Thedine

Thedine Profile

Origin Nature – Sentient The Church sees Thedine as a sentient being with a stern but even personality and a motivation in the best interest of all mankind. This is not to be confused with love or compassion, as Thedine has little patience for apathy or sloth. Followers speak of betraying the trust or dutyof Thedine, but not of Thedine's duty to them.

Origin Form – Entity Thedine is iconified as a blank faced elderly man. His eyes are always prominent, but no other facial features are depicted. Thedine is said to dwell upon a subterranean throne, but all devotees see this as metaphorical, and understand his true presence to extradimensional.

Origin Genesis – Created/Inherent Although the creation of the spirit Thedine in this sphere is well documented in Chlendi spiritualist lore, the High Argaevalignian Church of Thedine maintains that the world was created through the sweat and blood of Thedine the Eternal.

Origin Connections – Related The Chlendi maintain that Thedine is but one of a thousand and one spirits, but rose to prominence through the devotion of a nation. The Church teaches that other deities and spirits are evil demons, which seek to lead mankind to sloth and deceit.

Origin Orientation – Balanced Although there are no records of appearances or concrete manifestations, followers see the hand of Thedine is subtle daily measures. His struggles against the demons of drought, cold, and storm perserve the land of the Maetah.

Origin Relations – Interested (Control) – While it is clear that Thedine takes an interest in the actions of his minions, his true motivations are unclear.

The Society of the Black Earth

The Society of the Black Earth is the primary institution of professional servants of Thedine. The 'black earth' comes from the Maetah term jhapitim, meaning fertile soil (which was black soil). The Society is comprised of the priests, professional laypersons, and support staff of the High Argaevalignian Church of Thedine. It is an official body of the Church, and also a recognized office of the Argaevalignian government. Because of the state's theocratic government, many bureaucrats and military personnel receive positions in the Society, but on a lesser level, it also includes that maintain staff at temples and shrines.

The Society of the Black Earth is the descendent of a lineage of a Maetah lineage, qod-Jhapitim, which comprised the core of the Thedine priesthood among the early North Sea Coast villages. As Chlendi forces moved into the regions, their strategists focused on dominating the local populations, which would make excellent agricultural laborers. They felt that by controlling the primary religious leadership, the persons whom received the most respect, and thus had most influence, the populace could be thus controlled. This method would turn to be most effective among the Maetah because of the primacy of the agricultural faith in the economy and livelihood of the culture. The Chlendi thus conspired with the clan, who by virtue of having the most power among the Maetah, also had the most to lose in the conquest. In exchange for the agricultural surplus and support of the social order, the qod-Jhapitim was allowed to stay in power as puppets of the Chlendi.

Description & Structure

Philosophy

The Question of Origin

If you were to ask a priest of Thedine, "Where did we come from?"

In the beginning the universe was a unordered matter, waiting to be led and directed. Like dewdrops forming on a leaf, the semi-conscious bits of matter coalesced into forms, one of which we now call Thedine. The other semiconscious entities where content with the chaotic sea of matter, but Thedine invested himself in this sea, tilling and planting with his soul and consciousness, until the sweat and blood of his efforts formed Uod and other lands. The other entities saw this creation and mimicked it, but brought forth shallow devices with the dedication and toil of Thedine. Thedine saw them and pitied them, and as an example created mankind upon Uod, and gave them freewill, so that all beings could see how anyone possessed of conviction and dedication could make meaningful creations. The other spirits toiled again, some giving greater effort, creating beasts and winds and trees, but none could survive with out the gifts provided with investiture of Thedine. Other spirits continued to enjoy their slothful ways, and taught mankind sorceries and tricks by which to create and control the world around them without sweat or toil.

Why follow the direction of Thedine instead of the path of the slothful spirits? That is The Question of Morals.