The Red Brigade is the dominant sect of a disorganized
religion worshiping five absent gods: The Bold, The Wise, The Provider, The
Deceiver, and The Fifth. These gods are explicitly abstracts, not thought to
inhabit a distant plane like other religions, and are seldom anthropomorphized.
Rather, someone who wears the red jacket or wristband of the Red Brigade
strives to embody one of the five, and their good works in that form are
considered both prayer and divinity.
Exact practices vary wildly based on your geography, and there is no central body governing The Red Brigade. The most common form of The Bold is the soldier or warrior, such as those insurgents fighting against The Empire of Gold and Jade’s incursion into The Frontier. The Wise are most commonly scholars or strategists, while The Deceivers are most infamously spies who infiltrate other societies. Most cherished are The Providers, such as parents, educators and farmers. The Fifth god is seldom mentioned by name, and is the only one for whom, after you converted to its ways, you cannot convert back.
Exact practices vary wildly based on your geography, and there is no central body governing The Red Brigade. The most common form of The Bold is the soldier or warrior, such as those insurgents fighting against The Empire of Gold and Jade’s incursion into The Frontier. The Wise are most commonly scholars or strategists, while The Deceivers are most infamously spies who infiltrate other societies. Most cherished are The Providers, such as parents, educators and farmers. The Fifth god is seldom mentioned by name, and is the only one for whom, after you converted to its ways, you cannot convert back.
It is also dogma that Red Brigadiers change from one phase
to another as is needed by their people. Most Red Brigadiers are yetis,
centaurs or humans, though it is spreading among triclopic peoples. Secularists
pin the recent trend in triclopic Brigadiers on it being such a time of strife
for them, what with their presently losing a war to foreign secularists and
all.
The Fifth god is the one that has me intrigued. Will we find out more about this? Please.
ReplyDeleteHappy to! Was thinking of writing a story for Friday about transformations. Would you prefer a post dedicated to The Fifth, or to simply field questions here?
DeleteGreedily, I think a post dedicated to The Fifth, as then I will get the benefit of questions answered in comments.
DeleteYou see religion as well is something I'm debating inside my brain! I mean I'm trying to figure out if I want to put in my world or not...but as you point out it might be a good conflict trigger!
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult for me to imagine world without religion. It can exist without that word (there are several "secular" religions that explicit scorn religion), but people tend to organize values and belief systems around what they consider true or important. It's mostly a question of what fits your world.
DeleteThat makes sense even if I don't agree. What I know for sure is if I'll ever put it in, I'd give it a negative meaning. I dunno, I'm a bit weird and stubborn on the matter!
DeleteRed Brigade makes me think of Communist movements in the 1930s. Cool world-building.
ReplyDeleteAnother good, though eventually dangerously organized religion. Pope Stalin?
DeleteI'm curious about triclopic people.
ReplyDeleteThe Calvinball of religion? Love it!
ReplyDeleteI wonder why the Fifth is not mentioned by name- it makes me wonder if he has Voldemort-like qualities. Perhaps it's considered taboo to admit that he exists?
ReplyDeleteWhich group would you put yourself in? Just curious. Jennifer a.k.a Urban Gypsy Girl
ReplyDeleteThat's a great question! Given that I've spent the last week caring for the sick, I think I'd be wearing The Provider label. It's a consuming mission.
DeleteDefinitely curious about The FIfth. Not only the fact that its true name is not used, just a number designation, but the fact that you can't convert back. That's hard core.
ReplyDeleteIn response to others here, I used to shy away from adding religion too but like you said, it's always here. I view it in any world as a people's way to explain their origins and surroundings, the unexplainable. It doesn't matter what my personal views are - religion will always be around for certain people and as a writer I should include that.
ReplyDeleteI'm with EC. I'd love to see you write about the Fifth. I want to know what happens if one tries to unconvert themself. ;)
This is true. I should include that then! Thanks!
DeleteI want to know more about the Fifth too!
ReplyDeleteFifth has made me curious too.
ReplyDeleteKaTy Did at: Life's Ride As I See It
Sounds interesting and reminds me of Buddism a little bit.
ReplyDeleteFollowed by several races? Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe yetis, centaurs and humans have always said that if the triclopics ever find religion, heaven help the secularists.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. New follower here. I'm stopping by from the "A to Z" challenge and I look forward to visiting again.
ReplyDeleteSylvia
http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/
Interesting religion. The Fifth god sounds a little domineering though if he/she doesn't allow you to turn back from worshipping him/her.
ReplyDeleteI like the fact that the Providers are parents, educators and farmers, and are most cherished! If only more society was like that.
ReplyDeleteThe Fifth sounds fascinating. Wonder what they're up to?
Rinelle Grey