Out of respect for real-world religions, the Earth of Threshold will instead feature fictional religions, which are not intended to be viewed as parallels for any particular real-world religions. This page describes the three main world religions of the Earth of Threshold, which players may wish to use for their character. Players are also welcome to design their own religion for their character, if they desire to do so.
The universe was dark and empty before two divine beings breathed life into it. These gods were called Selca and Clanabe and together they shaped the Earth we see around us. It wasn’t an easy process - they had frequent, bitter disagreements - but those conflicts and the compromises which followed led to a beautiful balance that couldn’t have been achieved any other way.
Sadly, as the centuries have progressed, humanity has often forgotten that the true message of Clanabe and Selca was one of harmony. Far too often have conflicts been fought between worshippers of one god and worshippers of the other god, who believe that their deity is the superior one. Nevertheless, followers of Selca-Clanabe (used interchangeably with Clanabe-Selca) have generally managed to maintain cohesion and form complex institutions, meaning that their faith is practiced widely around the world.
Perhaps the most famous tradition of Clanabe-Selca is the text known as ‘the Lessons.’ Compiling the Lessons has been a collaborative effort across centuries of humanity, as generation after generation have added their own discoveries and moral beliefs. Rather than learning from the words of their gods alone, followers of Selca and Clanabe learn from each other. The method of compiling the Lessons has been transformed over the millennia as technology has progressed, but it has always stuck to the key principles that every voice is important and every opinion should be given equal consideration.
Devotees of the Ancients believe in a multitude of gods, each with their own sphere of influence. The Ancients oversee every event on Earth and aren’t afraid to get involved themselves. If you’re running to the station to catch a train, you might beg Oro, the god of time, to help you make it in time. If you’ve placed a large bet at the roulette table, you could pray to Der, the god of fortune, to improve your chances of winning big.
Just like humans, the Ancients have complicated personalities and difficult relationships, which can be clearly observed in the many tales of mythology written about them. However, the Ancients are not only the stuff of legends; it is believed that for many who die, the Ancients become a reality. Followers of the Ancients believe that if a person dies with a flawed soul that has unfinished business, they will be sent to work with the Ancients, safeguarding the world until they are pure enough to move onto their final resting place.
Rather than worshipping gods, the Kolth people believe in spirits which are part of nature. Although the spirits are invisible, their presence can be felt everywhere - in the cool breeze as you look out over the sea, in the chattering of insects in a dense jungle and in the dancing flames of a blazing campfire. Kolth has no set religious text and instead encourages its followers to go out and experience life for themselves, rather than learning from a book.
The spirits of the world can be found everywhere, including within every living thing. Followers of Kolth believe in reincarnation; we are all one with nature and return to it when we die, before being remade. However, there is a middle phase - a threshold of sorts - between death and reincarnation. When a person dies they appear in a forest which contains a single wooden cabin: The Memory House. This simple place contains every memory from every previous life and you may spend as much time as you wish reliving them. When you are finally ready to move on again, you leave the Memory House and forget all you’ve seen, before being reincarnated. The Memory House will be waiting for you when you return.