Wardenism (concept)
Wardenism is the belief in several spiritual 'Pillars' that instruct one on how to lead a holy life, believing that the Pillars construct a great prison in which an evil god (the Dead God) is imprisoned. Wardenites believe that if too many act impiously and impurely, the Dead God will be freed from Their prison and destroy the realms of man.
The origins of Wardenism are hotly debated. While it is agreed that the First Warden rose up in 296 against the Ritualist warlords of northern Sarradon's southeast corner and quickly inspired a great revolt among peasants and local leaders both to overthrow the Ritualist establishment. The First Warden claimed to have seen visions of the Dead God while imprisoned on the Eastern Isle by the warlord Arachas, who later became the The Great Uprising's first victim.
The attacks by The First Warden were the opening battles of the The War in Heaven, which would proceed to consume Sarradon for near 2000 years.
It is hotly debated whether or not Wardenism was originally a sect of Ritualism. Proponents of the idea point out the similarity between Wardenites belief in metaphorical Towers and various Ritualist sects debate over whether the Tower of Sophocos is metaphorical, as well as the similarities of many beliefs in virtues otherwise. Despite this, however, Wardenites and Ritualists have remained bitter rivals since the age of The First Warden, and most Wardenites consider the idea that Wardenism is a Ritualist sect to be a heresy promulgated by madmen.
Aliases: Wardenite, Wardenites