nevertheless, in the Circinus Stream, the Chantry is generally happy to leave much of the power in the hands of shrine officials.
Rituals
Fallanists are not expected to attend formal ceremonies. The core daily ritual is the Iyamì, an ablution done at home after sundawn which involves the washing of hands and the recitation of sacred hymns. Iyamì must also be performed upon entering shrine grounds.
Key life events are often ritualized. A child's first visit to a yanna will be marked by the touching of its Hearthstone. Funerals are often marked by mournful dances, and weddings by joyful ones. New adherents are not expected to undergo a specific ritual, but an applicant seeking to join a yanna or bind their oath to a specific Æsimar generally do.
Festivals
Fallanists generally observe four staple festivals at equinoxes and solstices which also end up structuring the Boshaari year. These are :
- Sinyalá : this week-long festival marks the start of Spring. Each of the first five days is assigned to an element (Fire, Wind, Water, Earth, and Void) during which various rituals are performed to restore harmony. It is customary to braid a short rope, one colourful elemental strand a day, in order to hang it around the house as a good luck charm. During the weekend, joyful festivities and firework shows are held. If the weather allows, people generally travel afield to enjoy picnics and outdoor celebrations. Another custom is the telling of jokes and playing of practical (but harmless) pranks.
- Yelairé (Midsummer) : Held the week containing the summer solstice (in northern Aistanar), this holiday sees people gather around village arches or shrine gardens to celebrate the coming defeat of darkness by light and the Inheritor's glory. Houses are decorated with flowers and greenery and joyful parades fill city streets. Holy waffles that come in various shapes are prepared in shrines and given to the people. In the evening of the solstice itself, a large wooden effigy of a local Erinyæs is set adrift on a river and set on fire whilst people dance and eat merrily.
- Enyalumë : The Time of Rememberance is held on the first day of the ninth month, the day where the first Boshaari explorers touched down upon Aistanar. In constrast to other festivals, this is a somber occasion. Quiet gratitude is shown to the ancestors that endured the Great Jump under the guidance of the Inheritor, and rebuilt Boshaari civilization. It is a time of recollection, rememberance, and mourning towards the lost families, communities, worlds and nations that fell to the Oberon, that their memories not be consigned to oblivion.
- Yávialá (Harvestfall) : This festival, held closest to harvestmoon, is a celebration of the harvest and food grown on the land. Shrines often host crafts sales and vendors offer various pastries and street food depending on the area and the local crops. It is also a time of gratitude and rememberance, and the graves of loved ones are tended to.
- Latta Eiréalá (Hearthday): The holiday day of the year is observed right at its tail end - the last of four or five intercalary days between the last month of the old cycle and the first of the new one. This winter festival involves elaborate gift-giving and feasting, with the final day reserved for family celebrations and fireworks. Many shrines also schedule elaborate festivals in celebration of their local Æsimar on the other intercalary days.
The Great Jump
The events leading to the Great Jump inflicted deep trauma upon the Boshaari, as the Oberon Incursion brutally destroyed their ancestral lands and forced the survivors on an irreversible intergalactic voyage. Once the Ark completed its journey, the colonial government worked diligently to restore stability and provide aid to the Boshaari refugees. Nonetheless, even to this day, a collective sense of survivor's guilt continues to linger due to the profound devastation suffered by families, communities, and entire nations.
Amid the struggle to rebuild their lives and forge new homes and families, many Boshaari have sought solace in Fallanism. Remarkably, the Great Jump has significantly influenced this ancient faith, giving rise to a transformed perspective. Within orthodox Fallanism, the Great Jump is interpreted as a symbol of the Inheritor's rebuke of an almost complete victory of evil over good - a solemn reminder of the dark forces that lurk beyond. The Embassy Ark, once a vessel of refuge, has now evolved into a place of worship, and numerous Boshaari shrines have emerged there. According to populat belief, the Ark itself holds a divine blessing from its very own Æsimar: Shaelarin, the Wanderer, whose shrine is embedded deep within the Ark's hull.
The trials, tribulations and hymns of the Boshaari survivors during the Jump were recorded in the Colámari Parma, a book which is becoming part of traditional canon.
The Pilgrimage
The Pilgrimage is a festivity held every five years at the height of Yelairé. It was instaurated to foster a sense of community and faith amongst all Boshaari colonies, and at such many Boshaari are expected to attend and converge on the capital city of New Eldelyn. Various secular and religious festivities are held, including the Sun Chariot Parade where people wear disguises and mingle in masked balls. The tradition of the Pilgrimage was restored only a few decades ago, but finds historical roots in the trials and tribulations of the Sophia Æsima.
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
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