05. Religion

There are three main religious paths in Anselm.

1. The Church of the Winged Covenant
2. Children of Belial
3. The Ancient Religion

THE CHURCH OF THE WINGED COVENANT
"The Church"

Object of Worship:
God (The Almighty, God Above, The Holy Spirit, Lord God, etc.)

Symbol:
A winged cross.

Practice:
Sundays are holy days, and followers must go to the cathedral and worship. The Church is governed by a larger holy body in a far off land, and only men are allowed to become working servants of God (priests, etc. but no nuns). Confessions are routine, for one to atone for their sins against God. One must submit to the Almighty in order to be saved from eternal life in the Void (Hell).

Sins:
Basically, the Seven Deadly Sins. Sexual deviance of any sort is a sin, including relations with anyone who is not also in the Church. One must be married to have sex. Priests are celibate. Speaking badly about God is the highest offence, and the sentence, if overheard, is death.

Influence:
Powerful. They influence the staid laws in Anselm and hold sway over many powerful figures. Anything the Church says, goes.

Enemies:
Everyone who is not a part of them, they say, is the product of evil.

CHILDREN OF BELIAL
"The Forsaken"

Object of Worship:
Lucifaen (Lord Lucifaen, The Dark One, Unholy Spirit)

Symbol:
An inverted cross, or a raven volant.

Practice:
Rituals are held in utmost secret, on any days deemed suitable, though most especially under nights of new moons, when there is the least light. Dark magick (including hexes and curses) is the specialty of the Forsaken, as well as the ability to summon demons. The rituals are often dark and sexually deviant, consisting of mass orgies in the forest or castle, and tend to include the sacrifice of young virgins to appease Lucifaen. Birds are sacred to them, and never harmed.

Forbidden:
The only sin is giving your allegiance to the Church and not to the Dark One.

Influence:
Moderate. There are not many of them, but the pure fear factor they hold for citizens is amazingly strong.

Enemies:
The Church.
Also, cats, especially black cats, are hated things. True Children of Belial never keep cats as pets.

THE ANCIENT RELIGION
"The Old Ways/The Old Ones"

Object of Worship:
Nature

Symbol:
Pentagram

Practice:
Rituals are secretive, because of the Church's influence, and used to practice light magick, nature-driven spells, and summoning animal or earth spirits. Followers of the Old Ways (witches and druids) are excellent at protection spells, but not offensive ones. Cats are very sacred to them, above all other animals, and are believed to hold great magickal ability.

Forbidden:
Nothing is forbidden, save for actions with bad intentions.

Influence:
Very Weak. They have none whatsoever.

Enemies:
The Church, though they do not willingly hate them. It's the Church that tries to drive them out. The penalty for witchcraft is death.