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Fellows All,
A religion was formed in the city of Elliondor called The Rood Ministry. In this religion there is a hierarchy of religious elites called The Antisin. They are the lawyers and peacekeepers of Elliondor. To become one, a human Being must sign a creed with his own blood, then endure ten years of training in The Academy of Rooditary Doctrine. Most trainees, called Pages, are either expelled or killed from the rigorous curriculum. However, this is what they had expected after signing the Creed. It was in their blood. They literally sell their life away to The Rood.
The Antisin are legalists, even in the way they breathe. They remove all hair from their bodies, adorn themselves in a fine, though plain, deep blue robe, and bear a tattoo of the same blue color on their faces, crossing at the brow to form a "t" shape, with one band from forehead to chin, then another from ear to ear. For some strange reason, their eyes also adopt the same bluish color. After emerging from The Academy, the Antisin are nothing like the people who had entered a decade before. In fact, they no longer refer themselves by name, but merely call themselves "Antisin." It is believed that they had forgotten their names. This is confirmed when one recovers his name and consequentially rebels the Creed he had signed - the first ever to do so - or to survive, at least (another story...). It is also believed that even their blood turns blue. Though this is never confirmed. But for this reason, they are often called "Saphs," after the fiery blue color of the Sapphire.
The Antisins are very, very, very dangerous. They operate of no free will, but at the whim of their religious leader, called The Vicar. Though their minds are sharpened through years of study in the finest libraries of Elliondor, they are also unparalleled warriors. Each fights with a sickle-shaped weapon, with steel of the same blue tint as their clothing, eyes, and tattoo.
The Antisins pose an impressive threat to the Storytellers and the Underground Rebellion. Though no Antisin can become king or hold a seat of office in Elliondor (as required by law), that is quickly changing through carefully placed assasinations, bribes, and lies. By the time my protagonist, Dythus, reaches the city, the unseen, mysterious Vicar is close to assuming lordship of Elliondor. Only he is in the way.
The word Antisin is actually two words: anti-sin. A rood is an ancient term for two crossed wooden beams, or a crucifix, and if you re-read the description of the tattoo, you will see it is exactly that: a cross. The name of the religious leader, The Vicar, is taken from one of the pope's titles: "The vicar of Christ" (which is a person who acts in the stead of another: a substitue). Wait a minute...this all sounds very Christian, but isn't The Rood....like...y'know...EVIL?
Uh-huh.
The Antisin fight with a sickle-shaped weapon. This was taken from the national emblem of Russia to show the relationship between Communism and State Religion. I chose the color blue because red is the color of Communism, and blue is the parallel opposite. State religion is completely opposite to atheistic communism, but entirely the same otherwise. Though no longer atheistic, government imposed by state religion has the same tyrannical potential. As seen, I was picking at the Roman Catholic Church (and if any Roman Catholics read this, I apologize), but I am a Puritan by doctrine. And though a Catholic's theological opposite, we Puritans share the same historic mistake of not separating church and state. The entire point of The Antisin in my writing is to metaphorically persuade a division between church and state, as the consequences are evidenced by history: theocracies do not work!
Desiderio Domini,
Edward Inkling
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He is worthy of all praise, and my praise is unworthy.
Last edited by Pavalini on August 21st, 2010, 10:21 am, edited 2 times in total.
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