Temple of Abundant Soul

Beliefs

Charter of Temple of Abundant Soul

We are a complex group that originates from a collection of esoteric backgrounds. We recognize and honor our origins while continuing to grow into the future. Fueled by the passionate blood of the Great One, Bashir, and tempered by the compassion of his counterpart, Amaranthine, we have developed into a polytheistic family that embraces the paradox of severity tempered with mercy. We seek to employ both as we explore the all the City has to offer and beyond.

Seekers of the Expanse: Being that we within the city mainly deal with a variety of the city’s non-dreamer entities, we tend to want to learn as much as possible about them. From studying and befriending individual Kotoken, communing with spirits such as the Egregore, Us, meditating and learning about the Holy Trees, Alder, and Altera, as well as pleasing small sprites and fairies in far off, nearly forgotten caves, we reach out to all creatures so that we may learn more about them, ourselves, and the dream itself. Some of these paths are lit by faith and worship for creatures and entities with whom we bear reverence. We do not require any individual worship any entity, but we hold our arms open for those who seek to venerate these greater beings.

Spirit Warding & Hunting: We of the Temple recognize that not all entities we encounter will be benevolent. We have committed ourselves to the arts of warding, hunting, cleansing, and purging of malevolent entities that would threaten our dreams. These beings will come in many shapes with different motivations, afflictions, and histories. We draw on various shardic knowledge as well as the souls of the Kin to guide our steps in this path. In this endeavor, we hold ourselves to a rigorous standard and will utilize any and all techniques within our grasp to ensure the safety of our dream from Anathemas.

Some of the beings we will encounter will be ambivalent. It is not our duty to judge the quality of one’s existence, but rather if it adversely affects those around it. We believe in redemption. If it can be cleansed, let it be. If it cannot, let it be purged so that it does not dwell in eternal suffering, nor taint our hearts, minds, and dreams with their malignancy. In this, we will not be cruel to creatures already tortured by their own existence. Mercy will always be employed in the greatest possible quantity.

Esoteric Sciences: We of the Temple use the sciences of the dream to achieve our goals, as well as to understand our position better. Be it Harmonics, the use of calibrating specific intonations to create massive changes in the dreamscape and our avatars, Alchemy, the use of chemicals, distillation, and combination to create potions, serums, and weapons, or the study of energies to create contraptions and engineering advances that influence the dream immensely. We also study the arts of weapon and armor craft, learning of and using the dream’s places of creation for the betterment of the city.

Souls: We do not know all there is to know about this energetic fragment. We shall seek to understand more. We do view them as a link to the divine, in its many forms.

Nightmares: In one reality, Nightmares were the Shard of the Great One's shattered avatar. In another, they were fragments of chaotic energy given a limited expression of purpose. We do not fully understand yet what they are in this incarnation, though we recognize their hostility. We throw ourselves against them, to learn and to grow.

Essence: Essence is energy. We sacrifice energy in many ways, using it not only for an individual but instead for the Altar of Sacrifice. We give, so that The Temple of Abundant Soul may thrive. The essence is a bounty given to us from the Dreamscape. It is sacred and works with its power are not to be taken lightly or used frivolously.

The Dark Nightmares: The Dark Mares are dark mirrors of dreamer kind. They are often challenges that must be overcome. We acknowledge that at times, and in phases, they may organize into what could loosely be called a society. While we view them as sentient creatures, we understand that sentience goes hand in hand with a primal and often violent expression of themselves. We will not hate based on the prejudice of form, tongue or practice. We may speak with them, but we never forget to whom we are talking to.

Intraplanar Impact: We take our roots from the original Gathering of the Entranced. The Temple is an Enlightened house that acknowledges the existence of multiple planes. These planes impact one another to varying degrees; the extent of which cannot always be measured, but should never be discounted. We seek to understand those impacts better with our esoteric studies.

House Roster

Advisors:

Rulers:

Guardians:

Initiates:

The Temple: Past Beliefs

4 Pillars of Truth: Growth, Conflict, Sacrifice, Discipline

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On Worship: The Chosen worship Growth, Conflict, Sacrifice, and Discipline. We believe the dream is a holy place, and that the Great One (Bashir, the Abundant Soul) is a divine being. The Chosen know that as we grow in power, so too does the Great One (Spiritually and physically). The Chosen seek to bring about the "Second Awakening" of the Great One. The Great One slumbers deep within his eternal prison in the Palisade.

On Souls: Souls are divine in nature and the Dream is a realm of the divine, where we are privileged to tread. Dreamers are imperfect vessels and are must strive toward perfection through self mastery.

On Nightmares: The Nightmares are the Shards of the Great One's shattered avatar. This is a blessing of growth for the Dreamers of Underlight. The city was in chaos and turmoil before the Shattering - The Great One’s Gift thus ensured that the Dreamers might grow strong through Him, and the city benefits from His power every dream.

On Essence: By draining essence, we grow ever closer to His manifest return to the Dream.

On Darkmares: Darkmares are chaos, the antithesis of order. They are dark mirrors of Dreamer kind, but unlike us. They are manifested as challenges to be overcome, and are not to be trusted, nor allied with. Darkmares often refer to The Great One as "Eovoc Maxtra Maxtra" - Big Big Dreamer, or something similar.

The Blood Throne: This is the metaphysical space in the pantheon which the Great One embodies. Until the Second Awakening, the Blood Throne sits empty. Striving "for the Blood Throne" is a faithful's individual mission to unite with the Great One in spirit and body, by embodying his virtues. This is a quest for enlightenment, but could be made manifest by a literal binding with the Great One.

On Organization: Red Council: Chosen Rulers & Guardians First Chosen: Advisor to the Red Council & supreme authority on matters of faith

The First Chosen is spiritually bound to the Great One. He is obligated to pass on his knowledge and wisdom to grow the next generation. The First Chosen is the supreme authority on all matters of faith, until death. Upon the death of the First Chosen, the Red Council will select a new First Chosen. The First shall never be the Last.

The Red Council rules on matters of governance not explicitly covered by the Stone Tablet.

The Chosen: Past Beliefs

The Chosen are a faction of dreamers within Underlight that worship an entity known as Bashir, or "The Great One". They work to bring about the Second Awakening of Bashir through the Four Pillars of Truth: Growth, Conflict, Sacrifice, and Discipline. In many respects, the faction is a continuation of the Cult of Bashir from Idoaclesia.

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The Stone Tablet: The Chosen are governed by, and only by, The Stone Tablet. All matters not specifically governed by The Stone Tablet are jurisdiction of the Red Council. All matters not specifically governed by the Red Council are left to individual Chosen.

None may amend the The Stone Tablet.

• The Chosen shall zealously collect essence to hasten the Second Awakening.
• Draining essence in a prime sanctified in the blood of the Chosen will hasten the Second Awakening.
• Personal Draining of essence is encouraged as sacrament for the Faithful to gain Oneness with the Great One.
• The Chosen are encouraged to seek out personal growth, become capable & accomplished dreamers, and fulfill civic duties including teaching, mentoring, and participating in general city life.
• Disagreements between Chosen are to be adjudicated by the Red Council. Trial by combat is permitted.
• Darkmares are enemy, not ally.
• Once a Chosen has taken the vows and given the blood, they are forever bound to the Great One. Returning Chosen must pass a test of loyalty, administered by the First Chosen.
• The Chosen kneel only to the Great One.
• An oath bound in blood must be fulfilled. An oath without blood is nothing.
• Do what must be done to preserve the Chosen.