Sect of Maadmug

The Sect of Maadmug (Huai: Maadməəg Phog; Modern Huai: Maaneuk Phak [mɑnɨk̚ pʰʌk̚]; Iquis: Raōw Mādməgri; Mānəkri), less commonly known as Maadmugism, is a major religion in the Settled Systems. Though its founding date is unconfirmed, its scripture, the Tkhal, is traditionally recounted to have been written and compiled in 1357 AAI.

Central to their worship is the world saviour Maadmug, who is considered by followers to be the first among mortals to decipher the nature of the Cosmic Principle.

The Cosmic Principle is a belief that the universe is in a cycle of birth and death, caused by the 'breathing' of a Cosmic Anima, an ineffable entity of unimaginable scale. A universe is born with every inhale of breath, and dies with every exhale.

The Sect of Maadmug is a recognized religion in the Coalition of Allied Star Systems, protected by the freedom of worship.

Perspective on Terran history

The Tkhal teaches that humanity underwent a period of stellar expansion as competing polities until Haran Hurm, the 71st and last pre-Icnotic prophet managed to unify the various Earth kingdoms into a Heavenly Empire, ruling as Emperor of the Heavens. The Cosmic Anima ordered Haran Hurm to maintain this galactic peace within his Empire for fifty-thousand years, imbuing within him near-immortality. At the end of this period, Haran Hurm's mind had fractured from the strain of living to an age no human had ever done before. The Cosmic Anima took him into its embrace in mercy, but the Heavenly Empire fell into chaos shortly after.

A small group loyal to Haran Hurm was instructed by the Cosmic Anima to board ten arks, each housing 100,000 people. The Cosmic Anima sent them faraway to another galaxy, and instructed them to rebuild civilization on Incognita. The Cosmic Anima sowed the seeds of life upon the barren worlds of the Settled Systems, and made them habitable for its chosen children.

History

Early Days

The historical figure Maadmug is likely based on is the ascetic Due (<DUʼ>), a travelling monk who lived around the 8th century on the fledgling frontier world of Hlendu. For his views deemed too radical, he and his followers were exiled off Hlendu and was forced to relocate to a new world. Their followers first settled on Ptanpols, then relocated to Charé.

Due gained the posthumous title of Maadmug ('stellar saviour'), granted by his best disciple Tslaak (<SKHLAAK>). Tslaak became the first phiemtsi <PHIMSTEEʼ> of the sect.

Taad movement

The Taad movement, the official state religion of the Great Huai but considered by mainstream practitioners to be a fundamentalist and extremist branch of the Sect of Maadmug, is an offshoot (considered a cult by most governments) that believes the current universe is unnaturally corrupt, and seeks to hasten the 'exhalation' of the Cosmic Anima in order to usher in Armageddon, the end the current universe.

Armageddon

Taad scripture teaches that all those who follow its teachings shall ascend into the embrace of the Cosmic Anima during Armageddon, and will live on as immortal beings of light in the next iteration of the universe.