Olometism

Olom Tisma was a prophet born in the territory of the Aquera Kingdom, who foresaw the end of the world. His rewritten memoirs are still kept safe in the Royal Archives of the Aquera Kingdom. He has two names now: Olom Tisma and Paraclete of the Living.

Time for those outside the faith was counted as though Olom Tisma wasn't important at all. This is the reason why some dates are listed without the NE at the end (Please, look at "Time" at the bottom of this page for more information). According to this calendar, used by those outside of the faith, it was in the year 627 that Olom Tisma was born and Dieu Soleil spoke to him in the year 645.

Whether a year is given or not, since that time the young Olom Tisma started to spread Dieu's word. He was a good orator and gathered quite a large crowd of followers in the Aquera Kingdom. These followers were named Children of Dieu Soleil.

Olom's teaching was registered by one of his followers, who signed in the name of Lune, Guardian of the Dieu Soleil. It is said that he was writing down all the teachings during the night, while Olom Tisma was sleeping. Lune himself described his duty to keep Olom Tisma safe until Dieu's word would live in each beating heart.

It is said that the main book was burned during the Pogroms of the Children of Dieu Soleil (Please, look at the World's timeline). Though, those who lived long enough to stay alive rewrote the book known as "Word of Dieu Soleil" from their memory. Some claim there might be found some minor variations on descriptions of some events, but all the doctrines are the same in all books. This is a matter of faith however.

Word of Dieu Soleil

"Word of Dieu Soleil" is the book written by Lune, Guardian of the Dieu Soleil, according to the teaching of Olom Tisma.

Fallen Etoiles

It describes seven Fallen Etoiles (Stars, also known as Demons), who slipped from the Path of the Light and never found their way to the Empire of Dieu Soleil. Etoiles tried to find their way back to the Path of the Light, but their hearts were rusting with each moment spent away from the Path of the Light until their hearts crumbled. Then the seven Etoiles became the first Eternal Sinners. They appeared in the blind darkness, where they established their own Kingdom, Obscurite.

Their main goal is to show that their Kingdom may be more glorious, stronger and more powerful than the Empire of Dieu Soleil. That is why they are trying to lure the souls of the people to sin and wander away from the Path of the Light, because after death Lost Souls are buried under the ground and their body remains behind to rot while their soul moves on to the Kingdom of Obscurite, while the Children of Dieu Soleil are brought to the Empire of Dieu Soleil by the wind.

Depiction of seven Fallen Etoiles (the same depiction of seven Fallen Etoiles dominates in sculpture, written word, drawings, paintings and other forms of art):

Luxure (One of the Fallen Etoiles)

• Luxure (Lust): Depicted as a young woman who wears a long dress. The dress looks to be made of some sort of shadow. There is always a truss of grapes in her right hand. It is said that everyone sees her the way they want to see her. Luxure may take any form: male, female, change hair color, be slim or plump, etc.

• Gourmand (Gluttony): An overly rotund man with a huge pig on his lap and a full apple in his own mouth. It is told that Gourmand has no limits and he eats all the time and everything that he can. It is said the most delicious to him are young little tinkers (Children who do not listen their parents).

• Aviditus (Greed): A young man who is always shown with his arms extended in front of him. His palms are overfilled with golden coins and some of those coins are laying around his feet. A dark ribbon is tied around his eyes, marking him as blind.

• Paressius (Sloth): An old man with a long beard, which hangs to his knees, and his hair are very long too, reaching the middle of the man's back. He is always showed as very slim and sitting on an old tree stump wearing rags. His expression always looks tired.

• Colere (Wrath): A middle-aged scarred woman warrior. She is wearing half-damaged armor and she holds a bleeding heart in her left hand and a broken sword in the right one.

• Envius (Envy): It's hard to guess the gender of Envius. To some he looks like a very beautiful man, to others as a nice looking woman. So, mostly he is depicted as having both genders at the same time. He is usually showed on his knees with his head lowered. His hands cover his eyes and Envius is shown crying bloody tears.

• Fierte (Pride): Depicted as a woman of venerable age. She wears a gown made out of bones. It is rumored that the bones belonged to the Kings of old. Sometimes the dress grows longer, especially when infamous Kings die, the ones who do not want to bow to Dieu Soleil. She is usually shown gracefully sitting on a throne of countless, small decaying bodies. Which are said to belong to the Lost Souls living in the Kingdom of Obscurite.

Superstitions

• If the person indulges into Luxure's temptations, he may get the desired pleasures, but at the same time he has to pay. The person will never find true love and happiness.

• If the person indulges into Gourmand's temptations, he may be provided with everything that his heart desires, but at the same time he has to pay. He will be ravaged by various diseases and will not have a chance to wait for a natural death. His death will be from one of those diseases.

• If the person indulges into Aviditus' temptations, he may get more money than he could want, but at the same time he has to pay. The light of the coins will overshadow the Path of the Light (The more coins the brighter the false light) and even at the end of his life, he will no longer be able to find it. He will be blind to salvation.

• If the person indulges into Paressius' temptations, he may never face hard work and he might be able to enjoy an easy life, but at the same time he has to pay. The person will have to struggle with poverty and famine, which will lead to his slow, tragic end.

• If the person indulges into Colere's temptations, he may be granted permission to take revenge on all his enemies, but at the same time he has to pay. The wraith will take away the outer beauty of the person and each time he or she will hurt his or her enemy, the person will hurt himself or herself equally.

• If the person indulges into Envius' temptations, he may get everything what he desires, what he is jealous of, but at the same time he has to pay. His envy will be his humiliation and it will push everyone away from him. The person will be haunted by loneliness.

• If the person indulges into Fierte's temptations, he may be raised above others, he may be granted various unique talents, but at the same time he has to pay. He will always be surrounded by enemies and a fear that one of them might lurk in any of the shadows. That will drive the person insane.

• Bad children who get lost in the crowd will be eaten by Gourmand; bad children who don't behave might be given to Gourmand by their parents (A threat used by parents to try to make naughty children behave. i.e. "If you don't stop that I'm going to give you to Gourmand!"); Gourmand might come at night and eat bad children.

• Luxure may take any form: male, female, change hair color, be slim or plump and etc. She takes the most beautiful and desired form of the person who looks at her.

• It is believed by the Olometists that when a corpse is being taken to its grave, if at any time the wind blows, even a gentle breeze, the soul has been taken to the Empire of Dieu Soleil. For the faithful this is a relief as it ensures them that their loved one died a righteous individual and has been welcome into an eternal paradise. If however the wind doesn't blow for the entire trip to the grave then for the faithful it indicates the individual died with sin of some form and has become a Lost Soul.

Kingdom of Obscurite

The Seat of Seven Demons

Kingdom of Obscurite was built in the blind darkness by the seven Demons. It's very dark but mostly echoes the image of the Earth. The dark palace of the Demons standing in the center of the Kingdom and the worst of sinners are kept in the dungeons of the Palace. They are tortured there and their screams are said to echo throughout the whole Kingdom.

All Lost Souls travel to the Kingdom of Obscurite after their death, where they spend eternity decaying until nothing more but bones are left of them. Then they serve the Demons as puppets, helping the demons reach their evil plans.

Lost Souls

The Lost Souls are people who wander away from the Path of the Light, lured by the one of the seven demons, worst if he or she is lured by more than one demon. They are known as Lost Souls for the rest of their life if they do not perform penance before their death. They are buried under the ground where their body remains behind to rot while their soul moves on to the Kingdom of Obscurite. The worst is that all Lost Souls are actually forced into an existence where they experience the process of decay as if they were still alive during the process till only a skeleton is left of them. Whatever happens to their body happens to their soul in the Kingdom of Obscurite, so if burrow into their flesh they feel it, when they eyes decompose they become blind, etc. When only their skeleton remains they become a slave, nothing more than puppets for the Seven Demons to serve their needs.

Dieu Soleil

Dieu Soleil is the God also known as The Sun God. He does not have a humanoid image in any form of the art, instead he usually is depicted as the sun. Dieu Soleil spoke to Olom Tisma in 645 and since then his word was spread around the world. Dieu Soleil is the Father of all living things and he made the world, where people live to prove their worth to live eternally in the Empire of Dieu Soleil. So, the Earth is just a temporary stop and when the time comes Dieu Soleil calls the person's soul to enter the Empire of Dieu Soleil, where true life begins.

His main goal is to help all living beings find the Path of the Light and follow it to reach the Empire of Dieu Soleil.

Empire of Dieu Soleil

Empire of Dieu Soleil is a true paradise. It's established above the clouds and there are no nights at all, everyone is good and kind, and all dreams come true. Everyone is able to live their most desired life if they are welcomed to join that Empire. An eternity of perfection as viewed by the individual.

Path of the Light

Path of the Light is the path which must be followed by the Children of Dieu Soleil. That means that the person must resist temptations of the Demons. The person must live avoiding the Seven Deadly Sins: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride. If he commits any of the sins, he must make penance and repent their sins. Then they will be able to find the Path of the Light again, and they will be forgiven.

Start of a new Era

It is told that more than 1400 years ago, people were true savages, indulging in the Seven Deadly Sins: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride. The world grew more chaotic with each day, because there was no law and everyone was living to please their own beastly desires. This period is referred to by the Olometists as the 'Old Era', years during this time are not kept track of as it is viewed to be a time of evil, and no significant events took place in that time.

Olom Tisma was the one to announce to the world that they are possessed by the seven demons in 655, when the red sun was barely shining. He tried to convince the world, that it's not their beastly desires which control them, but they are just puppets of one or more of those demons, who make people blind to his actual needs. The time of Olom Tisma's life is simply known by the faithful as the "Time of Olom Tisma".

When the New Era started

Olom Tisma warned people that their weak will disappoints Dieu Soleil who slowly turns away from them because more and more people follow the shadows instead of the light. Olom said that once Dieu Soleil turns away, the Earth will drown in eternal darkness and will turn into ice. All the sinful souls will suffer painful endless death. Yes, there will be no actual death, because it would be a salvation to the sinful soul, who is not worthy of salvation. Olom said that people will be frozen in their most painful moment of death and they will have to suffer that pain for eternity.

He invited people to perform penance for their sins, free their souls from Deadly Seven Sins, turn their back on demons and come back to the Path of the Light, devote to Dieu Soleil and be his true children, because just the children of Dieu Soleil will be saved from the end of the world.

Olom Tisma was mocked, proclaimed to be crazy, and tortured for demagogy. He ended his last days in poverty and died on the street. All his followers were hunted.

The week after his death the sun disappeared from the sky. The night settled on Earth. It was the longest night people could remember and the weather grew colder with each hour. People started to die and many were found frozen on the street. There are no sources stating how long the night lasted, but many various sources say that it was believed the eternal night that would be the end of the world had come.

That is when the word of Olom Tisme spread like wildfire. People started to fall on their knees and beg forgiveness. They started to pray to Dieu Soleil. More and more people swore to devote their life for the Path of a Light.

And when it looked as if the world would end, the sun came back into the world. Though, it was no longer red, it was no longer bleeding. It was a bright yellow sun with a smaller one above it. This smaller one is understood to be the Soul of Olom Tisme and he is the Paraclete of the Living. Dieu Soleil forgave the sinful ones, but only because Olom Tisma helped convinced him to. The return of Dieu Soleil is marked as year 1 NE by the faithful.

Since then this religion is known as Olometism and it gains more and more followers.

Clergy

Traditional Olometism
A listing of the ranks of the faithful belonging to the Traditional Olometism branch of the faith. Aquera and Chantour are the nations where the vast majority follow this branch of the faith, though there are individuals in other nations that do as well. The ranks used denote not only that they are Traditional Olometists, but also in a few cases also reveal if they originally came from Aquera or Chantour.

• Acolyte/Children of the Devoted - Prior to Chantour becoming a nation, these students were known simply as Acolytes, a name still used today in Aquera. Students of Traditional Olometist clergy, these individuals are also between the ages of ten and twenty-five in Aquera and eight and twelve in Chantour. They spend this time learning the traditions of Traditional Olometism and the Path of Light. Their name comes from King Remy 'The Devoted' Larouss who created the position as part of additions he added to his father's reforms, these additions combined with the reforms of King Richard 'The Pious' Larouss came together to create the differences between how Aquera and Chantour practice Traditional Olometism.

• Seeker of the Light - Advanced students of Traditional Olometism from Chantour alone, they range from the age of twelve to twenty-five. These individuals study the more complex aspects of the Chantour view of Traditional Olometism, largely it is the traditions and beliefs the other branches generally view to be pointlessly complex and extravagant about this branch of the faith. This rank exists only in Chantour.

• Priest/Priestess - Fully trained in how to properly conduct ceremonies, rituals, holidays, and civil events such as weddings and funerals, Priests and Priestesses are typically the leaders of local communities and are in charge of a single church or monastery. The former typically found in larger settlements and devoted to serving the needs of the community where the latter can serve the same purpose in smaller settlements, monasteries also tend to act as training grounds for Acolytes. Monasteries often have multiple Priests or Priestesses assigned to them, a 'Senior' is chosen from their ranks, normally it is the oldest though the most experienced teacher with support from the local High Priest/High Priestess can hold the position instead. The Senior is not a true rank or title, it is more of an honorary name used for the one in charge of the monastery, used for purely practical purposes. In general terms they are no more or less important than the other Priests and Priestesses in the monastery. They simply have more of an administrative role when it comes to finances, mediating matters between the priests and priestesses that do not warrant the intervention of true superiors, making reports to the High Priest/High priestess, and the like.

• High Priest/High Priestess - These individuals are placed in charge of entire regions where Traditional Olometism is practiced. They are appointed by the Council of Dieu Soleil directly, and they serve a largely administrative role. They mediate matters of importance to the faith within their region and also appoint Priests and priestesses to the church or monastery in which they are to serve. Those from the ranks of the Priests and Priestesses who show a suitable understanding of the faith, have trained at least three Acolytes successfully, as deemed by the faith, and whom show suitable administrative skills are appointed to this position by the Council of Dieu Soleil.

• Follower of the Sun - This is a position unique to Chantour, this individual is chosen by the King or Queen of Chantour to act as their personal advisor in religious matters, though some rumors exist that this single individual is intended as a replacement for the Council of Dieu Soleil. These may well just be rumors, or it could be an attempt by the King/Queen of Chantour, or even the officer of the Follower of the Sun themself to indeed try to take the place of the Council of Dieu Soleil. Whether rumor or not, by all accounts this individual seems to only advise the King/Queen of Chantour, they are chosen from the ranks of the High Priests/High Priestesses, and seem to hold no power or sway over any other clergy, even within the borders of Chantour.

• Council of Dieu Soleil - Seven individuals, the Council of Dieu Soleil was originally the seven students of Olom Tisma, since then only members of these seven families, one born into one of these families, may hold this position. The Council of Dieu Soleil chooses their own members, and are viewed by all branches of the faith to have a direct connection to the divine, and so speak with their voice. All branches of the faith view the Council of Dieu Soleil as the leaders of the faith, and their word is law in all religious matters. Their influence is even such that their approval or disapproval of a ruler of one of the other nations that practice Olometism can sway whether or not that individual ultimately rules.

Boisterous Olometism

• Little is known for certain about this branch of the faith, though the titles and their general duties are known. Initiate is their name for students, they use Priest and Priestess as Traditional Olometism does, though the role is a bit different. They call those who convert others, and the only ones other nations have been confirmed to encounter, as 'Those of the Sea'. There is said to be a final rank higher that the others but the name is unknown outside of Boisterous Olometism, this position is generally believed to be the equivalent to a High Priest/High Priestess.

Roussel Olometism

• The hierarchy of the clergy of Roussel Olometism is much like Traditional Olometism, only they call their students Disciples, and their Priests and Priestesses are called Adepts.

• A position unique to Roussel Olometists is the Rousselite, this is a single individual that High Olometists claim is an attempt by the Roussel Olometists to replace the Council of Dieu Soleil. This position exists however as the Council of Dieu Soleil allows it. The reason for this is because the true purpose of this position is well-known to the Council of Dieu Soleil, and some of the High Priests and High Priestesses of Traditional Olometism. This individual is actually selected by the Council of Dieu Soleil not the Roussel Olometists. This individual is chosen from the ranks of the Adepts surprisingly, officially their job is to act as an ambassador or liaison between the Roussel Olometists and the other branches of the faith. A representative leader of the faith chosen by the Council of Dieu Soleil to reflect the values of the Roussel Olometist traditions. It is rumored if a female holds this position she is known as 'The Desiree' however this is a pure dellusion by High Olometists, though it could be argued as High Olometists refer to a female Rousselite as 'The Desiree' in a derogatory way, it could be viewed as a name for this position. In truth male or female holds the same title.

Churches

Dieu Soleil Church in Luisante (Capital of the Chantour Kingdom)

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Burial

Olometists believe that the body is a temporary shell for the soul, a chance to prove oneself worthy of paradise. So when an individual dies they are dressed in the finest clothes possible, whether something already owned or something provided by loved ones. The faithful believe that possessions placed in the grave, so long as they reach the Empire of Dieu Soleil, will be carried with their soul to paradise. All funerals, like all important ceremonies take place during the day, so that the light of Dieu Soleil can shine upon the event and be judged. It is common practice for loved ones, whether family, friends, co-workers, or anyone else who cared about the individual brings material gifts for the deceased. Some also provide reliquaries, either bought for themselves during life or given as a gift by loved ones after death. The reliquary can be made of any material, though stone is the most common. These may be buried with the dead or may rest atop the grave, and are designed to hold gifts for the departed during the funeral, or possibly even be made available for any who wish to provide gifts after the funeral is done, such as distant relations who were unable to attend the funeral due to disease, pregnancy, or the like.

Only simple preparations are made for the corpse, as it is seen as a shell that is past its use, and is simple dressed, gifts from loved ones gathered, and all is transported to the grave. A litter or cart is used to transport the body, led by loved ones capable of the manual labor involved, or if none are capable of managing the weight, stronger individuals can be asked to do so on the family's behalf. This is typically seen as an honor for the faithful, though it can also be means of atoning for the sinful seeking to repent.

A cart or wagon comes next which carries the gifts which are all as carefully packed as possible to minimize the chances they could be lost or broken during the trip. Lesser clergy or more often initiates into the priesthood typically see to leading the cart or wagon to the grave. Following these is the priest or priestess who conducts the funeral services, in turn they are followed by the loved ones aligned in order of immediate family, extended family, close friends of the deceased, extended friends of the deceased, and finally friends of the family who may or may not have known the deceased.

During the journey to the grave the one conducting the funeral prays that the soul of the deceased will find their rightful place, and asks that if they were a righteous man/woman let the winds take them up to the Empire of Dieu Soleil. If the wind blows at any time during the trip the priest/priestess stops praying for the deceased as it is believed the blowing of the wind is the sign that they have been accepted and their soul is free of their corpse from there on. The one conducting the funeral then starts to pray for the loved ones present, asking that Dieu Soleil help to ease the pain of their loss so they can move on with their lives free of concern, regret, or remorse. The gifts for the dead are then placed in the grave with the corpse once they arrive at the grave site so the deceased will have access to all the gifts given in the Empire of Dieu Soleil.

If the wind doesn't blow at all, then it is viewed as the deceased has become a Lost Soul, and so are beyond saving. Once in the grave the gifts are set aside, to be reclaimed after the funeral by those that gave them, as Lost Souls are given no comforts in the Kingdom of Obscurite. The one conducting the funeral then starts to pray for the loved ones, asking that Dieu Soleil ease the pain of their loss, so they can move on with their lives, able to move on from their inability to do anything to save the Lost Soul they have now put to rest.

With gifts given, or placed aside, and prays for the loved ones given the funeral is considered over. Everyone more or less returns to their daily lives. For the dead, Lost Souls suffer their fate, while the righteous find their perfect paradise in the Empire of Dieu Soleil. Gifts given manifest in the Empire in the service of the righteous deceased. It is also believed that the violation of the gifts of the dead is a high offense, as it means anything damaged or stolen will be damaged or disappear in the Empire of Dieu Soleil. As such one is depriving the righteous their hard-earned rewards. This is treated as a higher form of theft than stealing from the living, and as such carries a higher punishment which can be as harsh as murder, though the chance of redemption can be had for the truly repentant. Those who claim to repent and lie on an offense such as this have lost their only chance to redeem themselves, and they are buried alive in the grave of the one they robbed so that they not only suffer the fate of a Lost Soul, they also feel their nose and mouth filling with dirt, their vision consumed by the darkness of the grave, and the last scent they smell is the shell left behind by the righteous.

Wedding

Penance

Spreading of the religion

• Traditional Olometism Aggressive and forceful, Traditional Olometists tend to march into an area and try to convert others by force and oppression. Aquera practitioners will accept converts in any branch of the faith which holds to the core beliefs of the faith while also being accepted by a noticeable population of recently converted compared to the total population of the area in question. Chantour practitioners however are equally aggressive and oppressive, however Chantour practitioners of Traditional Olometism do not recognize the other branches as legitimate, and so only accept converts of Traditional Olometism, preferably their traditions over those of Aquera's traditions.

• Boisterous Olometism Boisterous Olometists favor a more long-term method of conversion. Seeking to infiltrate the society of other nations, they gain the trust and friendship of others, while spending time speaking in favor of their own faith and how it can aid in living among the other branches of Olometism without causing issues. Once this groundwork is placed it is then that they try to convert as many as possible through more subtle and benign methods. Once a large enough following is established they can then focus on having converts arrange marriages with others of the local population, forcing further conversions spreading the faith further, with the final goal being the conversation of all.

• Roussel Olometism Based on the methods initially used by Queen Desiree Roussel, and the branch of faith named for her. Roussel Olometists take the slow approach similar to Boisterous Olometism. Roussel Olometists however favor the practice of learning the culture and religion of other faiths, and then going over the details of the local religion and their own to find common themes. Roussel Olometists then phrase the local traditions based on the common themes to make the transition easier and more palatable, resulting in the least amount of rebellion against the faith once converted.

Branches of the Faith

Traditional Olometism

Led by the Council of Dieu Soleil since the founding of the faith by the surviving students of Olom Tisma, those who follow Traditional Olometism are found primarily in the Empire of Aquera and the Kingdom of Chantour, though some can also be found in Geisenheim, Lichtenau, and Nassau. Nassau has the third highest population of Traditionalist Olometists, Geisenheim fourth, with Lichtenau being a close fifth. It is said there are some in Loutraki as well but it is uncertain how large of a population lives there, if any. Traditional Olometism is closest to what was taught by Olom Tisma himself. Those from Chantour however are said to be a bit more distant from the original version of the faith.

Traditional Olometism from Aquera are very much a fanatical branch, though they will accept any who fall under the banner of Olometism regardless of branch. So long as their faith seems to be genuine. While they support any method of conversion that works, they still aggressively seek to convert the entire world. Tradtional Olometists from Chantour on the other hand are just as fanatical and aggressive as those from Aquera, the main difference is that those from Chantour do not accept the branches of Boisterous Olometism and Roussel Olometism as legitimate followers of the faith. Those from Chantour believe that Boisterous and Roussel Olometists are pretenders, taught the basics of the faith by a former Queen who seduced local rulers into claiming to convert in exchange for sexual favors so that she would go down favorably in history. In truth these other 'branches' are liars who claim the faith so Aquera and the Council of Dieu Soleil will protect them from Chantour. This division in conversion methods, and a few ranks within the clergy are largely the difference between Aquera and Chantour in terms of how Traditional Olometism is practiced.

Boisterous Olometism

The least known of the branches, at least to the uninitiated. Since the founding of Loutraki, the faithful of the Republic keep their traditions close to their hearts. Those who have managed to glean insights into the branch suggests that the Boisterous Olometists have the most unique traditions compared to the other branches. No doubt derived from the original heretical traditions of the peoples that inhabited the lands prior to Chantour encountering them, not unlike the Roussel Olometists. While to many of the other branches, Boisterous Olometists seem the most foreign, there is no doubt they hold firmly to their faith and traditions. The Loutraki are an almost xenophobic people, if there are any beyond their borders that practice Boisterous Olometism, aside from ambassadors and the like, they hide their faith as well as the Loutraki people hide most aspects of their lives. This same xenophobia seems to have also kept out other faiths, though there are some rumors some Traditionalist Olometists from Aquera have at some point gained a foothold in the Republic as well. If true it is unknown what numbers they have.

Roussel Olometism

Derived from the local heretical traditions of the local peoples, Roussel Olometism is named after Queen Desiree Roussel. Unlike Chantour who remembers this queen in a very negative light, those of the Boisterous Olometists views her as a highly respected and revered figure. She is also viewed as the origin of how this branch of the faith was spread. It is for this reason that those from Chantour and those who practice Roussel Olometism tend not to get along. If Chantour history is to be believed then Queen Desiree Roussel made the local tribes 'convert' in name only, in echange for sexual favors. If the Roussel Olometists are to be believed, she was a tolerant, respectful, and diplomatic woman who chose to adapt local traditions to convert the local people to the faith, as opposed to forcing others to convert through oppression, force and threats.

Whatever the truth of the matter, most Roussel Olometists follow the local traditions that originated in the lands that now make up Geisenheim, Lichtenau, and Nassau. Those found in Nassau stand out a bit further, while mostly following the local traditions of Lichtenau, there is also hints of local traditions from Geisenheim and Salaspils as well. This contributes to Nassau being the most culturally diverse of the various Olometist nations. Roussel Olometists are by far the most adaptable and accepting of the branches of the faith. Roussel Olometism is the official branch of the faith for Geisenheim and Lichtenau, though followers of Traditional Olometism can also be found in those nations. There are even some Traditional Olometists taught in the Chantour version found in Geisenheim. Nassau however has no official branch of the faith, as Olometism itself is the official faith of that nation. All branches of the faith are welcome there so long as they do not cause strife within the faith. The only branch not found in Nassau is Boisterous Olometism, not from a lack of tolerance or welcome, but seemingly from a lack of converts wishing to go there. It is also possible there are Boisterous Olometists already in Nassau who are simply as secretive about their faith as the branch itself is.

Time

It is believed that the sun went out in the year 659. Nobody knows how long it was dark, but once the sun rose again, it was announced as 1st year of the New Era, also known as Olometism era. So, those who follow Olometism count time since the day of New Era and they live in 1235 year now, but others believe that it's 1894 right now (1235+659).

The easiest indicator for which calendar is being used is relatively simple. If it is just a number it is the calendar of those who don't follow the teachings of Olom Tisma, where for the faithful years are marked by the number followed by 'NE' for New Era. Years are not kept track of by the faith prior to the return of Dieu Soleil. Instead those time periods are simply referred to as the 'Old Era' for the time before the birth of Olom Tisma, the 'Time of Olom Tisma' for the period from the birth of Olom Tisma till his death, and the Time of Darkness for the period of time from when Dieu Soleil left the world to die till the return of Dieu Soleil, as this period is believed to be a point where time ceased to exist. 1 NE marks the return of Dieu Soleil and the years are counted from that point onwards as the New Era by the faithful.