The Adamite Tradition

The Star of Adam, based on the star that allegedly shone unnaturally bright on the night he was born. Whether or not it's true is irrelevant for the Star has become a worldwide Godshard symbol, one that would be copied and mimicked to bring legitimacy to a cause or organization.

The oldest of the Godshard beliefs, the Adamites follow the teachings and example of the first Godshard Adam. They are solitary nomads, wandering the lands in non descript grey robes and cloaks, always eager to help and guide others. Sometimes this entails words, sometimes it means using their magical power.

Adamites, despite being the oldest belief is paradoxically liberal in how they view the world. They see life as a constant and ever expanding process. They are always eager to learn something new, always trying to be better than they were yesterday. There is no hierarchy or true organizational structure. To enact such a thing is seen as contrary to what it means to be an Adamite.

However, younger Adamites might start their careers as an apprentice to an older one, so they can get the knowledge and teachings they need to help others as well as future Adamites. An experienced Adamite can have up to six apprentices, since Adam had six disciples himself. 

They have a tense history with the Sacerdozio and the Seerhood. They have common ground with these organizations in some respects, they venerate some of the same Godshards such as Ruth the Uniter, and they are all driven to help people in their own way. But the Sacerdozio is seen as too rigid and limiting, and vulnerable to corruption. The Seerhood is loathed by the Adamites for taking the worst of the Sacerdozio and making it worse by compounding it with angylic worship.

Nevertheless, the Adamites are believers of tolerance and would never choose violence or hatred with their fellow Godshards. And when push comes to shove, they all want the same thing: To use their Shards and their power to help others.

The Sacerdozio

The Flag of the Sacerdozio incorporates the Star of Adam as well as the Six Stars of his disciples on a black and white field, symbolizing the Twin Path.

While the Adamites cover a broader range of territory, it is the Sacerdozio that is the largest Godshard organization, even after losing its northern holdings to the Seerhood. The Sacerdozio was founded by the Godshard brothers David and Solomon, who in turn were inspired by Ruth and Sheba. They are based on Adam's Island, in the aptly titled Island City, which is a safe haven for all Godshards, regardless of belief.

The Sacerdozio believes in letting Godshards lean into their niches and to send the right Godshard to deal with problems. A more outgoing Godshard who is not as powerful would become a Sacerdote. A powerful, less socialable Shard would become a Mago. This guiding principle was known as the Twin Path, with Sacerdoti clad in white, going forth amongst the people, guiding them from the temples. And the Maghi, dressed in black, spending their days in sanctums, studying and learning more about their powers.

An example of a Mago/Maga(left) and a Sacerdote/Sacerdota(right). There’s a fair amount of variation with the headdresses but they all wear black and white respectively. The Maghi wear black to emulate the look of Domina Terra, the powerful earth Goddess, who wears black in perpetual mourning. The Sacerdoti wear white to emulate Dominus Omnitus, the near omnipotent deity who was shattered into the Shards themselves.

There are more positions than these as well. Leading the Sacerdozio is the Sommo-Sacerdote, an elected position, typically coming from the Sacerdoti. The second-in command is the Arco-Mago, a recent position in the wake of the Imperial Terror. Lesser Shards may become Alcolytes or if they have abilities that are useful in battle, might join the Order of the Samuelen warrior-monks. The gran-mastreo of said order typically standing as the third-in command of the orgnanizaton.

The Sacerdozio at its best is a well-oiled machine, precise and effective. But the organization has also struggled many times with rapidly changing circumstances. There are plenty of instances of Godshards not conforming to the systems in place and reforms are rarely passed. Furthermore the organization also struggles with corruption, especially during times when the politics of their charges infects them with compromise. 

They view the Adamites as archaic, indecisive and ineffective, believing their ways too lethargic and braise. That sometimes the wrong Adamite might be sent or would be simply unable to help due to not having the power or knowing the right words. The Seerhood has even more disdain, viewing them as the embodiment of its past corruption. While they've had their problems in the past, the Sacerdozio continues to serve its people as best it can.

The Seerhood

The Flag of the Seerhood incorporates the Star of Adam on top of some golden wings on a crimson field. The wings are those of the angyls, and the crimson is the blood that must be spilt to summon them.

The youngest and smallest of the Godshard organizations, based only in the north, the Seerhood is the strangest of the bunch. While originally based of the Sacerdozio, they took their practice in a radically different direction. 

Founded by the divisive Godshard named Nicodemus, the Seerhood combines certain Sacerdozio teachings with rituals and customs of the northern druids, namely their fascination and worship of the angyls. The Twin Path of the Sacerdozio was altered to merge with these new values.

Oracles speak as middlemen between the northern kingdoms and the angylic hosts. They serve as vessels for possession and wield authority and power that rival their supposed rulers. Seers do much of the grunt work, assisting with rituals, gathering reagents, and ensuring all goes to plan.

Initially the organization had it’s own version of the Sommo Sacerdote in the form of the Head Oracle. This position ensured power for the founder Nicodemus. But that would change with the tenure of Simon the Devoted. His reforms made the Seerhood much more decentralized with a consul of twelve in place of the Sommo Sacerdote. This was done to align the organization with the Angylic Hosts as well as the twelve Northern Kingdoms. The weight of each consul seat varies with the ones who represent the arch-angyls Michael, Samael and Jophiel having the greatest influence.

The Seerhood loathes the Adamites for the same reasons as the Sacerdozio, they think they're inefficient and blaise. They hate the Sacerdozio even more, viewing them as corrupt and politically driven, uncaring of the people they serve. Seerhood Godshards also view other Godshards as weak and soft, unwilling to do what needs to be done.

It is a cruel organization that relishes in its power and influence. Yet in their own twisted way, the Godshards of the Seerhood do fulfill a similar purpose as their southern counterparts. For the north is a dreadful place, full of Maelim and monsters. Indeed, many battles have been won due to the timely assistance of the angyls from the heavens. So if the Seerhood decrees a thousand men must die in a battle in order for the angyls to come and for victory to be won, it is but a small price to pay.