Adapted From The Great White Way and The Philosophy of White
In the Starfall Galaxy, some individuals and factions are profoundly attuned to the mana-currents of White Devotion. This is a philosophical viewpoint that aims to create a world where no one is left to suffer. It is a philosophy rooted in the need for order, peace, and structure—a noble pursuit that solidifies its worldview. White Devotion is rigid in its beliefs, leaving little room for interpretation of its utopia, valuing the stability of the collective over the freedom of the individual.
White Devotion
White devotion strives for order, community, and the sanctity of life. Can manifest as selfless sacrifice and healing, or as rigid authoritarianism and the suppression of individual will.
Allied Devotions Blue and Green
Rival Devotions Black and Red
White Magic When spellcasters manifest White aligned spells, they may feel a sense of Faithful resolution and fraternity. Sometimes they feel a deep sense of sympathy for the weak and downtrodden and a longing for equality.
Core Philosophy: The Sanctuary of Civilization
In the vast, chaotic expanse of the cosmos, survival often hinges on the collective. White Devotion understands this intrinsically, drawing its core ideology from the need for society to nurture and protect its members. It is the understanding that, from our most vulnerable beginnings, we require the guidance of a community to prosper. From this perspective, White Devotion builds its ideology: no one need suffer in this world, and together, we can build a utopia.
This pursuit of peace and stability requires structure. Structure, in turn, requires laws, and laws breed order. While it is impossible for every individual to achieve their every desire, White Devotion argues that personal sacrifices are necessary to find stability, and in that stability, all may find peace. By working together, making sacrifices for one another, and shedding selfish ambitions, a society can be built where the burden is never too great for any single person.
This communal effort requires a hierarchy. To White Devotion, those who possess greater discipline, wisdom, or authority should be the ones to set the laws. The Aether-Dragons who embody the Aether Synapse, the sagely Oread elders who speak with the weight of cosmic stone, and the anointed leaders of the Sider Stratiotes are all considered beacons of this devotion. Their words are not merely suggestions; they are the truth by which society should be governed, even if their intent is not always understood. This is why White Devotion is often aligned with military structures, religious orders, and authoritarian governments.
The White Devotee: A Dual Nature
A devotee of White Devotion is an idealist with a perfect vision of how the world should be. This ideal society is united under a single banner, a world where war is a memory and tranquil peace has replaced unneeded suffering. In this society, laws would be absolute, and desirable traits such as compassion, piety, and discipline would replace selfishness. This new world would be one where no one takes more than they need, and everyone acts for their neighbor.
However, White Devotion has a rigid, unyielding side. It struggles to comprehend those who would act selfishly or chaotically, such as the chaotic Red devotees who follow their passions into anarchy, or the ruthless Black devotees who seek to satisfy their ambitions at any cost. To a White devotee, such actions are anathema—a direct threat to the utopia they seek to build. Laws are absolute, and anyone who steps against them loses the privilege of being a part of the whole. This can lead to harsh, swift, and unforgiving punishment for those who threaten the established order.
Despite this, White Devotion can find common ground with those who seek a similar, if not identical, path. It appreciates the devoted and calculating mind of Blue Devotion, which seeks to perfect the world around it through logic and efficiency. It also respects the harmonious and accepting nature of Green Devotion, which parallels its desire for tranquility, even if Green lacks White's conviction to act.
What Represents White Devotion
Here are a number of things white cares about along with why:
Religion—While there are different ways to teach moral law, religion has proven to be the most effective.
Military—White believes that strength comes from many individuals banding together, making a whole that is much more powerful than the sum of its parts. The military is a perfect example where individual soldiers come together to make a powerful army. Also, this plays into white's reliance on the combined strength of a lot of little things, the strength of numbers.
Law—Civil structure is based upon the creation of rules by the governing body. The law is a powerful tool to help control the actions of individuals in a society.
Court System—Part of creating laws is ensuring that they are properly applied.
Politics—In order for laws to be potent and do their necessary work, you have to make sure you are the ones in charge of creating, interpreting, and enforcing them. Politics is just an elaborate structure to ensure that this is so.
Government—Something that allows white to oversee the military, laws, court system, and politics.
Community—Looking out for the group means the group will look out for your causes.
Honor—According to white's definition of "honor," it's another twist on moral laws. It is a system that prioritizes individuals acting in the interest of the group.
Chivalry—Yet another twist on moral laws.
Defense—White's entire philosophy is about the welfare of the group. This extends to conflict, where white prioritizes no one getting hurt. In addition, defense plays into white's strength of using structure as a weapon.
Self-sacrifice—If you believe that decisions need to be made for the good of the group over the good of the individual, sometimes the right move is to sacrifice yourself for the greater good.
Cooperation—The power of the group is its ability to work together.
Light—White believes that secrets are dangerous, in that they allow people to act as if they are working toward the good of the group when in reality they are not. Light metaphorically represents white's desire to bring things out into the open. It also plays into the imagery that white likes playing up, of the idea of good vs. evil. Remember that this conflict is how white likes to frame it, as black doesn't believe in the concepts of good or evil or even the concept of morality itself.
Purity—White sees its ideals as absolute and shies away from the idea that there are gray areas. White, interestingly enough, sees things in black and white.
Charity—An important part of making sure every individual is looked after is having those with more help those with less.
Strategy—Structure can also be applied to warfare and other conflicts. Part of making your army successful is making sure each individual is contributing to the larger goal.
Organization—Structure also helps you keep track of what resources you have.
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