Shadow of the Wing
In the war of Freedom of Knowledge vs. Control of Information, the Shadow of the Wing are firmly on the side of control. Anyone who believes otherwise is an uneducated fool already halfway to being a Medache.
A secret cult dedicated to lies, misinformation, propeganda, and hoarding of secret information, the Shadow of the Wing, or SW, has spent generations amassing power all over Argentii. However, it's most potent concentration of power is in Central Tilth, on the Island of Tilth.
Structure
Modeled on Metilth societal structure, SW is controlled through a strict three-level heirarchial structure. Unlike Metilth society, however, the possibility of advancement is ever offered, even if it is only ever granted to the few.
At the top is the Ploui, the breath, the one. It is from the Ploui that all secret knowledge flows, for only the Ploui has access to the Record of Creation.
Next, is the inner circle, or Cused, the blood, the few. This collection of the most fanatic, most loyal, most hungry followers of the SW have seen the enameled box that holds the Record, and each has secretly been promised ascension upon the transcendence of the Ploui.
Finally, there are the common, the initiates or Medache, the hands, the workers. These are the many, those who aspire to ascension into the Cused, though most will happily and violently die before ever being conceded such an honor.
Assets
Every island has a black market, and every black market is run by the SW.
History
The oldest whispers of a Cult of the Shadow begin somewhere around -6500.
Disbandment
According to official history, the Shadow of the Wing was disbanded in the year 0, with The Conflagration and the loss of The Queen's Royal Library.
But vermin can not only survive a fire, most of them thrive in the aftermath.
Only recently is the rest of Argentii beginning to pay attention to what Central Tilth has known all along, the cult never went anywhere.
Mythology & Lore
The SW worships dragons as demon-gods, and believes that by imprinting on young dragons when they hatch, they will be able to raise up an undefeatable army of omnipotent, death-breathing deities.
Divine Origins
It is believed that the SW began to arise within 30 generations (~570 years) after the Last Landbound War, and certainly well after the deaths of both Tige the Uniter and Talla of Smouge, their children, and their children's children.
Tenets of Faith
Through transcendence one becomes a Demon-God.
Transcendence comes only through the Record of Creation.
The Record of Creation comes only through the Breath.
The Breath comes only through the Blood.
In the Blood, the Hands are washed.
I am the Hand that bleeds.
In the Blood, the Hands are washed.
The Breath comes only through the Blood.
The Record of Creation comes only through the Breath.
Transcendence comes only through the Record of Creation.
This prayer, spoken in a rhythmic chant along with focused breathing, is the core tenant of religious guidance. It is, by nature, designed to be both specific (referring to the Breath, the Blood, and the Hand), and vague enough to invite interpretation, misinterpretation, and debate.
Ethics
While most of the Medache would say that they stand by a very firm code of ethics, it is barely recoginzable to most other people as ethical since the SW makes broad and powerful use of Technomancy.
Priesthood
Political Influence & Intrigue
Over the last few millennia of rapid progress in Technoalchemy, SW agents within the Cused have positioned themselves to be at the forefront of research in this field. They keep attempting to infiltrate the Inter-island Theeksfur Council with bribes, and have even sunk so low as to actually submit applications for open position. And yet somehow, the council keeps selecting its own delegates from as far away from Tilth as they can possibly recruit.
The Record Transcends
-6500 - 0
Nonexistant
In the war of information, the Shadow of the Wing preaches freedom of information while dealing almost exclusively in lies, misinformation, and propeganda. And of course, the secrets that they hoarde.
On the other side, The Court of the Moon believes that knowledge is a tool that can easily be turned toward destruction, and therefore should be built on a foundation of context and responsibility, as reflected in the old saying, "You don't give a toddler a torch."
Nonexistant
The Shadow suspects the people are unhappy, but they do not believe that the people are powerful enough to actually move against them.
I'm loving finally having a moment to connect these dots!
I'm a certified union educator and labor organizer. I listen to a lot of podcasts in the cryptid/cult/true crime realm. I'm a history buff, especially where Art and Protest intersect. And I'm pretty dissatisfied with the current economic/class struggle in the US. That should help. :D
Haly, the Moonlight Bard
Rhapsody by Moonlight , a daily email worldbuilding newsletter.
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