NOS



The Imperials worship a single god called either NOS, the Three-Faced God, or The Aspected One. Each face of the god has a distinct name and purpose.

The Faces of NOS
Imperials believe that the influence of these aspects rises and falls. These changes can affect both the world as a whole and their lives as individuals. NOSians believe that balance between the three aspects is essential to the stability of the world. They believe that if they achieve balance of these three aspects in their own lives it will result in personal happiness and enlightenment. Likewise, balance between the aspects on a societal level leads to prosperity and growth.

There is no room in Imperial theology for other gods. Anything claiming to be another god is interpreted either as a heretic, a fake, or as an aspect of NOS. Anyone claiming to worship another god is dismissed as being a heathen.

Core Tenants

 * Balance in all things.
 * There is only one god, and it is NOS.
 * Nothing is coincidence, all is NOS's will and influence.
 * NOS does not directly interact with mortals, we are but guided by them through the natural flow of our lives.
 * Any being that appears claiming to be NOS is false, and heresy.

The Church of NOS
The Church of NOS is a highly structured formal church. There is a hierarchy of priests called Primes and Arch-Primes. There are also monastic communities of monks and nuns.

The church holds a lot of wealth. In most Imperial towns and villages, the church is the most ornate building in town. The Church owns a lot of land and the slaves to work it. This money serves to further enforce the power of the Church. The upper echelons of the church are very political and can also be quite corrupt.

The order of importance from lowest to highest is Prime, Arch-Prime, Primus.

The Primus
The Primus is the leader of the NOSian church. He is the ultimate religious authority in the Church. He controls the hierarchy of Arch-Primes and Primes.

During the life time of Medaka III, Medaka held both the position of Primus and that of Emperor. It became obvious during his reign that what was in the best interest of the church was not always in the best interest of the Empire and vice-versa. After that it was agreed that these roles were best kept separated.

The current Primus is Primus Laetillus II

Magic and the Church
The Imperials believe that magic is a gift of NOS. They believe that NOS unleashed it into the world, in order to compensate humanity for the horrors of The Plague

The Order of the Talon
The church maintains a religious order of knights known as the Order of the Talon. For more information, see their page.

Admission Service
Within a month of their birth, children born in the Empire are presented at a NOSian church for an Admission Service. At this simple service, the local Prime welcomes the new life to the church and the community. He will also bless the child in the name of all three of NOS’s aspects

Church Service
Sermons are given traditionally on Sundays and Holidays, and are run by a Prime. It begins with welcoming the three faces, then the Prime will begin to speak of three things that relate to the community, connecting them to each face. The central service varies region to region, with some having repeating prayers, others a more open conversational tone. The service finishes with saying goodbye to each face.

Alters usually are elaborate and expensive. It is customary to have three coloured candles, white purple and black, one for each face of NOS. There is always a bowl to collect coin from churchgoers, and it is an insult to NOS if one can see the bottom.

Reaffirmation
When a NOSian does something they feel they have done wrong, they can speak to a Prime or write their sins in a chapel book. This process is known as Reaffirmation, affirming their link to NOS and their admittance of guilt. Reaffirmation is private, and is not revealed to anyone outside of the local Prime.

Holy Text
There is no one holy text for NOSians. There is, however, a book most churches keep called "The Collected Works of NOS", which include writings from affluent Primus, Primes, and academics. It is academic in nature, and reprinted often with new citations and amendments.

Marriage
A traditional Imperial wedding is split into three parts, one for each aspect of NOS. In the ceremony of Ney the couple exchange wedding tokens and expresses their willingness to enter into marriage. During the ceremony of Olt, the couple vows to remain faithful to one another though out all the changes their lives may bring. In the ceremony of Sim the couple vows to stay together until separated by Sim’s final blessing.

Death and Burial
When an Imperial dies, their body is prepared for burial by washing it and putting it in clean clothes, then the body is wrapped in a shroud. Funeral prayers are said, ideally by a Prime at a church of NOS, but any of the faithful can say the prayers in the absence of a Prime.

It is then custom for family and friends to ‘sit’ with the body, for a full day. This custom has become even more prevalent since the dead began resurrecting. Once the day has passed the body is buried in a graveyard. The family will be in official mourning for three months.

The family will visit the grave every year during the festival of the Rise of Sim. At this time the grave is tended and food is left for the dead.

Imperials equate the Land Beyond with the Land of Sim. Here they expect good NOSians to be rewarded with Citizenship in the City of Sim.

Heathens and heretics must stand forever outside the city in the Swamps of Sim. They can see the reward of the good NOSians but can never partake.