Dominism



Dominism, is a philosophy that one must fundamentally believe in to be considered Dominian. Originated by the Crownless King himself, this school of thought asserts that the ultimate goal of mortality is to conquer levels of divinity in order to bring about a reality bending concept known as righteous chaos. Righteous chaos, is defined as a state of reality in which the very concepts of wickedness and suffering have been conquered, therefore, a world that no longer needs for foolish concepts such as law or order. Dominians believe that the first step towards righteous chaos is for mortals to conquer the heavens and begin to break down the border between mortality and divinity, during a period of time they call the God Hunt. Dominians, however, do not all agree the steps that should be taken for mortals to ascend beyond godhood, as a result, dominism has split into a few sub-philosophies; these include the ancient, brutal, and unapologetic evolutionary dominism, as well as the young and much more idealistic collective dominism. Further divisions can be found within example vs faith and organised vs bandit dominism.

 Hated Beliefs 

Throughout history, Dominians, both considered good and evil, have been shamed, prosecuted, and executed by other religious zealots for their beliefs-mostly as direct fallout from the brutal actions of Evolutionary Dominians. As a result, Dominians of all kinds have developed a festering hatred for religion as a whole, chief target among them, Valdr’s church and his government. The Church’s more recent efforts to brand Dominus as the “Betrayerbeast demon of deception" has only amplified this tension.

 Evolutionary Dominism 

Centuries after its conception, evolutionary dominism is still by far the most popular version of the philosophy, especially among born Dominians. Evolutionary Dominians believe that the most efficient and effective way to create divinity capable of bringing about righteous chaos, is first a ascendance to divinity, followed by a divine war that breeds might and innovation.

Evolutionary Dominians tend to bring the same bloody philosophy to other aspects of their lives, to them you are either a victor, or a necessity sacrifice. These faithful rationalise their beliefs by claiming that morality doesn't truly exist in a world without righteous chaos, therefore, any action that they commit in its pursuit is justifiably. Evolutionary Dominians believe that peace and ethics are the only true evils of man. In their eyes; peace prevents the evolution of mortality, and ethics are merely excuses perpetuated by the weak to keep themselves from their own potential. Evolutionary Dominians tend to look down on most other sub-philosophies, such as Collective Dominism, which they view as childish or overly idealistic.

Evolutionary Tenants (With Quotes from Dominus)

'“This fine castle, yours? No, I quite believe that my banner now flies over her. If you can defend it, it’s yours, but if I can take it, it was already mine. I slaughter and I slave for the sake of all beings, not for the sake of some meaningless ideal of peace, nor for even for myself. Now, let us hold a trial of merit, so that we may see if your shoulders still own your head.”'

There is no morality in a world devoid of righteous chaos, so any actions in it’s pursuit are justifiable. If someone can take something, such as a life or a castle, it’s theirs in the eyes of the cosmos. Sheep who flock towards peace are the true malevolent beings, not the mighty hunters. The true benevolent are those who will be able embrace death as an old friend and recount their many triumphs in life. Victory for mortality, in the end, is all that should matter to a true Dominian.

'“The gods will be as mighty boars, terrifying and impossible to hunt, but only until we invent the spear. We created gods, we can make them bleed.”'

Mortals were given free will for the purpose of becoming hunters of bloody evolution. Nothing is impossible in this world of gods and monsters, although, many things are foolishly believed to be. The gods were born of mortality, and they are still fatally reliant on the belief of their masters. A Dominian must have resolve in their bones and a thirst for conquest boiling just beneath their skin. They must not believe the lies they are told, and they must never abandon the true freedom of righteous conquest. Gods have no right to their domains. Divinity are simply born into their divinity, thus they are meritless and guilty.

'It is true that we both take slaves, but you take slaves in order, while I hold mine in righteous Dominian chaos. Every Dominian slave knows that they can become the master simply of their own might or merit. You are foolish to offer no such path, this crime leaves your armies weak and soulless.'

Absolute dominance, in conquest, can only bring about peace and in turn, only prolong mortal suffering. There must always be chaos within order. Even the lowest slave must always be allowed to challenge their masters, so they’re not allowed to grow weak and content on their plush thrones-as has always been the fatal flaw of divinity. All beings are judged by the cosmos based on their own merit, not by their blood or what cruel god they serve.

 Collective Dominism 

Ring, the Lord of Ash and Wine, has recently popularised the idea of collective dominism, a means of reaching righteous chaos that doesn't involve the cruelty of Evolutionary Dominism. The doctrine of Collective Dominism claims that ascendant divinity can be created ethically, through amplifying and channelling faith in mortal champions and collective, rather than thorough blind evolutionary bloodshed. The faithful of this sub-philosophy turn their faith away from unworthy gods and instead place their faith within fellow mortal champions.

Collective Dominians almost always view the actions of Evolutionary Dominians as blatantly murderous or unforgivably selfish. These honest souls who value fairness, freedom, and everyday generosity, tend only resort to the usual Dominian violence when they believe they need to protect or liberate their fellow man. Collective Dominism has inherited some of the good-natured beliefs of Bright Valdr, as a result, many Collective Dominians are ex-Valdrian, now turned Dominian.

Collective Tenants (with Quotes from Ring)

“From ash to wine, we forge our future.”

To make new wine, we are often forced to burn down ancient roots. To forge a brighter future, we must make many changes, sacrifices, and risks of the unknown, that many would consider impossible. We must sacrifice the time and will of many to weave new righteous vines from the ashes of the old world.

'“Look all around you and you will see sheep, you were made their mighty shepherd. Gluttonous wolves wait to pray on the weak at every crossroad of this journey, but they do not dare approach the flames we carry. Do not drop your torch shepherd, or you may twist into a vile beast yourself. We have promised a world without need of law nor order. We must bring about a paradise of righteous chaos, not a hellscape of Dominian conquest.”'

The mighty are made to protect and shepherd the weak towards righteous chaos, not to take advantage of them. A shepherd must never abandon their torch, as a Dominian must never abandon their beliefs, for doing so would be as good as throwing the sheep, or the weak, to the wolves. The heart and the methods of a Dominian must be honest and just, otherwise, one might, in the end, forge a world of blind lupine conquest rather than the promised paradise of righteous chaos. Never must we allow ourselves to become afraid of death nor led astray from the path of goodwill by suffering, we must simply accept the possibility of demise, honouring all in all we’ve lost and foraging ahead, step by step, along the laborious path, till we crest the peak of salvation. Shepherds must always be willing to stand up for their fellow man, against wolves, against ignorance, and against enslavement of their will. A shepherd must carry the flames even if at great cost to themselves, for only together, can we keep the flames of change stoked.

'“A Garden of Rebirth can not be grown in a day, for the soil has long been laced with suffering. Seeds of goodwill must be careful natured, while weeds of ignorance must be crushed with a steady hand.”'

Do not hate the wicked, pity them as children who've been infected with a dire ignorance. Those who have been led astray may take time to recover from their festering wounds. All mortals are born innocent and are only led astray by demons of suffering. It is your duty, as a shepherd of flame, to heal over their wounds, fill their bellies, and set them back onto the path of goodwill. Once you have planted these seeds of righteousness, you must work day after day to allow it to survive and then flourish. All can be forgiven, but unfortunately, not all can allow themselves to be reborn. Often, we are forced to make sacrifices for the greater good, but never do we kill out of hatred of malice. Any such action must be carefully weighed and the consequences fully understood, but after a shepherd has made their decision, they may follow through with it knowing their heart is honest and their path is just.

'“God’s are ravenous beasts with a taste for meritless faith. Since the dawn of this world, they have left only crumbs for man. No longer, today I bring you a feast of common faith!”'

Meritless gods have long striped mortals of their own faith and freewill. We must not pray to these beasts, but instead, pray to the collective and the proven mortal champions within the heavens. We must have faith in each other day after day, keeping the flames of benevolence, generosity, and revolution burning in our hearts.

Example vs Faith

Whether one should only choose to use mortal divinity as an example or should worship it has been a debate among Dominians for centuries. Some Dominians believe that to worship mortal divinity is the most fundamental misunderstanding of the Dominian faith, as to worship the Mortal Court is to deprive oneself of one's own free will and thereby one’s own dominism. Others believe that not worshipping the Court is, in itself, a much greater crime.

Organised vs Bandit

Yet another Dominian disagreement can be found between organised and bandit Dominism. Dominians who desire a larger organisation in their faith believe that structure makes dominism more efficient, while those who disagree, claim that organised dominism is directly opposed to the idea of dominism itself, preferring an all out chaotic survival of the fittest brand of dominism.