Hibour

The Maris Faith

“Transhumans with a faith based connection to exoplanets. I know, original right? The thing is… the Maris have winnowed it down to an art. Exclusive to Telas and Quos. Probably one of the most exclusive religions in the solar system, yet the public is fascinated by it.”

Basic Doctrine

The Maris maintain a hope and destiny-based transhumanist faith. Though technically system-wide, the theocratic domain almost exclusively resides in the Kuiper Alliance. The Maris Theocracy preaches a prosperous future of a devoted, idealized species spread through the cosmos.

Nomenclature

Technically, the Maris Faith doesn’t have a name. The Maris themselves do not differentiate between their culture, their species and their religion. It incorporates their spirituality, their caste system and is exclusive to their genome. It is therefore not inaccurate to describe the religion as The Maris Faith, The Maris Theocracy, or simply The Maris. If pressed, a Maris may refer to her faith as the Azure way, the Azure Light or the Way of Aquarius.

Core Beliefs

  • The purpose of the Maris is to thrive on water worlds
  • The Maris genome must be developed to accomplish this
    • The ideal Maris is fully amphibious
    • Telahus Maris are therefore considered more sacred because they are one step closer to this ideal.
  • The path to this eventuality is communal in nature
    • All members of the Maris are believed to be sacred
  • This eventuality can only be achieved via punctual, devoted effort. The Maris are not fated to succeed.
  • The Maris tenets do not necessarily preclude other humans, but only accounts for the Maris destiny

Deities

The Maris do not observe any deities. Rather, the Maris hold watery exoplanets as sacred, even ice moons around gas giants.

  • Stars and gas giants that host candidate worlds are called “Consecrations”
    • Neptune is the Consecration of Hope, for example
  • There are dozens of Consecrations. Orrery maidens and scribes study these worlds and make records as scripture.

Rituals and Ceremonies

Quodilus Life Ceremonies

(Of note: Quodilus broods live together in the Haumean Maris Nurseries until the Indoctrination of Service, or about 16 years of age.)

  • Birthright/Initiation – At four years of age, a Quodilus is given her first sacrament and initiated into the learning phase of the Maris
  • Coming of Age – At twelve years of age, a Quodilus is formally graduated into the Maris Faith. This begins the occupational training phase of Quodilus education
  • Indoctrination of Service – This ceremony marks the entrance into service. A Quodilus and her sisters will be welcomed into their coven and receive blessings from their Telahus
  • Deathright – At death, a Maris is blessed by her sisters and exposed to the Consecrated Light (the deceased Maris is literally exposed to direct starlight), before recycling.

Telahus Maris Ceremonies

  • Birthright/Initiation – Similar to Quos, at four years of age a Telahus is given her first sacrament and initiated into the learning phase of the Maris.
  • Coming of Age – At ten years of age, a Telahus is formally graduated into the Maris Faith.
  • Indoctrination of Study – This ceremony marks the entrance into higher education. Normally this happens around sixteen years of age. A Telahus will study a core Maris curriculum, a form of political science and no less than two artistic pursuits.
  • Ordainment – At the conclusion of formal education, which normally happens six to eight years after the Indoctrination of Study, a Telahus will be ordained into the Maris Faith and begin her leadership tenure. This is also the point at which a Telahus is permitted to begin courting.
  • Life Bond -This ceremony is performed between a primary cycle Telahus and a male cycle Telahus. It signifies the intent to bond and welcome new blood into the Maris. The bond is not lifelong, but is intended to last the duration of the offspring’s development.
  • Deathright – The death sacrament is identical to that of the Quodilus.

Coronation of Covens

  • An annual celebration of life and those who are new. It is effectually a communal birthday to those who are of indoctrination age or older.
  • The Coronation also serves to honor those Maris who have departed.

Celebration of the Diameter

  • A special celebration for a new Consecration

Disquisition of the Coven

  • A ceremony of learning. It involves the reading of work of Maris scribes and the progress both within and beyond the Coven. In most Covens, this ceremony occurs every few standard days.

Organization

Icons and Symbols

Azure Star – Based on Neptune, but ideologically any ice giant that provides for a system of water moons. A prophetic symbol of the growth of the subspecies.

The Diameter – Also known as the Maris Dreamcatcher, this is a minor icon that represents Triton’s relationship with Neptune. Depiction usually involves an oval or diamond with a circlet on one corner and a crescent on the opposite. This icon is frequently filigreed on Maris garb.

Constellations – Every Maris is born with an identifying constellation. Traditionally, these are stars that are in the shadow of Neptune at the time of birth. In less common cases, Haumea, Eris or Pluto are used instead of Neptune. Often these stars are displayed as somnoptic projections around or over their heads. Because Quodilus Maris are born in batches with no genetic variance, these constellations function almost as a surname.

Aquafauna – Marine life is a running theme in Maris iconography. Many aquifers contain exotic animals and marine creatures.

Liquid Water – Water is a common theme in Maris culture. From their architecture to their clothing to their genetic aspirations. The Maris language visual language is fluid based, simulating ripples and water currents.

Cultural Impact

The Maris Theocracy holds a certain fascination in the public eye. The faith is so exclusive and so veiled in mystique that it’s inspired both awe and intrigue in the media, particularly in the outer solar system. Some Telahus Maris are followed like minor celebrities, despite their near-total rejection of the spotlight. With so few members of the species, relationships are a matter of public speculation. A courting pair of Telas is often newsworthy. All of this is compounded by the fact that Theocracy is no stranger to Kuiper Alliance politics.

Contrasting that, the Maris faith is not free of criticism. There are those who assert that the Theocracy is a Telahus social construct that enforces a feudalistic status quo on the Quodilus. Both Telas and Quos unanimously denounce this accusation. This belief is usually most prominent in the inner solar system worlds like Luna and Mercury.

The fanatical observation of exoplanets by the Maris has contributed significantly to humanity’s understanding of the cosmos. While astronomers have long studied the planets around distant stars, the Maris have provided extraordinarily detailed observations and created hard records of their findings. The Maris permit those in good standing to share in their records. Notable examples include the True Light of Sol, who share similar interstellar ambitions.