Malign spiritual presences

Tomas moved to pick up the sword. Sensing something wrong, I cried out a warning, but it was too late. I could see the change in him immediately. I instructed him to put the weapon down. He refused and told me that he no longer had to do what I told him. I knew then that I would have to exorcise the vile force that controlled him now, but first I would have to separate him from the cursed blade - and for that I would have to fight him.

The Shadow of Crescencia

Sects dedicated to a malign spiritual presence, such as the Whittle folk, can prove a major threat to the stability of the Empire - and the souls of the virtuous.

Overview

Although there are seven virtues that are known to empower the human soul and guide it through the Labyrinth of Ages, there are other spiritual forces that are present in the world. These malign spiritual presences can arise from false teachers, barbarians, foreigners, or even simply by circumstance. Amongst the duties of priests of the Way is cleansing and purging the malign spiritual presences utilising an appropriate liao ceremony.

Malign spiritual presences have a number of known sources and manifestations. These include:

False Virtues

It is possible to become dedicated to some malign auras as if they were virtues. When embraced in this way, adherents can use liao to dedicate others, and create anointings, hallows and consecrations just as a priest of the true Virtues might. These auras are often referred to as false virtues. They may appear harmless initially, even beneficial, but they were ruled as un-virtuous and excluded from the Doctrine of Seven by the early Synod. Consequently, the promotion and propagation of these auras and presences is regarded as blasphemy under Imperial law. Nevertheless, some blasphemous cults still arise and either explore these auras in secret, or seek to change the Doctrines of the Faith to press for their inclusion.

The four known false virtues are Anarchy, Hatred, Peace, and Vengeance. Other malign spiritual presences, such as Hope and Fear, may appear spontaneously, but it does not appear to be possible to become dedicated to them, so they do not spread as readily as the false virtues.

False Gods

In their ignorance, some barbarians and foreigners encounter spiritual auras and manifestations and, instead of understanding that they are echoes from the Labyrinth of Ages, see them as the presence of gods, demons or other supernatural entities. Priests of these false gods may even believe that they are invoking the power of some divine being through their warped approaches to religious ceremonies.

Phenomena and Phantasmagoria

While the propagation of blasphemous cults and the worship of false gods is carried out via mortal agencies, there are occasions where malign spiritual presences can seem to occur as a natural, or indirectly occurring, phenomenon. For example, a house in which a horrific crime is committed may attract a malign spiritual aura related to the nature of that crime. Additionally, it has been known for vile and wicked spirits - condemned to wander the Labyrinth of Ages for all time - to break loose and seize control of mortal hosts.

Known Malign Spiritual Presences

The following are spiritual presences that have been excluded from the Doctrines of the Faith, and embracing them constitutes blasphemy.

Anarchy

Auras of Anarchy - sometimes called Freedom or Liberty - stir mortal souls against structures and order and were recognised at an early stage as self-destructive forces as well as a threat to the unity of the Empire. Anarchy has been known to take root in blasphemous cults that seek to tear down all the Empire has sought to build, but it has also often occurred spontaneously, most commonly on raids to free slaves from the Grendel, the Asaveans and others.

The false Virtue of Freedom was extensively preached during the Freedom Heresy. Their descendants, the Montanians continued to embrace the Virtue before their eventual death at the hands of the Varushkans.

Fear

Auras of Fear, are usually found arising spontaneously. Like Hope, Fear, is seldom referred to as a false Virtue because it offers few if any teachings and there are no reliable accounts of anyone being dedicated to Fear. Rather, it is used as a means to goad and control other mortal souls. The Druj in particular are masters of Fear, employing a potent combination of drugs, deprivation, and torture to create and spread auras of fear over entire territories, the better to control their subjects.

Hate

There was some significant debate within the early Synod before auras of Hatred were deemed unvirtuous. Commonly referred to as the false Virtue of Purity by adherents, its proponents argued that it was a powerful, motivating force that spurred mortal hearts into action. It was ultimately ruled to be in conflict with the virtue of Wisdom, being irrational and indiscriminate in its nature. However, there are blasphemous cults that still seek to use these auras as a means to guide mortal souls.

Recent interest in learning more about this wicked spiritual presence led to the Minister of Historical Research commissioning further investigation, summarised in the report Maude, and the nature of Hatred.

Hope

Much like Fear, auras of Hope tend to arise spontaneously rather than because anyone has actively created them. There is little evidence to suggest that anyone has ever been dedicated to Hope, but the are idolatrous cults associated with false gods that draw on hope to encourage faith in "higher" powers.

Seemingly benign, this aura has also been referred to as Fortune or Fate and generally conveys that there are greater supernatural forces at work, and that these forces are benign and can be trusted. This seductive aura has been deemed by Synods past as being anathema to all the virtues for it discourages effort and striving by mortals.

Peace

Another apparently benign aura, Peace has also been known as Tranquillity and Harmony. It is widely embraced in Axos where it is studied and promulgated as the false Virtue of Understanding. There was little evidence of support for Peace in the early Synod where it was deemed dangerous for promoting passivity and being in conflict with virtues such as Ambition, Courage, Pride, and Vigilance.

At its worst, Peace promotes compromise in the face of the many challenges that confront, even threaten, the Empire. The restful nature of Peace auras is alluring and, some claim, mildly addictive, which is a quality that has been exploited by blasphemous cults.

Vengeance

Like Hope and Fear, auras of Vengeance commonly occur spontaneously. The aura has been known to manifest in areas of sudden violence and, is often linked to hauntings. However, there are also cults dedicated to Vengeance, eager to recruit those who believe they have been wronged.

In Faraden, the false Virtue of Justice is widely practiced where it is seen as one of the "Five Flames", a heretical notion that denies the seven true Virtues. The destructive auras of Vengeance were deemed unvirtuous by the early Synod for fuelling cycles of violence and goading citizens into action, often in defiance of Imperial law.

Further Reading

• The Way of Virtue
• Imperial Theology
• Synod
• Religious Skills
• Recent History

• Eater-of-Hope