THE RELIQUARY
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: To expand upon the Reliquary mentioned in a previous submission.
Image Credit: Six Petal Rosette (x) Clipart Library (x) colors and edits by me.
Canon: Galidraan
Links: N/A
Organization Name: The Reliquary, or the Church of Lilith; the Path of Lucifer, The Great Darkness
Classification: Religious Cult
Affiliation: Galidraan, The Sith Empire, the Church of Lilith
Organization Symbol: Six Petal Rosette with Singular Rose Encircled [Shown Right]
Description: Founded in the early Darkness-era, the Church of Lilith worships Lilith the eldest of two sisters who are believed to have been gifted with witchcraft (the Force). The followers of Lilith believe in power, strength and are fierce protectors of independence. It was said that during the 400 Years of Darkness Lilith and her sister Eve sought relics of the Jedi-Mandalorian Conflict but instead found a source of power.
Lilith and Eve are both said to have found this power and shared it between them, however; Lilith then met Adam and Adam soon met Eve. What happened from there still remains a mystery, but the end result was Lilith being cast down from Paradise by Adam and the Great Celestial who created him. Lilith thought herself alone in the Great Darkness but found another like her - Lucifer. Lilith and Lucifer found their story had been perverted by Adam, Eve and the Great Celestial who had created them all.
It was then said that the Great Celestial coveted the power Lilith and Eve had and sent Adam to disrupt their bond. But, if you were to ask a member who follows the Path of Adam they would tell you that Lilith was a scandalous woman who deserved her fate. They would tell you that Lucifer was a corrupt man long before Adam’s arrival and that his greed is what sent him to the Great Darkness.
Whatever the case, holy war has raged all throughout the Galidraani systems for the past 400 years and continues to rage until this very day.
Headquarters: Galidraan
Domain: Galidraan System
Various Celestial Churches, Cathedrals, and Basilicas.
The Administrative Sector of Galidraan
Seen as pagans to most of the Commonwealth in Galidraan.
They’re active members of Galidraani Society, most are unaware of their existence or of the ongoing holy war.
[*]
Notable Assets:
Our Lady Sarissa of the Reliquary, Galidraan
The Basilica of St. Edward, Galidraan
The Martyred Heart of Sarissa Church, Galidraan III
Church of St. Evanora, Galidraan IV
Church of Phiona the Sacred, Galidraan III
Church of St. Magda, Galidraan
Our Martyred Lady Cathedral. Galidraan IV
St. James’s Church, Galidraan Station
Edward the Great’s Holy Shrine, Galidraan Station
Chapel of the Blessed Word, Galidraan Station
St. Miriya the Blind’s Church, Galidraan
Grand Basilica of the Celestial, Galidraan
SOCIAL INFORMATION
Hierarchy:
Unholy Mother, Daughter of Lilith - Her Unholy Avatar on Galidraan
Council of Matriarchs - the Sacred Thirteen - made of Thirteen Matriarchs from the Thirteen Grand Covens.
Thirteen Grand Covens, and to each of the Grand Covens are Six Covens, the Six Covens each lend their chosen Patron to help guide them by Lilith’s Will or along the Path of Lucifer. Each Grand Coven maintains their own grand church (cathedral or otherwise) large enough to house the families of their covens.
Each coven of the six covens is made up of thirteen families of witches. These families have typically lived within the same lands for generations and attend mass at their local church or chapel - region depending.
In a coven itself, there is at least one Patron ranked Witch, usually, this witch is also the Head Priest or Priestess of the local church or chapel. They may also be a leader of the local Academy of the Dark Arts. Typically each coven can support their own school and church and in the case where a coven is unable to they are to be merged with another coven - and this process is not without bloodshed.
[*]
Membership:
Membership is open to non-traditional members, those who are not from one of the covens - those who are not Galidraani. Lilith will still welcome you, however
you are not of her blood and therefore most become part of her. Those who fall under this category will have different steps to their initiation, their dark baptisms and their
harrowings may be that much harder. Still, Lilith will not reject you...
Members, this is the most basic role within the Church of Lilith. This is little more than showing up to Church for mass, and making donations through tithes to the church and holding meetings for parishioners. Members may also provide food, shelter and whatever else they can provide for the Daughters of Lilith sometimes called Lilith’s Children.
Those willing to do more, those who show that they are capable of more (Force Sensitives) must go through their Dark Baptism. This includes signing Lilith’s Will a book of records, a contract that signifies that they are willing to become an initiate of the Church. This is no easy task as the Initiation can be quite brutal, this is the only time a member may back out of a ritual - for beyond this Initiation lies a new found truth, and darkness that the once blind little lamb may not have been aware of.
The Dark Baptism is a beautiful celebration, for many witches, it is done on their sixteenth birthday welcoming them into their covens. For those who join the church willingly and have never been part of a coven - this is the chance for them to meet their coven. Those will bring them up and show them the Will of Lilith. It is done during a full moon (blood moons are the best), a sacrificial beast is offered to Her, the Unholy Mother. The guest of honor will sign Lilith’s Will in their own blood, and then have a portion of blood drawn to be stored in a phylactery. At the end of the ceremony,y the initiate's coven will brand them with their own witch’s mark.
The Baptised may now be referred to as “Brother, Sister or Cousin.” These are on par with Sith Acolytes or Jedi Padawans. These initiated and baptised witches are paired up with Seekers to help guide them both in battle and in knowledge. Reflecting on their Dark Baptism they’ll learn the basics of the dark arts and figure out which path is best for them. Their only goal is to grow and learn - to walk the Path of Lucifer, to carry out Lilith's Will and prepare for their Harrowing.
The Harrowing is something every witch must go through to prove that they can not only carry out the Will of Lilith but to care for her children. This Harrowing puts everything the witch has learned to the test it is extensive and ongoing for thirteen days and thirteen nights. Each day and each night far more brutal than the last, for when the witch has completed this test they emerge far stronger than they had in the past. Those who fail, perish.
Seekers are equal Jedi and Sith Knights and have passed their Harrowings. They’ve shown that they are physically, mentally and emotionally ready for battle against the Church of Eve, the Light and those who have chosen to walk the Path of Adam. From here they must show that they are capable of not only taking the fight to these harmful practitioners of light. They must show that they have the patience to show newer members of the Church how to fight. Seekers take on a number of initiates, in doing so they move forward toward their final test, known simply as the Coronation.
The Coronation requires a witch to bring all that they’ve learned to fruition here they’ll battle the Matriarch of their coven. Their Matriarch will not go easy on them, no, not at all - for one day this witch could become a Matriarch and so they must prepare themselves.
Patron, patrons are on par with a Sith Lord or a Jedi Master these men and women have been brought to call by their Dark Baptism they studied and learned as initiates and became seekers of knowledge. They then endured their harrowing and can now call upon the dark arts in many unique ways. They have then gone through their coronation and are ready to be crowned a Patron of their Coven. They can now earn rank within the church moving up to become an abbot, abbess, bishop, archbishop and so on and so forth. They may now also teach at any one of the Academies of the Dark Arts, they may also sit and judge Harrowings, aid in Dark Baptisms and help lead Hunts for Adamites and the Daughters of Eve.
OOC: Just speak with @Ryssa Yvarro for more information about creating a character for the Reliquary.
[*]
Climate: Witches are a fickle lot, some smile to your face while holding a dagger behind their backs. Others are [SIZE=11pt]good-natured[/SIZE] and willing to aid you on your path, some go on to be hags and are quite elusive. In general, a new initiate to the Reliquary should feel somewhat overwhelmed, maybe even a touch of intimidation. As the new member grows they’ll soon find the climate has changed, a game of intrigue has begun.
[*]
Reputation: Technically they don’t really exist, so there isn’t much to go on. Like all things occult there are those who venture to find these people. Those who do know of them and are not gifted with the touch of magic, steer clear. Mostly seen as crazy old men and women, the outcasts and goths who haven’t shed their love for the color black.
[*]
Curios:
Mark of the Coven: A brand given to every member of the Church, once they’ve achieved the rank of Initiate. A witch’s mark is branded into the initiates letting the Church know which coven they belong to. The Mark is said to bond the coven together allowing them to share thoughts and sometimes even skills. Many are able to ‘sense’ their [SIZE=11pt]coven mates[/SIZE] even from a great distance, others say the Mark allows you to share experiences with members of your coven.
Witch’s Familiar: Typically a small critter who follows new witches around, each coven’s book of shadows offers a list of familiars. Some more daring witches may venture out and summon one to their aid. Familiars are said to be demons looking to repent and thus do so by protecting witches, especially new ones. Others say that familiars are simply magical conjurings, or that they’re filled with the soul of a recently departed witch.
A Coven’s Cauldron: While each witch house has a cauldron, it is the Coven’s Cauldron that is considered to be the most powerful. It has been through many generations of witches and its iron has been blessed by trees that are now considered to be quite elderly. The stronger the cauldron the stronger a witch’s brew will be, no matter what it may be.
Grimoire: Every family has a grimoire, for while a coven is strong it is only as strong as its members. Grimoires possess knowledge of witches past, their spells, their recipes [SIZE=11pt]and[/SIZE] knowledge all written for the next generation. Each family within a coven is responsible for their own grimoires as it may be for some. These are not to be confused with the Book of the Night, the book in which the Unholy Mother has written her laws, her parables and her knowledge.
Book of the Night: The bible for members of the Church of Lillith. Unlike the Grimoire the Book of Night does not hold spells or even knowledge of monsters and demons, rather it contains the Unholy Mother’s journey from the first Wife of Adam, to the Mistress of Darkness - Lucifer’s beloved. How she seized her destiny and the deal she made with her sister Eve. From this book - a witch can guide her life and dealings - from this book a witch can learn how to walk the path of Lilith.
[*]
Rules:
Discretion is key, once you have been initiated you are not to tell a single soul who or what you are. Many on Galidraan could not grasp or understand what it is to be a Child of Lilith, to be one of her gifted children. To reveal yourself is to reveal your coven and thus is seen as equal to betrayal - something that is met only with your death.
Always keep your coven safe, your coven is your family it is your blood and there can be nothing more precious than this. Lift each other up and keep each other well for we are only as strong as the person on our right and on our left. To abandon your coven is to abandon your family, to neglect your duties to the coven is met with exile or death.
Lilith’s law is key and it is how we guide ourselves it is how we discipline ourselves. Read the Unholy Book of Night and learn from it, read the words of the Gospel of the Moon and keep them true. If you are seen or noted to have violated this, you shall be dealt with swiftly and pray that the punishment is death for there are far worse fates.
[*]
Goals:
Completely eliminate the Followers of Adam, Church of Eve / the Light and expand Darkness’s grip across their domain. Long term they are looking to spread Lilith’s influence across the galaxy, and thus bring order and salvation to the masses.
Increase their membership throughout Galidraan and beyond, the more who worship Lilith the stronger their overall influence.
They’re educated at Our Lady Sarissa of the Reliquary’s private school known as Our Lady Sarissa’s Home and School for the Wayward. Most refer it to as the Wayward Home, many who reside there are those who have been disowned, discarded by their families for who and what they are.
MEMBERS
[member="Rowan Devonshire"] [PC]
Theodosia Cromwell [NPC]
Regina Cromwell [NPC]
Cora Sawyer [NPC]
Priscilla Wells [NPC]
Agatha Bellsaint [NPC]
Faustus Collier [NPC]
Aaryn Hammond [NPC]
Odessa Cross [NPC]
Ulrich Harcourt [NPC]
Ginerva Russ [NPC]
+ Many More
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
A woman of Lilith is said to be ... a little wicked.
In the Unholy [SIZE=11pt]Book[/SIZE], it is said that there were once two sisters who loved each other so dearly that nothing could tear them apart. Until they were separated by the greed of man and how easily he could gaslight his woman. Eve and Lilith had gone in search of relics from the Jedi-Mandalorian conflict they were both gifted sisters in the Way of Magick. Who created the sisters they knew not, they only knew of each other and the only hint as to their creator came from a man - Adam.
Lilith did not trust Adam’s words but Eve drank them as if they were honey. Adam swore that his creator was their creator the Great Celestial and that it was Lilith who he yearned for. Lilith wanted not part of Adam and went about her business working to study and harness the powers of Magick. Adam feeling the scorn of her rejection went to the Great Celestial and cried upon the great throne. For her insolence, Lilith was cast into the Great Darkness - having her Magick stripped from her just as well.
When she awoke - there was nothing, just the void of blackness with no sound, no air and nothing moved. Lilith cried out but there was no reply, she wandered for [SIZE=11pt]sixty-six days and [/SIZE]sixty-six nights before finding Lucifer who likes her had felt that he had been left to rot. Together they rediscovered Magick and vowed to never allow another to rule over them. Soon they found that there were children who had been cast out or discarded by Adam and Eve.
They took these children and gave them each a gift, and thus began the Children of Lilith and those who would walk the Path of Lucifer...
In reality, the Great Celestial an [SIZE=11pt]old-world[/SIZE] religion revolved around the idea of good and evil and helped to guide the Galidraani in their day to day lives. There were initially two paths, the Path of Adam and the Path of Lucifer and for a long time scholars believe these were the only two paths until it was revealed that there were two older sects. The Church of Eve and the Church of Lilith [SIZE=11pt]took[/SIZE] the story of Adam and pushed it back - and instead it is believed that Eve and Lilith were both daughters of the Great Celestial and they were gifted with what is now known as the Force.
But back in those days was known as Magick. The sisters were both neutral Force Users who sought out relics - whether these were lightsabers, tablets or possibly [SIZE=11pt]holocrons[/SIZE] remains unknown. What is known is that between the two sisters they cultivated a massive following - but the two had met a young man by the name of Adam. He was not gifted with the Force this much Galidraani scholars have been able to determine.
Adam managed to get between the sisters and divide them - but this is where historians and religious scholars begin to disagree. It is the exact record - and the exact events that happened that led to the sisters fighting one another. This with Adam siding with Eve and Lilith finding refuge with Adam’s brother Lucifer.
These days while the Great Celestial as a religion still garners many followers it is widely seen as a pagan religion on Galidraan. Many have now widely taken to either atheism or ascribe to the Cosmic Balance. A once small religion which as now grown in popularity since the death of Galidraan’s late daughter Natasi Fortan.
Any mention of the Great Celestial is now simply associated with folklore or mythology. Witchcraft itself on Galidraan has also died out - while it had once been a widely practiced art during the height of both the Church of Lilith and Eve is no longer. The witches of those days were quite popular as Galidraan was then vastly ruled by a Matriarchal society. Until however seeds of doubt were sowed and soon rose the Patriarchy and thus the witch hunts of Galidraan began.
The roots of both Eve and Lilith, and subsequently of Adam and Lucifer could be found in the old book known as the Book of the Celestial - a coveted text by both sides. [SIZE=11pt]Unfortunately[/SIZE], the book has not only been torn apart but there are two key parts of it that remain missing to this day.
The two missing texts are referred to as the Testament of Dawn and the Testament of Dusk, the two known texts are the Gospels of the Sun and the Gnostic Gospels of the Moon. The Church of Eve and therefore the Path of Adam believe in the Gospels of the Sun and have chosen to eliminate any narrative from the Moon. The [SIZE=11pt]true is of Lilith and Lucifer where for them it is the Moon that is the true word and the Sun that is [/SIZE]a fraud.
Scholars who have remained neutral are still searching for the two missing texts.
I love how this entire thing is put together. It's darkingly perfect♥