Charioteer Religions and Rites




Charioteer Faith

Many of Los Cocheros are followers of the Iglesia Solar, keeping their beaded sun bracelets and necklaces close to their hearts. These individuals are usually contributors to the Iglesia itself and freely tithe their earnings so that the church can maintain hospitals, orphanages and other civic organizations. 

The rest of the Charioteers veer toward not having any faith at all or keeping to other religions within the Illustrados’ sphere. One of these is the “Dweller Beneath”, a Wildling Whisper of the oceanic depths and drowning death.

  • Iglesia Solar, Redeemers, Solarites/Solaria

    OVERVIEW: Primarily known as the Iglesia Solar, the Church of the Redeemed Sun is a faith focused on charity, selflessness, and meditative prayer. Dedicated to several solar divinities, it has become a philosophical and spiritual religion that is focused on self-improvement and contemplation. Many scientists and engineers subscribe to it and are contributors to the church as an organization. Indeed, it is their contribution and their civic minded advances that have won them many adherents among the peoples of the Caribbean and the Illustrados.

    As per the written Visions of “Santo Rivero”, the Church is guided by five Wildling Whispers. Each is a reflection of a syncretized figure from the old mythos of the region. They also inspired the five Solaric Virtues and the five Solaric Sins. Though the Church worships them as a whole, each has its own specific portofolio.. Most folk dedicate themselves to one of the Icons.

    — Auroral Serpent: As a two-headed feathered serpent with a sun in its mouths, this Whisper controls winds, water, earth, and flames. He is associated with Harmony.

    — Burning Gate: An intermediary between humanity and the eldritch. Those who look unto infinity are reminded of humanity’s insignificance and the folly of the self. He is associated with Humility.

    — Giving Star: Brought warmth, and agriculture to humanity so he is associated with maize or similar crops. Through him, folk were able to prosper and thrive. He is associated with Charity.

    — Lucent Crown: Enthroned on a mountain and wielding cosmic power, he created celestial bodies, animals, and humanity, bringing light and balance to the world. He is associated with Inquiry.

    — Radiant Eagle: Associated with bravery, fierceness, and rulership. Though he used to be a divinity of kings, he is now a Whisper associated with Loyalty.

    SYMBOL: A stone sunburst surrounded by 5 stars or circles. Many Solarites carry a sun themed medallion with at least 5 large beads, representing a Tenet. Shrines feature clay statues or graven images of a Solaric Icon.

    SHRINE TYPES: Hallowed Shrines built to the Iglesia Solar are varied according to Solaric Icon that it is built to

    — Auroral Serpent: Ancestral, Storm

    — Burning Gate: Ancestral, Deep

    — Giving Star: Pyre, Verdant

    — Lucent Crown: Ancestral, Verdant

    — Radiant Eagle: Primal, Pyre

    TENETS: Below are the commandments of the Iglesia Solar, which follow their philosophical and contemplative perspective of the world.

    — Charity/Caridad: The Sun is radiant and ever giving. So should it be that we too give of ourselves to those in need.

    — Humility/Reflexion: Just as the Sun reflects and illuminates all, so too must we reflect and study our memories and surroundings to see the truth in things and beyond ourselves.

    — Inquiry/Curiosidad: New and old sciences await our minds in the darkness of ignorance. We must seek them out through study and learning.

    — Loyalty/Pureza: A Solarite is beloved of family and of friend, seeking to protect them against harm and nurture them to greatness.

    — Harmony/Templanza: In deed and in word, a Solarite must be measured and balanced in their efforts.

    SINS AND ATONEMENTS: A sin in the eyes of the Iglesia Solar is a stumbling block against redemption and enlightenment. They also represent the baser natures of humanity that must be overcome in order for societal and spiritual harmony. Atonement for committing a sin is usually in the form of guided meditation at a monastery or a campus, though actual crimes against society and humanity are given up to the authorities. Some fringe sects of the Iglesia suggest self-flagellation, meditative starvation, or similarly extreme practices.

    — Apathy/Desidia: Ignorance is said to be the first sin but the true wrong is continuing in it. Solarites must hone their minds with study, practice, and charity

    — Desire/Codicia: While fire burns whatever it can reach, Solarites must be above all such attachments to money, power, and flesh.

    — Hatred/Odio: The Redeemed Sun must avoid the poisons of hatred and of wanton violence. While one’s own defense cannot be ignored, actions must be tempered with need and caution.

    — Pride/Orgullo: The Redeemed Sun is ever burning of itself. Know that there is more to the world than one’s self and that the self is but one star in a cosmos of infinity.

    — Treachery/Traición: The Redeemed Sun illuminates but never blinds. So too must a Solarite avert their words and deeds from deception and oath breaking.

    WORSHIPERS: The Iglesia Solar is the biggest religion of the Illustrados Union, with a few adherents and followers among the peoples of the Mid-Atlantic region.

    Its worshippers are called Solaria in the Caribbean but Mid-Atlantic calls them Solarites. These pious folk tithe and attend the Church organization, which is peopled by both priests and engineers that live in their monastery-campuses. The former are ministers of rite and of people, some are skilled in healing while others are skilled in counseling or in teaching.

    CLERGY: The priests and ritualists of the Iglesia Solar are a deeply civic class of people. Their campuses are not only for meditation and prayer, but they also feature universities, libraries, laboratories, clinics, hospitals, soup kitchens, and orphanages among their holdings across the Illustrados Union.

    These clergyfolk are often called “La Tea” (pronounced Lah Teh-Yah), even though the term technically only applies to the second rank of the priesthood. They are just as often called Redeemers in Mid-Atla due to their philanthropic work.

    LEADERSHIP: The Sinodo del Sol (the Solar Synod) provides the leadership of the Iglesia, whether in their headquarters on the Yucatan Peninsula, on the Illustrados islands, or even far afield in Mid-Atla. The five individuals that make it up deliberate and decide on Iglesian policy, on Iglesian dogma, and on major tribunals. These Espejo del Sinodo (eng. “Mirrors of the Synod) are led by one of their own, called an Arbitro who administers discussion and debate, only lending their vote in ties.

    The current Arbitro del Sinodo is Alphonso Aguilar del Espejo, a Psion respected for his prudence and his skill in Talismanic magics. While politically neutral, he is known to be of the Lucent Crown Order - they focus on the implementation of the new sciences over the veneration of spirits.

  • OVERVIEW: : The Dweller’s form is vague and shadowy, but is often multi-limbed and multi-eyed, like a titanic devilfish or squid. Charioteers pray to the Dweller so that storms and monstrosities pass them by without harm. Followers of the Dweller also ask that their souls be taken to their true destination instead of drowned in the depths and devoured by monstrosities.

    SHRINE TYPES: Ancestral, Primal, and Deep

    SYMBOLS: Tentacles from beneath surging upward, grasping an orb (which can also be a sun or a moon, depending on artistic/factional differences

    — Tenet 1: Keep the memory of the dead -- Deep Priests are performers of funeral rites, ensuring that the deceased are remembered and celebrated (or cursed, if they were wrongdoers). This Tenet also means being respectful to every creature that is slain, both friend and foe. This involves taking a part of one’s kill and sacrificing it (see below)

    — Tenet 2: Sacrifice the Harvest -- The Dweller’s followers will sacrifice a small part of their catch or their loot to the Whisper. This sacrifice is more of a token rather than a thing of value, tossing it into a body of water or burying it beneath the earth. Failure to do so may cause the Dweller to take the sinner instead.

    SINS: Obstruction -- Preventing the Dweller Beneath from taking what is their due and disrupting the cycle of death and life is the greatest of Sins.

    WORSHIPERS: Los Cocheros, some Magistrados, and some coastal Illustrados communities.

    CLERGY: Deep Priests are leaders of life and death rites in their community. They minister to births, baptisms, funerals, and marriages.

CHARIOTEER Tenets

  • Back your Crew: In times of trouble and in times of plenty, you are expected to support the members of your Crew as though they were family. Indeed, like family Crews may fight and bicker. But when it counts, Crew members stick together. 

  • Captain’s Word: The commands of a Captain are law to their Crew. This is especially the case in the wilderness or in the open sea, where no law binds anyone. Similarly, the Admirals rule their Fleet in the same sense -- Captain, Officer, and Crew must follow their Admiral’s course. That said, recent events have made mutiny a more accepted option among the Charioteers -- a Captain that cannot control or reward their Crew deserves to be usurped. This acceptance of retaliation against abuse and bad leadership does not extend to allowing a Crew to kill their Captains.

  • Bravado and Seaworthiness: Many among Los Cocheros adhere to the concept of “Navegabilidad” or “Naveh”, which means seaworthiness. Culturally, the concept is similar to honor and reputation. Those who have “Naveh” are known to fulfill one’s promises at any cost, answer insults to them (inc those to family and friends), and are trustworthy individuals. Those with Naveh are more likely to be awarded with jobs, contracts, and allies. Those without must earn their way back in or continue to be regarded with suspicion and/or pity.

Life Rites

The Charioteers have few birth rites of their own, since most are recruited instead of born -- therefore they adhere to their own familial traditions or to the rites of the Iglesia Solar. 

Birth (the Offering)

Those born to a Charioteer parent are subject to a rite called “the Offering to the Deep”. It is a rite of those that serve the Dweller Beneath: recently born infants are ceremonially submerged in a body of water three times. Ideally the Atlantic Ocean is used, but any body of water will do. For each submersion, the child is offered to the Dweller, growing louder with each repetition. Rare is the instance that the infant actually dies, but those who are “blessed” with such a tragedy are considered to be incredibly fortunate and will have lucky lives. The “secular” version of this involves the sea being asked to bless the infant -- strangely, no infant fatalities have ever been recorded by those who use this method. 

Adulthood (the Spirit Hunt)

In the myriad communities of the Illustrados Union, one rite that the majority subscribes to is the Spirit Hunt. When a group of children reach the age of 18, their guardians take them into the wilderness or a remote but secure area. The children are then unleashed for one whole day with the goal of catching an animal 

The Spirit Hunt is muddled by history and obfuscated by local traditions. In Puerto del Encanto, it is said that the caught animal will grant a blessing to its catcher. In Ayiti island, such animals are slain in a hunt so that their aspect strengthens the hunter. In Caubano island, the animal’s spirit will aid the adolescent in their direst moments. In some parts of the mainland, the animal is slain and its skin is worn so that it protects its slayer’s soul from misfortune.

Ultimately, the would-be adults craft a unique mask called a Cara. This resembles the animal they connected with -- and they carry it everywhere with them, remaking it if they lose it. Taking or destroying someone else’s Cara is disrespectful, marking the thief or vandal as someone that cannot be trusted.

With the advance of years and the mists of antiquity, this rite has changed and lost most of its meaning from its original form. Its sanctity has fallen on the wayside. Wealthy adolescents go on safaris and are assisted by hirelings, coming back with exotic and highly esteemed Cara (e.g. jaguars, or eagles) or even parafauna Cara. Impoverished folk make do with rats, crows, and other scavengers.

Adulthood (the Proving)

When a Charioteer becomes a part of the Crew (i.e. no longer a recruit/child), their change in status is celebrated by the whole Crew carousing at the next port. This promotion usually occurs after an individual has proven themselves to the Crew. This may be at the resolution of an on-the-job crisis or an Officer-made test to test loyalty and proficiency

Marriage (the Joining)

Weddings among the Illustrados are loud affairs filled with family and friends. There is typically a short rite, ministered by clergy (and of a higher position if either celebrant is also clergy). The minister assists the marrying couple in their declaration of love and affection for each other. In some of the Illustrados, they are styled as the earth and sky coming together while they are the sun and moon or sea and sky in others. Tokens of love are then exchanged, such as rings or amulets. This rite is followed by raucous celebration, with singing, dancing, hired entertainment and the like.

It is common to add local customs to one’s wedding. Some appease the spiritual world with the ritual sacrifice of an animal or the controlled destruction of a treasured possession. Others ensure that certain foods are served or offered to the heavens during the feasting portion of the ceremony. Among a significant portion of the population, a single bite of meat and a single bite of vegetable is exchanged in addition to the marital tokens.


Funeral (the Descent)

Dweller funeral rites have proliferated across the Charioteers wherein they largely prefer it, even compared to the rites of Iglesia Solar. Among the followers of the Dweller Beneath, they cremate their fallen and scattered their ashes and bones into the sea. For less ideal situations, the deceased body is buried or cast overboard after carnivorous fish are lured nearby. This returns the body to the deep and allows the soul to sink and meet the Dweller Beneath for their judgment.

View of the Afterlife

A Charioteers’ view of the afterlife is dependent on their faith. Those who follow the Iglesia Solar believe that in an afterlife of sun and plenty, provided that a soul lives a life of compassion, charity, and honor. To that end, followers are invited to assist the church in their various humanitarian efforts such as maintaining hospitals, orphanages, soup kitchens, and similar activities.


For the followers of the Dweller Beneath, they believe that when the spark of life threatens to leave the soul of a mortal, Dweller reaches out with invisible arms and takes it deep into the depths of his watery home. This is why it is important their funeral rites involve sinking a body with stones into the ocean or burying deep underground. Once it is there, the Dweller judges a soul and gives it the opportunity to tell the tale of its life and sing the song of its days. If the Dweller is sated, the soul is sent to an afterlife of harmony and joy. Otherwise, the Dweller allows the entities beneath the waves to devour the soul.

View of Magic

Charioteers are more likely to be accepting of Arcanists and other “uncommon individuals”. The life of Los Cocheros draws all kinds of folk, sometimes from desperate circumstances. This brings with it some empathy for things that normal people would consider “strange”.  


On the other hand, many Charioteers are superstitious and wary of “unlucky” or “accursed” magics. Thus, certain kinds of individuals are looked upon with some suspicion or distaste -- in particular Diabolists, Necrotheurges, and Xenotheurges. Some Crews will not work with these folk unless the contract requires it, believing that they are a danger to the mission as a whole and that forbidden magic brings misfortune with it.