The Faith

Overview
The Faith was established some time in the wake of the Catastrophe, when the Twelve incarnated as humans and revealed themselves to the survivors living under the Catalian Mountains. Each of the Twelve brought with them an innate understanding of some skill or life force, and under their leadership humanity was able to restore itself to Alia. Following the re-emergence of the people of what would become Deputis from the Mountains, the one who called himself Mikes, and his brothers, Pisedon and Lide, set across the seas in search of more survivors – having constructed a sea-worthy ship in just two months.

The brothers were to rebuild and re-unite the human race, this was their reason for reincarnating, and upon finding another burgeoning civilisation at the ends of the world – on an island peninsula to the West, they began construction of the Twelve Temples before returning to Deputis, and before overseeing the completion of their project. In their brothers’ absence, the remaining Nine had built the settlement of Deputis to the north of the mountains, excavating remains of the Last Age as they went, and sent expeditionary marches to the south, establishing the Faith and its teachings (religious, as well as knowledge in trades and arts) across the continent’s western coastline.

Cats are a revered species, thought to have great knowledge, and associated with the Faith as each of the Twelve kept cats of all colours and types. Many of the dynasties still have cats from these original bloodlines living in their various homes across the continent.

Roots and influences
It is generally accepted that the Twelve are historical figures, though this is sometimes disputed. There was, by accident or design, no god of writing and language, so whilst the Twelve rebuilt the world itself, the arts of reading, writing and rhetoric were largely lost - plunging Catalia and Medi-um into a centuries-long dark age.

Unbeknownst to most of the current people of Alia, the Faith has roots in a religion of the Ancient Last Age. Whether the Twelve were truly reincarnated, or whether this was an adopted story, is becoming more widely disputed amongst the more educated (and perhaps, some always questioned this). But, what is undisputed, is that the Twelve brought with them knowledge which contributed to the rebuilding of the world after the Catastrophe and the darkness, knowledge which came from somewhere.

The Twelve
Mikes – as a deity, Mikes is loosely based on Zeus/Jupiter. The legendary character is thought to have been the human incarnation of the God, and was seen in his era as the leader of the Twelve. It is the direct descendants of Mikes who were the original Kings of Deputis. Mikes is the god of the Skies and extreme weather.

Pisedon – the brother of Mikes, Pisedon is the god of the Waters, his expertise ranging from the seas to ponds. Loosely based on Poseidon/Neptune.

Lide – the third brother of Mikes and Pisedon, Lide in truth was the one of the three who retained true knowledge of the world before the Catastrophe. Initiates to his secretive order still live in the shadow of the Twelve Temples in Metia. Very loosely based on Hades.

Helen – The wife of Mikes, Helen was a midwife during the lifetime of her reincarnation, and held expertise in childbirth and raising. She is to this day revered by expectant mothers and those who may never be, alike, and is now often regarded as one of the less consistent deities. Many couples pray to her idols, and offer countless sacrifices of colourful bird feathers and milk to the goddess, to be left yet unheard. Based on Hera/Juno.

Lusa – Known to have been at the centre of the building efforts in Deputis, Lusa is the goddess of knowledge itself, as well as handicraft and human relations. Widely regarded as the Matron of Deputis, the Mother of the City. Loosely based on Athena. The current reigning Dynasty are said to be the descendants of Lusa.

Sol – The god of the light and sun, being the first to re-emerge from under the Mountains, whilst the darkness still lingered. He brought back to humans the knowledge of time, and the seasons, and led the original survivors to the site that would be Deputis. Very loosely based on Apollo.

Artime – Loosely based on Artemis, Artime is the goddess of the wilderness, agriculture and life that is not human. She brought expertise in the related areas.

Ophelia – Goddess of harvest and agriculture, she was married to Sol. Together they led the exodus to Deputis, and taught the survivors agriculture, and how to breed and raise livestock. Loosely based on Demeter

Maron – Also known as the Marshal, the descendants of Maron to this day retain the title of Commander of Deputis’ armies. Maron taught of the defensive arts, though throughout the lifetime of his reincarnation the nation knew only peace. Based on Ares/Mars.

Catie – The goddess of love, pleasure and beauty, Catie is based on Aphrodite. The continent of Catila was named after her, as she brought teachings on how to treat one’s fellows, man and woman alike, and allowed the peoples of the continent to live in relative peace for the centuries since.

Harre – This god brought knowledge of blacksmything and craftsmanship, teaching the survivors how to rebuild their lost world. Loosely based on Hephaestus/Vulcan.

Baccion – Less is known of Baccion, and whilst he is still counted amongst the Twelve, during his reincarnation’s lifetime he lived largely separate to the rest of the survivors. His teachings have been lost to most of the population, with only initiated individuals being privy to the knowledge – such as those who live in the shadow of the Twelve Temples, or the Face of the Faith themselves.

The Face of the Faith and Eleven Advisers
The first Face of the Faith was the first son of Mikes and Helen, Mikes the Younger. His loss of the War of the Passes and subsequent assassination left the title's rightful heir in dispute and it was abandoned for two decades until the building project started by the First Mikes was completed, and emissaries came baring the news from the village Metia, in Primam. It was decided that the title of the Face of the Faith would be attached to the crown itself, with the two passing simultaneously to the same head. The current Face of the Faith is King Leah, descendant of Lusa.

The Eleven Advisers are the eldest living members of each deity-dynasty, each believed to have a direct line of communication with their dynasty's namesake.