Abyssal Creed

Precursors

The Whispering Current

Theology:

The Whispering Current venerates the Voice Beneath, an unseen, omnipresent entity believed to reside in the depths of the ocean. Followers view the Voice as a source of wisdom and mystery, offering guidance through the currents of water and intuition.

Core Beliefs:

1. The ocean is sacred, its currents representing the flow of destiny and knowledge.
2. Dreams and whispers heard in moments of stillness are believed to be messages from the Voice Beneath.
3. Balance is maintained by respecting the ocean’s dual nature: its ability to give life and take it away.

Practices:

• The Drift Meditation: Practitioners float in calm waters, allowing the currents to guide their thoughts and reveal hidden truths.
• Sacred Tides: Rituals coincide with the ebb and flow of the tides, where followers offer gifts of food or crafted items to the sea.
• Wavebinding: Priests known as Wavebinders claim to interpret the patterns of waves and the sounds of the sea for prophetic insight.

Cultural Legacy:

• Predominantly practiced in coastal regions, particularly around Oken and Eub, where maritime societies depended on the sea for survival.
• Stories of the Voice Beneath often emphasize humility, warning against arrogance or greed, which were believed to provoke the ocean’s wrath.

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2. The Obsidian Veil

Theology:

The Obsidian Veil worships Nykthos, the Shadow Keeper, a deity who governs the hidden and the unseen. Nykthos is neither good nor evil, but a force of concealment and revelation, helping mortals understand that all things have a hidden side.

Core Beliefs:

1. The shadow is a veil, not a void; within it lies truth obscured from the unworthy.
2. Embrace your fears and flaws, for they are part of the whole.
3. The world’s balance depends on the interplay of light and shadow.

Practices:

• The Shadowwalk: A rite of passage where initiates spend a night alone in absolute darkness, confronting their fears and doubts.
• Veilcraft: A practice of weaving cloth or objects imbued with symbolic shadows, often used in rituals to honor Nykthos.
• The Cloaking: Priests perform ceremonies to conceal individuals or places, metaphorically shielding them from harm or unwanted attention.

Cultural Legacy:

• Common among desert and steppe peoples in Eub and Oris, where the interplay of light and shadow in the harsh environment shaped their worldview.
• The Veil’s teachings influenced philosophies of secrecy, protection, and patience, fostering a culture of subtlety and strategy.

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3. The Stillwater Doctrine

Theology:

The Stillwater Doctrine revolves around Akaranis, the Quiet Abyss, a divine presence that resides in the stillness of deep, unmoving waters. Akaranis is seen as a force of introspection, serenity, and unyielding resolve, offering clarity to those who seek it.

Core Beliefs:

1. True strength lies in stillness, for in stillness, one sees the world as it truly is.
2. The Quiet Abyss holds all answers, but only those who accept themselves can gaze into it without drowning.
3. Change is inevitable, but it must arise from within, not be imposed from without.

Practices:

• The Reflection Pool: Followers meditate beside or over still waters, using their reflection as a means of self-examination.
• The Silent Vigil: A communal ritual where adherents maintain absolute silence for days, seeking harmony with the Quiet Abyss.
• Stillwater Trials: Aspirants must traverse calm but treacherous waters, symbolizing their inner journey to mastery.

Cultural Legacy:

• Practiced predominantly in Nolij and Klamith, where frigid lakes and tranquil mountain springs became sacred sites.
• Valued as a counterpoint to the more aggressive philosophies of surrounding cultures, emphasizing endurance and inner peace.

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Convergence into the Abyssal Creed

Over centuries, these three religions encountered one another through trade, conquest, and migration. The shared themes of water, darkness, and introspection allowed for cross-pollination of ideas, leading to their eventual synthesis into the Abyssal Creed during the late Foreoudras Era.

1. Shared Theology:
   • The Voice Beneath became one with the Quiet Abyss, merging to form the Eternal Depths.
   • The duality of light and shadow from the Obsidian Veil enriched the Creed’s understanding of balance.
2. Ritual Evolution:
   • The Shadowwalk and Tidewalk merged into a combined rite, symbolizing the journey into both physical and metaphysical depths.
   • The Reflection Pool became an essential part of every Abyssal temple, often accompanied by wave patterns from the Whispering Current.
3. Cultural Resonance:
   • The Abyssal Creed appealed to those disillusioned by fire-based faiths, offering solace in the acceptance of mystery rather than the pursuit of purity or conquest.

The Abyssal Creed

The Abyssal Creed worships The Eternal Depths, an enigmatic force believed to embody the primordial void from which all existence emerged. Followers see darkness and water as symbols of life’s cyclical nature, the hidden truths of the soul, and the duality of creation and destruction.

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Core Beliefs

1. The Eternal Depths:
   • The Eternal Depths represent both the origin and the end of all things, encompassing life, death, and rebirth.
   • Darkness is not seen as evil but as a necessary counterpart to light, symbolizing mystery, potential, and the unseen forces that shape existence.
2. The Flow of Life:
   • Like water, life is ever-changing and cannot be controlled. The Abyssal Creed teaches acceptance of life's ebbs and flows, emphasizing adaptation over resistance.
   • Stillness and stagnation are viewed as the only true evils, for they go against the natural order of motion and transformation.
3. The Duality of the Abyss:
   • The Creed acknowledges that the depths can be nurturing or destructive, offering salvation to the humble and consuming the arrogant.
   • Followers are taught to approach the unknown with both reverence and caution.
4. Illumination Through Darkness:
   • True understanding comes not from denying darkness but from embracing it. Followers believe that only by facing their fears, doubts, and imperfections can they achieve enlightenment.

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Sacred Text: The Depthsong

The Depthsong serves as the Abyssal Creed's holy book, a collection of poetic verses, parables, and philosophical discourses. It emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, humility, and the pursuit of balance.

Key Sections of the Depthsong:

1. The Whispering Waves (Genesis):
   • Details the creation of the world, where the Eternal Depths birthed both light and shadow, land and sea.
   • “From the first ripple came the tides, and from the tides, the world was born.”
2. The Flooded Paths (Teachings):
   • A guide to navigating life’s trials, focusing on adaptability, humility, and self-discovery.
   • “The river does not curse the stone for its obstruction; it flows around, carving its path.”
3. The Abyssal Trials (Moral Tales):
   • Stories of individuals who ventured into the depths, either to seek wisdom or to face their inner darkness.
   • These tales highlight the dangers of hubris and the rewards of self-acceptance.
4. The Song of Shadows (Prophecies):
   • Describes a future where the balance of light and dark will be restored, warning against those who seek to dominate or destroy either force.
   • “Beware the blinding flame, for it fears the shadows it cannot consume.”
5. The Still Waters (Reflections):
   • Meditative hymns and prayers designed to help followers attune themselves to the Eternal Depths.
   • “In the quiet of the abyss, all truths are revealed.”

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Practices and Rituals

1. The Tidewalk:
   • A ritual of self-reflection performed by walking into a body of water, symbolizing a journey into the unknown.
   • The participant emerges cleansed and renewed, leaving behind their fears and doubts.
2. The Offering of Ripples:
   • Followers cast small, weighted tokens into water, symbolizing their burdens or desires.
   • It is believed that the Depths will return guidance through dreams or intuition.
3. The Eclipse Vigils:
   • During eclipses, followers gather to meditate on the balance of light and dark, seeking insights into their lives.
4. The Abyssal Oath:
   • Taken by those who devote themselves fully to the Creed, vowing to protect the balance of the world.
   • Oathkeepers, as they are called, often serve as mediators, healers, or guardians of sacred sites.

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Symbols and Aesthetics

1. Sacred Symbols:
   • The Tidal Circle: A swirling emblem representing the eternal cycle of creation and destruction.
   • The Black Pearl: A rare and revered object symbolizing hidden beauty and the rewards of introspection.
2. Aesthetic:
   • Followers wear flowing garments in shades of deep blue, black, and silver, resembling the shifting hues of the ocean.
   • Their temples are often built near water, incorporating reflective surfaces and dim lighting to create an atmosphere of tranquility.

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Role in Society

1. Healers and Mediators:
   • Abyssal priests and priestesses often serve as healers, using rituals and herbal remedies inspired by their connection to water and renewal.
   • They also mediate disputes, emphasizing balance and understanding over conflict.
2. Scholars of the Unknown:
   • The Creed values knowledge and exploration, encouraging followers to study history, science, and magic to uncover the truths hidden in the depths of the world.
3. Guardians of Balance:
   • While not inherently aggressive, the Creed opposes those who disrupt the natural order, such as unchecked industrialization or the overreach of light-based faiths like the Radiant Creed.

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Interpretation of Goodness

The Abyssal Creed’s concept of goodness lies in acceptance and balance rather than domination or rejection. Followers believe that:

• To deny the shadow is to deny half of oneself.
• True goodness is found in humility, empathy, and the willingness to face life’s uncertainties.
• Strength comes from flowing with life’s currents rather than fighting against them.

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Contrasts with the Radiant Creed

• Eternal Flame: Seeks to eradicate darkness, emphasizing purity and light.
• Eternal Depths: Seeks to embrace darkness, finding wisdom and strength in the unknown.
• Radiant Knights: Act as warriors of justice and protection.
• Abyssal Oathkeepers: Act as mediators and guardians of balance.
• The Tome of Flame: Speaks of divine conquest and moral absolutes.
• The Depthsong: Speaks of introspection, duality, and the fluid nature of existence.

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Famous Figures

1. Liora the First Ripple:
   • A prophet who claimed to hear the voice of the Eternal Depths in the crashing waves.
   • Known for her teachings on facing fear and accepting one’s flaws.
2. Kael the Silent Current:
   • A warrior-turned-priest who brought peace to warring tribes by convincing them to embrace the flow of change.
3. Nyssa, Keeper of Shadows:
   • An Oathkeeper who defended an ancient abyssal temple from destruction by crusaders of the Radiant Creed.