The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist [WIP]
Aug 7, 2015 17:04:35 GMT -8
Post by shirayuri on Aug 7, 2015 17:04:35 GMT -8
The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist
"When the Sky Falls, The Mists shall Rise"
"When the Sky Falls, The Mists shall Rise"
Matsujitsu Raijingumisuto no Kyōkai
末日ライジングミストの教会
Translation: Church of the Latter-Day Rising Mist
Overview
The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist is the official religion of Kirigakure no Sato and a predominant political force in the Land of the Mist. It is essentially a shinobi based religious movement centered around achieving mental wellness through spirituality, chakra, and fellowship. The religion originated from the Isles of the Mist and uses its geography and climate for most of its symbols, sacred rites, and mythology. It is known for its emphasis on service, discipline, and devotion to evangelism. While a majority of the citizens living in Kirigakure are a member of the Church, those who are not are still treated with respect and dignity. The faith encompasses a wide range of literature, symbols, history, texts, and leadership positions all of which are deeply intertwined with the military affairs of the Mist village. While the Church was not always this powerful it recognized the importance in ministering to the talented but deeply disturbed genin of the Bloody Mist, in doing so they created a generation of ninja willing and eager to find a spiritual path that could lead humanity to true peace. Name
The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist was given its name by the Church's forefathers allegedly under the instruction of The Great Shepard that was said to have appeared to them in the Isles of the Mist. He stated that humanity's collective consciousness would rise into the Heavens as the ascended into Godhood just as the Mist eventually will rise from the Land of Water. This ascendancy is the primary aim of all faithful members of the Church. It heralds the coming of peace, tranquility, and absolute cooperation as all minds are cleansed of trauma and restored to glory. This event will happen in the latter days of human existence and so it said that the believers of the Church await the latter days when the Mists rise and humans ascend to the next stage of reality.
Symbol
The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist deeply identifies with the image of the Sun Hidden in the Mist. They see it as a proof that there are bright days ahead of the Mist. The image is usually shown as a circle (representing the Sun) behind three large bars representing the Mist. One bar to the top being slightly out of parallel with the others, representing that the Mist will indeed rise in the latter days.
History
The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist deeply identifies with the image of the Sun Hidden in the Mist. They see it as a proof that there are bright days ahead of the Mist. The image is usually shown as a circle (representing the Sun) behind three large bars representing the Mist. One bar to the top being slightly out of parallel with the others, representing that the Mist will indeed rise in the latter days.
History
The Church is said to have got its start from two independent but equally minor organizations. The first and oldest were the Mist cults that existed on the fringe islands around the Land of Water. The inhabitants were primitive and versed in a very basic form of Ninjutsu that allowed them to leave among the dense mists that gave them protection but simultaneously threatened their existence on a daily basis. It was said that the cults were unified in that they believed the Mist to be God itself but each thought that they were the chosen tribe to be protected and outlast the others. The second organization was that of a secular psychologist society known as the Rising Thought Order. They had started out as a group of Iroyou-Nin who saw the debilitating effects Genjutsu could have on shinobi and thus dedicated their lives to undoing the damage by studying the mind as a biological component and the effect of Genjutsu on alleviating some of the damage that it had caused. They styled themselves as "Scientists of the Mind" and became a fraternal order that earned them the adoration of few but the distrust of many. The two groups had the building blocks for what would become the Church of the Latter-Day Rising Mist but they had not yet received the final revelation that would change the course of Kiri's destiny.
The first period of contact occurred when a civilized member of one of the many Mist Cults came to the Rising Thought Order. He had been mentally damaged by Genjutsu and through cutting edge science and the application of new Genjutsu Techniques he found himself well after years of therapy. The treatment used would soon become the building blocks for a far more rigorous and allegedly powerful form of therapy known as Auditing. He was so grateful that he joined the Order and managed to convince one of his more primitive tribesman to visit the Order so that they may learn more about the mental acuity of these tribes. The diagnostic tests produced amazing results that turned the Order on its head. It is said that the serenity and fortitude of the Man's mind was so great that he was resistant to several of their most potent Genjutsu. Eager to meet the other Cults, the Order left Kirigakure on a research expedition. They arrived at the Isles and through the use of an interpreter was granted permission to stay for a time. The Mist was thick and the tribes people are said to have taught the Order its secrets over the course of many years, in return the Order showed the more promising primitives how to utilize Genjutsu. With time, the hostile Cults that lived on other islands joined the strange new society that was forming on the very edges of the Land of Water. After awhile, the various Cults of Mist and the Rising Thought Order unified under the banner of a single creed. The Myth of the Appearing is said to have taken place at the first vocal declaration of this creed.
The creed is said to have contained a universal affirmation of the rights of man, a commitment to achieving the mental wellness of every human on the planet, and a vow to destroy all those forces working to keep man ignorant of his true purpose: Unlimited Glory. When boldly read aloud in both tongues the Church maintains that a blinding light struck and the Mists grew parted to reveal a holy figure. The descriptions did not vary and mainly consistently claim it felt as though they were in the presence of a God. He called himself The Great Shepard and proclaimed that they had proven themselves worthy to receive his instruction and re-build the Church that he had founded when man was said to have taken his first step. The Great Shepard led the group to where he had buried the book containing all his teachings many of which confirmed the findings of the Order with regard to the Mind and its relation to the Mist that the tribes lived in. Then he sent away the multitude until three remained. The President of the Rising Thought Order, The Chief of the oldest Mist Cult, and a single shinobi who had arrived not a day before to find the peace and happiness he was denied in the shinobi world. He anointed them High Shepherds and gave them instructions on how his Church should be run and what they ought call themselves. He then disappeared and when he did the Mist returned but far heavier than before. It is said that despite the thickness of the Mist the early Church was in absolute jubilee, they felt safe in its dark almost abysmal enrapture for they knew with certainty that one day it was to be lifted into the Heavens and their minds along with it.
The first Shepherds of the Church were diligent and honest folk. They set about expanding the faith by creating an aggressive evangelization program. They targeted at-risk shinobi youth and those who had seen the horrors of the worst Genjutsu. They were divinely inspired to create a set of Genjutsu that could heal the mind far better than anything they had created before. The Priesthoods were created and then used to minister to the new religious communities created all across the Land of Water. Many of them regarded the Church as subversive or a greedy attempt to secure the money of mad shinobi. The accused the Order of sinking to a new low in using religion as a thinly veiled excuse for operating throughout the Mist with impunity. The early Church members were not only converts but many became martyrs as well as distrust and suspicion in the shinobi world often led to death. Years later as the Church grew and took on young talented shinobi, its ability to defend itself also increased but with its strength came new laws restrictions its operation. The construction of new areas of worship for the faithful were banned and the priests were often violently suppressed especially during the years of the Bloody Mist. The religious persecution of the Church is said to have only made its leadership more resolute in taking complete political control over the village. They saw it as divine right that the birthplace of the world's greatest new faith ought to be able to operate freely and openly. The previous shinobi military government had started with a more conciliatory tone towards shinobi. They allowed a young kunoichi by the name of Shirayuri Terumi to sit in on council meetings as a representative of the Church but yet their pleas for mercy were often ignored. The regime became more brutal and its policies resembled those of the Bloody Mist. The sick tradition of death and carnage seemed to crop up often in the Mist. Shirayuri was a Low Shepard who had been chosen to inherit the position of Koharu Metsuki, the High Shepherd that reigned over Kirigakure. She was talented in both Ninjutsu and Genjutsu and was considered the strongest ninja in the Church and some argued all of the Hidden Village. When the government decided it was time to select a singular military ruler to preside over the village, the Old Guard backed a candidate whose platform included nothing short of the absolute expulsion of the Church from the village and new restrictions on operations in the Land of the Mist.
This was intolerable for even the most pacifists of the Church and they backed Shirayuri as their own candidate. The selection process at the time included a open ballot, the consent of the council to rule, and the blessing of the various Daimyou and his lords across the Water country. The Church's membership made up a little less than half of the village so it would be a tight selection process. Shirayuri took her case to the people in an open, fair, and above all peaceful means. It is rumored that her sister along with the more radical elements in the Church are said to have engaged in intimidation, blackmail, and even violence to secure her victory. Other contend such measures were never used at all or that they were only in response to the more blatant acts of aggression committed by the Old Guard. When all was said and done, Shirayuri was selected to take on the helm of Mizukage at an incredibly young age. There was outrage among those who hated the Church and while a civil war never officially broke out the candidate and renegade members of the Seven Swords of the Mist made an attempt on the new Mizukage's life. The battle was ferocious and it only ended when the rebels were placed in a Genjutsu said to be so severe that it caused permanent brain damage. Seeing that the Church could never be safe as long as it operated outside of the establishment, Shirayuri declared it to be the official religion of the village and its membership soared. Many saw it as divine providence that a man who closely associated with the years of the Bloody Mist was defeated by a Shepherd of the Church. In a matter of months it had become the biggest religion in the Land of Water.
While the Church operates comfortably within Kirigakure it still retains friendly relations with all contacts in the Land of Water. It has a monopoly on the council and more or less controls policy for shinobi affairs under its Fair Game Doctrine. Many in the Church are looking to spread its faith beyond the Water Country into new territories. They hope that the faith can function as a uniting factor among the world's shinobi and are eager to bring happiness and joy to those who seek it. But simultaneously its leadership remembers the days of old. Persecution, warfare, and instability. It states it will serve the needs of the clients that ask for its services but it will also fight for truth, justice, and peace in the world no matter the cost.
The first period of contact occurred when a civilized member of one of the many Mist Cults came to the Rising Thought Order. He had been mentally damaged by Genjutsu and through cutting edge science and the application of new Genjutsu Techniques he found himself well after years of therapy. The treatment used would soon become the building blocks for a far more rigorous and allegedly powerful form of therapy known as Auditing. He was so grateful that he joined the Order and managed to convince one of his more primitive tribesman to visit the Order so that they may learn more about the mental acuity of these tribes. The diagnostic tests produced amazing results that turned the Order on its head. It is said that the serenity and fortitude of the Man's mind was so great that he was resistant to several of their most potent Genjutsu. Eager to meet the other Cults, the Order left Kirigakure on a research expedition. They arrived at the Isles and through the use of an interpreter was granted permission to stay for a time. The Mist was thick and the tribes people are said to have taught the Order its secrets over the course of many years, in return the Order showed the more promising primitives how to utilize Genjutsu. With time, the hostile Cults that lived on other islands joined the strange new society that was forming on the very edges of the Land of Water. After awhile, the various Cults of Mist and the Rising Thought Order unified under the banner of a single creed. The Myth of the Appearing is said to have taken place at the first vocal declaration of this creed.
The creed is said to have contained a universal affirmation of the rights of man, a commitment to achieving the mental wellness of every human on the planet, and a vow to destroy all those forces working to keep man ignorant of his true purpose: Unlimited Glory. When boldly read aloud in both tongues the Church maintains that a blinding light struck and the Mists grew parted to reveal a holy figure. The descriptions did not vary and mainly consistently claim it felt as though they were in the presence of a God. He called himself The Great Shepard and proclaimed that they had proven themselves worthy to receive his instruction and re-build the Church that he had founded when man was said to have taken his first step. The Great Shepard led the group to where he had buried the book containing all his teachings many of which confirmed the findings of the Order with regard to the Mind and its relation to the Mist that the tribes lived in. Then he sent away the multitude until three remained. The President of the Rising Thought Order, The Chief of the oldest Mist Cult, and a single shinobi who had arrived not a day before to find the peace and happiness he was denied in the shinobi world. He anointed them High Shepherds and gave them instructions on how his Church should be run and what they ought call themselves. He then disappeared and when he did the Mist returned but far heavier than before. It is said that despite the thickness of the Mist the early Church was in absolute jubilee, they felt safe in its dark almost abysmal enrapture for they knew with certainty that one day it was to be lifted into the Heavens and their minds along with it.
The first Shepherds of the Church were diligent and honest folk. They set about expanding the faith by creating an aggressive evangelization program. They targeted at-risk shinobi youth and those who had seen the horrors of the worst Genjutsu. They were divinely inspired to create a set of Genjutsu that could heal the mind far better than anything they had created before. The Priesthoods were created and then used to minister to the new religious communities created all across the Land of Water. Many of them regarded the Church as subversive or a greedy attempt to secure the money of mad shinobi. The accused the Order of sinking to a new low in using religion as a thinly veiled excuse for operating throughout the Mist with impunity. The early Church members were not only converts but many became martyrs as well as distrust and suspicion in the shinobi world often led to death. Years later as the Church grew and took on young talented shinobi, its ability to defend itself also increased but with its strength came new laws restrictions its operation. The construction of new areas of worship for the faithful were banned and the priests were often violently suppressed especially during the years of the Bloody Mist. The religious persecution of the Church is said to have only made its leadership more resolute in taking complete political control over the village. They saw it as divine right that the birthplace of the world's greatest new faith ought to be able to operate freely and openly. The previous shinobi military government had started with a more conciliatory tone towards shinobi. They allowed a young kunoichi by the name of Shirayuri Terumi to sit in on council meetings as a representative of the Church but yet their pleas for mercy were often ignored. The regime became more brutal and its policies resembled those of the Bloody Mist. The sick tradition of death and carnage seemed to crop up often in the Mist. Shirayuri was a Low Shepard who had been chosen to inherit the position of Koharu Metsuki, the High Shepherd that reigned over Kirigakure. She was talented in both Ninjutsu and Genjutsu and was considered the strongest ninja in the Church and some argued all of the Hidden Village. When the government decided it was time to select a singular military ruler to preside over the village, the Old Guard backed a candidate whose platform included nothing short of the absolute expulsion of the Church from the village and new restrictions on operations in the Land of the Mist.
This was intolerable for even the most pacifists of the Church and they backed Shirayuri as their own candidate. The selection process at the time included a open ballot, the consent of the council to rule, and the blessing of the various Daimyou and his lords across the Water country. The Church's membership made up a little less than half of the village so it would be a tight selection process. Shirayuri took her case to the people in an open, fair, and above all peaceful means. It is rumored that her sister along with the more radical elements in the Church are said to have engaged in intimidation, blackmail, and even violence to secure her victory. Other contend such measures were never used at all or that they were only in response to the more blatant acts of aggression committed by the Old Guard. When all was said and done, Shirayuri was selected to take on the helm of Mizukage at an incredibly young age. There was outrage among those who hated the Church and while a civil war never officially broke out the candidate and renegade members of the Seven Swords of the Mist made an attempt on the new Mizukage's life. The battle was ferocious and it only ended when the rebels were placed in a Genjutsu said to be so severe that it caused permanent brain damage. Seeing that the Church could never be safe as long as it operated outside of the establishment, Shirayuri declared it to be the official religion of the village and its membership soared. Many saw it as divine providence that a man who closely associated with the years of the Bloody Mist was defeated by a Shepherd of the Church. In a matter of months it had become the biggest religion in the Land of Water.
While the Church operates comfortably within Kirigakure it still retains friendly relations with all contacts in the Land of Water. It has a monopoly on the council and more or less controls policy for shinobi affairs under its Fair Game Doctrine. Many in the Church are looking to spread its faith beyond the Water Country into new territories. They hope that the faith can function as a uniting factor among the world's shinobi and are eager to bring happiness and joy to those who seek it. But simultaneously its leadership remembers the days of old. Persecution, warfare, and instability. It states it will serve the needs of the clients that ask for its services but it will also fight for truth, justice, and peace in the world no matter the cost.
Hierarchy
The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist is a hierarchical organization with members serving at various levels so as to ensure the spiritual needs of the world can be attended to. The hierarchy subscribed to comes from the direct revelation given to the Church founders by The Shepherd. With each increase in rank comes greater responsibility for the members below it, yet the Church also believes that all humans are equal and that its leadership is held to the same standards of the newest of converts.
Convert
This is someone who has just joined the Church. They have made a Covenant with the Church (Shepherd's representatives on Earth) to better themselves and the world under the principles of its doctrine. They receive a Funninjutsu marking their official membership and giving them access to certain abilities. Converts are expected to continue to study the faith, participate in service events, and of course regularly meet with members of the Priesthood.
Priest
A priest is someone who holds either the Priesthood of the Guide or the Priesthood of the Auditor. They have a special relationship with the Church and their flocks. Priests are to serve their community spiritually, socially, and professionally. All Priests must be able to manipulate chakra as such many are shinobi or retired shinobi. They have taken on a secondary covenant with the Church swearing loyalty to both the faith and leadership, and in return receiving a Seal allowing them to learn and perform jutsu specific to their vocation.
The Dual Priesthoods
The priesthoods are a concept of extreme importance within the Rising Mist faith. The Church teaches that its authority flows from the direct revelation given to it by the Shepherd. As such two priesthoods were instituted by the Sage to attend to the souls and needs of humanity. The priesthood is given to all who sincerely seek to spread the faith and perform its rituals to those in need. The High Priesthood or Priesthood of the Auditor is associated with Yin Release and the Low Priesthood or the Priesthood of the Guide is associated with Yang Release. While they both are essential in healing and ministering to the world of shinobi, the auditors responsibility for healing the mind makes it the primary class when it comes to church affairs. They are far more selective and their tools are much harder to master in comparison to the lesser priesthood. The only requirements for joining the Priesthood is the ability to manipulate chakra and a sincere belief in the five tenants of the faith.
Gaido no Shinken
The Priesthood of the Guide traces its origins to the tribal seers and young men who dedicated their lives to learning how to navigate the mists of the Land of Water. In keeping with the spirit of the first tenant of faith the world's nature as a Mist requires certain people of high character to act as guides. Thus the Priesthood of the Guide seeks to bring vitality, liveliness, and assistance to those navigating the murky nature of this reality. They are bestowed with scrolls detailing various Ninjutsu with which to defend against the Adversary who strikes from the depths of the Mist. They learn to conjure, dispel, and utilize vapors of all kinds, most notably smoke and mist. Guides often as physical therapists, life coaches, and project leaders within the Church. Being the lesser Priesthood they have a closer connection to average Church members and tend to service whole communities rather than just individuals.
Gaido no shinken
The Priesthood of the Auditor traces its origins to the psycho-therapists and secular researchers that have dedicated their lives to understanding the mind and helping others achieve mental wellness. In keeping with the spirit of the second tenent of faith, the Mind is a reflection of the world in that our thoughts, desires, and goals are often cloudy or at the very least contradictory with our actions creating cognitive dissonance. Thus the Priesthood of the Guide seeks to bring understanding, creativity, and clarity to those navigating the murky nature of their own minds. They are bestowed with scrolls detailing various Genjutsu which defend against the Adversary who strikes into the inner recesses of man's mind. They learn to cast, dispel, and engineer illusions of all kinds although their main role is auditing. The auditing process is considered the chief sacrament in the Church hence it is performed by the Higher Priesthood. The ritual revolves around a series of mental exercises followed by counseling from the auditor who leads the session. Once the mind is made flexible through conventional therapy and scientific analysis, the mind is carefully pried open by the auditor via Genjutsu. The auditor then "audits" or takes inventory or account of all the negative emotions and repressed memories of the person being audited. The auditing session can last up to hours even days in some cases, and may require repeated attempts at probing the inner mind with the mysterious jutsu which is said to have come from the Doctrine and Covenants text of the Church. Once the audit is complete, the auditor will remove or alter the mental baggage weighing down the person but usually only with their consent. It is a form of mental therapy that blends the relatively new science of psychology with the mystical art of a tradition dating back many years. Auditors tend to work with individuals one on one, they rarely ever discuss auditing sessions and are bound by a blood oath not to speak about a person's auditing sessions to any member lower than that of a Shepard.
Low Shepard
A Low Shepard is a member of either of the divine Priesthood who has been selected to serve as stewards to the leaders of the Church. Historically the Church has been governed by the High Shepards each representing a different Ward in Kirigakure. The Low Shepards oversee the day to day affairs of their wards as they manage both Priesthoods with care. The Low Shepards have high visibility and are seen as Church pastors for the litany of chapels and temples that decorate the Water Country. The Low Shepards are given the unique opportunity to study the scrolls of both Priesthoods while under the strict supervision of a High Shepard. The Low Shepards are powerful in their own right and because they have a strong command of the faith's teachings as well as its mystical techniques they are the frontline in greater battles of faith and fortitude. High Shepard
These are the leaders of the Church and they are exactly three in number. It is said their office, positions, and the way the entire Church is structured is said to have been dictated to three holy High Shepards by the Great Shepherd himself. He had anointed them in the presence of the other two before giving them the directions to find the Book he had written. From there the entire structure of the Church as well as its techniques are said to have been recited by the Sage and written down by the High Shepherds in the form of the book known as Doctrines and Covenants. Unlike the Book of Hope which is standard reading material for all those who join the Church, Doctrines and Covenants are to be read only by High Shepards although Low Shepards are occasionally given access to its contents in certain situations. A High Shepard is said to have made a final covenant with the God himself the details of which are not totally known but some say that when the Great Ascension happens they will be the last to go just as how a Shepard ensures not a single sheep is left behind by leading from back. The three High Shepards act of Bishops of the three major wards or areas that the Church has a base in. The first High Shepard lives in the Isles of the Mist and is the most hermetical of the three as he/she carries the tradition of the Mist Cult by living in its murky depths. The second High Shepard lives in the capital of the Land of Water in the heart of the shipping industry and he/she carries the tradition of the psycho-therapist who meditates on the mysteries of the common man. Finally, the last High Shepard sits in Kirigakure the Hidden Village of the Mist and a source of many new converts. The three are considered co-equal bishops of the faith that oversee their respective Low Shepards, Priests, Members, and Converts however they must be in unanimous agreement when declaring Doctrine or making major changes to Church beliefs or structures. The High Shepards hold both Priesthoods meaning they have mastered the Ninjutsu held in the Guide Scrolls and the Genjutsu held in the Auditor Scrolls making them the most powerful members of the Church itself. A High Shepard chooses his successor from among his Low Shepards before passing on. It is considered a position of extreme responsibility and holiness.
Tenents
1.
The Church believes that the world itself is one large metaphysical Mist. The reality that we interact with is often clouded and tough to see through. Ethics and ways of living are never clear cut and only through experience can one hope to successfully move through the Mist. The Church holds that the Isles of the Mist is a holy land in that the people who live there have learned to function in tandem with the natural Mist that covers the island. It provides protection, security, and sustenance to those willing to live amongst it. In them, the Church believes the truth of this world can be surmised. That the opacity and mystery of life on Earth can give us great comfort and joy but only if we work to fully immerse ourselves in it. Like the seers that lived on the misty islands we must entrust our growth to those guides who can help us through the Mist of the world.
2.
The Church believes that the world is a reflection of the mind. That our consciousness was made in the image of reality. Therefore, our Mind like the world around us can best be understood as a Mist. Our thoughts of ethics, family, ideology, nationality are clouded and often contradictory. Human consciousness is diffused throughout the body similar to that of a Mist. That is what it means to be a human embodied. One's mind can and is very often clouded with past traumas and hidden emotional splinters that require a skilled and trained therapist to uncover. To understand reality we must integrate ourselves with the Mist that is the world by extension to fully understand ourselves we must fully integrate ourselves with the Mist that is our Mind. Only when this is done for every person on Earth can humanity reach its hidden potential and achieve everlasting paradise.
3.
The Church believes that it and only it has the authority and ability to guide others through the Mist that makes up both Reality and the Mind. The Church believes that The Great Shepherd was the founder of the Ninja Way and originally intended Ninjutsu to be a means to connect others together so that the wise may lead others to serenity. The Church holds that Yin Release in particular and Genjutsu in general was intended to be the primary means of bringing therapy and mental wellness to the world. Yin Release is grounded in spiritual energies having to do with creativity and bringing form out of nothingness. It grants us the ability to come up with creative solutions to the mysteries presented by the Mist of Mind and Reality. The Church maintains that Yin Release's primacy is foretold by the Shepherd himself and that while Yang Release is important one must utilize Yin Release often in order to achieve clarity of Mind. The Church believes that it carries the dual Priesthood required for performing these rituals and that only through its will can salvation be achieved.
4.
The Church believes that mankind was originally a God of otherworldly design and origin. We had a pre-mortal existence as divine creatures that populated the universe beyond this reality's borders. Through incidents and causes unknown we were sent to this reality as punishment for a crime of extra-dimensional magnitude. We were cast out of our Godly forms and our consciousness was scrambled so that our own minds became Mists to us and we were flung into a lower level of worldliness. The commission of the Great Crime was so heinous that we were to be left in the Mist with no aide or help. Immediately upon arrival we were confused and angry so we set upon each other with madness and violence. Since our arrival and our existence on Earth were are incapable of saving ourselves from this fate.
The Church believes that one of the Heavenly Beings that ruled alongside humanity was not content with the punishment delivered on humanity. She came to our world with the intention of ruling over us and eventually destroying us. Yet her son being born of this world and seeing potential in us fought to preserve our existence and so our sentence was amended too allow for the possibility for our re-ascension into Godhood. The woman was defeated but her soul lingered throughout the globe. The vengeful disembodied spirit became known as the Adversary and she started affecting humans worldwide and causing us to perform acts of wickedness against each other. The Shepherd wrote a book and tried to teach man the way of Ninjutsu but his teachings were perverted by the spirit of the Adversary causing it to be weaponized. The wars that followed were caused by the spirit of the Adversary to prevent our spiritual growth and eventual ascension to our rightful place. The descendants of the Sage warred with each other and although he tried to tame the hand of mankind through transmigrants, the history of humanity remained bloody and violent. The Mist in our Minds and in our world grew denser and the guides were few and far between. This is the essence of the Great Tragedy.
5.
The Truth of the world remained isolated in small pockets throughout the planet. The teachings of the Shepherd were scattered and seen as more myth than fact. A few cults that lived in the Isles of the Mist carried on its teachings as did the secular Rising Thought Order that was based in the Land of the Water capital. The restoration of the Church occurred when the therapists from the Order encountered the Cult of the Mist residing in the Isles. It was there that both groups encountered a holy revelation from the Shepherd himself where he directed them to find the holy book he had written to remind the world of Ninjutsu's true purpose. The Book of Hope was re-discovered and the holy apparition of the world's savior instructed the tribal chiefs and head therapists to restore his Church and name themselves the Church of Latter Day Rising Mist. The latter days of man's ascension were at hand and through the rituals and teachings covered in the book, the Mist would rise and humanity would finally have atoned for the Great Crime. Only when this was done could the Adversary be finally defeated and humanity whisked away to true paradise in the heavens from which we came. The Church wrote down the instructions for restoration given to them by the Sage and named the book "Doctrines and Covenants" to be used as a guide for the bishops that would be in charge of it. And so from the esoteric cults of the Mist and the experts of psycho-therapy from the mainland, the Church continues its work of saving humanity and defeating the Adversary.
