Seruvianism

"Stop the Seruvians? Don't you understand- the Seruvians can't be stopped unless Desmia is destroyed. They are the most honest expression of Desmian hatred and ideology, only hated by "Orthodox" priests because they are taking the mask off too early. When they run out of Dryads, do you think they would stop? This is just the logical conclusion of Desmian culture, heretical only in its inconvenient honesty. They are Desmia." - Lily of Red
Seruvianism is a heretical Desmian movement/sect that stands in opposition to Orthodox Desmianism, which it believes is a deluded half-truth that fails to protect the vulnerable from demonic influences. Seruvianism worships The Struggle above all as a purifying war, and believes that all those who do not fight demons are destined to become them. Seruvianism argues that you cannot truly know anything but Struggle and Self - all else is unknowable, and potentially demonic. Since only you are truly real, all struggle is Righteous Struggle (particularly violent struggle), and all fights are against evil. Those who fight demons are closer to the Struggle- and more verifiably real- than those who do not. Foreigners and non-humans are also clearly demonic in nature.
"I just feel so sad thinking about those Seruvians... so many of them just want to be heroes in a world they don't understand. A lot of them are out there fighting against inequality and terrible conditions, and these are the only people who will help them- a bunch of evil priests. They should be following heroes, not these guys, but we let them down. If there aren't enough heroes, the little guys will turn to whatever villain plays the part... its just so sad" - Wimbo Aizitu
Seruvianism draws on local dissent- often focusing less on theology and more on rage at the existing system. It blames poverty, war, neglect, and exploitation on the system and its decadence, as well as foreigners and non-humans, of course. For many Desmians who feel left behind by the feudal or priestly systems (either because of economic exploitation, neglect, or the failure of existing Desmian kingdoms to prevent enemy raids), Seruvianism is a way to organize and fight back as a community. For lower elites who feel shut out of a system they feel entitled to, Seruvianism is a way to take the power they feel they deserve. For veterans who haven't received the support they feel they deserve, or for local civilians who feel shut out of their own country's jobs by foreign veterans, Seruvianism is a way to exact justice in an unjust system. Each heretic cell focuses on these local concerns over theology- much of the annoyance of Orthodox priests who try to debate them. At its core is emotion and identity, a feeling that you are one of the True Desmians that could thrive in the system if not for the decadent Fake Desmians and Foreigners keeping you out.

Structure

Seruvianism primarily operates in disjointed cells. While there is theoretically a top position of High Priest or Prophet, it has not been filled since the Seruvian Crisis of the 1400s. Each modern cell is centered around priests, each of whom manages a secretive "temple". More successful temples that spawn spinoffs might elevate the original priest to the position of speaker, forming a heretic "Ecclesium". Some cells might have their own quirks or structures, but most stick to mirroring Orthodox Desmianism

Public Agenda

Seruvianism seeks to overthrow and replace Orthodox Desmianism, purge Desmia of foreigners, and kill every last member of non-human races.

History

"Seruvianism is a fascinating example of what we can expect for future religious movements. Rather than appeal to theology, this movement relies on emotional thinking and mass appeal in a way that is only possible in a highly literate and political society. While each cell is unique, they create an image of unity and continuity that projects a kind of power they do not have materially. Not only that, but they have papered over historical theological differences to put themselves in continuity with dozens of unique historical religious movements. Through emotional 'common sense' thinking and rapid adoption of recent technology, they create the false impression that they are both ancient and everywhere. Study of this movement could reveal so much of what lies in store worldwide." - Emesh , God of Knowledge
Seruvianism spawned out of the School of Watchful Purity, a radical theological school in The Holy Republic of Pakray that argued that, as demons could wear many disguises, all foreigners entering Desmia or Pakray should be subjected to strict testing. Founded in 1110, the School of Watchful Purity started as an reaction to the use of Feywilds mercenaries exiled from Nefka by both sides of the Pakrayan civil war of the late 1000s. As centuries went by, it radicalized.
Increasingly, this school became intertwined with the Pakrayan Home Guard, and in 1400 the sect seized direct control of the Republic in a bloody coup. From 1400 to 1455, the School of Watchful Purity ruled unilaterally- but within it, several of its own theological factions began to form. The most involved of these young radicals began dabbling in heresy. Some began reading texts from the ancient School of Vigilance and Flame, a heresy that argued that all non-humans had demonic nature (or at least potential) and should be kept away. Others dabbled in new forms of heresy exploring the philosophical extremes of The Struggle. These factions squabbled and competed for power within the School of Watchful Purity, until, in 1455, the other schools launched a popular revolt that seized the capital city of Avedra. As the military began fragmenting and Watchful Purity saw its hold over it breaking, the charismatic priest Videza gathered together those who would listen to abandon Pakray altogether. They seized part of the navy and army and fled to the Seruvian Islands to the Southwest- far enough that the other Schools would be unlikely to give chase, and isolated enough that they could operate without accusations of heresy.
Seruv in 1455 was in the middle of a political crisis. Decades of misrule and corruption had led to intense rural unrest, and the Seruvian monarch could not levy the full force of their military against the arriving heretics. Instead, the queen of Seruv simply allowed the newcomers to set up camp and linger in their territory- perhaps hoping that the Pakrayans could be used as an asset in case of civil war. Videza and their priests quickly began usurping local authorities, and the disparate heresies began to intermingle. Seruv also brought its own heresy to the mix: Seruvian religion had long been in conflict with that of the continent, particularly the popular cult of the war Goddess Izogara (the Seruvian version of the God Ezerok). The cult of Izogara had been proclaimed heretical for its assertion that warriors of skill should rule over 'lesser' Desmians who did not contribute as directly to the Struggle, and had been suppressed by outside invaders from Pakray and Avana in centuries prior. Outside suppression had made the Cult of Izogara a symbol for local identity- and Videza fell in love with it. The School of Watchful Purity began drawing the Cult to it, attracting the attention of the growing Seruvian rebel faction- which mistook their interest in the Cult as interest in the protection of Seruvian culture. This misunderstanding paved the way for a close alliance, and in 1457 the rebellion launched with Watchful Purity support. In 1459, the rebel's Pretender-King seized the throne, but as soon as the rebels won the difference between the heretics and others rebels became clearer. Videza began collecting power underneath her, and in 1460, the new king of Seruv was deposed and Videza seized the throne for herself. Most of the remaining non-heretic rebels gathered under the paladin-commander Sonali the Lion, and were exiled to the mainland. All those who remained were purged.
In full control of the islands and increasingly revered as a Living Ancestor by her followers, Videza used her own fringe beliefs to create a united movement of radicals. Her manifesto posited some truly extreme heresy, even as it offered space to less extreme heretics within her ranks. Using newly arrived early printing press technology, Videza was able to mass produce propaganda both for the islands of Seruv and for the mainland. Mania overtook the Seruvian islands- peasants seized the lands of nobles considered too foreign, foreigners had their property seized, "heretic hunts" against supposed Ishkibites broke out. Beyond the isles, Videza's heretical movement began attracting priests- the continent was under attack by threats from every direction, and Videza's radical militarism was an attractive option for those who felt unsupported by moderate theology. Sonali the Lion, fuming in her exile, began touring the continent for support and gathering priests in opposition to Videza. This gathering of priests slowly gathered more and more inertia, until it finally went beyond anything it was originally intended- it became the Perpetual Conclave of Desmia.
The Perpetual Conclave of 1480 defined heresy in clearer terms and condemned Videza vigorously. The priests mobilized and coordinated the great empires of the continent, and armed Sonali with her army to go retake the Seruvian islands- though the external threats took priority, and the planned united crusade was delayed and turned into a Pakray-only expedition. Pakray and Sonali seized Seruv, but the power struggle between the Sonali and the Pakrayan consul led to the occupation becoming a nightmare- Videza was allowed to go underground and continue her work. No one knows where Videza went, or how she died- some Seruvian cults claim she remains alive in some sort of secret True Desmian temple, while others attribute some great martyr myth to her and honor her as an Ancestor.
The Pakrayans declared Videza's heresy 'The Seruvian Heresy', and it has since become known as Seruvianism. It remains in Seruv to this day underground, but has since seeded cells across Desmia. As printing technology has advanced, so has Seruvian propaganda- it has remained on the cutting edge of technology and the dissatisfied fringes of the continent.

Founding Date

1460

Type

Religious, Sect

Alternative Names

Zeruvianism, Vigilancy, The School of Flame and Vigilance, Videzardism

Demonym

Seruvian

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