Ko, the Heavenly Father
| Allied with... | The Arshakan Empire |
The sheltering hand of the father, the heavenly light. He who shines brightest of all. The guiding star of the day sky. Ko, the sun itself. All gaze upon his glory, are beheld by his judgment.
It is said that the visage of Ko is obfuscated by the Shroud, that his brilliance is too much for mortal eyes. To comprehend, to perceive him is to blind oneself. Still, depictions of Ko exist, likening his resemblance to that of the ancient Deva: towering above humes, face framed with horns that furl as a ram's, a personification of imposition. Ko's skin is said to be the void itself, perforated only by the radiance he exhumes. At times he is depicted with a tail, that of a lion's or scorpion's, interchangeable with the painted word. He sports innumerable arms, enough to embrace the whole of the Arshakan Empire, enough to condemn all of its enemies.
Outside the Arshakan Empire, many claim Ko as a false god. A creation of an ancient war machine used solely for control. The tenants of the Father are often met with scorn by scholars and theologians. Perhaps they are right. Or perhaps faith has birthed its own god.
Loosely, the values promoted by the tenants of Ko are as follows:
Why succumb to the traditions of long conquered states, why worship a Mother? The tender embrace of maternity served no role in the Imperial state, he argued. It presented them as weak, mewling for conformity. Surely, it followed, the Empire would worship a Father. Silence accompanied his proclamation. The floor waited, watched among themselves for dissent. None was found. And soon, talk began to shape into how.
A god cannot be manufactured, it was argued, and Dershal, thinking long of this, pointed to the sky.
The decree of a new god—of worship paid to a heavenly Father, of piety met through loyalty to the Imperator—was met with violence. Brief, bloody violence, made all the swifter for the Kharmic Legions' response. Records claim the Square of Heroes in Svapna itself burned for days; in whispers, some even claim the marks of it linger still in the Empire's abandoned capital. Rumors only.
In the interceding years, the Empire enforced worship of Ko, dictating open worship of other idols heresy unless they were second to the Heavenly Father. On this point did they digress: an individual maintains the autonomy of faith insofar as their loyalty remains firm to the Empire.
It is said that the visage of Ko is obfuscated by the Shroud, that his brilliance is too much for mortal eyes. To comprehend, to perceive him is to blind oneself. Still, depictions of Ko exist, likening his resemblance to that of the ancient Deva: towering above humes, face framed with horns that furl as a ram's, a personification of imposition. Ko's skin is said to be the void itself, perforated only by the radiance he exhumes. At times he is depicted with a tail, that of a lion's or scorpion's, interchangeable with the painted word. He sports innumerable arms, enough to embrace the whole of the Arshakan Empire, enough to condemn all of its enemies.
Outside the Arshakan Empire, many claim Ko as a false god. A creation of an ancient war machine used solely for control. The tenants of the Father are often met with scorn by scholars and theologians. Perhaps they are right. Or perhaps faith has birthed its own god.
Hierarchy
Clergymen of Ko take the cloth under the admission of the Imperial state, answering to Senators as often as High Clerics, and to the Imperator above all.Cleric: Apprentices, adepts, and newly sworn faithful are conferred the umbrella rank of Cleric. Acting as intermediaries for their betters, the Clerics spread the word of Ko under the strict guidance of High Clerics.
High Cleric: Ranking members of the clergy, through demonstration of expertise of faith and knowledge of politics (and the occasional bribe or paid positioning) are granted the title of High Cleric. Presiding over ceremonies, acting as mentors and leaders to the faithful, the High Clerics dictate the word of the Imperator, the word of Ko.
The Red Imperator: Highest among the faithful, the head of Imperial state acts as the conduit of Ko's will.
Core Tenants
On paper, the Arshakan worship of Ko sprawls across the major Ilican continent, boasting tomes and texts as ancient as the Deva empire of old. Few of these texts have been discovered, however. Fewer even retain the tenants of Ko. Instead, these are transliterated by the Imperator and preached to the citizenry. It is noted that these tenants shift among dynastic opinion with modern worship coming into occasional conflict with traditions of old.Loosely, the values promoted by the tenants of Ko are as follows:
- Loyalty to the Empire, to the Imperator.
- Certainty in the just and righteous works of the Kharmic Legions.
- Dominance of knowledge, pride in its pursuit.
- Mastery of self and, by extension, others.
- Want itself, a lust for improvement.
History
450 E.O.U., the sparks of rebellion fanned beneath the veneer of superiority presented by the Arshakan Empire. Territories conquered in the long march north began to break away. Garrisons were abandoned, governors absent their posts as Imperial Praetorians consolidated their power in Svapna. Few touches remained of their presence. But they needed a narrative. A story to keep the Imperial heartland blissful in its ignorance. A distraction. Within the churn of discourse and propaganda that engrossed the Senate, a thought came to Imperator Dershal: the Empire needed a god.Why succumb to the traditions of long conquered states, why worship a Mother? The tender embrace of maternity served no role in the Imperial state, he argued. It presented them as weak, mewling for conformity. Surely, it followed, the Empire would worship a Father. Silence accompanied his proclamation. The floor waited, watched among themselves for dissent. None was found. And soon, talk began to shape into how.
A god cannot be manufactured, it was argued, and Dershal, thinking long of this, pointed to the sky.
The decree of a new god—of worship paid to a heavenly Father, of piety met through loyalty to the Imperator—was met with violence. Brief, bloody violence, made all the swifter for the Kharmic Legions' response. Records claim the Square of Heroes in Svapna itself burned for days; in whispers, some even claim the marks of it linger still in the Empire's abandoned capital. Rumors only.
In the interceding years, the Empire enforced worship of Ko, dictating open worship of other idols heresy unless they were second to the Heavenly Father. On this point did they digress: an individual maintains the autonomy of faith insofar as their loyalty remains firm to the Empire.
Contributors: Toska