Solaris

The Solar Ecclesiarchy of Erses (High Pyrrhian: Ecclesia Solari Erses), also known as the Ecclesiarchy or Solaris, is a large religion with 35 practitioners, being the state enforced religion of the theocratic monarchy of Solar Pyrrhia. The Ecclesiarchy is headed by the King of Kings, who has always traditionally been the head of state of the High Kingdom of Ceiltea, the subsequent Union of Collectivist Council Republics and now Solar Pyrrhia. The King of Kings additionally holds the titles of Solar Emperor and Voice Erses. They are the formal and effective head of the Faith, and reside in the Solar (holy) capital of Solar Pyrrhus, close to the Solar City of Armenelos.

The Solar Ecclesiarchy teaches that the Solar Emperor comes from the bloodline of Erses, the sole God of the Faith, and thus is given a divine mandate from the heavens. The hierarchy of the Ecclesiarchy is built upon various Ecclesiarchs who are handpicked by the Solar Emperor to run important temples and shrines, cities or offices such as the Solar Inquisition. Lower than the Ecclesiarchs is the Proper Priesthood which consists of all priests given a parish or temple to attend to of lesser importance than those of the Ecclesiarchs. Lower than the Proper Priesthood is the Lesser Priesthoods, who serve mainly as scribes and bureaucrats in the doctrinal, administrative and inquisitorial offices of the Ecclesiarchy. Lesser or Proper Priests in training are titled Acolytes, and attend training at the Solar City of Armenelos.

The Solar Ecclesiarchy is monotheistic, in direct comparison to it's predecessor religion, Ceiltean Druidism, which was polytheistic. The old Grand Order of Druids had a pantheon split between the Higher Thrones and the Lower Thrones, with the major gods sitting on the Higher Thrones and minor gods sitting on the Lesser Thrones, though Erses remained the primary god of the pantheon. With the Great Reformation undertaken by Melevor II, who made direct communication and was commanded by Erses to reform the outdated and defunct Grand Order both doctrinally and historically in what Erses called the "Great Error". Through Erses, Melevor II compiled the Solar Codex, an easy to read and understand collection of revised Solar texts, which fitted with the corrected history which Erses had bestowed knowledge on Melevor II of. The former gods of the Ardaithe pantheon were miscommunicated as being gods themselves, when in reality they are fragments of Erses' soul charged with specific patronages of elements or skills, and so have been placed down to a lower level as "Patron Spirits".

Worship by followers of the Ecclesiarchy is held both in private and public. Privately, the vast majority of Pyrrhians pray often, when they get up in the morning, before eating and before they sleep. Publicly there is daily church services, which is again in contrast to the former Ceiltean Faith, which strictly limited the Faith to being performed outside in standing stones and to be done mostly privately. The reversal of this tradition has led to the emergence of churches, chapels and cathedrals across the new Solar Empire of Arith, and a drive to spread the Faith internationally.

Erses
Erses is the sole God of the Solar Ecclesiarchy, differentiating from the old ways of Ceiltean Druidism, which worshipped the now "Patron Spirits" of Erses. Erses is often referred to with many different epithets, titles and attached names, such as: Solar Elk, Great Lord, Solar Father, Great Elk, Sun God, or God. Solaris Erses is the greatest being in all of Existence, creator and father of all things, who divided his spirit into different fragments which each have different patronages either of elements, life or skills.

Solaris Erses
Solaris Erses

Patron Spirits
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The Solar Cohort
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Ymis, Queen-Consort
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Edarr
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Udros
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Rhadohir
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The Solar Codex
The Solar Codex is a series of writings divided into three different books. The Codex was written by Melevor II during the Great Reformation, around 12th March 2022. Following the decline of religion in Union of Collectivist Council Republics, Melevor II alongside various other individuals including Drakkalon Metellus Henderech created a faction of the Grand Order of the Druidis, named the Sect of the True Flame. The Sect would go on to make contact with Erses through pyromancy and the summoning with the spilling of Murascaillbach blood onto flames. The Solar Elk laid out his commandments for the restructuring of the outdated Grand Order, and commanded the Sect to establish a new Church, following the new teachings of the Great Elk.

Book I: Genesis
The book of Genesis describes the events in which all of Existence was created by Solaris Erses, including the creation of the four Realms of Existence, and the War of Existence.

The book of Genesis begins with a description of the events which brought about the creation of Existence. Prior to the creation of material, two spirits floated through the endless nothingness: Solaris Erses and Magna Devorator (also known as the Devourer). While it was in Erses' nature to create and to build, it was in the Devourer's nature to destroy and to consume. The two entities would engage in brutal combat for an inconceivable length of time, before the downfall of the Devourer following Erses' creation of light and flame, something the Devourer would come to hate above all things.

Solaris Erses would go on, after the defeat of the Devourer, to create the four Realms of Existence: Aetherium, Materium, Antierium and Infernium.The Aetherium was the first Realm to be created, as the home of Solaris Erses, and as a place to oversee all life in the other Realms. The Aetherium is described as " a realm of lush rolling green hills, great green forests, where light always filled the blessed blue skies", which "in the centre of the realm rested a lake with an island in the middle upon which was the open-aired court of the Solar Elk". In Aetherium Solaris Erses would go on to create the first forms of life, the Aetherium Elks - large, white-haired counterparts of their Ceiltean Elk descendants -, from which he would take his material form, always appearing as a large, white Elk with a mane of pure golden sunlight. After populating Aetherium with Elks, Solaris Erses would go on to create Materium, the Realm of Existence which all planets, galaxies and universes reside. Antierium (also known as "the End"), originally a vibrant Realm which - like Aetherium - there was no darkness, though through the War of Existence would become the current state it is today, and Infernium (also known as "the Nether") which was created as a Realm of punishment for those who went against the dominion of Solaris Erses.

Solaris Erses tied these Realms together through threads of the purest light, making ways to travel between them in the form of different portals. To help govern his new dominions, Erses fractured his great soul into different parts, which grew to have their own personalities and patronages, such as Ymis, Edarr, Rhadohir, Akbris and Gyorr, though these fragments would combine back into Solaris Erses when needed. While Solaris Erses' power is dispensed through all he had created, the Devourer spent his time outside Existence licking his wounds, and regaining strength and creating an army of entities known as Degradatus (or Díghrádaithe), which are described as "detestable creatures of horrific proportion and shape, which were tasked with consumption of Existence and feeding the Devourer".

War would break out between the forces of Erses, known as the Exaltatus (also known as the Ardaithe), and the Degradatus following the Devourer's beginning consumption of Antierium, the event which would turn the skies of the Realm dark, and produce the significant lack of material in the Realm. Being beaten back at Antierium by the Exaltatus and Solaris Erses, who introduced the endless light of the Realm - which despite a visual source, continues to glow all over the Realm - and forcing the Dergadatus to flee. A Degradatus offensive in Materium would severely scar the Realm, like Antierium, but to a lesser extent. The purpose of Degradatus offensives in Materium was to find and to consume the "Flame of Creation"(or the "Last Light"), a tool which allowed Solaris Erses to create form, and Realms. To protect the Flame he hid it on a piece of land which would inevitably become the planet Terra (or Earth), which he had favoured due to it's beautiful landscape. The Degradatus only got more erratic as it seemed another offensive had failed, and their objective was not complete. With this defeat and the dwindling of their powers as they were turned back once more, being unable to consume the strong fires and lava that flowed through Infernium, and being unable to breach the high walls of Aetherium. Countering, the Exaltatus would push excessively against the dreadful creatures, destroying them with bolts of light and with flames, eventually annihilating all of them. The War was concluded with the banishing of the Devourer from all space around Existence, and a wall being built around reality, which the Devourer was forced to live outside of, perpetually weakened. The consumption of large parts of Materium and Antierium have created the Realms as they are known today, the masses of form that floated through the consumed space of Materium were transformed into planets, galaxies and universes, while the very little masses of material floating through Antierium were left as islands.

Returning to the Flame of Creation on Terra, Solaris Erses consumed most of the flame to combine it's powers within himself, leaving only a small fragment of the Flame, to be safeguarded in a newly created complex on the planet, the Kiln of the Flame, from which Solaris Erses would create all life on Terra, including all animals, beasts, humans and other races of humanoids. Yet, from beyond the walls of reality the Devourer continued to influence activities throughout Existence, manipulating and turning humanity against it's master, corrupting many who turned their backs on the gods, worshipping various different idols and Devourer-inspired beings. This corruption of their creation horrified Erses, and so it was decided that a line of prophets, directly in contact with Him, must be created of his own blood to guide the faithful in the ways he commands, and to wage bloody wars against the corrupted. Thus was created the regal line of Murascaillbach, ending the Age of Ancients, and beginning the Age of Heroes.

This final section of history concludes the first book of the Solar Codex, which is followed by the book of Correctio, which focuses on the Great Reformation and the commandments of Solaris Erses to Melevor II for the reformation of Grand Order into the Ecclesiarchy.

Book II: Correctio
The book of Correctio explains the commandments of Solaris Erses to Melevor II for the foundation of the Ecclesiarchy, as well as traditions, virtues and values which the Ecclesiarchy must uphold.

The book starts with a description of the events surrounding the Great Reformation, including the dwindling of religion under the Union of his father, the foundation of the Sect of the True Flame and establishing contact with Solaris Erses. The book goes on to proclaim the commandments of Erses to Melevor II as such:

I. Reform the Grand Order under Mine own watchful eyes, bring Mine flock closer together under the union of Mine light. (Reform the Grand Order from it's old ways, modernising and centralising it under a new hierarchy)

'''II. Correct the Great Error thy ancestors made, there is only One, and One alone.''' (Correct the Great Error, the only God of the Faith is Solaris Erses, all others are Patron Spirits, and apart of Him)

'''III. Honour thy ancestors, and thy heroes, the greatest among men.''' (Honour your ancestors and heroes, for they are the greatest of your people and staunch warriors of Erses)

'''IV. Behold nay further in the ways of the past, but forwards onto the ways of the Flame.''' (Do not look to the ways of the past, or of Druidism, but to the ways of the Flame, and these commandments)

V. Rich, thy culture shalt be, and richer thy virtues, honour, strength and wisdom foremost. (The culture of your people shall be rich, and their virtues richer: honour, strength and wisdom being the greatest of these virtues)

'''VI. By Flame thou shalt be born, and by Flame thou shalt die, thus is the Faithful's connection with Me.''' (All Faithful will be baptised in fire after consuming Elixir of the Sun, as to not burn them, and they shall be cremated after they die)

'''VII. Build not the standing stones of thy forefathers, but grand temples extolling thy virtues and thy Faith.''' (Do not build standing stones like your ancestors, but build temples and churches, showing your piety and Faith)

'''VIII. Love nature and the animals I hath bestowed upon thee, seek them no harm, but live in harmony.''' (Do not destroy nature or kill animals unless necessary, protect nature and live in harmony with it)

'''IX. Be wary of pretenders, I shalt speak to none but thee on matters of my flock, divine son of my line.''' (Be wary of those who claim that they can have received orders by Solaris Erses regarding the reformation of the Church, for He only speaks to the divine blood of Murascaillbach)

X. Divine son of Mine sons, thou inherit all of Terra in thy hands, return this world to Me, expel the corruption and fulfil thy duties. (Speaking to Melevor II: you inherit the world, purify it and expel the corruption of the Devourer, bring about the millennia of peace under the Age of Peace)

Through the rest of the book each of these commandments is further described in detail, elaborating on the meanings behind each of them. A sizeable portion of the end of the second book is the Solarian Code of Virtues, which include:


 * Honour, (Respect your opponent or competitor in all fields, be they duelling you, or running a competing business. Regard those who stand up for themselves with great respect, and they shall do the same onto you)
 * Strength, (Be strong, and show your strength, use it as a way to keep peace and stability, a people cannot thrive if they are not strong and able to defend themselves)
 * Wisdom, (Be wise, do not let emotions overly guide your decisions, make calculated and strategic decisions based on the situation)
 * Respect, (Like honour, respect all opponents and fellow practitioners of the Faith, do not seek to do harm to practitioners unless they have violated the Solar Commandments, and always respect their person and property)
 * Pride, (Be prideful of your people, your nation and your Faith, Solaris Erses has bestowed upon all those who follow Him true strength and wisdom, pride is a weapon to be used against the deceitful and Faithless)
 * Preservation, (Preserve the past and the present, protect ancient ruins, species of animals and beautiful landscapes, but do not fear to renew them, creating better things where they once stood)
 * Courage, (Show courage, banish fear and misery from your heart, do not run if you are threatened, do not run if you are insulted)
 * Mercy, (Show mercy onto your fellow practitioners, show mercy onto those Faithless who show that they have the ability and sensibilities to be converted)
 * Justice, (Ensure that justice is delivered upon those who have wronged you, or have wronged fellow practitioners or the Faith as a whole, do not rest while the wicked continue scheming)
 * Hope, (Look always to the future hopeful for a better tomorrow, have an optimistic outlook on life, His light will shine through all clouds)
 * Faith (Above all be Faithful, loyal and devoted to your lords, the Solar Emperor and to Solaris Erses, Faith and piety is one of the greatest virtues and will be rewarded in Aetherium)

These virtues are upheld institutionally under the Exercitus Solaris - the Solar Empire of Arith's Solar Army - and by the Knights of Solaris (alongside the Code of Chivalry), as well as being enforced in the institutions of the Empire such as the Imperial Estate, the Consortium Solaris (and anywhere else in the presence of the Solar Emperor). The Code of Virtues is taught through stories of heroes in Solarian churches and temples, and so many devout followers attempt to uphold all of the Virtues throughout their lives.

Book III: Regeneratio
The book of Regeneratio describes the prophecy foretold to the line of Murascaillbach by Solaris Erses before the Age of Heroes, including the millennia of peace under the Age of Peace, the Great Blasphemy, the Great Consumption and the Rebirth.

History
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Pre-history
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Great Reformation
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Great Sacrilege and Second Crusade against Pater Carnis
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Ascendance and Solar Hegemony
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Organisations
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Administration
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Inquisition
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Message
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Holy Sites
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Kiln of Creation, Armenelos
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Liathdruim, Solar Pyrrhus
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Mount Xeno
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Sacred Items
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Imperial Regalia
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The Solar Crown
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The Sword of the Sun
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The Orb of Erses
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The Sacred Antler
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Prayers and Hymns
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Hymn of the Crusaders
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Languages
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High Pyrrhian
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Low Pyrrhian
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Common Alathran
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Ceiltean
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