Carnalis

Essentials

Geography & Climate

Nestled within a valley in Southern Utah, the town of Carnalis sees the sun year-round. During winter, there may be light snow, but it is rare. Water is a precious resource in the summer months, and a few take naps indoors on particularly hot afternoons.

Flora and Fauna

Many types of flora flourish in Carnalis in spite of the heat, including the easy to care for (and nice smelling) desert sage. Creatures you wouldn't find in Canada such as the desert tortoise can be spotted.

Culture

Overview

Culturally, Carnalis dreams of quick advancement and prizes study just as much as strength. However, being so cut off from the world with a small population, they do not know of cutting edge technology present in areas like London. Their areas of study are typically more practical, focusing around agriculture: food and water can still be worries for the small town at times. They are highly humanized: clothes are frequently worn and it is a rare sight to see someone in their Lupus form.

Luperci & Shifting

Only Luperci committed to living up to human legacy are allowed to join Carnalis. While warriors and hunters may get away with using four-legged forms in rare situations (usually Secui), otherwise being seen in a non-Optime form is a faux pas. It is not against the law, but members are heavily encouraged to remain in their Optime forms. Feral members that refuse clothing and tools are ostracized and get grunt work: they function as peasants (or slaves, although they are not called this aloud).

Technology

Masonry and building skills are highly favored as one of the main priorities of Carnalis is to restore and then surpass humanity's advancements. Their tools are aligned with bronze age inventions (rope, axes, carriages). Agriculture is a focus, as well as livestock. Their ambitions as of yet don't go much higher than that: they want to perfect surviving before anything else, as most societies do.

Residence

The cult of Carnalis lives in the remains of a human city. They live by tending to livestock and leaving to hunt what they can find: other Luperci being preferred. More important members of the cult get access to fancier residency. They will also use what bigger buildings they can find (and potentially restore to some degree) for regular sermons and rituals.

Practices & Traditions

Gender

Gender is presentation-based, rather than sex-based. The gender roles of men and women are mostly the same as they are in other areas of the world. Men are seen as strong and brash, and women are seen as shrewd and dainty. Since someone's gender is based off of their presentation, which includes things such as personality and reputation, changing gender over the course of your life is more common within Carnalis and accepted.

Non-binary genders are rarer. As the Devilgod is both a man and a woman (they are everything, all at once, and nothing, never), Luperci that embody this duality are believed to have heightened spiritual power.

Sexuality

There is no standard for sexuality in Carnalis: most types of relationships are accepted, as long as they are not sinful (such as involving adultery). Polygamy, homosexuality and the like are not considered sinful. However, relationships must be approved by a Luperci with religious power before they are considered able to bear children. Having your marriage approved and ordained is also required to get into the Celestial Kingdom.

As for relationships that involve incest, or pedophilia, typically these aren't frowned upon, although any deformed pups birthed from these unions will be taken and eaten.

Outsider Relations & Travel

Travel

At the slowest pace, it would take around six months to travel from Carnalis to the 'Souls area.

Outsiders

Outsiders are treated simply: You either run, convert, or you die. Perhaps with added kidnapping and torture sprinkled on top.

Structure

Leaders

Carnalis' leadership is centered around its religion. There is one Prophet, which oversees the entire group and is permitted visions from the Devilgod. The Prophet interprets the Word of Devilgod and expresses their will to the Caro followers. The Prophet is not to be questioned, as they are the highest in position.

• Past Prophets: Elijah Crux, Jebediah Crux, Exodus "X" Crux
• Current Prophet: Being elected

Additionally, there is a leadership position more on the spiritual side after X Crux assumed his position as the Prophet. This is assumed to be one that is taken only by those that are gender neutral or gender diverse, as the first and current one is Kallipos Paddock. They are believed to receive oracular divination from Devilgod and possess other spiritual powers. However, this new and vacant position may not be filled once a new Prophet for this area is chosen.

See "Ranks" below this section for more information.

Law & Justice

• Laws:
• Caros follow a doctrine of respecting their bodies as though they are temples and gifts from Devilgod. This means taking care of their Earthly forms so that they "shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint" (Doctrine and Covenants 89:18-21). While they do modify their bodies with piercings, tattoos and etc., this is acceptable and even encouraged as long as they remain healthy enough to walk and not faint - to fight and win.
  • "Strong drinks (meaning alcoholic beverages) are not for the belly.” (Doctrine and Covenants 89:7)
    • "Only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him [can you drink alcoholic beverages]." (Doctrine and Covenants 89:5-7).
  • “Tobacco is not for the body…and is not good for man.” (Doctrine and Covenants 89:8)
  • “Hot drinks [meaning black tea and coffee] are not for the body.” (Doctrine and Covenants 89:9)
• Caros must have an unwavering belief in their Devilgod. Faith must be centered on Devilgod in order to reach salvation.
  • Faith is a “hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (Alma 32:21; see also Ether 12:6). It is a gift from Devilgod.
• While these laws may sometimes be broken, there is sometimes a chance to repent. The atonement is what they believe has given them the ability to seek repentance and receive forgiveness. This idea of repentance being a requirement in order to return to the path of salvation is enforced through fear of punishment both in the current life from the Prophet of Carnalis, and in the afterlife from threat of being sent to Outer Darkness (Hell).
  • In order to seek repentance, one must confess to the Prophet and beg for forgiveness. The Prophet may punish or forgive.

Ranks

Prophet

Unoccupied

Priests

Around ~10% of membership become priests.

Soldiers

Around ~45% of membership become soldiers.

Scholars

Around ~45% of membership become scholars.

Religion

Creation Legend

According to this cult, the world as they know it was born from the flames of an old one. This explains the ruins and traces of humanity some of them have seen in their travels. Humans as they know them are their ancestors in a way. They died in a glorious rebirth as Luperci so that they could live on as canines (in a parallel to Christian beliefs of Jesus dying for others). The cult especially has a belief that they must pick up where they left off and evolve physically to be stronger and mentally to be smarter. Heaven is only achievable by the smart and strong.

Heaven is divided into three tiers: Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial. It is believed that nonmembers can reach the Telestial kingdom, but this is only likely if they are killed by a Caro and deemed worthy by Devilgod. The Terrestrial kingdom is reachable by Caros at base level if they die before or on their Coming of Age ceremony. The Celestial kingdom is only for those Caros that are reborn after that ceremony.

If asked, Caros will say they do not believe in Hell. However, they do believe in Outer Darkness, which is the equivalent. The Outer Darkness is a cold, empty oblivion.

Deities

The Caros worship a single Devilgod. This God is responsible for and oversees the cycle of rebirth on the earthly plane. Their deity is called the Devilgod because, unlike in Christianity or similar religions, the Devil & God are not separate and instead one being. Their God represents both chaos and order, all of life and death. To them: Death is as good as life. This is part of why they do not view their actions of killing and cannibalizing as evil. Death is a gift to outsiders that spares them of Outer Darkness and grants them entrance to the Terrestrial Kingdom.

Devilgod is androgynous, as They embody all gender. They use They/Them pronouns, which are always capitalized when written.

It is considered heresy to commit idolatry, which is worship of other deities that are not Devilgod; deemed "false idols". It is both pointless because Devilgod is representative of all domains a deity might rule over and also dangerous since Devilgod may grow angry. Caros see their Devilgod as the most powerful, supreme being, so it is wise not to draw Their ire. If you forsake Devilgod, then you experience spiritual death and the loss of your soul. This consequence will send you to Outer Darkness (Hell).

Practices

• General: Carnalis practices ritual sacrifice & hepatoscopy. They also have a fascination with fire and many members are pyromaniacs, they may practice divination through pyromancy as well.
• Coming of Age: When a canine reaches maturity, they must go through the coming of age ceremony to gain official membership to the full cult. This ceremony is a vicious battle between two youth (or newcomers that are being initiated). The victor is admitted to the cult and is expected to feast on the loser's flesh. Afterwards, they are 'reborn' by being burned to the point of scarring and given a new name.
• Sabbath: Each Sunday the Caros congregate in the church they have refurbished to observe the Sunday Sabbath. They take the Sacrament by drinking the blood of captors or kills with their flesh. If there is no literal flesh or blood available, wine or water and bread are symbolic enough replacements. They then listen to speeches and revelations from their religious leaders, which can include holy Word from Priests or the Prophet himself.

History

Carnalis began years ago, heralded by the first generation of Luperci. Dog-dominant at first, the group tried to piece together why their previous owners (humans) had begun dying out at such a rapid rate. The knowledge they found was limited, and that inspired the imagination: or perhaps, it could be better to say that it was a way to cope. With some inspiration from religious human texts, they pieced together the reason for the apocalypse: they pieced together that they had become ready: they were the next chosen ones of their Devilgod. At first, these beliefs were past down by oral tradition, and some ideas got lost along the way, some got further twisted.

The first Prophet of Carnalis, Elijah Crux, died in 1997. He gave a speech not long before his death declaring his family as having the Divine Right to lead. Thus, ever since, the Crux family have become the Prophets that dictate Carnalis' actions. Some of them have been more benevolent than others, but the last leader, Exodus "X" Crux, cemented the group's reputation to outsiders as cannibals and torturers.

In late 2020, X Crux kidnapped a then-non-luperci by the name of Kallippos Paddock during his lead, a canine which he began to believe had great spiritual power. Kallippos Paddock suffered from nightmares during his imprisonment that became true: he appeared to know what torture would befall on him each day before X could enact it. Because of this, X eventually freed Kallippos and took him for a partner after he had been successfully turned.

Not all of Carnalis approved of this. The idea of a Luperci Verto: someone without pure blood, becoming so close to their Prophet was a disturbing thought. Sensing unrest in the group, X made an announcement that he would bring the sacred teachings of their group to new lands. Underneath the surface, many could tell this was X gracefully allowing the breaking off of a new sect. Since X did not leave an heir, there is currently no Crux to lead Carnalis anymore. It is assumed a new family will be chosen to lead them soon.

X and Kallippos, along with others that sought to fulfill this mission, set off into the world in late 2021.

Notes

Status

• Creator: Nic, Viktor — see Wiki page for contact information.
• Status: REQUEST.
  • Loose request requirements, just double check with us and you'll be accepted :)

References

1. Pioneer Park, Saint George, Utah

Name Meanings

1. Carnalis: Latin for carnal.