User:NewOriginalSchwann/Sandbox
An unusual syncretic religion originating upon the planet of Assunzione, Luceism is descended from a variety of faiths held by the original colonists that first emerged following the unexpected extinguishing of Assunzione’s star in 2274. It is the state religion of Assunzione and has unprecedented influence over the affairs of the planet’s government and its people, ranging from Church politics to the very ideals that govern the world.
Unlike its precursor Abrahamic religions, Luceism is unique in that it does not revere ancient historical figures or deities - rather, its faith focuses on the anomalous and yet-unexplained extinguishing, or Dimming, of the Assunzione system’s star. Its deity is a genderless, non-anthropomorphic entity known as Ennoia, the symbolic representation of light itself, believed to hold unparalleled influence over the universe. Devoid of natural sources, save for the stars in the sky, light is a precious resource in the confines of Assunzione and its people. To them, light represents truth, guidance, protection, and vision - to be stripped of light is to be lost and blind, not only to one’s surroundings but to their faith, their future, and their friends and family.
Luceism is unique in that it does not necessarily devote its following to worshiping its deity Ennoia; rather, it is a religion focused on self-improvement and improvement of the community, promoting above all else charitable acts and bettering oneself, with Ennoia acting more as a guide than as a centerpoint. As a syncretic religion, Luceism draws elements from all manners of past faiths, from the structures and ceremonies of Christianity, to the concept of internal masteries spearheaded by Buddhism, to the dualistic themes of Gnosticism.
Liturgical History
Luceian texts dating back to its founding attribute the survival of Assunzione during the Dimming to the power and foresight of Ennoia. The star's already-anomalous behavior led to unstable weather patterns on Assunzione’s then-habitable surface, causing climate fluctuations that disrupted crop growth and were detrimental to colonists’ health. Initially, these were shrugged off as natural aspects of the planet. However, over several months, various prominent figures in Assunzione’s society – ranging from engineers and scientists to the Governor of Assunzione – concluded that these anomalies would worsen. They believed that the colonies needed shielding from further interference to prevent conditions from becoming intolerable. These individuals’ accounts can be considered the foundational testaments of modern Luceism, and their testimonies would prove critical to establishing the religion in the future.
Recorded accounts point to a curious coincidence: each of these figures had their revelations within the same year, 2254, exactly 20 years before the Dimming, all in dreams. Their reports describe visions of cataclysmic events, from meteor showers to devastating cold snaps, and even premonitions of the star itself extinguishing. Although none believed the latter at the time – despite it being the system’s ultimate fate – they were still inspired to protect against these potential disasters.
The Dimming and the Miracle
When the Dimming occurred in 2274, chaos ensued despite the planet’s preparations. The transition to geothermal energy from solar was incomplete when the star extinguished, leading to rolling blackouts and critical shortages of light and heat. The dome cities were plunged into cold waves, with thousands dying of hypothermia. Desperate attempts to keep warm led to fires that ravaged the cities. Furthermore, much of Assunzione’s food supply, grown outside the domes in the planet’s atmosphere, withered away as temperatures plummeted to hostile levels, additionally decimating the local fauna. The people of Assunzione were cold, hungry, and dying daily.
However, in what was then called the “Miracle of Assunzione” – or in modern Luceian terminology, “Ennoia’s Grace” – a significant portion of the population managed to subsist on underground-grown crops and farms. Starving citizens prioritized their community, working tirelessly to bring geothermal power plants online. Though many died in the process, power was eventually restored to the cities, giving heat and light to its citizens once more.
Three years after the Dimming in 2277, as society stabilized, Luceism was founded. Though the founder's name is lost to history – with at least two dozen names cited – it is generally agreed that Luceism was built by multiple people. It united the people of Assunzione, who all sought answers to their star’s mysterious fate and their collective suffering.
Early Growth
In the wake of the Dimming, as Assunzione grappled with its new reality, the seeds of Luceism began to take root in the collective consciousness of its people. The religion grew organically, a beacon of hope and understanding in a world that had been plunged into darkness and despair. It started as small gatherings in homes and community centers, where people shared their experiences, fears, and hopes. These meetings often involved collective meditations, discussions about the nature of light and darkness, and the sharing of dreams and visions that many believed were messages from Ennoia. As these ideas resonated with more people, the gatherings grew larger, and the informal network of believers began to form a more cohesive structure.
The teachings of the new generation of Foresayers, coupled with the shared experiences of survival and resilience, became the cornerstone of Luceism. People found solace in the idea that there was a greater purpose and meaning to their suffering, and that by mastering the internal dichotomy between lightness and darkness, they could emerge stronger and more enlightened. The concept of the Four Flames – Self, Community, Faith, and Light – provided a framework for this understanding, offering a path for spiritual and personal development. Stories of the Miracle of Assunzione, where the community's collective efforts led to survival against all odds, were told and retold, becoming central myths within Luceism, embodying the religion's emphasis on community and the power of collective action.
As Luceism’s influence grew, it began to formalize its practices and doctrines. The first temples and cathedrals were constructed, serving as sanctuaries of light where the faithful could gather. The clergy, initially just respected members of the community who had shown deep understanding and commitment to the religion's principles, began to take on more defined roles. Rituals and ceremonies were developed, drawing from the people's diverse cultural heritage, and integrating elements that resonated with the Luceian philosophy. The religion's growth was not just a response to a crisis but a reflection of a deep human need for connection, understanding, and a way to make sense of the universe's mysteries.
Early Luceism borrowed heavily from dominantly Catholic and Eastern Orthodox themes, reflecting the colony’s strong Mediterranean ancestry. Many of these themes persist to this day, from the pew-based designs of Luceian churches to the structure of the clergy, and even the use of wine as a sacrament in Luceian mass.
Theology
Light and stars are the main driving aspects of the Luceian faith, and many go to great lengths to lighting up houses of worship, altars, or in the case of Assunzione, entire cities. Artificial and natural light are of equal precedence, though natural sunlight, being a foreign concept to Assunzione, is often revered as having fantastical properties to followers, with many Luceians traveling abroad having awe-filled reactions to seeing daylight for the first time in their lives.
Light, in addition to physically allowing a person to see, also symbolizes the concepts of clarity, knowledge, protection, and nature. Light is what allows most forms of life to thrive and sense their surroundings, giving them not only nourishment but also the power of senses.
It should be noted that Luceians regard “light” scientifically as any form of electromagnetic radiation, meaning that infrared, ultraviolet, radio, and even ionizing radiation can be considered as light, though visible light is naturally the most desirable and most worshiped, and harmful radiation is avoided (though revered).
Aside from electrical light, candles and flames are popularly used in the religion, due to their ability to produce both heat and light. Simple candles, typically purple, red, or white in color, are used in home altars alongside a warding sphere, while flames – typically lit by gas – crown the four pillars of a Luceian church, flanking the central warding sphere at the church’s center.
Warding Spheres
Perhaps the most famous representation of light in the Luceian faith are its manifestations in the form of warding spheres – bioluminescent crystal bulbs. The warding sphere is the core religious object and symbol of the Luceian faith, and alongside the Luceian amulet, is core to followers of the religion, especially those who travel abroad. It is said that warding spheres can shine a directed light that will always point towards Assunzione in the night sky.
The warding sphere is made of luce vine bulbs (see below), and crafted by the Spheremakers of Guelma, masters of glassmaking who are able to fashion perfect crystal spheres to hold the vine’s fruit inside of. The bulb inside each sphere is chemically treated to be able to give off a faint yet persistent light for decades on end before burning out, without requiring any source of external energy.
On Assunzione, every household is encouraged (but not required) to keep a warding sphere in their home, sat atop an altar. Said altar can be as simple or as elaborate as the sphere’s owner permits or can otherwise afford, but all altars always contain the warding sphere and some sort of stand for it to rest on. The preferred “stand” for a stationary altar is a Cushion of Light, a violet down pillow covered in velvet with gold inlays, with a divot in its center for the warding sphere to rest on. In absence of a pillow, either due to space, flammability, or availability (such as living in a remote location), a metal stand may be substituted that keeps the sphere stationary and elevated above the altar’s surface.
Traveling Sphere
Abroad, most Luceians are almost mandated to be given a warding sphere to guide them on their travels; such warding spheres are smaller than the home variant and are always found secured in a cushioned metal casing, emblazoned with the Eye of Ennoia. The casing is designed to withstand drops of up to 20 meters or harsh impacts without damaging or cracking the sphere inside, and traveling Luceians keep it within said casing unless in a safe location such as their lodging or residence while abroad.
Doctrine does not mandate that Luceians carry a warding sphere wherever they go, but rather, that they are placed in a highly-frequented location by its owner, so that its owner may meet the light of Ennoia at least once or twice a day. It is for this reason that most prefer to keep their warding sphere at home, though those who do carry a sphere around do so with it inside the protective casing.
Shattering a Sphere
The shattering or breakage of a warding sphere is considered an enormous taboo in Luceism, and doing so, intentionally or unintentionally, is said to inflict a curse on its owner until they can receive a new one. In order to do so, they must travel all the way back to Assunzione to have one again, a journey said to be rife with bad luck as one ventures forth without Ennoia to guide them. Coalition of Colonies law prohibits the third-party resale or redistribution of warding spheres, and as such the Pyramidical Church are the only ones authorized to give them out through their authorized churches.
Luce Vine
The very namesake of Luceism, the luce vine is regarded as the last remaining native fauna species of Assunzione. The vine, which resembles a lavender ivy, managed to survive the Dimming’s immense cold and lack of sunlight, making up for the latter with its bioluminescent fruit, known as luce bulbs. They are regarded as nothing short of miracles, a symbol of hope for the generation that endured the Dimming, and what would later become revered as a “sign from Ennoia” following Luceism’s founding.
On Assunzione, luce vines often are grown and cultivated on walls of buildings, decorating otherwise-featureless brick and stone faces with beautiful purple facades of the vine. They are also present in churches, building interiors, and can even be grown abroad. Luce vine is known for being one of very few non-fungal plants in the Spur that can thrive in low light conditions, and as a result are also popularly found on foreign spaceships and moons.
===Pendant
Secondary to the warding sphere is the Luceian amulet, a pendant constructed out of 18-karat gold, adorned with ruby gemstones at its eight corners surrounding the Eye of Ennoia. The pendant is commonly carried by Luceians traveling abroad, often in tandem with a warding sphere. The ubiquity of the pendants and their construction of precious jewelry is a testament to Assunzione’s rich mining deposits, and serves both as a religious icon and a boast about how materially gifted the planet of Assunzione is, as one blessed by Ennoia.
It is both the material and spiritual value of these amulets that prompt them to be kept well-maintained and regularly cleaned by its wearers, who believe that the amulet is a bringer of fortune to those who wear it. While losing or breaking the amulet is not nearly as big a deal as with warding spheres, selling it voluntarily for money is extremely shameful.
Scripture
Forming the holy book of the religion is the Luceian Book of Scripture, a collection of historically-backed texts that discuss the teachings and history of Luceism. In between historical segments, there are fictional fables interspersed in Scripture that intend to teach followers about certain aspects of the religion, like the Four Flames, that often display rewards for those that follow the light and consequences for those that are consumed by darkness.
Although the divine aspects of Luceism’s history, such as the predictions of the future, are questioned by the greater historical community, the events as they transpired are generally agreed to be real, able to be backed by photographic and video evidence - some Scripture editions even come with photographs of such events. Scripture, therefore, is intended to be an interpretation of events in the form of stories, intending to weave the disparate happenings of Assunzione’s history into a narrative that backs the reasoning and existence of the faith to begin with.
Passages from Scripture often tell of Ennoia’s teachings, as well as fundamentals of the religion and core beliefs. They can be read for meditation, during Mass, or as part of prayer.
Garb and Miscellany
The garments worn by Keepers and other members of the Clergy are typically a rich, royal purple in color, of varying elaborateness. Stewards wear robes made entirely of purple, while Keepers will have their robes with gold inlays with the Luceian Square embroidered on the back. Wardens and Luminaries will have more ornate gold patterns with luminescent patterns layered on top. Luminaries may also dress in white, with purple accents, for formal occasions. All garb is worn on top of a black cassock with purple shoulder accents and a black belt with a gold buckle.
Astructural clergy are allowed to wear the same garments as Pyramidical clergy, however many also opt for unique clothing, typically of business casual or bespoke robes fashioned of purple or violet cloth, sometimes adorned with gold. The luminous accents of ecclesiastical garb are woven of a fiber derived from luce vines, and inherit their bioluminescent properties. The fibers are treated in a similar way to warding spheres to be able to glow for prolonged periods of time without burning out; however, they do not last nearly as long as a sphere in their light, and must be replaced regularly. Because of this, garments containing the threads usually have them on different, easily-separable layers, so as to not waste the delicate velvet and craftsmanship underneath the accents.
Stars
Stars are a fundamental aspect of Luceian theology. Being the brightest objects in the night sky, stars are revered as being the holiest objects in the universe, due to the presence of Ennoia being strongest within them. It is said the stronger a star burns, the more divine energy it possesses.
Luceian doctrine teaches that all things, living and nonliving, were descended from holy stardust, and as their soul moves on in the afterlife, their body decays into the earth, soon to return to stardust itself.
The Star of Assunzione
Assunzione’s Star (also known as Assunzione Prime in astronomical contexts), with its true name lost to history, is an enigmatic black dwarf star at the center of the Assunzione star system, with anomalous properties and history that, even after over two hundred years of scientific research, have still not been uncovered. It is regarded as the most holy star of Luceism, and the “eternal hope” of Luceians is to have the Star reignite and return to providing life-giving energy to Assunzione’s cold, dark surface once more.
Every theory attempting to explain its extinguishing since the Dimming have failed to hold water, with the largest holes being the Star’s lack of a supernova, and its remnant’s total lack of residual light, such as in the form of a white dwarf. It is for this reason that many have turned to religion, worshiping the Star’s impossible nature until science can find answers. But despite the tireless attempts of both native Assunzioni scientists as well as those from various organizations, corporations, and even help from Skrell researchers, no concrete answers have been found.
In Scripture, the Star is sometimes referred to as “the Prison”, holding Ennoia’s true essence captive within the confines of a dead star. The texts describe Ennoia sacrificing its body, the Star, to provide life to the rest of the stars in the Universe at the cost of its own. While known traditionally as the “Dimming”, the event can also be referred to in more divine contexts as the “Sacrifice”, and great emphasis is put on the act of selflessness in the religion as a result. When referring to events or the Star, great care should be taken not to refer to it as a tomb or final resting place, for Ennoia is not dead – while its “true form” rests inside its Prison, its essence burns in every form of light in the Universe. As such, Luceians use light itself as their object of worship, believing themselves to be basking in Ennoia’s presence whenever they are standing in light.
Reignition
The ultimate spiritual goal of Luceism is to seek Reignition, or the resurrection of the Star; to reignite it and let it bathe Assunzione in sunlight once more. Prayer and contemplation, as well as self-improvement, charity, and adherence to the religion’s Four Flames are said to contribute “spiritual light” that provides fuel for the Star’s eventual relighting.
Divinity
Ennoia
Ennoia is simply described in Luceian texts as the deified representation of light itself. Many wrongly believe that Ennoia is found only in Assunzione or its Star – rather, Ennoia is present everywhere there is light, and everywhere there are stars. It is not a personified entity by any sense, and as such it lacks a form. It is omnipotent, impersonal, and touches the hearts and minds of every single being in the universe that bask in light.
In Luceism, Ennoia is treated more as a fundamental part of the universe rather than a sentient entity that demands worship; however, it is believed Ennoia can still listen to and answer prayers, and followers are encouraged to commune with it regularly, for guidance and wisdom.
A recurring theme of Ennoia’s guidance is the manifestation of its light as a “beacon”, shining on the correct path of decisions or life that a person should take. It is said that those who receive Ennoia’s guidance are guided on a path that is the best for them, as a person, and not necessarily the “correct” or “easiest” one. With faith in Ennoia, one will always find themselves remaining in light, even if they feel as though they are in a dark place.
Since Ennoia is amorphous, any attempts to depict it usually end with it being symbolized abstractly. Besides the simpler Eye of Ennoia on the Luceian Square, Ennoia itself may also be specifically depicted as a series of interlocking wheels representative of the orbits of planets in the system, surrounding a flaming eye representative of its long-extinguished Star.
Guardians
Similar to Angels in concept are the Guardians of the Stars, ascended souls who have passed from the mortal realm and became protectors of star systems. These immortal, fundamental Guardians are tasked with the protection of their host star system, nurturing whatever resources may be in them, and some may even be gifted life in their guardianship planets, should they nurture their home well.
Not every Star is home to a Guardian, and it is said that only stars protected under a Guardian’s watch may ever be able to have native, multicellular life develop in one of their system’s planets. Assunzione’s Guardian, being an exception, is Ennoia itself, albeit locked away in its Star, unable to give the gifts it once did to its system.
Foresayers
As a hybrid of both a prophet and a saint, Foresayers are influential, mortal individuals in Luceian history who are said to have been gifted with foresight – the ability to tell the future – and are tasked with spreading the word to those around them. The original Foresayers are those who founded modern Luceism and were also its first Keepers. Today, no officially-recognized Foresayers remain that are alive, although the Church does investigate claims of witnesses believing one to be gifted with foresight.
Foresayers are said in history to have consistently been able to predict certain events in the form of dreams. The Foresayers themselves, on testimony, state that their dreams are often vague, but convey a message, and it is up to the Foresayer themselves to draw a conclusion; said conclusion will usually mirror or even match an event in the near future. Besides premonition, though, no additional spiritual “powers” are given to Foresayers blessed with Ennoia’s foresight, remaining mortal and subject to the afterlife cycle like everyone else.
A total of 63 Foresayers have been canonized by the Church in Luceism’s history, 24 of which were the original Keepers of the faith, present after the Dimming and teaching Luceism until their deaths or retirements.
Chapters
Like most religions, Luceism has fissured into different chapters of followers, who worship in different ways. While several small, divergent chapters exist, two primary ones dominate Assunzione and most of its people: the Pyramidical chapter and the Astructural chapter.
While they differ in both ideologies and structure, both major chapters are united in their core opinions of Luceism as a gateway to self-betterment and well being, following the Four Flames.
Pyramidical Chapter
The Pyramidical Chapter is the dominating, traditionalist-oriented chapter of Luceism and the religion’s most iconic. The chapter is named after its hierarchical structure being in the shape of a pyramid, with Ennoia forming the tip and Luceian followers forming its foundation. Its power and influence leads to calling the organization of Pyramidicalists as the Church, a singular body responsible for overseeing the main religious activities of Luceism across Assunzione. Adhering to a rigid structure, Pyramidicalists behave much more similarly to Abrahamic roots, holding regular mass, having a structured clergy, and following established chants and prayers.
Pyramidicalists, as its members are called, are typically more conservative in Luceism’s beliefs and extensions across its people, though more liberal-minded followers exist as well. Pyramidicalists often believe Luceism is the supreme religion, and place more respect in their Keepers as divine heralds of Ennoia, with Pyramidicalists believing that ministers must receive Ennoia’s blessings to be able to practice.
Astructural Chapter
Contrary to the Pyramidical chapter is the Astructural chapter, also known as Astructuralism or even Mysticism, named for its non-adherence to a solid rank structure and instead placing followers and all clergy on equal footing. Astructuralists believe the clergy not to be granted divine rights by Ennoia, but are more analogous to teachers and professors, in that they are there to spread knowledge while coming from any background or birthright. Astructural clergy base their members not on rank and seniority, but on piety and faith alone, using more abstract methods to define the influence and faith a person has.
Astructuralists are separate from the Church, and hold next to no political influence on Assunzione, both because of their relative size and youth and because they are simply not interested in the power wielded by the Pyramidicalist Church, preferring to keep their communes simple and localized. Both the Pyramidical Church and the government still recognize Astructuralism as a legitimate chapter, if not the “true” one, and the government of Assunzione provides a similar level of oversight and aid as necessary to Astructuralists while Pyramidicalists allow Astructural followers into their churches.
Astructuralists are more liberal-minded in their concepts of religion, taking a more humble, even-footed approach to their religion. Astructuralists are more likely to be understanding of other faiths and focus more on personal faith and beliefs than Pyramidicalists do. This means they are inherently less unified as a religion than Pyramidicalists are, instead practicing self-mastery more than just worship. Astructuralism, while a vast minority on Assunzione itself, has found itself to have a growing following in the Coalition of Colonies, even to those not from Assunzione.
Sunlight Luceism
Since Assunzione’s rediscovery and welcoming into the greater Coalition, variants of Luceism have made their way into foreign worlds, whose people appreciated and adapted the moral teachings and spiritualities of Luceism as their own. Known as Sunlight Luceism, named for its followers living under active stars, the religion has seen unintentional spread across the Coalition and the spontaneous creation of churches and monasteries across its space. Sunlight Luceism follows both major chapters of the faith, with Pyramidicalism being more popular in established urban centers like Xanu and even Biesel, while Astructuralism is more popular in smaller, more remote worlds.
Several Pyramidical churches exist on prominent Coalition planets such as Xanu Prime and Konyang, and a few have even made their way to Biesel, lighting the metropolitan streets with their beacons.
Minority Chapters
Even smaller than Astructuralism are the existence of miniscule, unrecognized minority chapters both on and outside of Assunzione. Due to the openness of both Pyramidicalism and Astructuralism, these chapters, outcast from the two, are almost always radical in ideologies. These range from the supremacy of Luceism above all else to the advocation of the extermination of synthetic life, contrary to the passive teachings of the two main chapters of Luceism. Both the Pyramidical and Astructural chapters invariably denounce the ideologies of these minorities, and their influence as a result has been greatly diminished.