Yes, this is a religion all about Cursebeard.
Core Tenets
Arthurianism is an Alalean religion based around the worship of Arthur Cursebeard as a god and a mythologised interpretation of Arthur’s life. The core tenets of Arthurianism are:
- By killing Prometheus, the previous Ruler of the World, Arthur became a god and the Ruler of the World.
- He was mortal in body and mind while he lived, but his death during the Cursebeard War allowed him to ascend into his divinity.
- Arthur watches and judges the people of the world.
- Those who lead pious, moral lives will be judged favourably by Arthur and their souls brought to an eternal paradise in death.
- Arthur is to be worshipped to the exclusion of other deities.
Arthur himself is also worshipped both as a God of the Sea and Sailing and as the God of Kingship and Battle.
A History of Arthurianism
Worship of Cursebeard dates back to the days of Old Alalea, but it was confined to small, isolated cults. Cursebeard discouraged worship of himself while he lived as he considered himself above the gods.
This changed after Durza destroyed the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Seas. A lame man named Ademar experienced a vision of Arthur, now a god. He cured Ademar of his lameness and taught him the tenets of a new faith: Arthurianism. Amidst the ensuing panic and Chaos’ rampage, the people of Alalea flocked to Ademar’s teachings for salvation.
Arsen, who was now ruler in Alalea, recognised the popularity of the burgeoning religion. Hoping to maintain unity in the city and legitimise his rule, Arsen adopted Arthurianism. As the last remaining companion of Arthur, Arsen declared that he was Arthur’s chosen representative on Earth, leader of the Arthurian faith and rightful king of Alalea.
What was meant to bind Alalea together instead fractured it. A sizable minority of Alaleans had viewed Arsen’s declaration as sacrilegious, but held their tongues. The Old District would not be as quiet. They were uniquely unreceptive to Arthurianism, which put them at odds with Arsen’s conversion. Coupled with lingering tensions with the rest of Alalea, the Old District rebelled under Rooks Silver, a former captain of Alalea’s guard. The rebellion was crushed and Arsen exiled the people of the Old District. They would find their way to Magius and eventually become the Castlians.
The Alaleans eventually also migrated to Magius. Arsen built his Alalean Empire in Magius to exercise both temporal and religious authority. Those who had disagreed with Arsen’s declaration of divine right in Old Alalea were outraged, refused to listen to Imperial doctrine and stuck to the teachings of Ademar. These Ademarians rejected and officially split away from the Imperials. Arsen launched a brutal persecution of the Ademarians and they fled to other corners of Magius.
With the rise of the Alvarians also emerged Solar Arthurianism, but Arthurianism has by and large managed to remain largely recognisable even after a millennia. Worship of Arthur has spread beyond Arthurianism. Arthur has been added into many pantheons. When the Old Sea Vikings took over Old Alalea, they abandoned their old gods and adopted Arthur the Cursebeard as their new god.
Sects within Arthurianism
By the time of World of Magic, Arthurianism is divided into three major sects:
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Imperial Arthurianism is the state sanctioned sect of Arthurianism which preaches Arsen as the religious leader and representative of Arthur on Earth. Imperial Arthurianism is prevalent across the entire Alalean Empire and parts of Alvaria. It is deeply tied to the Alalean state, with regional governors and mayors also acting as leaders of the faith who oversee religious activity and education in their respective regions.
If it helps, think of it as North Korea and the Kim Family mixed with the Catholic Church. -
Ademarian Arthurianism is a fundamentalist sect of Arthurianism that disregards all Imperial Arthurian doctrine and adheres to Ademar’s original teachings. Ademarian Arthurianism can be found in major cities across the world and is particularly widespread in Alvaria, although in recent times it has been challenged by…
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Solar Arthurianism, or The Alvarian Heresies, are various sects of Arthurianism who worship Arthur as a sun god and incorporate Savarian beliefs and practices. Solar Arthurianism emerged from and is growing in popularity among the Alvarians.