Cedric Grayson
Ashlan Kaiser
Spirituality
The Ashlan faith is a relatively ancient concept that has only recently enjoyed a mass revival. Initially an ideology adopted by Jedi Lords during the dark ages of the Republic, Ashlan thought is the Jedi belief of the Light Side being the Force in its natural form taken to its logical extreme. Rather than subscribing to the generally accepted belief that the Force is split between two aspects, Light and Dark, Ashla and Bogan, the Ashlans believe the Force is only the Light, and without interference of sentient beings, the Dark Side would not exist.
The generally accepted view is that the balance is the Ashla working naturally, untouched by the will of sentient beings. It is only when intelligent creatures with a connection to the Force interfere with that balance that the Dark Side comes to fruition. It is through acts of hatred and thoughtless passion that the Ashla is abused and twisted by the hands of mortals, the result being a mutated and cancerous thing referred to as the Bogan. The Ashla, willing to intermingle with mortals, is thus betrayed by those mortals, and so in its agony seeks to corrupt others and spread that pain in hopes of relieving its own for a time, which is ultimately a fruitless endeavor that damns the mortals as well as the Force itself.
Views on the exact nature of the Ashla/The Force are more or less in line with Jedi traditions, though a bit more fleshed out for better consumption by non-force users. Essentially upon death, one becomes one with the Force, part of a greater godlike being that helps to guide mortality through its own means. Thus as the Bogan spreads, so too is the afterlife further corrupted, turning a veritable heaven into a hell that reflects the state of the mortal galaxy. It is the belief of the Ashlans that the reason why the veil between life and death has been severed is because the Ashla is nearly fully corrupted by the Bogan, and that is why people may pass between reality and the Netherworld freely, as the portals between the two are spots where the veil has evaporated entirely.
The Ashlan priests generally agree that they currently live in the end times. In the worst case scenario, the Bogan's corruption of the Ashla becomes complete, reality and the immaterial collide and become one, and all mortal souls will be forced to suffer for eternity in an unending hell of their own making. Each act of slaughter, sacrifice, and destruction born of hatred feeds this corruption, as does each soul that pledges itself to the Bogan. The alternative, what the Ashlans pray for, is the destruction of the Bogan. It is believed that if the Bogan's influence in the mortal realm can be exterminated, the ailments of mortality will go with it. Death and disease will become a thing of the past, hunger long forgotten, and peace the natural state. The wars for resources will come to an end as the Ashla, unburdened now that it is not locked in eternal war with its diseased self, can be utilized to bring about heaven across the galaxy. Enlightenment will finally truly be achieved, and an ascendance of all beings into a form of godhood thereafter.
With these beliefs in mind, it is easy for the Ashlans to justify their militant methods. For them, they living in the age of apocalypse, and if drastic action is not taken, all they have ever known will be consumed in hellfire. Ashlans are instructed to live by the tenants of the Light whenever possible, but unlike their more traditional counterparts, do not shy away from violence if it is justified. For instance, a Sith that will never allow themselves to be redeemed must be killed. To do so is a mercy. Those afflicted with the Bogan's curse are suffering a cancer just as terrible as any natural terminal disease. Their minds are not their own, their bodies are tools for masters they often don't even know exist, and their flesh corrodes as if bathed in radiation. It is not out of hatred and anger that an Ashlan warrior kills, but out of unconditional love for other sentient beings. There is nothing crueler than to leave a sickly creature to suffer a slow and agonizing death, nothing more cowardly than to be unable to swing the sword and deliver sweet relief when the time comes. That being said, all reasonable attempts to bring the victim back from the depths of the Bogan should be made, but never at the expense of one's own life or that of others.
Servants of those that follow the Bogan are just as susceptible to its influence, whether they can wield the Force or not. Their actions work to serve the coming apocalypse. If they can be swayed or spared then doing so if paramount, however if neither of these things are realistically possible it is acceptable to use lethal force. Is the unfortunate nature of the galaxy that Psions of degeneracy might trick the masses into giving their lives in service to the dark powers. Just as with Sith and others like them, it is often a greater mercy to free these people from the cycles of violence they have been tricked into than to let them continue suffering, and inflicting that suffering onto others.
Values
Ashlans are encouraged to live as normal people, more or less, though the use drugs and 'excessive' debauchery are heavily frowned upon. Alcohol is tolerated to a degree, but excessive drunkenness is seen as shameful. The Ashlan church encourages monogamy and the family unit, though it does not expressly disapprove of alternative lifestyles. Anything in excess is generally considered dangerous as engaging in such activities opens oneself up to the Bogan, and serves to distance one's mind from more spiritual pursuits. Honesty and honor are concepts that are extremely important to the Ashlan faith, as deceit and acting selfishly are quick and easy paths to finding oneself enraptured within the Bogan. Honor for the Ashlans is not defined as glory in battle as the Mandalorians might think of it, but selflessness and service to ones community. The betterment of society is held above the importance of the self, and while the Ashlans generally believe strongly in their own personal autonomy, it is expected that one will favor the decision to help the community over one that only helps themselves.
The freedom to say whatever is on one's mind, and to question openly is a strong tenant of Ashlan culture. With a faith born initially of questioning the dogma of the Jedi Council, it would be hypocritical for the Ashlans to suppress questions or concerns within their own group. As such, many extremely different ideologies both on mortal politics and spiritual matters exist within the halls of the church. It is not uncommon for a conscript to openly question the motives of a general, or a novice to openly wonder if a cardinal's interpretations of a text are correct. The questions will generally be answered honestly and openly, putting the matter to rest if the leader's logic is sound, or opening the possibility for change if a new perspective brings better ideas.
Those in leadership positions are expected to take full responsibility for the actions of their subordinates. They are both extremely respected, and held under similarly extreme scrutiny. If signs of corruption in a leader are shown, be they in motive or in literal corruption of the Bogan, it is not uncommon for a tribunal to be called for. Punishments vary, but liars, cheats, traitors, and those that have willfully consorted with the Bogan suffer the worst of it. It not uncommon for officers that have leaked information to the enemy to be publicly crucified, or for a politician that has cheated on their spouse to be castrated. The Ashlans hold their societal leaders to very high standards, often shower those leaders in hero worship, and punish them dearly if they fall short of what their positions as societal pillars demand them to be.
The ideal for an Ashlan civilian is to live a life of peace wherein they might raise a strong family, and be hailed as a respectable member of their community. Acquiring wealth and land is considered secondary to gaining reputation through service and deeds. Violence is only ever acceptable when in service to the faith, and as such all disputes are expected to be handled verbally between both parties. It is uncommon for disagreements between Ashlans to go to court as they are highly encouraged to settle disputes on their own, and whomever loses in the dispute often has to pay a hefty tax to the government for the trouble.
In a scenario where one becomes a soldier of faith, violence is encouraged rather than rebuked. Ashlan warriors, both Jedi and normal soldiers alike, are expected to meditate daily to better center themselves, and to reflect on whatever conflicts they might have partaken in. In battle, one is expected to distance themselves entirely from their emotions. Jedi require this peace to operate at their best, and soldiers need it so as not to grow addicted to the carnage and in doing so become servants of the Bogan. One must not kill in anger, but rather with apathy and without hesitation. The warrior is only doing the faith's work, nothing more and nothing less.
All beings, no matter their form, are simply pieces of the greater Ashlan soul. We are all luminous spirits bound in flesh, and it is not our choice what form that flesh has taken. All species are welcome within the arms of the faithful, no matter their histories or proclivities. There has even been a movement toward the emancipation of droids one might consider sentient, with arguments revolving around the belief that for a mass of metal and circuitry to achieve the thought and emotional capacity of organic beings on its own, the Ashla must surely be at work. Perhaps the spirits that inhabit our bodies so too can inhabit the steel forms of automata.
On the other end of the spectrum, those that are spiritually opposed to the Ashla, particularly followers of the Bogan, are not tolerated whatsoever. Their words have as much weight as those of a mad men. They are ill creatures speaking dribble to justify their degeneracy, non-people that can be saved, but are otherwise little more than vessels for a disease that will immediately spread if given the opportunity
Followers of the Church are expected to partake in charity services at least once per week if they are not preoccupied with military service in the Ashla's name. The obvious tenants of helping the common man are the core of this commandment, but an equally important and often overlooked aspect of it is the humility it inspires. Too often do crusaders, priests, and other people of station find themselves indulging in arrogant behavior as they believe they are wholly righteous in their service. Charity is meant to remind the followers of the Ashla that they are just as mortal as anyone else just as much as it is an act of altruism.
The Ashlan faith was born somewhere in the Tingel Arm several thousand years ago. It spread amongst many of the Jedi Lords that ruled during the galactic dark ages, though its popularity waned after the Jedi Lords were reigned in by the council of the Republic. Small enclaves of the faith survived, however, some even persisting well after the Gulag Plague. The largest of these sects was found on the world of Ession. There it was prophesized that a great cataclysm was coming, that the faith would soon grow tremendously, and that only the followers of the faith would be privy to this news.
Ession was devastated by the Sith Empire shortly thereafter, and its surviving inhabitants fled throughout the galaxy, carrying their faith with them. Since then, Ession has been regarded as the home of the Ashlan faith, the Holy Land of their people, the place in which their movement was reborn. It is the most holy of worlds for the Ashlans, though there are other realms important to the Ashlan canon.
Ruusan holds a second place in the Ashlans' hearts. The site of the greatest defeat the Sith ever suffered in the eyes of the Ashlans, it is at the same time the site of the Ashla's greatest victory.
Tython, home of the Jedi Order, avatar of the empyrean in the mortal realm. There are few places more important to the Jedi of every sect in the galaxy, and the Ashlans revere it as strongly as they do.