Togkou: Seven Truths
To say that the people of the Seven Realms has a religion is a bit of a misnomer. Rather, they are looking for one.
A long time ago, one man from each island-continent and the northern mainland received a dream, perhaps a vision, roughly around the same time. Upon waking, the only thing each of them could remember was a single sentence. It grew to be a part of each respective island's culture, and the collection of the seven truths... well, could it be a coincidence? Would it not cover some hidden story of the world? Perhaps a creator placed it there to call the world to action. No one knew for certain what the Seven Truths meant, but countless organizations throughout history have tried to find- or claimed to have found- an answer. Perhaps, some claim, a Yet Unknown will reveal the true meaning behind the Seven and enlighten the world.
Behold, the Seven Truths, and the respective peoples from which they are derived:
Keyrit: "Yetoi tar t'kroh-kou: Justice is a lie."
Wlitowaru'u: "Woya woteya krau: The lonely will be reunited."
Wlitowa: "Kah teroi kreh: We must all serve someone."
Yatkaugo: "Kah tar wayou royi: Debt is paid in lifeblood."
Tuhra: "Wouraiyayi tou krau kohyi wotahya: Good news must be spread to the world."
Retrougo: "Roi krah woroiya: Imperfection infests every man."
Raweto (Unterritory): "Wouraiya tar t'kroiyi: The world is free."
Keyrit: "Yetoi tar t'kroh-kou: Justice is a lie."
Wlitowaru'u: "Woya woteya krau: The lonely will be reunited."
Wlitowa: "Kah teroi kreh: We must all serve someone."
Yatkaugo: "Kah tar wayou royi: Debt is paid in lifeblood."
Tuhra: "Wouraiyayi tou krau kohyi wotahya: Good news must be spread to the world."
Retrougo: "Roi krah woroiya: Imperfection infests every man."
Raweto (Unterritory): "Wouraiya tar t'kroiyi: The world is free."
Tenets of Faith
Mathematically speaking, three or four interpretations of each truth compile into thousands of possible interpretations for the Seven Truths as a whole, and indeed there are thousands. Even so, these interpretations have been categorized into different schools of thought. Because most interpretations were weak, both with regards to numbers of followers and argumentation, the initial categorizations grew to influence the interpretations, rather than vice versa. Some groups were too large or devoted to be steered by the categories. While they often fall into one or more categories, they stand apart from the more general beliefs as sects.
Under descriptivism, the Seven Truths are statements of fact about the world of Wouraiya: neither fundamentally good nor evil, just true. In Wouraiya, we all must serve someone, and imperfection exists in every man. As part of the normal cycle, lonely people are constantly reunited in bonds of family and nationality, and good news is naturally spread. Descriptivists act on their own and do not fear the consequences of their actions. According to them, whether the world supernaturally readjusts to fit the Seven Truths or the Seven Truths indicated what once was, their actions in the present do not align to a cosmic good or evil, or any good or evil outside of sapient perception.
Prescriptivism, the ideological counterweight to descriptivism, believes that the truths do not describe Wouraiya but instead prescribe a theoretical utopia, and the steps to get there. In a utopia, the lonely are reunited, and the world is free. In order to do that, debt must be paid in lifeblood, the utopia must be brought to the world, etc. As a corollary, most followers believe the world to be destined for this utopia; otherwise, why would it be left here for Wouraiya to witness? Some bitter mockery from some distant enlightened race?
Another dimension of alignment involves how much obligation the Seven Truths carry: Active and Patient. Patient practitioners incorporate the Seven Truths much less into their lives than Active practitioners.
Patient Descriptivists believe that the Seven Truths's detailing of the world is important only with regards to personal fulfillment. After all, sapient life is always curious for more information, and what could be more enlightening than the meaning of life? Even so, the Seven Truths are practically empty. This is the state of the world; what could they do to change it? Patient Descriptivists often live their lives without acknowledgement of the Seven Truths. That said, with this perceived understanding, this group is most likely to volunteer and donate to charity to curb the effects of injustice in society. Patient prescriptivists believe that a Yet Unknown will usher in the utopia on their behalf, and that they only have to seize it when the time comes. To this end, acknowledgement is important, but adherence is not. While they believe that utopia will come regardless of their actions, many fear the massive changes to their lifestyle that a global utopia would bring about. Patient prescriptivists resultantly tend to be unconditionally nicer, friendlier, and more welcoming, perhaps just so that they would adjust more smoothly when the utopia comes about.
To active descriptivists, the Seven Truths reflect the initial state of a world in turmoil, as it might have been in its creation, but not an immutable state throughout time. They believe that the world can be changed through their own actions. As a result, active descriptivists are often the most involved in geopolitics and social reform movements. The Yet Unknown, if incorporated in this belief system, is the final push to bring the world to their ideology of choice. Diversity within this subgroup varies by political ideology. Harmony is one such interpretation of the Yet Unknown. Active prescriptivists are self-purportedly tasked with creating the utopia. The Seven Truths are both the blueprint and the commission. If the Yet Unknown is involved, the return of the Yet Unknown is the deadline by which the utopia is to be completed. This group is perhaps the most globally united merely because of the cohesion of its doctrine, to the point where it might even be called a sect. Even so, the level and manner of participation varies greatly, and splits the subgroup enough to allow it to fall within "school of thought."
Separate from the entire set of spectrums are the nihilists. They have a few variant interpretations, but all of them subvert the importance of the Seven Truths. "People have dreams all the time; seven vivid dreams across the entire world is hardly uncommon." "These seven truths are the avatars of national identity, not enlightenment from on high." "The Seven Truths merely occupy time and conversation; they were never meant to be solved." Most sects hate the nihilists above all else, but they are still tolerated in most civil society.
Under descriptivism, the Seven Truths are statements of fact about the world of Wouraiya: neither fundamentally good nor evil, just true. In Wouraiya, we all must serve someone, and imperfection exists in every man. As part of the normal cycle, lonely people are constantly reunited in bonds of family and nationality, and good news is naturally spread. Descriptivists act on their own and do not fear the consequences of their actions. According to them, whether the world supernaturally readjusts to fit the Seven Truths or the Seven Truths indicated what once was, their actions in the present do not align to a cosmic good or evil, or any good or evil outside of sapient perception.
Prescriptivism, the ideological counterweight to descriptivism, believes that the truths do not describe Wouraiya but instead prescribe a theoretical utopia, and the steps to get there. In a utopia, the lonely are reunited, and the world is free. In order to do that, debt must be paid in lifeblood, the utopia must be brought to the world, etc. As a corollary, most followers believe the world to be destined for this utopia; otherwise, why would it be left here for Wouraiya to witness? Some bitter mockery from some distant enlightened race?
Another dimension of alignment involves how much obligation the Seven Truths carry: Active and Patient. Patient practitioners incorporate the Seven Truths much less into their lives than Active practitioners.
Patient Descriptivists believe that the Seven Truths's detailing of the world is important only with regards to personal fulfillment. After all, sapient life is always curious for more information, and what could be more enlightening than the meaning of life? Even so, the Seven Truths are practically empty. This is the state of the world; what could they do to change it? Patient Descriptivists often live their lives without acknowledgement of the Seven Truths. That said, with this perceived understanding, this group is most likely to volunteer and donate to charity to curb the effects of injustice in society. Patient prescriptivists believe that a Yet Unknown will usher in the utopia on their behalf, and that they only have to seize it when the time comes. To this end, acknowledgement is important, but adherence is not. While they believe that utopia will come regardless of their actions, many fear the massive changes to their lifestyle that a global utopia would bring about. Patient prescriptivists resultantly tend to be unconditionally nicer, friendlier, and more welcoming, perhaps just so that they would adjust more smoothly when the utopia comes about.
To active descriptivists, the Seven Truths reflect the initial state of a world in turmoil, as it might have been in its creation, but not an immutable state throughout time. They believe that the world can be changed through their own actions. As a result, active descriptivists are often the most involved in geopolitics and social reform movements. The Yet Unknown, if incorporated in this belief system, is the final push to bring the world to their ideology of choice. Diversity within this subgroup varies by political ideology. Harmony is one such interpretation of the Yet Unknown. Active prescriptivists are self-purportedly tasked with creating the utopia. The Seven Truths are both the blueprint and the commission. If the Yet Unknown is involved, the return of the Yet Unknown is the deadline by which the utopia is to be completed. This group is perhaps the most globally united merely because of the cohesion of its doctrine, to the point where it might even be called a sect. Even so, the level and manner of participation varies greatly, and splits the subgroup enough to allow it to fall within "school of thought."
Separate from the entire set of spectrums are the nihilists. They have a few variant interpretations, but all of them subvert the importance of the Seven Truths. "People have dreams all the time; seven vivid dreams across the entire world is hardly uncommon." "These seven truths are the avatars of national identity, not enlightenment from on high." "The Seven Truths merely occupy time and conversation; they were never meant to be solved." Most sects hate the nihilists above all else, but they are still tolerated in most civil society.
Sects
There are many dozens of sects throughout Wouraiya, united only by the Seven Truths. Here, thus, are only the ones that can be found in this compendium:
The Sect of Sacrifice follows both a descriptive worldview and prescriptive tenets. They believe that imperfection is manifested as base evils such as crime, rape, and theft, and they take actions to mitigate the effects of imperfection through means that outsiders might consider unjust. In order to administer these mitigations, the Sect of Sacrifice maintains well-oiled communities.
The Cult of Harmony is a classic example of an active descriptivist sect, even though it was alive and well long before the taxonomy was developed. They believe that, while justice is a lie now, it ought to be realized in the future. They believe that an omnipotent being named Harmony would come to bring about this justice, and that she had come in the past. The Cult of Harmony has a very strong antiestablishment theme to it, and it decries the nobility, monarchy, and (as of late) merchant class as unjust regimes in need of justice.
Sometime in the past, the Cult of Harmony had hegemony over the other sects and schools of thought. Needless to say, this raised grave concerns among the nobilities and monarchies of the world. However, the Cult of Harmony was so compelling that even the upper classes believed in Harmony's existence. To this end, the elite classes pooled resources to establish the Harmony Hunters: an organization dedicated to eliminating the threat that was Harmony, either through entrapment or extermination. The Harmony Hunters all but monopolized magic, and made large advancements in science and technology in secret. Harmony was believed to be omnipotent, so the Harmony Hunters were ever compelled to create and investigate new forms of power in an imaginary arms race. While the Cult of Harmony lost significant swaths of its influence, the Harmony Hunters kept at their task, taking on additional roles as they worked with other nations to maintain the balance of power.
The Sect of Sacrifice follows both a descriptive worldview and prescriptive tenets. They believe that imperfection is manifested as base evils such as crime, rape, and theft, and they take actions to mitigate the effects of imperfection through means that outsiders might consider unjust. In order to administer these mitigations, the Sect of Sacrifice maintains well-oiled communities.
The Cult of Harmony is a classic example of an active descriptivist sect, even though it was alive and well long before the taxonomy was developed. They believe that, while justice is a lie now, it ought to be realized in the future. They believe that an omnipotent being named Harmony would come to bring about this justice, and that she had come in the past. The Cult of Harmony has a very strong antiestablishment theme to it, and it decries the nobility, monarchy, and (as of late) merchant class as unjust regimes in need of justice.
Sometime in the past, the Cult of Harmony had hegemony over the other sects and schools of thought. Needless to say, this raised grave concerns among the nobilities and monarchies of the world. However, the Cult of Harmony was so compelling that even the upper classes believed in Harmony's existence. To this end, the elite classes pooled resources to establish the Harmony Hunters: an organization dedicated to eliminating the threat that was Harmony, either through entrapment or extermination. The Harmony Hunters all but monopolized magic, and made large advancements in science and technology in secret. Harmony was believed to be omnipotent, so the Harmony Hunters were ever compelled to create and investigate new forms of power in an imaginary arms race. While the Cult of Harmony lost significant swaths of its influence, the Harmony Hunters kept at their task, taking on additional roles as they worked with other nations to maintain the balance of power.
May one of us find the true meaning.
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Demonym
Seven-Bound
Permeated Organizations
Notable Members
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments