by Max Barry

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The Infinite Empire of
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4

Mercerism

Mercerism:
The worship of Alexander Mercer, Mercerism is one of the dominant religions in the Empire.

The Luxe:
Mercerism's holy book is the Luxe, an ancient tome written by some of the first Evolved on orders from Alex. Somewhat like the Christian Bible, The Luxe is split into four parts, The Creation, The Death, The Resurrection, and The Lives of Saints.
The Creation focuses on Alexanders creation of Blacklight, The Evolved, and the formation of the Empire, and it is notably intolerant of anything than Mercerism and Evolved, calling for all other species to be exterminated or enslaved.
The Death focuses on the Orsonian Rebellion, painting it as a betrayal, but some newer versions paint it as a necessary action which would unlock Alexanders inner benevolence.
The Resurrection focuses on Alex’s return from the dead and his reign since. It calls for peace and tolerance of others, though it does also call for peaceful proselytizing and missionary work. The Followers of The Apocalypse, while they slightly predate the writing of this component of the Luxe, take these messages to heart, offering medical and humanitarian aid to anyone and everyone, while also teaching and educating.
The Lives of Saints details the lives and, often, the tragic ends of Mercerist saints, who are enshrined as minor deities worthy of praise.

The Khorovod:
A holy symbol akin to the cross of Christianity, the khorovod is a sacred symbol of Mercerism. The khorovod is a complex symbol, replete with symbolism.
At the center of the khorovod is a black diamond, above and separate from all else, representing Alexander Mercer, the lord and god Mercerists worship. Like the black star that shines over the souls of the faithful in Vorholl, the black diamond is above all earthly things, and is representative of Lord Mercer’s divinity.
Beneath this is a y-shaped base. The base represents Mercerists, specifically the laity. As it draws closer to the diamond, and therefore Lord Mercer, the base bifurcates into two sections. These sections represent the two branches of the Mercerist Church; the Carkva (clergy) and the Kuria (administration). Jutting out from each of these are lines representing the subdivisions of each; the Carkva also encompasses monastic orders, and the Kuria also encompasses the educational branch of the Church.
Encircling the diamond and base is a circle with angled lines jutting out. The circle represents life, while the various lines represent the various stages of life: birth, death, entry to Vorholl, and then Recurrence. Life is a circle revolving around Lord Mercer and the Church, and devotion is rewarded with eternal life in the form of Recurrence.

Mercerist Church Hierarchy:

The Mercerist church hierarchy is divided into two main sections: the Carkva (the clergy), and the Kuria (the administration). There is some overlap between the two, but generally they are kept separate. Monastic orders maintain their own “chain of command”, though they ultimately fall under the Arcadian Rada like all other members of the church hierarchy.

Carkva:

Leiktari:
The Leiktari are not actual members of the clergy, and have not yet finished their training at Ermitzha's and seminary schools, but they still play a number of minor but important roles in the church. Leiktari serve as chanters, choir leaders, acolytes, and other such roles, helping to keep a temple running smoothly, yet not entrusted with particularly important matters. In addition to being priests who have not yet finished their training, civilian volunteers can also be designated a Leiktar.

Pastarin:
A Pastar is a member of the church who has successfully completed their education and all that it entails but are not yet officially priests; a would-be pastar must undergo rigorous training in Mercerist practices and theology at an Ermitzha, serve for several years aboard missionary or exploration fleets, undergo numerous examinations, and more, all before being permitted to assist in conducting services or assisting in church administration roles before being granted the right to lead their own sermons, let alone found a temple or become a Prokhar. Pastar’s serve in apprentice roles, assisting with minor aspects of worship (such as coordinating the efforts of a temples Leiktari, or burning incense). Senior Pastari are given more important roles, and may lead simple worship services themselves, help church programs in the community, and visit the ill and infirm on behalf of the Prokhar. Not all Pastarin have the ambition to become a Prokhar, Sviatar, or Apostar, and some simply continue in their capacity as a Pastar rather than advance to a role with greater responsibility.

Prokharin:
A Prokhar, or priest, is the lowest and most common member of the Mercerist hierarchy, having completed the Blessing of Invocation. A Prokhar is tasked with preaching to their flock, tending to their spiritual and emotional needs, offering whatever support he can to his or her community, crafting Bone Charms, and for spreading the word of Mercer. Prokharin undergo years of training at Ermitzha's, and are well-versed in Mercerist theology, though they always seek to learn more, typically devoting much study to local Saints and theological matters so as to better serve and advise the community they reside in. There is always a need for new Prokharin, and most Cybusians consider a life in service to the church highly respectable as a career choice. The competition to become a Prokhar is fierce, because in addition to the years of training and apprenticeship, one must secure one of a handful of posts from the local Kanovnik.

Apostarin:
Unlike a Prokhar who devotes themselves to domestic duties, an Apostar is devoted to spreading the word of Mercer in heathen lands. Young and eager Apostarin fresh out of training are a common sight among Imperial exploration and settlement fleets, eager to either spread the word of Mercer to new worlds, or to serve colonists on worlds being settled for the first time. They conduct missionary work and provide medical aid and education across the universe, and happily promote Cybusian culture and values across the universe. Apostarin make up a large portion of exploratory fleets, and generally they are the first official Mercerist presence in a Krepost, spreading the word of Mercer to the native population. The Followers of The Apocalypse have a large amount of Apostarin in their ranks, and they work closely together to help those in need, both physically and spiritually.

Sviatari:
A Sviatar is a holdover from the ancient Empire; they were responsible for supervising and conducting mass sacrifices of heretics, and presided over the creation of Bone Charms from the remains of the enemy. Now, their role is much less morbid; they continue to supervise the creation of Bone Charms, but mostly cater to the spiritual needs of their fellow soldiers. Highly trained and calm under pressure, they are generally deployed unarmed and behind the front lines, except against threats considered existential such as Redlight, where every soldier is needed to stem the tide. Imperial Military Sviatari are unarmed and wear robes specifically marking them as clergy. Firing on them is considered a crime by the Imperial military.
The church maintains a small honor guard of Sviatari who ceremonially guard Ermitzha's and members of the clergy ranked Kyriarkh or above. There are a number of stories of Sviatari laying down their lives to protect their charges and the congregations they serve, sacrificing themselves to protect them during Drakul outbreaks, uprisings, and other such threats to the safety of the church and its parishioners. Sviatari in the service of the church wear ceremonial armor and keftas, and wield specialized blades known as sovnya’s, which are mounted on carved poles and are capable or firing stun blasts to incapacitate would-be attackers.

Divarkhi:
A Divarkh, equivalent to a bishop, is the next highest rank in the Mercerist hierarchy. A Divarkh is responsible for supervising the Prokharin in his or her region, acting as a representative of the church to communities in the region, assisting local Ermitzha’s, authorizing the establishment of new temples led by prospective Prokharin, and resolving disputes between those under his or her authority. A Divarkh is responsible for a region, known as a Divarkhate. The size of a Divarkhate varies; at the start of settlement, a single Divarkh may be in charge of an entire continent, or potentially even an entire planet if there are very few faithful, but generally the size decreases as settlement progresses, gradually shrinking to more manageable sizes as settlement progresses. To become a Divarkh, one must have served as a Prokhar for at least 10 years, to either have earned a degree in Mercerist Theology or have studied at an Ermitzha and received roughly equivalent honors, and one must have at least 3 letters of recommendation from a local Kyriarkh and community leaders or persons of note, undergo multiple rounds of interviews, and, most importantly, secure the approval of a Kanovnik.
Divarkhi operate from Mercerist cathedrals, or Kidrons.
Divarkhi often ceremonially launch oceanic and spacefaring vessels built in their divakate, blessing the ship and it’s crew (and future passengers, if it is a passenger vessel), anointing a portion of the hull in sacred oils, and providing the captain of the vessel with a Bone Charm carved with nautical or space themes -depending on the type of vessel- , to protect them on their travels. Similar blessings are conducted for airships as well.

Kyriarkhi:
A Kyriarkh is the equivalent of an archbishop, and has hundreds, possibly thousands of Divarkhi reporting to them, numerous Divarkhates making up a Kyriarkhate. A Kyriarkhate may encompass an entire planet, or multiple planets in lightly populated systems, and the Kidron from which one is administered is appropriately magnificent. The most senior Kyriarh in a system is granted the honorific Avhustyn, and is considered "first among equals" in such a system, their word carrying more weight in local disputes.

Kanovniki:
A Kanovnik is the highest ranking member of the Mercerist hierarchy on any individual world. Kanovniki are unique in that they are elected by a planet’s population. After a planet reaches a certain threshold of faithful Mercerists and a certain number of divaki, an election occurs. Divarkhi deemed worthy of the position are nominated by their fellow Divarkhi after consultation with the communities and an election by all the planetary faithful occurs. It is customary for the election to be concluded with a grand feast, at the end of which the new Kanovnik is anointed and blessed with sacred oils, given custom carved Bone Charms, a ceremonial kefta, and then prayed for by the entirety of the assembled crowd, so that the Emperor and his Saints will bless and watch over the new Kanovnik. The election of a Kanovnik is a moment of great pride for a frontier world, for it, in a way, marks a planet as being truly Cybusian and under Alexander’s divine protection. Kanovniki are expected to learn all there is to know about their world and it’s spiritual matters, to study local artifacts and confirm miracles, to administer to church property and finances, and to act as the supreme authority for spiritual matters on any given world, resolving disputes and providing consul. Vitally, a Kanovnik must also choose the best individuals to become Prokharin or Divarkhi, giving out a small handful of appointments every few years.
A Kanovnik is expected to make a pilgrimage to the Raven Court every year to pay homage and report on their world. Kanovniki also have considerable “diplomatic” roles to attend to; they are the primary point of contact for the planetary government regarding spiritual matters, they handle disputes with local non-believers, encourage settlement, and preside over the creation of new Ermitzha’s and the launching of pilgrimage and exploration fleets. A Kanovnik, similar to a Divarkh, ceremonially launches the largest vessels from a planet’s shipyards, and blesses all warships or exploration vessels prior to their maiden voyage. In addition, Kanovniki are in charge of investigating and approving the application of Sainthood for those deemed worthy, or the incorporation of local dieties or figures into the local canon of Saints.
While Kanovniki are still priests, they only deliver sermons occasionally, focusing primarily on administrative duties and ceremonial roles (such as blessing important vessels) and leaving most outright religious duties to the highest ranking Kyriarkh on the planet.

The Arcadian Rada:
The Arcadian Rada is the highest office of the Mercerist hierarchy below Alexander Himself. Led by the Rozhada, the Rada’s members are known as Radaki (singular form being a Radak). The Radaki settle spiritual and ecclesiastical debates, hear petitions and applications for Imperial Sainthood (as opposed to a local Saint), and otherwise act as a means of settling and handling issues and debates arising between lower ranking Carkva. The Rozhada is also a member of The Imperial Consulate, advising the Emperor of developments in matters relating to the Church. The Rozhada also helps circulate proclamations from Alexander to all members of the church, regardless of their distance from Arcadia. Members of the Rada also handle internal church investigations and punishments.

Kuria:

The Kuria is the administrative branch of the church. Many people wish to serve the Emperor through the church, but are not blessed with the gift of public speaking or charisma; many of these souls take up positions within the Kuria, serving the church through their other talents. Others join monastic orders.

Kurianasti:
A Kurianast is a generic term for an administrative member of the church, no matter their speciality (accounting, record keeping, etc). They form an important part of the church, maintaining and controlling church infrastructure, funds, and ensuring internal policies are followed.

Ecumnastar:
A Eucumnastar is a member of the Kuria who has devoted their life to education or scholarship. They teach as specialized schools to educate would-be Prokharin, or study relics or mythology on a world, finding ways to incorporate local beliefs and figures into Mercerism. Others study the biographies, relics, or even the bodies of Saints. Some devote their time to quiet study of the Luxe.

Monastic Ranks:

Pastulianti:
A Pastuliant is effectively the monastic equivalent of a Leiktar; an aspirant who lives with a monastic order for a period, learning how the Manastryi live and work, accompanying them on their tasks, worship, and other duties. This takes several years, during which time the Ermitzha's Mandrite may expel them for any reason, barring them from becoming a Pastulant at any other Ermitzha. If accepted at the end of the period, they are formally inducted as a Manastyr.

Manastyri:
A Manastyr is a common monk. Manastyri devote their lives to a certain goal: members of an isolationist order devote themselves to cloistered worship, praise, and focus on a closer personal connection with Lord Mercer; members of an economic order devote themselves to showing the glory of the Emperor through excellent craftsmanship (this can range from growing fantastic fruit and vegetables to be sold at markets to painstakingly creating hand-crafted robes for other members of the church, or crafting Bone Charms); members of a missionary order devote themselves to specialized duties meant to help the community they live in (such as acting as doctors, nurses, midwives, teachers, etc); and innovationist orders devote themselves to the study of a world, overlapping heavily with Eucumnastar’s.
Manastyri reside almost exclusively in an Ermitzha, and belong to one of the monastic orders described above.

Mandrites:
A Mandrite is the leader of a given Ermitzha, and acts in a manner similar to both a Prokhar and a Kanovnik, albeit on a smaller scale. A Mandrite leads an Ermitzha’s order of Manastyri in worship services, leads the efforts of the monks in whatever mission they are devoted to, maintain good relations with the local population, act as a liaison with the outside world and the local Divarkhate, and otherwise ensure the Ermitzha runs smoothly. A Mandrite is generally appointed by either a Kanovnik or an Arkhmandrite once an Ermitzha has been formally established, almost always hailing from the group of Manastyri in said Ermitzha, although occasionally an outsider from within the same monastic order will be appointed.

Arkhmandrite:
An Arkhmandrite is the head of a monastic order or religious society; typically headquartered on Arcadia or the world where their order was founded, an Arkhmandrite is roughly equivalent to a Kyriarkh in authority, but in practice they are effectively the rulers of their own separate ecclesiastical kingdoms, the ermitzhas of their respective orders reporting to them and them alone. Ermitzha’s do maintain contact with the local Divarkhate if they need assistance, but they strive to be self-sufficient and avoid reliance (or contact with) the outside world unless their order’s mission is a social one, such as a missionary or economic order. Arkhmandrites are given a great deal of latitude, and can enforce their own punishments for their own rules, but they are ultimately still serving at the pleasure of the Rada and must report to its members on a regular basis.

Chart of Mercerist Church Hierarchy:


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The Blessing of Invocation:
An important Mercerist ceremony, The Blessing of Invocation is the ceremony by which new clergy (Carkva) are initiated into the church.
The Blessing of Invocation is a solemn ceremony presided over a worlds highest ranking Carkva; on many worlds this means the planets Kyriarkh and Kanovnik are both present, but on frontier worlds, this may very well be just a Divarkh. The Pastarin who have successfully completed all tests, trials, and a period of apprenticeship, as well as acquired recommendations and permissions from a Kanovnik, are gathered in the largest and most elaborate Kidron in a system; if there is not an established Mercerist hierarchy in a system (ie: a new colony is being founded), the Blessing is performed in the nearest system with a Kidron.
First, prospective Prokharin, Sviatari, and Apostarin are led into the Kidron by the local Divarkh. The Divarkh will then go to each prospective member and paint specialized runes on their faces with common oil, the runes specifically calling each member an outsider and unclean.
The prospective clergy partake in a ritualized worship ceremony culminating in the lighting of a fire. Each member, as their name is called, approaches the Kanovnik and Kyriarkh. They kneel and, in a series of ceremonial questions and answers, confirm their willingness to devote themselves to the service of the Emperor and to fulfill whatever their particular position entails; for instance, a prospective member of the church’s own order of Sviatari must swear to use their weapons only in self-defense or in the defense of the innocent, whereas a prospective Apostar must swear to peacefully spread the word of Mercerism among the stars. The prospective member returns to their seat until all members have undergone this series of questions and answers.
Following this, all prospective members join together for a communal prayer wherein they affirm their intent to join and serve the church and Lord Mercer. They approach the fire lit earlier and, using a ceremonial blade used for sacrifices and Bone Charm carving, slit their right hand and allow several drops of biomass or blood to spill into the flames, symbolically burning away corruption and offering part of themselves both literally and figuratively to Lord Mercer as sacrifice.
Following this spilling of blood, the Kyriarkh or Kanovnik has each prospective member approach them, where a small basin awaits. Each member allows a drop of blood or biomass to drop into this basin, symbolically joining them together as brothers and sisters and representing their commitment to the church now. This basin is then poured onto the flames, and is followed by another blessing from the Kanovnik. After several chants and prayers, the prospective members cleanse their wounds and the runes marking them as outsiders on their faces with bowls of water, symbolically cleansing themselves of the outside world and impurity.
The Kyriarkh then summons each member before him to be anointed with sacred oils representing the biomass Alexander spilled to create the Evolved and the biomass he was reborn from. They repeat part of the question and answers from earlier, and one by one, are declared either an Apostar, Prokhar, or Sviatar. They are provided ceremonial robes, vestments, adornments, and, in the case of Sviatari, their sovnya pole-arms. As they receive their items, each item is handed over with a blessing; ie, a prospective Sviatar would receive their sovnya with a blessing that they may never have to use it, but if they have to, it will be used to deliver swift justice to whose who would dare attack them. The member is anointed with more oils, and blessed, and formally inducted into their new role, as well as their common role as that of a member of the Carkva.
After each new Carkva has received their items, the Kyriarkh leads them in prayer once again, before blessing them all a final time. They then file out in a pre-ordained fashion: Sviatari line the way to the exits, sovnya’s proudly displayed, before marching out of the Kidron and forming an equal line on either side of the entrance. The Apostarin leave next, fanning outward from the Sviatari, much like how their travels will take them beyond the Empires borders. Finally, the Prokharin exit through the line of Sviatari, symbolizing their role as domestic priests under Imperial protection. From there, the high-ranking Carkva exit through the line of newly appointed Carkva, who typically bow or stand at attention as they leave.
Often, newly appointed Carkva are celebrated with a feast afterwards, or presented with a Bone Charm, although this varies from world to world, and the official Blessing of Invocation technically ends after the ceremonial exit.

Kidron:
An elaborate Mercerist temple, a Kidron is the seat of a local Divarkhate or Kyriarkhate. More like a small compound than a single structure, a Kidron is home to both administrative facilities and a vast Mercerist temple. The temple, the actual Kidron, is almost always a vast architectural masterpiece, many years in the making, worthy of the man or woman occupying it, a towering Mercerist Deco structure with sweeping lines, geometric designs, and stained glass. In addition to the belfry, there is often a free-standing bell tower as well, an architectural touch inspired by Ermitzhas. Within the Kidron, there is space for hundreds, even thousands of worshippers to gather and praise Alexander and local Saints. Each Kidron generally has an elaborate shrine to a chosen Saint, incorporating relics, murals and icons, or even the remains of the Saint. Kidrons are vast, beautiful architectural masterpieces meant to convey the Mercerist truth, Cybusian elegance, and Imperial power and prosperity, and are often considered to be some of the most beautiful structures in whatever city they are in.
The administration buildings, while less opulent, are never dull, and are typically located behind the Kidron. There is typically a library and a small dormitory and associated facilities for clergy in training, such as Leiktari and Pastarin, as well as associated members of the administration branch of the church, the Kuria. The Divarkh or Kyriarkh typically lives in a small but comfortable home on the grounds of the complex. Typically, there is also a graveyard or burial catacomb network reserved for the church faithful. A small detachment of Sviatari are assigned to guard a Kidron if it is the center of a Kyriarkhate.

Mercerist Monasticism:
A component of Mercerism since before the Rebellion, Mercerist monasticism comes in a few distinct forms. Monastaries, as with Mercerist temples, are often beautiful and elegantly designed, architectural monuments to the Mercerist truth and Cybusian engineering skill. The ancient Cybusian word for monastery is Ermitzha.

Monastic Orders:

Isolationist:
Isolationist orders focus on isolating themselves from society to better serve and praise Alexander. They tend to establish Ermitzhas in beautiful but isolated areas so that they may commune with the world and avoid others and focus on praying and worshipping. They are not completely isolated; they do get supplies from local communities if they can’t make or grow it themselves, and they will always offer refuge or a bed for a night for travelers or those who need refuge. However, they generally avoid active missionary work and interacting with nearby communities unless necessary.

Economic:
Economic orders focus on providing a service to the nearby communities, be it brewing beer or crafting and selling Bone Charms; the logic being that in doing so they provide something needed by the community, spread the word of Mercer, and gain funds to use to support the monastery all at the same time. Economic orders do not actually seek to make a profit, with all revenue being spent on the Ermitzha or necessary expenses. The Manastyri generally produce excellent products, the quality of their products being seen as reflective of their devotion to Lord Mercer.

Missionary:
Missionary orders focus on helping local communities and spreading the word of Lord Mercer in the process. These missions vary, from acting as medical personnel (doctors, nurses, midwives), to housing the homeless, from acting as teachers to donating food to the needy. They are perhaps the most social of the orders, going out into the community from their monasteries, which are often located in more urban areas than other orders.

Innovationist:
Innovationist orders focus on exploring and studying things, such as the flora and fauna of the world they are on, compiling histories, and other such activities, to better understand Alexander’s creations and his Empire. They tend to send monks out around the world to catalog things and collect information for the monks to record or publish.

Monastic Buildings:
There are several types of monastic building, but they tend to have several things in common:
Ermitzhas usually have a large bell tower, where bells are rung to wake the Manastyri, tell the time, summon the monks to meals and prayers, and to attract locals for service or business (in the case of missionary and economic orders, respectively). This belfry is often attached to a Mercerist temple, and it is not uncommon for there to be several belfries.
There is always a dormitory, consisting of individual rooms for each monk, with a large communal kitchen and dining area. The dormitory tends to act as the exterior of the Ermitzha, with an inner courtyard and an elaborately decorated temple and belfry forming the center, along with statues, small exterior shrines, and other such features. The walls of an Ermitzha tend to be white or a pale red, blue, or sometimes black or grey, and there are often onion domes. Beautiful Art Deco inspired icons of Alexander, Saints (both Imperial and local), and murals decorate the temple and other structures.
Most Ermitzha's have cropland and pasturage, an infirmary, and other such structures, and are mostly self sufficient as a result of this. Specialized orders may have other structures such as a brewery, small factory, or a dedicated library or greenhouse.
All ermitzhas have either an elaborate underground catacomb where the remains of deceased Manastyri are kept (the remains not turned into Bone Charms, at least), or, more rarely and more morbidly, a “bone church”: a small chapel whose interior is lovingly made of the remains of monks where the nature of the universe and life and death are pondered. Sometimes a more ordinary graveyard is maintained.

Monastic Life:
Most Ermitzhas have the Manastyri wake before dawn to the ringing of the bells. They conduct a service, led by their Mandrite, where they praise and worship Alexander and whichever Saint or Saints they choose to honor, and then eat breakfast as a group at dawn. From there, the day differs depending on which kind of order the monks belongs to; an isolationist order would spend the day praying and worshipping either in the temple or individually, while an economic order would send some monks to local communities to sell their product while others work on creating more; a missionary order would send most of the monks out into the community to conduct their specialized mission, while an innovations order would see some monks recording, drawing, painting, cataloguing, and reading, while others would be sent on expeditions to gather knowledge for other monks to preserve, while others conduct rudimentary experiments and tests.
All the monastic orders do have a few things in common, however. They have communal meals, are organized under a Mandrite, have worship services every morning, afternoon, and evening, and they each live and work to find a closer connection to Lord Mercer and the Saints and/or to spread the word of Mercerism.

Saints:
Mercerist Saints:
Mercerists are heavily influenced by their saints, or Sankti. A Sankt (male and general term) or Sankta (female) is an individual who has either performed miracles (Charodey are generally not considered for this type of sainthood; a miracle must be conclusively determined not to have been magical in origin), performed a great feat in the name of Alexander Mercer (ie, converting an entire nation to Mercerism or something else extremely difficult and time-consuming), or, of course, laid down their life for the faith.
Saints are venerated by Mercerists and considered to have the ability to influence things from beyond the grave; performing miracles, imbuing Bone Charms with power, and intervening in the world on behalf of the faithful who praise them. Saint’s are said to be unique in that, due to their service and sacrifice, they can never Recur; it is said that the souls of Saints rest in a sort of luxurious but unending limbo -unable to Recur but also devout enough not for their souls to be consumed like those of heretics- and from this limbo (known as Vorholl) they can impact the world and continue to worship Alexander.
Saints are prayed to in the hopes they will intervene in the lives of mortals, honored with statues, shrines, and Bone Charms being dedicated to them, celebrated through the celebration of each particular Saint’s Day, and their remains and artifacts are enshrined in Kidrons where pilgrims travel in droves to visit them.
Imperial Saints are distinct from local ones. Imperial Saints are venerated across the Empire, and almost every Mercerist is aware of them and what they are the patron saint of. Imperial Saints are generally ones who have died for their faith, and, given their significance, tend to have very elaborate and almost extravagant Saints Day celebrations.
As Mercerism spreads from world to world, to better convert locals, often certain folkloric, mythological, or religious deities or figures will be adapted into Saints and venerated on their world, sometimes spreading to other worlds, while local Mercerists who fulfill the criteria for Sainthood are often made into local Santkti. On exceedingly rare occasions, if a local Saint has garnered enough of a following, the Arcadian Rada may proclaim that a local Saint can be declared an Imperial Saint.
Saint’s Days are a certain day devoted to each Saint, typically on the day of their death or their first (or only, or most notable) miracle. A Saint’s Day celebration often involves early morning processions through the streets by the faithful, bearing icons and artwork of the Saint as the marchers chant and pray. The procession, led by robed Carkva, almost always ends at a temple or a Kidron, where a worship service is held focusing on the Saint and their accomplishments or sacrifice. These processions are solemn, haunting affairs, candles and torches and lanterns illuminating the pre-dawn streets, incense filling the air as chants and prayers and hymns echo through the streets. The worship ceremony tends to last several hours, and typically the parish will provide coffee afterwards, followed by a short series of prayers before releasing the congregation back into the world. Often, the faithful spend the rest of the day in prayer and silent reflection, or preforming activities specific to the Saint; a local Saint might have specific rites associated with them, while Sankta Hestis is celebrated through acts of charity or healing, while Wagains use Sankt Rosario’s Day as a way of highlighting and celebrating Cybusian culture, cuisine and practices. There may be another procession and/or worship service later in the day or evening. Sacrifices (not of living creatures, although it is not entirely unheard of for animals to have been ritualistically hunted and prepared for sacrifice) and offerings to the Saint are very common; such as ceremonial bloodletting/biomassletting, carving a Bone Charm and dedicating it to the Saint being honored, hand-crafted candles being lit, or shrines or statues being unveiled.
Many Mercerist Saints have suffered horrible deaths, and are thus posthumously honored. Saints vary from world to world, as each planet tends to have its own local Saints they pay homage to. However, there are several saints recognized across the Empire:
Saint Koenig: Venerated for his resurrection of Alex, patron saint of science and technology. Koenig dislikes this status immensely, and refuses to officially acknowledge it in any capacity, believing the praise should go to Alex instead.
Saint Hestis: The founder of The Followers of The Apocalypse, Saint Hestis was burned alive, and is the patron saint of medicine, mercy, and healing.
Saint Carina: A Banshee, magically gifted, she was drawn and quartered in a field of roses by terrified and suspicious mortals, her regenerative powers having been exhausted after being burned at the stake three times and already undergone two failed beheadings. She is the patron saint of witches and seers, and, on a more general note, is often invoked by those being tormented or attacked for their faith in Alexander.
Saint Corsahnim, aka The Emperor Saint: A rare example of a living Saint, Johnathan Corsahnim, leader of the Empire of Corsahnim, was forcibly converted to Mercerism by members of the Order of The Raven, and ultimately ended up infecting the vast majority of his population with Blacklight, creating a new type of Evolved, the Evol'Cor. He was deposed by a rebellion after he became a tyrant, persecuting and executing non-Mercerists. He was allowed to live, however, and has returned to the throne a kinder and gentler man, leading his Empire into another golden age of freedom and scientific advancement. Because of this, he is considered the patron Saint of rulers, emperors, and, more importantly, tolerance.

Bone Charms:
Mercerist relics, Bone Charms are bits of bone carved with Mercerist symbols and and often fused with minerals, gems, or bits of metal. They were originally made from the bones of heretics or Humans, but following the resurrection, an official decree from the Emperor forbade this practice, and they are now made from the bones of deceased animals or executed criminals. They can cause unnatural things to occur, though exactly what depends on the user and the nature of the bone charm. A medic may find his patients feel less pain or bleed out slightly slower than they should be when a bone charm is in their pocket, while the same charm may cause an Evolved’s biomass blade to always hit an artery whoever they strike an opponent in combat. A soldier may find that a bullet or energy weapon bolt coming toward him is suddenly metamorphosed into a flock of ravens which attack the individual who shot at him, while the same bone charm in the hands of a vet may calm animals upon approach. Bone charms are made and sold throughout the Empire. Extremists occasionally make bone charms in ‘the old way’, though anyone found guilty of this is arrested for murder. Charms made from bones of a creature or person who was tortured or died a violent death tend to be more powerful or have more pronounced and noticeable effects, and Torchwood often tries to track these down for use by their Agents.

Recurrence and the Mercerist Afterlife
Mercerists believe that especially loyal servants of the Emperor are rewarded after death with the chance to be reborn and serve the Emperor again. This is known as a Recurrence; the individual Blacklight strain and personality of the individual recurring in a new body. A Partial Recurrence, wherein the Blacklight strain of an individual is perfectly duplicated but the personality is not, is more common than a True Recurrence, wherein both are perfectly recreated, and the mind seemingly has access to all the memories, secrets, and personal knowledge or quirks of the past individual.
The Imperial government keeps track of both types of Recurrence. It is not unknown for individuals to leave part of their estate to a future Recurrence; one eccentric noble left everything he owned, along with his vast fortune, to his eventual Recurrence, and gave nothing to his family members. In some instances prior to The Rebelllion, Alexander hated certain heretical or politically frustrating nobles so much that after executing them, he ordered that any future Recurrences of said individuals be executed as well. This policy is no longer carried out of course, though some have noted that there have been no Recurrences of Yvonne Hartman (some might say that Alexander is preventing it, but some have said that they are being killed by Torchwood).
Certain magical rituals can be performed to try to cause a Recurrence artificially, but these involve human sacrifice, and are thus illegal and carry the death penalty if a practitioner were discovered. They are also risky, running the risk of killing the practitioner or them being possessed rather than causing a Recurrence.
Because their god is a physical being, Mercerists do not believe in an afterlife, or at least not a permanent one for most believers. The idea of Recurrence, being reborn to continue to serve Lord Mercer informs most Cybusian ideas of death. There is, however, a realm in which the souls of Mercerists go before a Recurrence.
This realm is known as Vorholl. An idyllic realm of comfort and pleasure, the souls of the faithful go to Vorholl upon death and continue to worship the Emperor, eventually Recurring into a new body. Vorholl is, according to the Luxe, a beautiful paradise of gold and obsidian and rubies, where everyone lives like a noble, blending Art Deco metropolis with lush landscape, forest, and beaches, and is deliberately modeled after Arcadia. It is said that a black sun shines over Vorholl, the Emperor watching over the souls of his faithful from the star, linked to his physical body. Others whisper that this black star is actually where the Emperor’s soul is housed to let him survive death again, but this seems unlikely, since it’s too obvious.
Saints are a special case. They have devoted themselves so deeply to the Emperor they have given up their bodies (often due to their painful or terrifying deaths) and can never Recur, and in exchange for their sacrifices, they are kept safe in Vorholl, worshipping Alexander forever and intervening in the physical realm for their devotees; performing miracles and giving a Bone Charm that extra spark of power that a mere mortal cannot.
Those who have been known to have Recurred have only vague memories of Vorholl (if they have any at all), but all have described it as a paradise. The location of Vorholl is unknown, but it is strongly believed that is another realm or dimension Alexander secretly created and jealousy guards from the other gods, an alternative to The Dreamlands (Nyarlahotep’s twisted playground and home), Carcosa (home of The Yellow King and where Johannes Vanderberg may or may not be from) and wherever Elizabeth Green keeps her twisted and demented soul.

Pilgrimage Fleets:
A unique Cybusian phenomenon, a pilgrimage fleet consists of a fleet of vessels typically created to order by wealthy Mercerists. These vessels are beautiful and resplendent, their armored hulls adorned with massive and elaborate Mercerist monuments, statues, quotes from the Luxe carved into the hull, huge sigils or signs of Mercerist Saints, both universal and local. They are heavily armed to fend off anyone who would interrupt their pilgrimage.
Wealthy Mercerists will often pay the expenses for Mercerists from poorer planets or foreign nations to be able to board the vessels and experience the pilgrimage, journeying across the Empire, stopping at planets to greet and worship with other believers, visit temples, peacefully spread the word of Alexander, and take on more pilgrims. The Wrack is a popular destination as the faithful seek out the Oracular Order. Arcadia is always the final destination, so they can worship Alexander and visit the most holy sites and temples.
Many official Pilgrimage fleet vessels are fairly comfortable, and highly decorated, the interiors having vast hollow spaces holding massive statues of Alexander and Mercerist Saints, elaborate carvings and murals, no expenses spared for the vessels that will ferry the faithful through the stars. They often stop on lower tech worlds such as Earth to pick up Mercerists who may not have the capacity to leave their world yet, the Cybusian level of comfort luxurious to many others.
In addition to the official ships, many other vessels join the flotilla, from small personal ships to former military vessels operated by The Order Of The Raven to protect them.

Ravak Opfernik:
An ancient Mercerist practice, now banned by law across the Empire. Ravak Opfernik consisted of dragging a heretic, often a Human, onto an altar, typically made of obsidian. The body would be painted with Mercerist designs. Then, the body was slowly vivisected, internal organs being fed to vast swarms of ravens and crows, while other Mercerists sliced into the skin, carving out the symbols in the victims flesh. The corpse is left there or displayed publicly as a warning, until decomposed, at which point bone charms are made from the bones. This practice has been highly illegal for millions of years, yet it remains popular among ultra-Mercerist extremists. Anyone found guilty of committing this vile sacrifice is executed.

*OOC: The hierarchy was created in no small part due to the excellent work of my highly talented region-mate Novo Wagondia! He also created the chart.

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