Cail Avetatu (Player corporation)

Name	Cail Avetatu
Ticker	[CAVTT]
CEO	Samira Kernher
Founded	120.09.21
Status	Active
Headquarters	Undisclosed

Cail Avetatu (fellowship of the Avetat) or the Avetat Order is an Amarrian religious organization founded in YC120 by Samira Kernher. Cail Avetatu's stated goals are to cultivate a virtuous spirit through the purging of contemptible qualities and the adornment of good virtues and character. Through the Reclamation of the inner spirit, the Avetatu hope to earn God's pleasure so that He will restore to Amarr the Crown of Wisdom, Avetat, beginning a new Golden Age of enlightenment.

Cail Avetatu is a branch of Tothism, an Amarr Reformist movement. Like most Reformist faiths, Tothism is considered heresy by the orthodox Imperial Rite.

Beliefs

Avetatu is a Tothist branch and shares many beliefs with Tothism, such as the importance of the Ametat and Avetat, the need for Amarr to return to its earliest teachings and a rejection of Amarrian war-mongering, political power plays, and enslavement.

Avetatu differs from typical Tothian belief by continuing to recognize the Reclaiming as an essential element of the faith, though Avetatu understanding of the Reclaiming falls in line with Tothian teachings. Avetatism maintains that the Empire’s concern with conquest and enslaving other races for the gain of the people in power is a perversion of God’s will, and that the Reclaiming should be about converting through example and bettering the lives of those who embrace God.

The Avetat

The Avetat Order naturally holds the Crown of Wisdom, Avetat as its holiest artifact. The Avetat Order believes that true understanding of God’s will is not possible without the Avetat, as its loss represents God’s loss of faith in the Amarr Empire. As a result, Amash-Akura, the first emperor of Amarr, is also seen as its last true emperor. Amash-Akura is a complicated figure in Avetatist belief. He is believed to have been blessed beyond measure by God and that the Amarr he ruled was truly God’s Kingdom. Scripture written by Amash-Akura is the truest Scripture, because only it was written with absolute understanding of God’s will. However, Amash-Akura’s rejection of the sefrim damned Amarr. With the Crown taken away, no emperor can claim to rule with the voice of God. The Avetatu point to Epitoth, where God is described as charging the fallen Amash-Akura to lead and prove himself by his “own merit.”

The Scepter of Power, Ametat, is also given prominence in Avetatist belief, but it is considered somewhat less important. It is only by ruling righteously that God’s faith in Amarr will be restored – the power of the Scepter is believed a consequence of just rule, rather than a goal to be sought. As Amash-Akura fell because he sought too much power, and as Amarr’s current nobility and royalty also focus too much on increasing their personal power, the Scepter is viewed by Avetatists as dangerous, a tool that can only be justly wielded alongside the Crown.

Ilash Toth

The reformist Ilash Toth is a central figure in Avetatist religious belief, with only Amash-Akura and the First Prophet Dano Gheinok being more important. Toth was a radical theologian who condemned the development of Amarrian religious belief around the time of the enslavement of the Ealur. Toth preached that Amarr should return to earlier teachings, and was particularly critical of the Reclaiming. Toth believed the essence of the Amarr faith was in quiet dignity and service to God, and he accused the Holders and emperor of being concerned only with enriching their own power. Ametat and Avetat were taken from Amarr, Toth said, because the Empire had lost its way. Toth sought to find the two artifacts, believing that, if he succeeded, God will have proven his teachings.

As with other Tothian orders, the Avetat Order believes that Toth is a martyr, murdered by Amarrian rulers because he challenged their right to rule. With his death, his quest to find the Ametat and Avetat has fallen to his followers.

The teachings of Ilash Toth are assembled together in the Book of Toth, which is considered sacred by the Avetatu.

Avetatism and Scriptural Law

As with orthodox Amarrian belief, the Avetat Order believes that the ideal society is one that incorporates religious teachings into everyday life and governance. It is believed that God’s relation with His creations is not limited to the personal sphere and that God’s teachings are essential for moral living in all aspects of life. Secularism is considered to be a revolt against God.

Avetatism however holds to a stricter interpretation of Scriptural law than mainstream Amarrian belief. Where the Rite loosens laws as an individual ascends in the social hierarchy, Avetism teaches that Amarrian leaders need to be held to the same rules that govern the lower classes.

Cloning

With the increased prominence of cloning in New Eden affairs, the Avetat Order has spoken against it. The Avetat Order calls cloning the “False Scepter,” claiming that, if it is not checked, emperors may begin to use it to achieve immortal reigns as if they held Ametat. The Avetat Order says that the immortality cloning supposedly confers is a lie, and true immortality can only be found in devotion to God.

Light or Flame

The Light or the Flame was a strategy of proper warfare established by Amash-Akura, entailing a series of offers given to enemies before violence is brought upon them. The Light or the Flame is expected to be heeded to by Avetatists. When warfare is conducted, the following offers are expected to be given to their opponents:

• Offer your enemy no harm if he submits to your demands peacefully.
• If your enemy refuses to submit, besiege them and offer those who fight for him no harm if they surrender and turn over their leaders.
• If those who fight for your enemy also refuse, then defeat them and their leaders, but spare those who do not raise arms against you.

In addition, Light or Flame in Avetatism has expanded to include other codes of war, many also established by Amash-Akura. Among the things forbidden by Light or Flame are rape, pillaging, murder of non-combatants (including the elderly, the infirm or disabled, children, travelers, and so on), defiling of the dead, and other gross mistreatment of people or the land (such as chemical warfare or "scorched earth" practices). Avetatist Light or Flame policies also state that if the facilities or resources of a non-combatant are used, the owner must be compensated for the service, and all cease-fires, flags of truce, and other negotiated terms must be obeyed without violation or deception.

Devotional Practices of Avetatism

Ikhnihap

Ikhnihap (The First Walk) is a pilgrimage in which a member of the Avetat Order follows the path of Dano Gheinok when he established the Amarr religion. The pilgrimage has two forms, in accordance with the two tellings of Gheinok's travels. The first and most common practice is to follow Gheinok's path from the continent of Assimia on Athra, stopping and praying at each location mentioned in Scripture, to Amarr Island, where a feast and celebration is held. This journey has considerable Scriptural and archaeological evidence and is commonly undertaken both by Avetatists and by orthodox Amarrian faithful.

The second form of Ikhnihap is humanity's journey from the EVE Gate to Athra. This form of Ikhnihap is intended for residents of space or who are otherwise unable to go planetside on Athra. With limited historical records available the exact path is unknown, so rituals are dependent on the day. A walker of this Ikhnihap is expected to spend at least one full day in every system, performing prayer and other services, until finally reaching Athra, where a final celebration is held.

Ikhnihap is an annual event, and every follower of Avetatism is expected to perform the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.

Danads

Avetatists are expected to perform or participate in a Danads (Sacrifice or Offering) annually, with a Dam-Danads (Great Sacrifice) once every five years. The annual Danads involves a one month fast, followed by animal sacrifice and ending in a ritual feast and donation. The purpose of Danads is to remind the faithful of the importance of sacrifice and submission to God. The Dam-Danads is supposed to occur during the same month as the annual Danads, and it celebrates the defeat of Molok and mourns the death of Amash-Akura. During this event, Avetatists are expected to wear a spiked crown and to self-flagellate themselves with scourges. These implements represent the Avetat and the Ametat, as well as their loss and the need to expel evil from the spirit before the pure forms of them will be returned.

See Also

• Forum: The Test of Faith