Sandbox:Lent23

Overview

“They call us madmen. But change often looks like madness, from the eyes of those who cling to the past.
Look at what has become of our world, and ask yourself - is it a sane world that we live in?”
-Szak Ren’zsar, First Speaker of the Flame

Si’akh is the third most popular religion among Unathi. While a true translation is difficult to express, many people translate Si’akh to “prophet worship”. Si’akh is a relatively new religion that emerged from the fires of the Contact War in 2439. Si’akh is led by the charismatic former Sk’akh priest Juzida Si’akh and is held as the Messiah by his followers. The main belief of Si’akh is that all Unathi that died in the cleansing fire of the atomic weapons were given salvation, and all Unathi that survived are damned to remain trapped for eternity unless the species is purified by converting and repenting for their sins. The movement has hundreds of thousands of followers, and has come to immediate conflict with the orthodox Sk’akh church due to Si’akh claiming that Sk’akh is “corrupt” and that they are “an illegitimate institution” following the Contact War. Its followers were ruthlessly hunted down by the Maraziite Order and the forces of Izweski nobles. Despite the destruction of the Maraziite Order, the Hegemony continues to strike at Si’akh congregations in their lands, leading to many followers of Si’akh to find homes in the wastelands or human space, where the Hegemony’s reach is lesser. It is generally treated as a heretical and fanatical doomsday cult by orthodox Unathi.

The Prophet

Portrait of Juzida Si'akh in the middle of a firebrand sermon, circa 2457.

Born Juzida Aizahi in 2409, Juzida Si’akh was a rather unassuming priest until the Contact War brought nuclear devastation to his village. Si’akh was the sole survivor in his village after a nearby nuclear blast flattened the entire area. In this explosion, he saw the three aspects of Sk’akh who each spoke to him in turn. The Warrior told him that he must be strong for his people, and blessed him with the resolve to continue his journey, no matter how difficult it seemed. The Healer told him that the explosion was the first cleansing of the Unathi people, and those who sinned would be left behind for him to shepherd. She then blessed him with the knowledge of how to lead the people he would meet along his journey. The Fisher told him that he would have to build the future with his own claws, and that he was uniquely selected to lead Sk’akh’s chosen people, naming him The Final High Prophet Born of the Purifying Flames. Since this day, he has been a firebrand preacher, traveling the Wasteland and giving incredibly intense and passionate sermons. He claims to have a direct connection with Sk’akh which gives him what many consider supernatural abilities. He can inspire warriors with a single rousing chant. He can bring healing and salvation to Unathi with a simple touch. His craftsmanship is said to be unrivaled. He travels the Wasteland wearing simple purple robes, typically with nothing but his walking stick and journal. He is an extremely charismatic leader that has spawned a cult of personality around his devotion. d The official symbol of Si’akh is a circle with a triangle inside it, with the circle being on fire. The circle is said to represent Moghes, with the Triangle representing the three aspects of Sk’akh, with the flames representing the purification and sanitation that flames provide. The most recognizable unofficial symbol of Si’akh is that of a mushroom cloud, with drawings of a young Si’akh standing in front of a mushroom cloud being a popular item in more iconoclastic members of the faith.

Doctrines and Worship

The primary belief of Si’akh is that the nuclear conflict of the Contact War was Judgement Day, and that all Unathi that live after it are Damned. They believe that upon death, their soul is unable to join Sk’akh, instead doomed to reincarnate forever across the galaxy for their sins of defiling Moghes, the spiritual center of Sk’akh in the physical realm. The only method of achieving salvation is through being personally forgiven by Sk’akh through The Prophet or by following The Prophet’s doctrines and gaining enough favor with Sk’akh to be forgiven after earth and joining the ancestors. Si’akh believes that evil and selfish behavior transform the souls of Unathi into literal demons who then perform evil on the world. Fighting back against one’s innate wickedness is the primary goal of all Si’akh worshippers.

Myth of Creation

The creation myth for Si’akh largely follows that of orthodox Sk’akh. The universe was born cold, dark and empty, and over time living things came to be and left for the empty spirit world. Si’akh posits that the three wise elders were not the only souls of Sk’akh, but merely the shepherds of every soul that entered the spirit world before their merging, becoming the first True Prophet of Unathi, shepherding the souls of the dead spirits into the true afterlife. While it is true that Th’akh worship existed long before Sk’akh, Si’akh posits that Sk’akh became the custodian of creation out of a need to bring order to the chaos of the spirit world. Sk’akh then shaped a portion of the spirit world into the Beastlands and the Chained Wastes, leaving a large portion of the spirit world for Th’akhist worship, allowing for a more balanced energy between the order of Sk’akh and chaos of Th’akh. Because of the concept of balanced energy, Si’akh worshippers are not scornful of Th’akh worshippers, understanding that they are integral for the balance that Sk’akh wants to bring rather than angry at their difference.

Doctrines

Si’akh largely follows many doctrines of Sk’akh, such as the soul being the actual person where the body it inhabits is simply a vessel. A major difference lies in the fact that Sk’akh does not create new souls to place into hatchlings developing within their eggs, as the souls being placed into hatchlings are instead the reincarnated souls of the Sinta barred from joining the Great Spirit in death. Ultimately, the final goal of Si’akh is to redeem all souls and prevent the damnation of the Unathi species, allowing Sk’akh to create new souls once more.

The second major difference is that Juzida Si’akh is the Messiah, and that the High Priests of Sk’akh are nothing but false prophets that serve their own goals. Sk’akh has personally bestowed upon Juzida the objective of helping the Unathi species find redemption. His followers accept him to be an incarnation of all three Aspects of Sk’akh, with the strength of The Warrior, the caring of The Healer and the diligent nature of the Fisherman. If The Prophet is successful in his mission, Sk’akh will rule Moghes as a literal heavenly paradise. Si’akh generally considers that finding redemption means converting more people to the word of Sk’akh, though it understands that maintaining a balance between Order and Chaos is essential to maintaining spiritual equilibrium. Due to this, Si’akh worshippers tend to focus more on saving the souls of sinful orthodox Sk’akh followers than that of Th’akh worshippers, though followers of the chaotic Th’akh members are not turned away should they seek salvation in Order. Fire Priests are known to venture the stars in search of Unathi, particularly in the Republic of Biesel. There are many groups that flee to the Republic of Biesel, such as Aut’akh, Guwan and various dishonored clans. They are, according to The Prophet, fleeing Moghes in shame of the deeds of their ancestors, or are attempting to avoid the consequences of their species as a collective. These groups are among many that need redemption most, and The Prophet will always accept those who are willing to hear Sk’akh’s word.

Si’akh worshippers are forbidden from eating anything but raw food and drinking anything but water, as to purify their soul and practice self-restraint. In the early days of Si’akh, followers abroad had been known to starve to death if the circumstances are right, such as being stuck with nothing but jerky or other prepared meats, though later proclamations from The Prophet have allowed people to eat liquid rations and other bare minimum foods, ruling they are as pure as raw meat.

Repenting within the Si’akh faith means to resist temptation and live a life according to asceticism: living meagerly and not giving into the temptation of luxury and overindulgence. Frugality and simplicity are words to live by. Tailoring plain clothes, eating simple food, and keeping honest hobbies and work will set you along the path for salvation. Si’akh believes that money and opulence come with inherent wickedness, and as such, he opposes the idea of nobility sitting above the rest of Unathi as rulers and kings. Owing in part to why the Hegemony so vehemently opposes this religion, Si’akh has been known to inspire small revolts where he has traveled to, and those in charge fear what may happen in their own lands should Si’akh take root amongst the masses.

Like all Unathi religions, followers are taught that even aliens have souls that go to their respective afterlives and greet their gods upon death. Unathi are given the unique curse of being banished entirely until they can find redemption, however. In some cases, such as that of the Ssup’vihtal, there are believed to be Unathi souls that inhabit alien bodies as well, with the alien bodies simply considered the vessel of said soul. Most aliens who are believed to possess Unathi souls are either born on Moghes or have otherwise had significant contact with Bluespace. Unathi-souled aliens are treated as equals to Unathi-bodied followers, and The Prophet has expressly stated that all those willing to embrace Sk’akh are welcome in his church, no matter what they may appear as on the outside.

Relationships in general are touched on heavily by Si’akh. The Prophet completely throws out the orthodox definitions of relationships being a mix of Duty, Love and Lust, saying that relationships are a question of Duty alone. Marriages are framed in a survival sense, with new generations of hatchlings being reincarnated souls of the Damned that are unable to join Sk’akh. While in the past, the only types of relationships legitimized by Si’akh were those which could bear hatchlings, Si’akh has lightened up on these restrictions. While it is still considered a righteous pursuit to bear the next generation of hatchlings, same-sex marriages have found their niche in the religion, with many hatchlings needing homes being adopted into them. Same-sex marriages are not considered legitimate until they have their own hatchling prior to the marriage, and require a blessing directly from an Archpriest. These same-sex marriages are still treated as a taboo, as those that lack the desire to directly birth their own reincarnated souls are considered less devout than those that act on said desire. In any case, these 'second try' souls must be raised to participate in The Prophet’s grand vision in order to achieve salvation.Notably, Si’akh forbids divorce and demands that any relationship be a lifelong act of monogamy.

With regards to robotics and prosthetics, Si’akh follows the Sk’akh doctrine of believing full-body cyborgs to be without spirit, with prosthetic limbs and augments being considered sundering one’s soul. While the body remains simply a vessel, if one loses their physical arm, their arm’s soul is still in-tact, as the vessel was destined to lose its limb. The moment that a prosthetic is attached, it replaces and destroys the spirit that was otherwise occupying that space. Aut’akh are considered the epitome of spitting in the face of Sk’akh, destroying and mutilating the Great Spirit’s vision at the cost of one’s soul. Where orthodox Sk’akh are simply followers that have been led astray and Th’akh are a spiritual counterbalance, Aut’akh are the epitome of hubris - mortals that seek to defy Sk’akhs vision for the species. Despite this, The Prophet encourages his followers to preach to all heretics and heathens in the hopes of saving their souls.

Like the orthodox Sk’akh church, Si’akh takes a strong stance on biological augmentation. The Prophet has stated that gene-boosting is a weakening of one’s inner Warrior, and that the only strength they should have to draw upon is that of Sk’akh. Manipulation of an unborn hatchling is, like orthodox Sk’akh, a profane act against Sk’akh, as claiming to know the path of an unborn Sinta better than Sk’akh is unacceptable.

In accordance with asceticism, the Church of Si’akh collects a tithe with a value relative to a Sinta’s living cost. For example, a Sinta living in Biesel has a higher cost of living than a Sinta living in the wasteland. Generally, the tithe is 50% of one’s funds after they accrue 100% of the Cost of Living, which goes up to 75% of one’s funds after 200% of the Cost of Living. All funds after one accrues 500% of their Cost of Living, 100% of their funds are expected to go to the Church. Generally, it is considered taboo to have as much as 500% Cost of Living accrued as funds, as that money is better spent on one’s community than sitting in a bank account.

Si’akh and the Afterlives

Si’akh posits that the Beastlands and the Chain Wastes are the two primary afterlives of the Unathi species. Similarly to orthodox Sk’akh, Si’akh believes that the connection to the Material world is stronger in some places than others, and that the strongest spiritual connection is Moghes itself, as that is where the spiritual consolidation of the Warrior, Healer and Fisher took place. Other places where Unathi Souls congregate also cultivate powerful connections to the spirit world, and as such Unathi are encouraged to create large communities and work in unison.

Ska’kh’s home in the Beastlands is not contested by Si’akh, and the belief that Unathi that are righteous in life are sent to the kingdom after death is strongly held. While orthodox Sk’akh believes that the Beastlands are its own plane, Si’akh posits that the Beastlands are simply the center of the spirit world, with other planes residing at the edge of the Beastlands. With every convert, The Beastlands expands its influence as the Empire of Sk’akh grows and expands its borders. Anyone that dies having followed the path laid out by The Prophet can be redeemed and embraced by Sk’akh, joining them in the Beastlands.. It is said that if the souls within Sk’akh’s Kingdom are powerful enough, they are able to venture into these other planes and convert the souls residing there. A soul that inhabits the Beastlands will gain more power as it is fulfilled, and once they are satisfied with their time on the plane will ascend and be absorbed by Sk’akh.

In stark contrast to the Beastlands, the Chained Wastes are truly a scorching land. Powerful spirits given a divine right by Sk’akh are sent here to punish souls in hopes that they will repent for their sins in life. The Chained Wastes is a plane that is entirely contained within a restricted section of the Beastlands, and is believed to be a portion of The Beastlands that was ripped closer to the Material World due to the Contact War, causing its desertification. Those that die failing in their duties to resist temptation and vice remain damned, forced to reincarnate into a new body. Some souls, however, can become completely overtaken by daemonic influence through temptation and vice, causing them to become literal daemons in the afterlife. These particularly damned souls prey on the living, filling them with the temptation to create even more of their kind. The area around the Chained Wastes is highly controlled by Sk’akh’s most powerful spirits, and while wicked spirits have been known to escape into the Material World, there has never been a known incident of one of these daemons escaping into the Beastlands.

Lately, a number of scientists have begun to theorize about the link between bluespace and the Spirit World, with many claiming that bluespace itself is the physical representation of Sk’akh’s will - the Spirit World made Material. While orthodox Sk’akh believe that this is nothing but nonsense, a number of scholars have given merit to the theory, given the fact that Unathi have been exposed to what many species would call magical events, leading the Unathi to believe that bluespace is linked to them as the Great Spirit’s Chosen People.

Funeral Rites

Si’akh demands strict burial rights in the form of a body being cremated. Similarly to Sk’akh, the cremation process begins with any open wounds being cauterized with fire, and then they are to be placed on a specialized cremation stone and lit ablaze in order to assist the spirit in escaping the body, with any remaining sins of the body being burned away into ashes. Anyone that knew the Unathi that passed is expected to attend the cremation and beg for the soul to be forgiven by Sk’akh, expressing all the good the person did in life in order to curry favor with Sk’akh. The devoutness of the deceased will determine where the soul is taken, with more pious individuals being guided to the Beastlands and more sinful individuals being brought to the Chained Wastes.

Si’akh and Orthodox Sk’akh

Primarily, The Prophet views orthodox Sk’akh with condemnation. According to The Prophet, the Church of Sk’akh is a deeply corrupt institution that has lost the favor of Sk’akh and now only serves themselves. Si’akh claims that a High Priest being elected by Archpriests, instead of divinely ordained by Sk’akh, is a sign that the Church has long-since lost its way and become entangled in earthly politics and corruption. The Prophet believes that he alone speaks directly to Sk’akh, who instructs him on their will, and no other priests have been Ordained by the God themselves. The Prophet believes that Orthodox Sk’akh priests are the first Sinta that should be sought out for conversion to the True Faith, as they have an understanding of the faith, but have simply been led astray by the corrupt leadership of the Orthodox Church. No matter how combative Orthodox Preachers present themselves, The Prophet understands that they deserve to be saved by Sk’akh, as their hearts are devoted to the God already.

Worship of Sk’akh

Similarly to Orthodox Sk’akh, Si’akh worship is communal, though with less of a focus on what The Prophet deems as “gluttonous” or “hedonistic” ceremonies such as feasts. These communal ceremonies are paid for entirely by the Church of Si’akh utilizing the tithe collected by all worshippers, with any priest being expected to request funds from the Church. As opposed to the Orthodox Sk’akh Church however, Si’akh can be considered slightly more iconoclastic, condemning the idea that Icons of Sk’akh can be commodified. Generally, the purchasing or selling of “commodified” Sk’akhist icons is considered taboo. Si’akh fishers put a lot of work into icons that they create, and are expected to give any icons that they create to anybody that can prove their faithfulness, or someone who has been sponsored by a known faithful, with The Church itself compensating the cost of the fisher’s work.

The Great Spirit is simultaneously depicted as a single being as well as multiple individual beings. While there are three primary “heads” of Sk’akh, every soul that has been re-absorbed into its being have their own pull of the being, creating a more free ebb-and-flow to the Great Spirits’ actions. The Three Heads are considered to be both individual powerful spirits as well as general “groupings” of spirits with The Three Heads at the forefront. While in theory a powerful spirit could join The Great Spirit and augment and replace or even join as a Fourth Head, there have been no recognized spirits or grand alterations since the inception of The Great Spirit.

The Warrior Mukari

The Warrior is Si’akh is depicted largely the same. He has four arms which he uses to carry a sword, a shield, a Si’akh holy symbol. His fourth arm has forgone the lute in favor of a Spear. He is a red-scaled Unathi, though his armor is much more modest in the Si’akh depiction, wearing leather armor typically studded with steel or iron. Fights, Conflict, and Strife are all matters that people worship Him for in Si’akh as well, and members of the Order of the Flame will utter a prayer of the Warrior before facing any opponent or otherwise before entering a battle.

The Symbol of the Warrior is a sword and spear, typically crossed over one another. While symbolically lacking the lute, Warriors are still expected to continue the tradition of the warrior-poet. While Si’akh does not restrict warrior-poets to nobility, it is restricted to warriors that are both powerful as well as have the ability to read and write. Some have taken to referring to warrior-poets as warrior-scribes or simply scribes, as they have been given the divine task of transcribing The Prophet’s word and distributing to those that were not able to be present at the time of speaking.

“Great Warrior,
Your devout prepares to battle,
Today I claim victory over our enemies,
By fighting with You, as one.”
-The Warrior’s Prayer

The Healer Simi

Healer continues to represent femininity in Si’akh belief. She bears a simple staff in one hand and a leather tome in the other, with a leather satchel at her side. She is the pinnacle of knowledge that all scholars pray to before study as well as the Aspect of Sk’akh that oversees injured Unathi. While in orthodox Sk’akh she is entirely covered, in Si’akh she is said to be modestly clad. In the Si’akh interpretation, Simi has dark blue scales and wears a long leather dress, sewn into form by the Fisher from that of a beast that the Warrior hunted himself. Worldly healers will call upon Her power in order to bargain for the continued health of injured Unathi.

The symbol of the Healer is Her whitewood staff and leather tome. In the Si’akh rendition of the Healer, Her staff is charred at tip due to her utilizing the staff to cauterize the wounds of injured spirits. Women in Si’akh are encouraged to carry a smaller cautery in the shape of the Healer’s staff, and are all taught how to cauterize wounds in the Material world. Typically, Healers are the most learned members of the Church, and each Si’akh community will likely have at least one healer that instructs all other healers on their practices.

”Caring Healer,
By Your grace,
Restore this one’s vessel,
So that they may carry on Your will."
-The Healer’s Prayer

The Fisher Verrix

The Fisher in Si’akh is the most differing Aspect. They are a black-scaled Unathi with a slender tail that they use to fish. Their dorsal frills have one stripe down each of a differing color - on Their left, a stripe of blue scales, and on Their right, a stripe of red scales. They do not cover themselves as They do in orthodox Sk’akh, merely wearing a simple leather tunic. In each hand, They hold a weighing scale and one of various tools from their collection, typically a sickle, a blacksmith’s hammer or an ax. They are completely efficient with their tool, leaving no waste whatsoever and are considered the pinnacle to what all Si’akh craftspeople should be.

The symbol of the Fisher is their scale of balance. All Unathi that worship the Fisher are expected to carry a scale with them and are encouraged to weigh the sins of each Unathi. The Fisher uses Their scale in order to closely monitor the balance between all things: Order and Chaos, Material and Spirit, Good and Evil. The Prophet was told that the balance between these three key principles was skewed, and thus The Fisher ensured the nuclear exchange to allow cleansed, good souls into the Spirit world to allow Sk’akh to grow in strength and spread the Beastlands while simultaneously ensuring enough good, lawful Unathi remained on the Material world to balance the evil, chaotic souls.

”Judging Fisher,
May our crops be plentiful, though without waste.
May our goods be worthy, though without excess.
May our souls be full, though without sin.”
-The Fisher’s Prayer

Rituals of Si’akh

As with orthodox Sk’akh, Si’akh prayers are sent to their respective Aspects of Sk’akh. Prayers to the Warrior are focused around strength, courage, leadership and assertiveness. Conflict and conflict resolution are part of the Warrior’s domain, and rituals of the Warrior are always sung or are otherwise rhyming to accentuate the poetic portion of the Aspect. Prayers to the Healer are focused around Nurturing, Empathy, Kindness and Compassion. Life, death and healing are part of the Healer’s domain, and rituals of the Healer are said to assist in the recovering one’s spirit. Prayers to the Fisher are focused around worldliness, craftsmanship, natural cycles and balance, and rituals to the Fisher always involve the balancing of two or more things.

Sk’akh’s name may be invoked for major points in someone’s life, but it is more common to invoke the specific Aspect that relates most to the situation at hand. For instance, while officiating a marriage, one may invoke the Warrior for the ability to resolve conflict in a pair’s marriage, the Healer for a long life and spiritual entwining after death, or the Fisher for a balanced and equal relationship. Regardless of which Aspect one seeks to honor with their event, it is considered a priest’s duty to bless the ceremony, and it is unfounded to charge anything to one that genuinely seeks to honor Sk’akh.

Saints

A number of Saints were initially declared in 2466 following the deaths of Fire Priests Illkari Csorik and Lisek Zentra.

Saint Illkari Csorik
Formerly a Grand Priest, Csorik was executed by the Tribunal Investigations Constabulary of the Empire of Dominia following a proselytizing attempt in their land. He was close friends with Juzida Si’akh and had followed him for decades, counting himself among Si’akh’s first followers and a loyal advisor. He was slated to be the Archpriest of Moroz before his death. He was a devout follower of The Warrior, and was widely considered one of the best fighters that The Prophet had ever known. He is hailed as a champion of the religion, and Si’akh has stated that Csorik would have become the next Final High Prophet Born of the Purifying Flames if he should face an untimely death. The symbol used to represent him is that of a flaming spear stabbing through a shield.

Saint Lisek Zentra
Formerly a Priest, Csorik was executed by the Tribunal Investigations Constabulary of the Empire of Dominia following a proselytizing attempt in their land. She was orphaned by Gawgaryn in 2451, but was rescued when Juzida Si’akh and his followers fought off the attack and was subsequently a loyal follower of Si’akh. She was a strong proponent of the Order of the Flame, and is credited with the creation of the idea. Si’akh has stated that Zentra was his first choice for the position of Head Paladin before her death. Si’akh was noted to have been deeply saddened following her death. It was claimed that Zentra was pregnant at the time of her death. The symbol used to represent her is that of a nest with three eggs inside of it, with a fire lit underneath the nest.

Si’akh and Gender

Si’akh’s understanding of gender focuses less on meditations of the Great Spirit than orthodox Sk’akh. Si’akh ceremonies of gender transition focus on cleansing sins of the flesh, and being reborn from the purifying and burning love of Sk’akh, though these ceremonies, contrary to popular belief, do not involve setting anyone on fire. The Prophet Si’akh himself generally identifies as a warrior, though his followers view him as something greater, having transcended mortal concepts of gender by Sk’akh’s divine grace, being all and none at once. This generally manifests itself in The Prophet’s followers using either the pronoun that they themselves identify with or the pronouns of the Aspect of Sk’akh that they pray to the most.

The Church of Si’akh is a largely genderless institution. It allows warriors, healers and fishers into its ranks. While the Order of the Flame is generally considered a warrior’s institution, the idea was created by a healer of the Church of Si’akh and has seen its fair share of healer members. The Sin Counters are an exclusively fisher institution, with all members being required to ritualistically burn away their gender before being allowed into their ranks.

Organization

In 2466, the Church of Si’akh was officially formed. Previously, Si’akh was considered an unorganized heretical group of wandering madmen. Following the formalization of the Church, Si’akh has spread like wildfire, with churches opened offworld to preach to those Unathi who abandoned Moghes following the Contact War - to the concern of the powers that be. The Hegemony has yet to take formal action against Si’akh, though several among the more devout Sk’akh nobility have called for action against the First Church of the Flame in the Eastern Wasteland. Juzida Si’akh has anointed several of his own Archpriests, tasked with preaching his word to the furthest corners of the Spur, and his followers have increasingly begun to gather and organize, with several of the Prophet’s sermons broadcasted over the extranet for the off-world faithful.

Gatherings of Si’akh faithful are generally led by a Flame Priest - a role which has little in the way of formal standards, beyond being named such by the Prophet or one of his trusted Archpriests. This priest will lead a congregation of Si’akh faithful, and is held responsible by the Church for their physical and spiritual safety and wellbeing. A Flame Priest may appoint peers by their own will, but lacks the ability to raise another to their own position. Though the faith has grown rapidly in recent years, it is still firmly centralized around the authority of Juzida Si’akh and his hand-picked priesthood, lacking the frequent religious disputes of similar splinter faiths such as Aut’akh.

The Church of Si’akh

The church of Si’akh is a formal organization that was born from the expansion of the faithful following Juzida’s brief trip off Moghes in 2465. The Church itself is centralized around The Prophet, who generally spends his time speaking directly to Sk’akh and communicating Sk’akh’s will to his Archpriests. The Church has seen no corruption, and all those appointed to high positions have been appointed due to their faithfulness as opposed to their link to The Prophet, something He takes great pride in. All Si’akh faithful are expected to pay tithes to The Church. These tithes are redistributed to all Si’akh Communes, Churches and Scepts to ensure that ceremonies are able to be held. While the Priests are the ones who are expected to request money from The Church, the money sent for any given purpose is expected to be used entirely for the listed purpose, and those caught violating their duties are ordered for execution. While this has not happened as of yet, it is expected that the nearest Paladin will take on the duty of executing the traitor at the first given opportunity.

Affairs of the Church

While the churches are run by Fire Priests and their direct followers, the duties of a church fall upon all followers in its community. From treasurer to flame bearer, there is a large list of duties that all local members are expected to assist with. Gathering tithes, speaking with followers and communicating with the priest directly overseeing them are generally duties of a local Fire Priest.

Any given church will have a single day of the week, typically recognized as Sunday (though sometimes held on Saturdays, or rarely other days of the week, depending on the Priest and location), that all members of a community will gather for the Day of Worship. The entire day is spent with the members of one’s community, and all jobs that one may have outside of the Church are expected to excuse them, from fishing to office work. Members of the community will gather for breakfast in the Church, go about their Church duties, and then generally head outside for some form of event or team-building exercise. The exercise will generally last until lunchtime, where all adherents will gather and give their thanks to Sk’akh for their community, their food, and their lives. After lunch, a community sermon is held, followed by a large celebration of life and worship. After the celebration, adherents are allowed to head home, but are encouraged to stay and relax with their community. Many churches see it taboo to be the first one to leave on the Day of Worship, and those that leave last are often considered paragons of the faith, giving their entire day to Sk’akh.

Churches are exclusively the location where marriages are held, with marriages often taking the place on the Day of Worship, replacing the sermon of that day in exchange for a focus on the marrying couple’s wedding. As is a typical Day of Worship, all adherents in an area are expected to attend regardless of their level of familiarity with the marrying couple. A Fire Priest will give a Flaming Blessing to the marrying couple, who will then be seen as being Married Under Sk’akh, often being being overseen or named under the Head of Sk’akh that they primarily worship.

The Flame Priest of any given church is expected to request funds from the Church of Si’akh for any celebration, with a dedicated treasurer overseeing each church’s spending with allocated funds. While all tithes may be collected by the Flame Priest of a church, the collected tithe is not usable by the church until an approval has been reached from the Church. In order to expedite the process, Archpriests are given the responsibility of overseeing the funds given in their lands, a duty that is not taken lightly by any. An archpriest will generally have a Fiduciary Committee of Flame Priests that are given the direct responsibility of ensuring all requests are filled.

The relation of any Sinta to the priest is not considered as much of a sway as one’s own faithfulness. Flame Priests have spurned their birth parents and children in the name of Sk’akh for attempting to sway their loved ones to bestow favor upon them. While community is vital in Si’akh worship, community is considered something that comes from the understanding that all those around you love Sk’akh, rather than any bloodline or sense of duty towards those in your proximity. In order to be a productive member of one’s society, they must first hold Sk’akh as the primary love in their heart, then one’s neighbor may be held second.

Ranks of the Church

There is no formal requirement to be named to a position in the Church of Si’akh, save appointment by one higher in the faith’s hierarchy. Doctrine states that all such appointments are by the Prophet’s will, though with the growth of the religion this is only true in abstract. The Archpriests, appointed by the Prophet himself, name Grand Flame Priests, who name ordinary Flame Priests, who name peers. Unlike the orthodox Sk’akh Church, there is little in the way of politics or corruption among the faith’s higher ranks, with most of those who have reached such positions being true believers in the Prophet Si’akh and his cause.

Priests are generally assigned to a specific location, with the cause of saving Unathi souls through the word of Si’akh, and turning the locals from their wickedness and sin. This, combined with the faith’s reputation as a doomsday cult, leads to Si’akh priests often being poorly received where they arrive, with some having faced death or injury in the name of their beliefs. In the First Church of the Flame stands the Wall of the Martyred - a monument bearing the names of those who died for the truth of Si’akh, who are believed to stand proudly at the Great Spirit’s side.

Church of Si'akh Hierarchy

• Final High Prophet Born of the Purifying Flames: Sometimes shortened to The Prophet, this is the leader of the Church and the true voice of Sk’akh. This position is currently held by Juzida Si’akh.
• First Speaker of the Flame: The head advisor of The Prophet. They are in charge of the communications between all Archpriests and ensuring that The Prophet’s will is being followed in all Scepts.
• Archpriest: The leaders of the Church. There is one Archpriest for each planet with an official Church Scept. There are currently five Archpriests. They are generally considered to be the advisors of The Prophet, and are led by the First Speaker of the Flame, who is also an Archpriest.
• High Paladin: The leader of the Order of the Flame also holds a distinguished position in the Church of Si’akh, just below that of an Archpriest.
• Grand Flame Priest: The director of a diocese. Makes more local decisions such as renovating churches and missionary outreaches. Paladins of the Order of the Flame are considered to hold the same level of respect as a Grand Priest as well, though have no authority in the Church of Si’akh unless they are also a priest.
• Flame Priest: A priest assigned to a specific town, district or region.
• Peer: A disciple in training.

High Ranking Church Officials

The important people of the Si’akh faith.

Szek Ren’zsar; First Speaker of the Flame, Archpriest of Moghes
Previously a top field correspondent with the Sinta Articles, Szek Ren’zsar spent some time tailing Si’akh as he gathered his followers in late 2465. Ren’zsar spent countless nights listening to Si’akh speak of tales of his past and his plans for the future. Enamored by the man’s charisma, Ren’zsar found himself more and more committed to Si’akh’s newest goal: building a proper church. Ren’zsar began using the connections he made while at the Sinta Articles to subtly push forward Si’akh’s agenda, from gathering skilled crafters and materials to spreading positive words of his newfound faith via the news outlet itself.

Jok'lan Trexus, Archpriest of Ouerea
Trexus was one of the first Si’akh priests on Ouerea. Born in 2429 to a Sk’akh clan on Ouerea, Trexus found himself sickened by the spiritual sundering the Aut’akh inflicted upon their own bodies, and disgusted by the atrocities of the Contact War. Following the war’s end and the departure of the Sol Alliance and Nralakk Federation from Ouerea, Trexus fell into a period of severe depression and butanol addiction, living as a drunken vagrant on the streets of New Skalamar, before hearing a Si’akh preacher and reportedly being overcome with religious fervor and hope for the future. He abandoned the bottle, and joined the Si’akh faith, preaching the Prophet’s word to the Unathi of Ouerea to little success for several years. In 2465, the Prophet Si’akh visited Ouerea himself, and was reportedly impressed by Trexus’s devotion - naming him Archpriest of Ouerea, and blessing his mission in the name of Sk’akh. Trexus now presides over the Conflagrational Scept of Ouerea, and has gathered a small congregation of like-minded souls to preach the truth of Si’akh to all who will listen.

Thime Arrivion, Archpriest of Biesel
Along with Illkari Csorik, Thime Arrivion was one of Si’akh’s first converts, a former soldier of the Izweski Hegemony who grew disgusted with his life of violence after the Contact War devoured Moghes. When Si’akh called for the faithful to travel to Biesel, Arrivion was one of the first to volunteer, believing he would carry Si’akh’s light to sinful alien stars. He arrived in the Republic, along with several others, in the late 2450s, and began attempting to convert those Unathi who had fled or migrated to Tau Ceti. In 2465, Si’akh declared him Archpriest of Biesel, blessing him and naming him leader of the Conflagrational Scept of Valkyrie. Arrivion is reportedly a passionate speaker, who often preaches of the evils that greed and lust for power have brought to Biesel, which has led to his sermons gaining popularity among poor or disenfranchised Unathi - who often see parallels to the evils Arrivion preaches of and the power corporations wield in the Republic. Despite his personal distaste for violence, his followers have often clashed with Sk’akh, Th’akh, and Aut’akh Unathi in the streets, leading to increased religious tension in Unathi communities.

Holn Arrivion, Archpriest of Mictlan
The younger brother of Thime Arrivion, Holn served alongside his brother on Biesel for several years, before the Solarian Collapse and the creation of the Corporate Reconstruction Zone. When Mictlan joined the Republic of Biesel, Holn volunteered to lead a mission to the Free City of Vezdukh, believing the Unathi there to be in desperate need of the Prophet’s salvation. Since arriving, he has worked tirelessly to spread the Prophet’s words to all who will listen, preaching similarly to his brother on the evils that mortal greed and lust for power have wrought on Mictlan - tapping into anti-Biesel sentiment with some measure of success. He has acquired a sizeable congregation within Vezdukh, and several prominent clans have made demands of the Lord Mayor to shut this radical preacher down before he causes a riot. In 2465, Holn’s service was recognised by the Prophet, who named him Archpriest of Mictlan, encouraging him to continue his work on saving the souls of the Mictlani Unathi.

Ka’Akaix’Req K’lax, Archpriest of Vaurca
The leader of the Ssup’vihtal, Ka’Akaix’Req K’lax is the figure that represents all Vaurca that possess Unathi souls. Having grown up on Moghes with the express purpose of leading its people, Req believes that it deeply understands what it means to be Unathi-souled. Req truly believes that The Prophet is a pivotal aspect to the destruction of the Lii’dra, with The Prophet being prophesied to “Light the Great Flame and Burn the Darkness Away.” It is believed that this means that The Prophet will utilize Sk’akh’s power to destroy the “darkness” of Black K’ois. Req takes its position as the Archpriest of Vaurca very seriously, and spends most of its time directly communicating with the other faithful. Req is known to be a shrewd Vaurca that often debates other adherents of Si’akh on their theology, believing that only through complete faith in The Prophet will the War on Lii’dra ever be won.

Reavers of the Flame

The Reavers of the Flame were a fanatical militant holy order that Si’akh created in his early days as messiah. Members of the order were called Reavers, and they were charged with the protection of Si’akh and his followers. They were based in Wasteland forts and guarded pilgrims who traveled for miles to follow Si’akh. The Reavers were a well-known organization that was frequently hunted down by mercenaries and explorers hired by the Hegemony. They armed themselves with Contact War era weaponry and crude ballistic weapons to defend themselves. Reavers were required to burn off their horns, giving them a strange appearance compared to typical Unathi. Joining the Reavers was considered a fast-track to salvation.

The now-defunct Order has largely been integrated into the Order of the Flame, the brainchild of the late Saint Lisek Zentra. Where the Reavers of the Flame were considered by many to be ruthless, honorless thugs that were unafraid to use ambushes and underhanded tactics to gain the upper hand, the Order of the Flame are held to a much higher and more honorable standard, as the Warrior is said to directly watch over their conflicts.

Order of the Flame

The Order of the Flame is a military order formed from the ashes of the Reavers of the Flame. During her time with The Prophet, Saint Lisek Zentra proposed an organized militant force to combat the Maraziite Order. Although the Maraziites were disbanded by the Hegemony, the growth of Si’akh led to a need for greater organization, culminating in the formation of the Order out of former Reavers of the Flame. The Order is sworn to abide by the Warrior’s Code, to obey the commands of the Prophet Si’akh, and to defend the faithful from those who would seek to harm them. The Order is commanded from the First Church of the Flame by the High Paladin, who is answerable only to Si’akh himself. Regional chapters are overseen by Senior Paladins, who command their own force of warriors. Though the Si’akh faith itself is not outlawed in the Hegemony, the presence of an armed religious paramilitary violates several Hegemony laws, requiring members of the Order in Izweski territory to operate largely incognito unless they have some other profession which would permit them to carry weapons. In the Republic of Biesel, the Order is able to operate somewhat more openly - though it is considered a potentially dangerous group by Bieselite law enforcement, it has yet to be connected to any illegal activity.

There are few qualifications required to join the Order - one must petition a Knight-Captain or higher, who may grant Knight-Hopeful status. Similar to the rank of the same name within the Kataphract Guild, a Knight-Hopeful serves as a junior member of the Order to demonstrate their commitment, honor, and skill. There is no set length for how long this period lasts - simply whenever the officer overseeing the Knight-Hopeful decides they are worthy of being named a full member of the Order.

The Order’s largest base of membership is in the Wasteland of Moghes, where many have flocked to its banner - whether out of need, opportunism or genuine faith. Order patrols are common, particularly in the region around the First Church of the Flame, where they managed to drive out several raider clans seeking to target the amassed Si’akh faithful. Even to those Wastelanders who do not follow Si’akh, the Order is generally a welcome sight- often offering their aid and protection to small and poorly defended Wasteland settlements. Most of the Order’s high-ranking members are former Reavers of the Flame, though since their official formation they have recruited former soldiers, mercenaries, and bandits who sought to find a new purpose in their lives. Offworld, the Order tends to act as more of a community defense organization for Si’akh followers, with members on Ouerea, Mictlan, and Biesel often patrolling Si’akh-majority areas - a practice which has led to accusations of vigilantism and gang activity from those outside the faith.

Ranks of the Order

Order of the Flame Hierarchy

• High Paladin: The leader of the Order. The High Paladin is generally responsible for the well-being of all Si’akh believers, and the death of any follower caused by a heathen or heretic is considered a failing of the High Paladin.
• Senior Paladin: The leaders of the order. Generally, they will lead their own branches of the Order, and have close ties with the Church of Si’akh. A Senior Paladin is expected to have a strong relationship with the Archpriest that oversees the area that they operate in.
• Paladin: Low-level leaders of the order. Paladins are typically lifted from the upper ranks of Knighthood, and are taught to train other members of the Order. They are given important positions such as trainers, overseeing knight operations and may be given charge over Grand Priests, with the best given charge over Archpriests.
• Knight Captain: Senior Knights that have been given command over other Knights. They are expected to lead the Knights from the front.
• Senior Knight: Knights that have distinguished themselves in the Order. They hold no command over other Knights, and are generally given charge of a Priest.
• Knight: Rank-and-file members of the Order. These are the most numerous.
• Knight Hopeful: Outsiders that wish to join the Order are given the rank of Knight Hopeful. When a Squire is given Knighthood, they skip this rank, as it is exclusively used for adults that join, rather than children that are born into the Order.
• Squire: Sinta between the ages of six to sixteen are placed in the charge of a Knight and taught to become an honorable warrior of the Order.

The Sin Counters

Unofficially considered to be Si’akh’s Order of the Fisher, the Sin Counters are a group of monks that travel the wasteland compiling a list of sins of each Unathi they meet. Cclad in a basic leather tunics and bearing nothing but a scale and a leatherbound book, they strive to meet as many Unathi as they can to get their sins written into their books. They are generally charismatic, and will spend a day or two with each person, giving nothing but their complete undivided attention to them on the outside. On the inside, they are compiling a list of all sins that the person commits or admits to committing. This list is not used to belittle sinners, but is held until the sinner is ready to face their judgment before the Fisher. The Sin Counter who has compiled a list of their sins will take the sinner to a secluded area and blindfold them, before lighting a flame and allowing the sinner to speak and repent their sins before the Fisher. Once they have repented their sins themselves, the monk will bestow one of their past sins upon the reformed sinner, and cast the sinner’s page or pages into the flames.

Sin Counters, as a Fisher institution, only allow fishers into their ranks. They will take this to the highest level by ritualistically burning their gender away in flames. While some believe that this act turns away the other two main aspects of Sk’akh, the Sin Counters believe that this act is not an act against the other two, but a show of utter devotion to the Fisher and balance. They believe that the black scales of the Fisher are the remains of charred sins that the Fisher has agreed to take upon Themself in order to balance the Material and Spirit worlds, and that only through the monks’ work do They offer true salvation and cleansing to the Material world.

The Doomsayers

The Doomsayers are a radical splinter faith of Si’akh that believe that the only cure to the spiritual plight of the Unathi people is to free all spirits from their vessels using the cleansing flame of a nuclear explosion. While the term “Doomsayer” was originally an offensive epithet against them, those that believe in the re-nuking of Moghes have taken the title on as a unifying name and goal. The claim that the only true salvation comes in the fires of another nuclear war is unsupported and unfounded, with The Prophet stating that the Contact War was caused by the Fisher in an act of divine balancing, and that souls must now trickle into the Spirit world once being cleansed of their sins. The Prophet has stated that there is no easy or quick path to redemption, and that a second nuclear war would merely delay the cleansing of impure souls, as only pure souls were allowed to meet Sk’akh during the Contact War. Due to the fact that this sect fundamentally disagrees with the word of The Prophet, the Doomsayers typically count among them priests that disagree with The Prophet as well as priests that have abandoned their mission to bring redemption to others and seek their own death and embrace of Sk’akh. With the advent of the legitimization of Si’akh and the founding of the Church of Si’akh, a small number have fled to the Doomsayers’ side, citing that The Prophet has forgotten his practice of wandering without possession. The Prophet has dismissed these claims as the word of sinful priests that cannot be trusted.

The Ssup’vihtal

The Ssup’vihtal are a group of queenless Vaurca that were originally from Vehdra’s brood. After spending time in the wastelands of Moghes, Ta’Akaix’Vihtal’akhen’flei heard rumors of The Prophet, a Flame Priest that wandered about and spread his religion with true fervor. Shortly afterwards, Vihtal received a vision from Sk’akh themselves, a portent of things to come: Juzida Si’akh - The Prophet she had heard of - would play a key role in the destruction of the Lii’dra. Bringing this information to Vehdra, Vihtal was turned away and told to disregard the musings of an old, mad Unathi. Vihtal would not, however, disregard the thought of The Prophet. Enacting a plan in secret, Vihtal created the first group of Ssup’vihtal, including both Ka’Akaix’Req and Za’Akaix’Aru, who were infused with the very first Unathi Souls using a technique that Sk’akh themselves had given to Vihtal. While Vehdra has not forgotten Vihtal’s request, she has not made a formal declaration condemning the Ssup’vihtal, despite most Vaurca considering the splinter group to be defective.

Ta’Akaix’Vihtal’akhen’flei K’lax is the true leader of the Ssup’vihtal. Vihtal was contacted by Sk’akh and informed that Juzida Si’akh is pivotal against a New Coming of the Lii’dra. In secret, Vihtal imbues eggs given to her with Unathi souls from Sk’akh and teaches them of Si’akh before sending them to The Prophet. While initially a contentious subject, The Prophet embraced the Ssup’vihtal after he received a vision from Sk’akh that their souls were just as legitimate as any soul in a Unathi vessel. The knowledge that the Ssup’vihtal possess Unathi souls has led to their individual treatment being remarkably better than that of their kin elsewhere. Many Ssup’vihtal warriors have found their way into the Order of the Flame as knights, and many Ssup’vihtal workers have found their way into the Church of Si’akh, with Ka’Akaix’Req K’lax and Za’Akaix’Aru K’lax being the two most notable Ssup’vihtal.

While the original Ssup’vihtal were all born from Vihtal, the Ssup’vihtal will accept any Vaurca that can prove that they, too, possess Unathi souls. Generally, only Vaurca that were born on Moghes are considered to have Unathi souls, as Moghes is a spiritual hotspot for Sk’akh activity. It is not unheard of for Unathi souls to find their way into Vaurca outside of Vihtal’s direct intervention, as the spiritual energy that pervades the planet allows Sk’akh to influence other broods as well.

Ka’Akaix’Req K’lax is often considered the “leader” of the Ssup’vihtal. While Vihtal’akhen’flei is the true leader of the faction, she still operates in secret in order to continue to secure eggs from Vehdra. Req has claimed that it named the faction after Vihtal in honor of its upbringing, and has secured itself a position in the Church of Si’akh as an Archpriest, representing all Vaurca with Unathi souls. The oldest of the Ssup’vihtal, Req was created with the express goal of leading all subsequent Ssup’vihtal and is thus privy to all of the secrets that the faction may hold. Wise beyond its years, Req swiftly rose through the ranks of the Church of Si’akh and was appointed as Archpriest of Vaurca upon the legitimization of the church. It is a devout follower of The Prophet and has found itself a close confidant of both The Prophet as well as the First Speaker of the Flame, enacting their will upon the Ssup’vihtal.

Za’Akaix’Aru K’lax is considered the “co-leader” or “secondary leader” of the Ssup’vihtal. A Senior Paladin in the Order of the Flame, Aru is a powerful warrior that holds a sway over all Vaurca of the Order of the Flame. While the Order of the Flame members hold loyalty to their commanding Paladin, all Vaurcan Knights hold Aru to be their true Paladin. Aru was born of the same clutch as Req and was given the duty to protect its sibling. Aru is considered a quintessential Paladin, and many Unathi knights will look up to it as a shining example of what any member of the Order should strive to be.

The Ssup’vihtal are of two minds with regards to their souls. Some believe that the lone soul inhabiting their body is that of a Unathi soul, where some believe that their body is inhabited both by a Unathi soul as well as a Vaurcan soul. Generally, it is believed that Ssup’vihtal will have their souls recycled and placed back onto the Material Plane until they have received a blessing of freedom from The Prophet himself. The idea that a Ssup’vihtal is allowed to be reborn and retain their memories in future lives has led many Si’akh adherents to believe that the souls given to the Ssup’vihtal are some of the souls that Sk’akh believes should spend the most time on the Material Plane, be it because they need more help achieving enlightenment or because they are destined to help others. Those with two souls often believe that the Vaurcan soul is meant to assist the Unathi soul in achieving enlightenment to the best of its abilities, with the Vaurcan soul returning to VR after its death. If the Unathi soul is reborn into another two-soul, it will often be given a different Vaurcan partner soul to give it another perspective.

Politics

Si’akh disagrees with the Hegemony on the fundamental level. Si’akh believes that nobility is inherently sinful and wealth inevitably begets greed. The value of a soul is not determined by any factor of the material world, but the strength and purity of one’s spirit. A frequent rallying cry of the Si’akh faithful is “no lords but the Great Spirit”, a rejection of the feudal system which has governed Moghes for centuries. To many of the nobility, Si’akh is a dangerous and radical cult which threatens to overturn the order of society, and many will seek to drive his preachers out of their lands where they are found. In spite of this, however, some among the nobility, particularly in the Wasteland-bordering Zazalai Mountains, have converted to Si’akh, citing the devastation of their homes as proof of their sinful lives. These nobles tend to still hold their titles, but many abandon the luxuries of their position, choosing to dress humbly and give a vast majority of their wealth to the Church or those less fortunate than themselves.

The Hegemony has little love lost for Si’akh, but has yet to take open action against the Prophet and his faithful, despite demands from the more zealous Sk’akh nobility. With the establishment of the First Church of the Flame acting as a major target for those who oppose Si’akh, it remains to be seen if this uneasy peace will last. Si’akh is notably on decent terms with Queen Lazak Szek’Hakh, who has often allowed him to pass through her lands - though the establishment of the First Church of the Flame near the borders of her realm has reportedly strained this relationship, with many of her fellow nobles demanding that she do something about these radical heretics, despite her lack of forces with which to do so.

Si’akh and Aliens

Si’akh is largely focused on the souls of Unathi, believing them to be uniquely damned for their wickedness. It holds to the orthodox Sk’akh view of aliens possessing their own spirits and beliefs, though as the religion has come into more contact with non-Unathi this belief has metamorphosed. Though he solely preaches to Unathi, the sins that damned Moghes are not believed to be unique to Unathi, and Si’akh often calls upon those few aliens who listen to abandon their wicked ways, before the doom that claimed Moghes is visited on their kind as well. In a few of his recent sermons, he has pointed to the Solarian Civil War as an example of unchecked sin, claiming that the various warlords were consumed by their own hunger for wealth and power and encouraging humanity to reject such sinful desires.

The Prophet has noted that Dionae, through their possession of memories and blood of Sinta, are remarkably understanding of the plight of his people. The bonding of Sinta and Diona to replace one’s limb or organ is often considered an expansion of one’s natural soul, as it is one’s own blood that flows through the Diona. The ability to consume radiation has pushed some Fire Priests on Moghes to pursue the utilization of Dionae as a way to augment their faith, believing that by “ingesting” the remnant energy of the Contact War, they are empowering their own blood with the essence of Sk’akh.

Si’akh has yet to release any official stance on synthetics, though the vast majority of the faithful would hold the orthodox Sk’akh position that they are devoid of souls and not considered living beings. Given the rarity of synthetics in the Hegemony, this is far from a pressing matter for the Prophet or his faithful.

Si’akh has no official stance on Tajara nor Skrell outside of a blanket statement that “All aliens who are willing to stand by the faithful are welcome in our Church.”

Sacred Sites/Notable Locations

In 2466, a number of official locations were set up across the Spur. While these locations are relatively new, they hold a great significance to the religion, thus they are each notable for their own reasons.

The First Scept of Flame

Founded in 2466, the First Scept of Flame resides just outside of the Queendom of Szek-Hakh, and serves as the central headquarters of the Church of Si’akh. Constructed in the ruins of a former Merchants’ Guild shipping center, the First Scept of the Flame has rapidly been fortified by a small army of the faithful into a walled settlement home to thousands of Unathi. Since its establishment, the Prophet Si’akh has dwelled there, alongside most of the Church’s leadership - coordinating the spread of his message to anywhere that lost Unathi souls might be found. The large presence of the Order of the Flame, and its proximity to the Queendom of Szek-Hakh’s borders, has reportedly been a great cause of concern to the aging Queen Lazak Szek-Hakh - who now faces both pressure from the other nobles of the Hegemony, and from the army camped on her doorstep. Though several calls for action against the First Scept have been made, the Hegemony has so far done little about its presence.

The Conflagrational Scept of Ouerea

Located in the city of Um’a’yid, the Conflagrational Scept of Ouerea is the center of the Si’akh faith in the Hegemony’s oldest colony. When Judiza Si’akh arrived on Ouerea in 2466, his shuttle landed at Um’a’yid Spaceport, and the city became the first place that his faithful scouted for a church location. Si’akh followers from across Ouerea flocked to Um’a’yid, with many of them contributing financially to the purchase of the Scept’s location. Though other Si’akh scepts have been established in other cities since 2466, the Conflagrational Scept of Ouerea remains the heart of the faith on Ouerea.

The Conflagrational Scept of Valkyrie

Located in the Valkyrie Exchange Terminal, the Conflagrational Scept of Valkyrie is the largest Si’akh scept outside of Moghes, claiming to represent the Si’akh faithful of Tau Ceti and the wider Republic of Biesel. Since its formal establishment, the Bieselite faithful have increasingly moved to Valkyrie in the area around the Scept, with the local chapter of the Order of the Flame forming several community policing initiatives to ensure the protection of the faithful from local criminal organizations. This has led to conflict with several Valkyrian gangs, though so far clashes between Order members and local criminals have remained fairly small-scale.

The Conflagrational Scept of Mictlan

Located in the Free City of Vezdukh, the Conflagrational Scept of Mictlan has grown rapidly since its opening in 2466, with many of the planet’s Unathi population finding sense in the Prophet’s message after the bitter armed conflict which gripped their new home. The Lord Mayor has a low opinion of the Scept, referring to the local Si’akh presence as rabble-rousing fanatics on one occasion - though so far, he has continued to permit the local Flame Priests to preach their Prophet’s message. Si’akh remains a minority in Vezdukh, outnumbered by both Th’akh and Sk’akh faithful - but the Prophet’s words are rapidly gaining popularity, particularly among those who remember the horrors of the Contact War

Religious Holidays

While some holidays do not have a religious bearing, most festivals pertaining to the spirits or some variant are shared by most religions, merely celebrated in different and conflicting ways.

Keeping of Memories

The Keeping of Memories is a holiday that marks the true beginning of Travakh, the Season of Ancestors, though for the Intergalactic Standard, it is traditionally observed on December 7th. A basic festivity in premise, the Keeping of Memories festival is one for Unathi to celebrate their ancestors and the realm that houses them: the spirit world. Though it has been a recorded celebration for centuries, the exact origins of the event have been lost to the contact war, with only fables and stories from each religion giving guesswork as to where it originated.

Traditionally, the day is full of close-knit celebrations to citywide parades, and a majority of Unathi remain unproductive from sunrise to sunset. Feasts are common during this day as one larger meal is prepared in the morning to be enjoyed, allowing the rest of daylight hours to be devoted towards other activities. When food is prepared, portions of it are reserved in remembrance for ancestors who have recently passed, while some food is saved for revered ancestors of note, like clan heroes, renowned warriors, and powerful healers. Food is served to empty seats as Unathi believe the spirits of those lost sit with them on this spiritually-charged occasion.

In preparation for the day, Unathi will often decorate their bodies with paint, though with what often depends on the religion. Th’akh (and, by extension, Aut’akh) often choose symbols or names of those in their clan that no longer walk the lands they do. Children usually receive paintings of fables and stories of old that represent virtues they aspire for. Sk’akh and Si’akh are more uniform; emblematic and larger symbols are drawn along the back, chest, or most of their body. These can represent aspects of the Great Spirit, common prayers, or blessings, all things the receiving Unathi hope to gain by showing favor with Sk’akh. Si’akh recently will specifically show somewhat violent depictions of how they view reincarnation and often go for flames as body paintings.

Celebrations themselves can vary widely from city to city, clan to clan. Parades themselves often include lively music as a centerpiece, with dancing and song from attendees being commonplace. Unathi tend to do this with other observed holidays outside of Hegemony space, which leads to weird looks and strange gazes from other species. Customs of a clan regarding the Keeping of Memories rarely change, though, and it is a chance for the clan elders to remind and teach the young of their own clan’s history and the significance of their traditions.

The holy men of the day remain extraordinarily busy, as one can imagine. Th’akh shamans often anoint clan elders with a blessing of spiritual power so that, in their stead, these Unathi may perform ceremonies and even reach out to the spirit world. Keeping of Memories celebrations lead to the spirit world’s boundaries weakening, Unathi say, and so reaching out to specific ancestors becomes easier to do, with the right offerings and preparation. However, Sk’akh priests do not believe the power they wield can be ‘lent’ as Th’akh does. As a result, these priests are needed in the flesh to perform ceremonies, and to prevent being overworked, a handsome tithe from the entire clan is required to be given to the Sk’akh Church.

Despite this, all Unathi share one concrete aspect of the holiday: the retelling of stories. Whether Sk’akh parables, notable memories of ancestors, or ancient fables of healer-shamans and warrior-heroes, Unathi take the occasion to tell stories with one another. It is appropriate for Unathi to share these stories with those they know and people they have never met, for a person never truly dies if their memories live on.

Final Judgement

In a sort of twisted means of reverence, those that follow Si’akh make a grand display and festival of the day the first atomic weapons were used in the Contact War. On September 5th of each year, Si’akh’s followers make a grand display of thanking Sk’akh for the war. Those outside of the faith will view it as a disturbing celebration of one of the worst modern catastrophes in Unathi history; those of Si’akh’s devout know it is celebrating the Unathi that were deemed worthy by Sk’akh and went to join them in eternal paradise. Originally intended to be a day of religious importance on Moghes and in the Wasteland, people who cannot make the pilgrimage to the Wasteland can do it wherever they are. These practices were gleaned from Si’akh’s routine and instructions to his first followers on this day.

The start of the day is a rigorous one. When celebrating the holiday, someone must be awake before the sun rises— this is being mentally awake, too, so typically, this is very early in the morning, even by autumn standards. The day begins with a rigorous prayer to Sk’akh and an admission of guilt and sin. Verbal recognition is made that the worshiper is unworthy of Sk’akh’s generous gifts and even the fraction of a chance to be redeemed offered by Si’akh. After completing this and whatever other rituals and prayers a devotee personalizes, they gather their daily things: a bag of jerky and two gallons of water. The day and subsequent week is one of fasting, without even water barring specific times every other day. Even then, Si’akh’s followers are permitted only two gallons of water for the week, regardless of individual need. The jerky and the water at the end of the week are burned and dumped, respectively, were one successful in not consuming them.

Typically, followers meet up with others for celebration. At this "celebration," there is no food, no drink, no usual luxuries found at other parties, and this meeting resembles more of a Sk’akh day of summons than anything else. However, even by any religion’s standards, this mass is remarkably grim. The firebrand sermon is given, though only after being precluded by a romanticization of the events of the Contact War. A sense of longing is made clear by the priest and those listening to them; particularly dark speeches will openly pine for the death so many were granted when faced with atomic annihilation.

When the sermon is over, things begin to liven up marginally. There are performances of "flaming foxtrots," elaborate dances between two fighters with their weapons ignited. They can be Reavers of the Flame or other warriors, but Reavers are accustomed to this method of fighting. They do this in the Wasteland by drenching their blades in oil, then getting friction with the hot sand with a couple of stabbing motions into the gravel to ignite it. Nonetheless, the displays are brilliant and terrifying, with some of them ending in light to moderate burns for either performer. Such simple displays of energy and passion for the religion are seen not as luxuries, but as proof of one’s vigor, belief, and hope in purifying the Sinta species. Other exchanges are made between casual attendees, whether confessions to those close to them or encouraging each other to continue down the path Si’akh has trotted before them.

The Fire Priests are stolen away for much of the event to attend to the individual confessions and help encourage people down the path of salvation. Should someone’s sins in a confession prove to be great, the Fire Priests will begin a ritual: the Purifying Immolation. The specifics of the event are shrouded in mystery due to all Si’akh followers being sworn to secrecy about it. Despite this, rumors have begun to circulate that include scarification or mutilation of some kind, or even flogging. None of this has been proven true by any authority due to the niche cult’s insular behaviors outside of proselytizing.

At the day’s end, the ritual of sunset looks similar to the one performed at sunrise, with one major detail: the end is a question of asking for Sk’akh’s forgiveness, so one may join them in the Beastlands after the ordeal is done. Some have said they received prophetic dreams the night of from Sk’akh’s xzarak and have been redeemed. However, the only true way of knowing will be in death.

Saints Day

The newest recognized holiday of Si’akh is Saints Day, celebrated on January 13th. A somber day, this holiday is observed in remembrance of Saints Illkari Csorik and Lisek Zentra being sent to Dominia. The day is spent attempting to understand what it means to become one with Sk’akh and named a devout follower for one’s life on the Material Plane. The first two hours of one’s day is expected to be spent in complete silence, to understand what it means to no longer have a living form to communicate with others around oneself.

A ceremony is held at the end of the day, with all Si’akh being expected to attend their closest place of worship and burning an effigy of Dominia, most likely including either the official flag of Dominia, a house flag or an icon resembling such. Adherents are expected to observe in silence the burning of the effigy, and as the flames burn to ash, all in attendance are expected to place blindfolds over their eyes to symbolize the departure from the Material Plane. After a meditation session during the blindfolded period, adherents remove their blindfolds and are “reborn” into the World, ready to further cleanse the sins of themselves and others. Saints Day is generally recognized as a “yearly reset” of sorts, with all sins washing off oneself as they are reborn into the Material Plane.

Fire Priests are expected to look over all adherents during the observation of Saints Day. They are not required to blindfold themselves, as they are expected to guide their followers through the ceremony, keeping a watchful eye for those who attempt to peek - something seen frequently in less learned hatchlings. Those that peek out of their blindfolds are often lectured on the fact that Saints Csorik and Zentra were unable to peek from their blindfolds as they were executed by not only humans, but corrupted Sinta of The Empire.