| Purists
|
|
Leaders: Parsifal Soranus
Admin: Julie
|
| Description
|
|
Regarded as a divergent faith by some, and a sect as others, Purism draws not from some abstract and unknowable forces, but from the reality of the Empire's past and the promise of its future. Its practitioners view the Keeper as most others do, as the divinely appointed leader. He is the Chosen of Providence, meant to shoulder a burden beyond the power of any mortal to do unaided, to keep fast the seal upon the Gateway which keeps the Dark Lord and his demonic minions bound to the Abyss.
Where Purists and their less zealous cousins differ is the manner in which it falls to the rest of us to shoulder that burden alongside Providence's Chosen. While most are content to pay that sacrifice and the Goddess which makes it possible lip-service, a Purist is one who has chosen to devote their life to Providence's ideals. To eschew any hint of demonic darkness in their lives or the world about them, to take back any foothold demonic power seeks to make within the realm. While Providence has charged the Keeper with holding closed the Gateway, she has laid at the feet of her faithful the mission to shine Her Light in any place that darkness might gather.
|
| Membership Requirements
|
|
Purists have some challenges on the grid, as it is hard to play within the strictures of honesty, faithfulness, eschewing darkness and standing against any negotiation or compromise with evil. Those who bear the title of Purist have been raised with strict adherence to these beliefs.
|
| Hierarchy
|
|
The Baron or Baroness of Ethos is regarded as the head of all Purists, and second only to the Emperor himself in spiritual leadership. Beneath that are Priests and Trainers, both of whom are rarely seen on Gateway.
Within the Purist community there are four orders, each devoted to a specific duty or way of life. Not every Purist belongs to one of these orders, nor are they expected to do so. Currently there are four orders within the Purist community: The Devoted Community of the Sacred Hand which focuses on healing, The Sons of Providence which serve as guardians to holy places, The Illuminated Society which promotes the melding of faith and science, and the Mendicant Brotherhood, for those who wish to devote themselves to a simple lifestyle while carrying Providence's word.
Purist Orders
|
|
| Grid Relations
|
|
Most people on-grid view Purists as good but stuffy people. Their word is generally trusted and they are viewed as honest, if sometimes also as rather fringe for their devotions. It is well-known that Purists are often leaders in matters of charity or kindness to their fellow-man.
|
| Significant IC History
|
|
The foundations of Purism lay in some of the early, violent times of the Empire, where one man on Draught had a prophetic experience and founded a place where devoted followers of Providence could come and be a part of a community of faith. This was the founding of the barony of Ethos and the Soranus line. The devotion grew, and became more sanctioned when Emperor Jonathan Caprios worked closely with Baron Solomon Soranus to create the Libris Sancti, the official and sacred text of the faith.
Other focuses came into the faith, and a path called the Path of the Light split off slightly from the original group (which was termed the Path of the Dragon in comparison). Then in relatively recent years there was a brief uprising of the Path of the Mother, a very permissive group that embraced joy and love more than the tenets of the faith.
In 507, an uprising of the faithful captured and exiled the Soranus family for a time. The rift was healed by the marriage of the leadership of the uprising and one of the Soranus daughters, and the extra paths were eliminated shortly after, with the return of the Baron Athar Soranus. Athar has not been seen for some time now, and leadership lays on the shoulders of the man who led the uprising to begin with.
More detailed information is at Purism/History
|
| Members
|
| The member pages of this faction are located here.
|
| Resources
|
|
A number of questions about strictures and faith can be found on the Purist FAQ.
|
|
