Faith of the Fae

The Faith of the Fae is a magic-based religion that focuses on communicating to a heavenly overworld known as Arcana. To followers of the god Paragon Emmortal, this is a chaotic realm of ill omens at best, and an outright heretical & evil realm at the worst. The latter opinion is more-so only held by conservative adherents of Paragon.

According to Faeism, hidden spirits ('faeries') are found throughout the environment, which must be spoken to and appeased in order to draw upon the mystical energies of Arcana.

Many mythologies and magical tomes have been created in the name of Faeism. One of the most notable artifacts is the Great Calendar on the Old Elvic Isles, a massive device telling of the fates of each race over time.

Elvic Faeism
The ancient elves are believed to be the founders of Faeism. Some elves were magically-attuned, having very developed ears and eyes that allowed them to speak to the fae, though elves most were not. The magically-inclined elves eventually became a superior caste that dominated Elvic society, and it was also highly patriarchal. The form of magic practiced by the elite classes was known as Arcanism, though a lesser form of magic known as 'Sorcery' also existed. A less magically-attuned elf could still practice magic if he (or she) used a dead fairy (usually encased in amber) as a source. This was viewed as corrupt by the Elvic religion.

The elves followed the Great Calendar, and mandated a race-wide suicide on the 'Day of Dying' when their era came to an end. They believed that the faeries would guide them on the 'Journey of Spirits' to the next plane of existence, where all elves (even the commoners) would be imbued with magic. After the mass suicide, the fae went extinct soon after, creating thousands of amberstones.

Imperial Faeism
This was the religion of Aedor, the human regime that arose from the ruins of the Elvic Empire. The Wise Slaves, or 'tabellions' were educated men who were trusted with several elvic secrets before the Day of Dying. Since the fae were dead, they modified Faeism to accept Sorcery. A 'Sorceror Order' was formed by the empire, comprised of humans. The humans further modified Faeism to unbar women from the practice of magic, leading to many great sorceresses arising.

Arcana and the fairies were still worshiped, though they were confined to legends now that they were gone to the world. Like Elvic society however, amberstones soon came to be the property of the rich.

Hollow Faeism
This iteration of Faeism came into existence after the Magicide rendered sorcery extinct. It was adopted in the Late Imperial Age by Aedor, and continues to be practiced in the Imperial Kingdom of Aderith after Aedor's collapse.

Instead of focusing on sorcery, Faeism in its current state treats faeries similarly to deities, and focuses more on moral codes (heavily based on Aedor imperial law). In 'faerie tales', elves and fae are depicted as whimsical and magical creatures that often have moral lessons to bestow upon men. Magical powers were said to be granted to those who displayed good character.