Skull Conclave Religion/Rites

Moreso than the other Templars, the Skull Conclave is bound to their faith in the God-Empress. Indeed, while the Talonites and Carminians do not require their citizenry to be of the Temple’s faith, the Calvarians allow only the pious to be in their ranks.

Calvarian Faith

The God-Empress

The God-Empress is described in the myths and the scriptures of the Temple in many different ways. Regardless of Her form, she is an entity of boundless love for humanity, even at their worst and their most proud. In some texts, she is a many-armed and many-eyed humanoid goddess. In others, she is a sinuous, serpentine dragon wreathed in clouds and in glory. 

However, despite her feelings for humanity, Her power and aspect is beyond the reaches of human imagery. Many scriptures described Her as a veiled, hooded figure whose true presence would shatter the minds of any who looked upon it -- even Her Chosen Children. 

Creation myth

It is known by all Templars that the universe is but one of many and our planet is a single grain within a nigh-infinite desert. Yet within this vastness, humanity is unique for they are the children of the God-Empress. The Templars call her the Earth Mother, the All-Goddess, or the World Dragon. She has always watched over Her scions. 

Every ancient myth has a spark of Her shadow within it, such is Her mark upon the Human Race. In the misty eras of antiquity, a holy order was formed in worship of her. In the secret corners of civilization and mundanity, this old Temple waged a long war against eldritch minions and fell sorcerers. Though Her worshipers believed themselves triumphant for a while, they were undone by deception. Their enemies used foolish summonings and human ambition to cause the world’s end.

The Ravening that wrought ruin to the world was no mere disaster but a divine war. The World Dragon was but one divinity against many, but She fought for Her children with the strength of a thousand Gods. Her Abyssal foes were born of chaos and power and they coveted what the God-Empress possessed and sought to destroy it all in hatred. Worse yet, the very presence of the Abyssals fractured reality, allowing lesser entities to invade the world even as Humanity was slain by the millions to disaster, diseases, and monstrosities. 

It is writ in the scriptures that hope was not lost. The God-Empress battled these fell godlings for the fate of Her children. This titanic battle ravaged landscape and cities in its wake. Ultimately, the She who is All was victorious but at a massive cost: her greatest Aspect fell dead from its grievous injuries. The Abyssals were shattered and scattered with their intangible aspects banished into a reality between realities. 

Like her foes, the God-Empress lies in a state between death and life. It is prophesied she will be strengthened and revived by her followers for the Final Ravening. In this cataclysmic event, the God-Empress will destroy the Abyssals once and for all, bringing Her children into a glorious, golden age.

Tenets of the Faith

The Sanctified Temple of the Shattered Mother exists for one reason: to prepare humanity for the next war against the Abyssals and their spawn. This war must be fought by humans and humans alone, with their faith in the All-Goddess to guide them. 

To that end, all Templars must follow the Commandments below:

• The Tenet of Supremacy: The God-Empress is All, let no one stand against Her or her Temple.

• The Tenet of Nurturing: Humans are the Children of the God-Empress and the Templar are Her Chosen. The Templar must protect, instruct, and hone Humanity for the Last Ravening.

• The Tenet of Purging : The Human Race must be nurtured but the Last Ravening will soon be upon us. Those who defy the Temple or work with the Abyssals must be left behind. 

In addition, the following are the Arch-Sins -- crimes and misdeeds that are punishable by the Temple.

• HERESY is committed when a Templar directly goes against the authority of the God-Empress and Her Oracle-Avatar. This primarily refers to seditious or treasonous activity, and disobeying a direct order from a Hierophant or Archon.

• BLASPHEMY is committed when a Templar profanes a holy object or speaks profanely of the God-Empress or her Oracle-Avatar. 

• DEFILEMENT is the unlawful destruction of other Templars’ property or using unlawful methods to destroy one's own property. To a lesser degree, this is also committed when an Templar takes or misuses what does not belong to them. It also covers the misuse of others' property and the evasion of tithes to the Temple.  

• MALIFICA is illicit magic-use. Magic is the gift of the God-Empress and Templars who wield it must be mandated by the Temple or be servants of the God-Empress herself. Malifica also includes using relics or magics deemed forbidden by the Temple. Harmful or corruptive association with certain baleful entities is considered to be both Malifica and Heresy. 

• MALFEASANCE is the unlawful harm or slaying of another Templar. Certain Templar are exempt from this Arch-Sin within the auspices of their profession, although they often perform Penances in their off-hours to cleanse any stain on their soul.

• TREACHERY is when a Templar breaks a holy oath or lies to the Temple. Other examples of Treachery includes failing to protect those you have sworn to protect, disobeying a direct order from your superiors or misusing those under your command. 
  
  

Life Rites

Below are Life Rites that are performed by those of the Skull Conclave. Some Rites and Sacraments are shared with other Conclaves while others are wildly different. 

Sacrament of Illumination

One of the holiest of rites among the Calvarians, this Sacrament reflects their Goddess' powers of creation. Arcane lamps or Arcane embers are placed into the birthing parent’s room, the latter being held by at least three Templar Clergy to ensure that no fell spirit attempts to attack parent and child. In times long past, such vigils were fraught with eldritch invasions but the modern days sees such visitations only rarely and only in the fringes of civilization. 

At the arrival of the Child (or Children), the Clergy assists the parent and ensures the newborns’ health. If the Child has brought within it an Abyssal entity, an exorcism is performed -- and if that fails, it falls to the Clergy to ensure that the Child suffers no longer.

Only when the Child has been thrice examined, thrice purified, and thrice blessed is it returned to its parent who is then free to name it. 

Sacrament of Reason

Celebrated en masse throughout the different communities in the Conclave, this rite is a feast attended by children who are old enough to speak and learn (ages 2-4). This is performed once a year, near the Summer Solstice, as dictated by the Spinal Synod.

For many children, this is the first ceremony where they interact with a large amount of people outside their family. Also, this marks the first time that many children see the Oracle-Avatar and/or the Spinal Synod, who consecrates them to the Temple and the Goddess.

In times of tumult and war, the Sacrament of Reason is turned into community-wide festivals, is reduced to only half a day, or even canceled. After this rite, the Infant is considered to be a child possessed of self-will.

Sacrament of Introduction

This community-wide rite occurs when a child is ready to undergo the first portion of their education (ages 5-7), as instructed by the dominant Priory in the region. They meet with a Calvarian Bishop that shepherds their instruction in the various prayers, myths and devotions to the Goddess. Typically, this Sacrament is also when a child's abilities in magic are discovered and nurtured. Similarly, a child's personal talents as well as their familial professions are cultivated at this rite.

This Sacrament typically occurs near the Winter Equinox, where the day-long Rite occurs at the temples, shrines, and Ziggurats of the Goddess. It is a time of merriment and warmth. After a child completes this rite, their instruction to the Templar religion and culture deepens in the succeeding years until their Sacrament of Conjuration

Sacrament of Initiation

Typically, the Invokate or Hierophant of a Priory is the primary arbiter of whether a child is allowed to undergo the Sacrament of Initiation. 

The weeks leading up to an individual child's Sacrament of Initiation are expected to be filled with study and prayer. During the ceremony itself, each Child is expected to endure several trials related to their life's profession. Those who impress with their performance may be taken as personal pupils by renowned teachers of their craft. 

The final part of this rite involves a session with a Judicator. This session takes 10 minutes or longer, but it involves ritual torture and mutilation to purify an individual’s soul for the next step in their life.

After the Sacrament, they are no longer a child but a fully fledged adult -- either a Novitiate or an Apprentice. While these individuals maintain their familial ties, they spend more time with their teachers and superiors, in work and in training.

Sacrament of Conjuration/Expertise

Typically, the Invokate or Hierophant of a Priory is the primary arbiter of whether a child is allowed to undergo the Sacrament of Conjuration or Expertise. This Sacrament is different for Calvarians and Auxillators.

In essence, it is when a student moves from a status of apprenticeship to being a journeyman. For the Auxillators, this means a greater status and more independence in Calvarian society. For Novitiates, this means serving in the Clergy as a Disciple.

The Sacrament of Expertise involves a display of skill and experience that is intended to impress one's family, peers, teachers and future superiors. Poor performances may lead to poor rankings or positions. Particularly impressive performances may lead to more prestigious appointments.

On the other hand, the Sacrament of Conjuration is supervised and judged by a Hierophant (or their proxy), this may involve the secure summoning and capture of an Eldritch entity, the creation and donation of a unique magical item, or the sacrifice of a captured Eldritch entity to the God-Empress. 

Considering the currency required for any of these actions, doing any of the above usually requires a wealthy family, a generous sponsor, and/or several years of work. Despite the age requirement, it is more common to see Calvarian entrants attempt this Trial after the age of 23 rather than at 18 years.

Those who succeed are chosen by Priory representatives that are present. The primary Priory of the territory has the first pick in most circumstances, though the new Templar may have a say in their place of recruitment. 

Sacrament of Convergence

When a Calvarian feels that an unmarried person would serve them well as a spouse, they construct a marital talisman or amulet. It is with this talisman that they propose to their would-be fiance, also called the recipient. Those Recipients who accept do so by bending the knee to the Proposer and accepting the talisman/amulet around the neck. 

This Sacrament is a celebration that spans two households, officiated by Clergy of Bishop ranking or higher and typically hosted by the household of the would-be groom . Traditionally, the Proposer is flanked at an altar or shrine by their birthing parent and close allies. The Recipient meets the Proposer while escorted by one of his parents and flanked by his closest family and allies. The celebrant praises the deeds of both individuals and invokes blessings in the God-Empress’ name.

At the end of this ceremony, the Recipient becomes bound to the family and Priory of the Proposer, shedding their name. Naturally, marrying a criminal is strictly forbidden and is considered Blasphemy.

Unlike some of the previous rites, the Sacrament of Convergence may be performed multiple times during a Calvarian’s lifetime.

Sacrament of Demise

This Sacrament is a quick rite. At the moment of one's true and final death, a Calvarian is expected to perform the proper prayers that would sanctify their death to the God-Empress. They must invoke the many names of their Goddess before they pass -- tradition dictates that it must be done at least thrice, with each invocation followed by a plea for mercy and sanctification. Alternatively, an ally may do this in their stead to ensure that they go directly to the Earth Mother.

Being saved from true death (via a Greater Revive) is not a disservice to the God-Empress, although some gratitude is expected. Typically, the Calvarian tithes to their local temple and performs a feat of great devotion to the Goddess.

Sacrament of Lamentation

Sometimes called the Holy Lament, this Sacrament is led by an officiant but attended by the deceased’s family, friends, and peers. It is a funerary ceremony intended to sanctify the departed soul to the God-Empress, to aid them in their afterlife journey, and to lessen the evil of any Sins they committed during their life.

While this rite is best performed with a body or an urn, the prepared corpse of the deceased is not an absolute requirement. In times of tumult, a cenotaph is sufficient.  A somber affair, the Sacrament of Lamentation involves the officiant speaking of the deceased’s greatest deeds and imploring the God-Empress for Her mercy. Many of Her names are invoked and used. This is followed by the assembled crowd paying their respects to the fallen in small groups until all have received the opportunity to do so. This rite ends with the officiant thanking the assembly for their attendance, reminding them of their own finite time in the world, and blessing them in the God-Empress’ name. 

Sacrament of Remembrance

At the end of the harvest season, the Calvarians remember those who have passed and to ask for their guidance. This rite is celebrated across the Conclave and preceded by a week of fasting. While fasting, these families visit their personal graverooms, hang favored heirlooms around their residence's main rooms and meditate about the challenges of the new year.At the end of rite, there is a feast in the household that breaks the meditative fast.

Views of the Afterlife

Temple Dogma describes life after death as one wherein the human spirit is devoured by latent Abyssal essences in the land or fading into peaceful oblivion. The Ravening not only brought immense changes to physical reality in the form of etheric phenomenon and otherworldly horrors, but the realm of death has also been altered.

The only way to avoid this terrible fate is to undergo the Sacrament of Illumination (or Awakening/Naming) wherein one’s spirit is marked by the God-Empress as one of her Chosen. Upon death, this spirit joins with its fellow Templar and with the God-Empress in eternal harmony. The Sacrament of Demise makes certain of this journey to the World Dragon and prevents interference from the Abyssals or other Eldritch entities. 

Calvarian Perspective: The Calvarians believe that the virtuous and the pious are rewarded with harmonic union with the God-Empress. With each soul that joins Her divinity, she is made stronger and brought closer to resurrection. Only through her power and the works of the Temple can humanity be saved from the Last Ravening. Those who are not utterly virtuous and pious are either devoured by the entities that exist between worlds or are reincarnated to assist themselves and their fellows in achieving their true destiny.

View of Magic

The Calvarians believe that Magic is a gift from the God-Empress, received by those who prove themselves worthy. The holiest of traditions are Deotheurgy, Animancy, and Diablerie -- these are magics that are gained through piety, pain, and discipline. However, regardless of their traditions and anchors, Channelers and Arcanists are regarded as blessed in the eyes of the Calvarians.

Because of its frequency in the Skull Conclave, the use of magic is regulated within its territories. Arcanists and Channelers are always automatically connected to Her holy temple. However, the other paths of magic require blessings and licenses to practice if one is not an agent of the state religion. Those rogue magicians who use magic unlawfully, either because they are unlicensed by the Priory of Judication or because they are outlaws, are called "Malificars”