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Jehvoss, The Father of the Empire

Jehvoss, the father, The guiding light

 

Symbol: The sigil of the Empire

Highest god of the Empire and Humankind, god of judgement, law, and light

None know the origins of Jehvoss even in the myth, but it is he who Valthos claimed he descended from, it was he who The Son began to forge the destiny of mankind.

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Such is the reverence to The Father, that all small utterances from him are commands that must be obeyed. It is by his will that none shall oppose The Empire lest they be punished as sinners or killed for heresy.

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It is through Jehvoss, and Valthos that The Empire holds the belief that they are destined to rule. Their drive to spread across the continent has been mandated by the divine and those who hold true to Valthos’ teachings often continue this great pursuit.

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The guiding light of The Father is no better reflected than with his commandments, and the law of The Empire. The Tribunal IS his Church, the Emperor sits at its head and the pursuit of justice (imperial justice) is how he is worshipped.

The Grand Design

Jehvoss is said to not care for the personal opinions of any living creature, he commands that they only believe in him and obey. Some forgo a portion of their individuality, adhering to his will blindly and willingly. Those who do often find themselves elevated within the hierarchy of the Empire. But his chosen people are more than that.

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It is the only deity that as Aspidis in the past, chose and embraced a single mortal race to prevail over others: it his will that the world will be dominated by Humanity, it is his will that all other races will be subjugated or destroyed, and by his will it is for mankind to adhere to his ideal society based on strict adherence to justice, firmness, and literal application of the law, to take them forth into the Great Age.

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His servants are all too keenly aware of the weaknesses of mortality and of emotions. They often take a more Machiavellian approach to spreading the will of The Father, with designs to convert, subjugate and usurp entire cultures being years to decades in the making.

Worship

The Father forbade worship of him in a similar manner to the Old Gods. For him, services, sacrifices and prayer are for the pagan pantheon of the past. Instead service to the Empire is The service to Jehvoss. Following imperial laws is the prayer, and to commit oneself fully to the words of his Judges, is the highest form of sacrifice.

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Those who break one of his commandments are not only criminals, but also heretics to his followers, traitors to the Empire at large and their only possible salvation may lay in death. Similarly, the breaking of the law is considered not just a crime, but also a sin, an offence against Jehvoss himself.

There are no Temples to Jehvoss in the sense of temples to venerate The Son or The Mother. Instead every palace of the Emperor or his Judges, every Court of Law, every house of law, and even prisons or every other monument to punish criminals is a dedication to his will.

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Unlike the Churches of The Mother and The Son, those who strictly follow the Father and are deep into its cult, do not believe in an afterlife or Heaven as the others do. Such a concept is often seen as too pagan and too self-centred, but as a good ‘promise’ to sell the masses and make them approach The Three more enthusiastically, or even to give them something to hope for: independently from how lucky or miserable their lives might be, the promises of an afterlife are reason for many to endure.

Typical Stance On: Imperial Society

Followers of the Father see Imperial Society as the best mechanism of control over humanity, something to be used to push humans into the Great Age by obediently following the will of The Father and Emperor.

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They often look upon individuals without malice, but judge them based on how corrosive their actions are to imperial society and even more harshly should they stand in affront to Jehvoss.

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Typical Stance On: Marriage & Family

One of the greatest crimes to The Father, to the family unit and to the union of marriage is adultery. It is not so much based on the preferences of the individuals within the marriage but the oath and sanctity of such a union in front of The Three. Either spouse is open to be punished for this transgression, except in situations where it was unwilling.

Outside of adultery, there is an expectation that a family will raise the next generation of loyal imperial citizens. The best methods to attain this differ between individuals and families. But the followers of Jehvoss are mostly concerned with them being law abiding and loyal citizens in the end.

Typical Stance On: Elysium & Tartarus

The vast majority of humans are followers of Jehvoss as much as they are of Minerva and Valthoss, being these deities so closely related, so they do believe in the afterlife.

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The more fervent believer among those cultured enough to know the religion in its detail and history, seldom believe in the afterlife, unlike those of the other churches. They simply believe it is their divine destiny to be of service to the Empire as a whole and to expect a reward at the end of it is to sully the holy path they follow and against the wishes of The Father.

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Those that do, often find their roots in either the Church of the Mother or the Son.

Typical Stance On: Non-Humans

The Elves and the Dwarves were cursed by The Father for their betrayal of The Son. In the eyes of followers of the Father, there is no possibility for them to be completely redeemed. However they will often allude to individual redemption being a possibility, though, this being truth, or simply a way to delude them into cooperation, it is difficult to say.

Virtues

Obedience -

Followers of The Father will know that obeying a superior is considered one of the most prized virtues of subordinates. Those who follow this duty are often more likely to be elevated higher in the imperial ranks than their peers.

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Honesty -

Honesty to one's superiors is another higher virtue, to acknowledge the weakness of being in both mind and body is a key principle held by the Tribunal. Superior’s must know their own as well as themselves to serve as best they are able.

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Patience -

The Grand Design requires time and effort across multiple fronts, it is so that those who follow The Father cherish patience more than most. Sometimes to such an extent it can infuriate others around them.

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Wisdom -

As it relates to their duty to justice, it has become a common virtue among his followers that wisdom in all things is highly praised and sought virtue among his people. Rather paradoxically adaptability is a common trait among his followers.

Sins

Breaking one of the Ten Commandments -

Of his greatest sins, is to go against his own commandments. The original ten are considered so sacred that to go against them is considered heresy and treason.

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Vanity -

His followers often look with disdain on those who show repulsive prideful attributes. Those who are blinded by excessive self-importance or self-worth are often seen as unfit.

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Greed -

Commerce has its uses, these uses are to benefit the Empire not oneself. If a man or woman can sustain themselves in body, spirit and their family. The excess has better uses. This frugal mindset typically sees such followers living modestly although having far more wealth than their estates would show.

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Prayer -

Praying to the Father is considered a sin for all but The Emperor and Jehvoss’ select few. These few being his manifestations such as the Archons and those that are the closest representatives of the law, and hence also part of his church: Adjudicators, Fatebinders, and Inquisitors

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Disrespecting Authorities -

Jehvoss praises obedience and the following of strict codes of conduct, those that do not respect authorities in general, be it the ones given by the ‘natural order of things’ such as their parents, or the ones given by law, are at the same time being disrespectful to The Father

Rumors

There is a rumor among the more senior members of the Tribunal, that the Son and the Mother are both extensions of Jehvoss. So much so that they were both created by him to portray certain aspects to pull humanity away from the Old Gods and more likely to accept his will thereafter.

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It is rumored that Jehvoss empowers those who fight against the enemies of the Empire, to such an extent they accept him after sacrificing everything.

The Ten Commandments

I. I am your God, my words are my decree,

II. I speak through the Emperor,

III. None shall speak to me,

IV. Honour the Empire.

V. None shall murder a citizen of the Empire,

VI. None shall commit adultery,

VII. None shall steal from the Empire or its citizens,

VIII. None shall lie to harm the Empire

IX. None shall envy those of higher stations

X. All shall fight the enemies of the Empire

Authors: Hokan, Maya, Rashan

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