Magistrados Religion/Rites — The World Beyond the Fall

Magistrados Religions and Rites



Magistrados Faith

The pious Macana follows the faiths of their familial traditions or the Iglesia Solar. On the other hand, many Illustrados have forsaken the divinities and traditions of old -- the appearance of horrifying monstrosities in the sky and the Long Fall of human civilization is enough to change most minds about the existence of a benevolent deity.

  • 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.



Magistrados Tenets

  • The Chain of Command: In times of duress, time is of the essence and actions must be taken immediately. To that end, the leader of a unit is expected to direct their subordinates and allies quickly and to the best of their judgment. For these folk, the thick of combat is not the time for moralizing and philosophizing -- enemies must be defeated and objectives must be met, everything else is secondary. 


  • Protect the Weak: Coming from a culture of technology and sophistication, the Magistrados need to justify their armaments and tactics. They believe that these are necessary for survival in the hazardous hinterlands of the world beyond their cities. Furthermore, the Magistrados believe that their strength is used primarily to protect humanity from monstrosities. This attitude can seem condescending or controlling to others, but these soldiers are expected to place the lives of people first before seeking out glory or “kills”. 


  • Rules of Engagement: Though they are soldiers, the Magistrados do not always jump to violence first when dealing with people. They will seek to speak, to persuade, and even to compromise before opening fire. They kill only in defense or to defend humanity. That said, some of these folk have no compunction with negotiating behind the barrel of a firearm (though this damages the process). Furthermore, they possess little in the way of mercy when dealing with inhuman monstrosities, especially creatures that resemble their Juracan enemies. 


  • Watch the Warband: For the Macana, their warband is their family on the field. They are expected to watch each others’ backs and alert them to unseen threats. That said, everyone is expected to work together and combine their strengths accordingly. The medic may not be as deadly as the sniper, but their role is just as important. They should not be substituting for the other sniper’s duties unless absolutely necessary. 


Life Rites

Birth Rite -- Earth and Sky

While it is not universal, it is tradition in many communities that a parent give birth indoors and present their child to the sky immediately afterward. Some communities have a cave wherein such a rite is performed while others style their hospital’s maternity ward or their own birthing room in such a fashion, with a nearby window for the Sky portion of the rite. Some say that this presentation resembles the bringing of life and light from a time of darkness. Others claim that this rite is an ancient one with a mythic history. The Iglesia Solar assists in the propagation of this rite, though they tend to elaborate on the Sky portion by ensuring that the extended family of the parent is there (with the parent’s consent). 

The wealthier members of the Illustrados follow this happening with a feast for all attendees, in a different room during the next day. The child is presented as a new member of the family and to the community. The expectation is that the food be of different animals and varieties, with no dish being replicated. This practice has filtered down to the other social classes, who make do with their own smaller, private celebrations.  

Adulthood -- 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.

Promotion -- Magistrados

The Magistrados like to celebrate their victories and promotions by having small festivities in the celebrant’s name. Within these parties, certain traditions have formed. The Martilladors like to engage in tests of endurance, be it in drinking contests or striking down the celebrant with practice weapons. The Lanceros sometimes dunk the celebrant in water or pour water/spirits over the celebrant in the middle of the party. They also like getting tattoos to commemorate the promotion. Guaga parties are said to be the most raucous, engaging in long bar crawls, intense drinking puzzles, and some pranks -- some good natured pranks involve abandoning the celebrant in the wilderness for a day or hiding all of their possessions. This is always done with the celebrant’s comfort in mind and never intended to get them in danger or in trouble. 



Marriage -- Quick Marriages

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 -- Return to Earth, Fire, or Water

In times of peace, Magistrados funerals are respectful and solemn affairs where a deceased individual is buried or cremated, depending on their wishes. Their comrades are the ones to carry their body/casket  them to the plot or the kindling while military horns are blown. After any eulogies, the individual’s spirit is sent off by a series of gun salutes before it is lowered to the ground or ignited.

During wartime, things may be incredibly different due to the volume or the timing of the funeral. During the direst hours, a solder’s death is recorded, their possessions stowed away, and their body consigned to a fire or a mass grave. There is little rite or ceremony to this, though it is expected that their possessions be sent to home for a cenotaph. 

At sea, the Magistrados follow a funeral ceremony inspired by the “Dweller Beneath” (a Whisper worshiped by some Charioteers) -- they cremate their fallen and scatter 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 -- the possessions are stored and given to their surviving family (if any)




View of the Afterlife

Many Magistrados adhere to the Iglesia Solar’s view of the afterlife. 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.

Those that don’t follow the Redeemed Sun instead believe in the traditions of their family or ancestors. Some don’t believe in the afterlife at all -- though they know that spirits and consciousness exists, these folk claim that all life and thought ceases a few hours after death if one’s body is ruined beyond repair.

View of Magic

Despite its utility, the Magistrados do not often depend on spells and magic, unless the wondrous technologies they use are counted as such. While there is little in the way of prejudice against Arcanists, many Macana feel that the occasional insanities and vulnerabilities of magic use are rarely worth their power -- this is especially so because the Macana are trained to work with one another and wild cards in the mix are death to coordination. 

If there is one field that magic is seen among these soldiers, it is in the realm of support. Infusers, Transmuters, and Renewers are found with some frequency among the mechanics and medics of the Magistrados. The Spider Scouts have their share of Arcanists, usually Diviners or Veilers. 

Talismanry is the most common tradition, followed by Animancy, with Diablerie at an incredibly low rate. Certain groups have successfully lobbied against prejudice for Diablerie and similarly dangerous magics (Necrotherugy, etc) but the stigma still remains among the general populace.